In September 2022, Marriott Bonvoy made significant changes to its credit card lineup by introducing two new cards that featured an annual fee unlike anything we had seen before. Most hotel credit cards can be categorized as either “basic” with annual fees under $100 or “luxury” with annual fees of $400 or more. However, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card from Chase falls right in the middle with an annual fee of $250.
Upon first glance, one might assume that the card offers $150 worth of additional features compared to more basic cards. But is this really the case? Let’s take a closer look at what the $250 annual fee gets you with the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card so you can determine whether or not it’s worth it.
New applicants for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card can earn a welcome bonus of 85,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points after spending at least $4,000 on the card within the first three months of account opening. According to The Points Guy’s latest valuations, these bonus points are worth approximately $714. However, it’s important to note that Marriott has moved to a dynamic pricing system, making it more difficult to determine the number of points needed for a redemption.
Cardholders of the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card receive complimentary Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy each year that they hold the card. This status comes with benefits such as upgrades to preferred rooms (excluding suites), a welcome gift of bonus points at check-in, and late checkout. The Points Guy values Gold Elite status at $805 annually, which more than justifies the card’s annual fee if you’re able to fully utilize these benefits.
Additionally, cardholders receive 15 elite night credits deposited into their Marriott Bonvoy account each year. These credits contribute towards achieving higher levels of status with Marriott. If you also hold the Marriott Bonvoy Business Card from American Express, you can stack the elite night credits from both cards to start the year with a total of 30 elite night credits automatically. This puts you more than halfway towards the 50 nights required for Platinum Elite status, which offers benefits like suite upgrades and free breakfast.
Unlike many hotel credit cards, there is no option to achieve higher levels of elite status by spending a certain amount of money on the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card. Spending on the card will not help you reach Platinum Elite status. However, it’s worth noting that the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card from American Express does offer automatic Platinum Elite status, but it comes with a significantly higher annual fee of $650.
Bountiful cardholders also receive 1,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy points for each paid stay at a participating hotel or resort. These bonus points are valued at $8.40. Unfortunately, these bonus points are not available for stays where points or free night awards are redeemed.
While many hotel credit cards offer a free night award on the cardholder’s anniversary each year, this is not the case with the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card. Instead, cardholders who spend $15,000 or more on their card during a calendar year can receive a free night award worth up to 50,000 points. This award can be used at properties such as The Ritz-Carlton Bali, St. Regis Langkawi in Malaysia, and the Westin Hapuna Beach Resort in Hawaii. Due to Marriott’s dynamic pricing, it’s important to perform a calendar search for flexible dates to find nights that cost 50,000 points or less.
In terms of earning points, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card offers 6 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 4 points per dollar on the first $15,000 spent per year at grocery stores and dining establishments, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. Based on The Points Guy’s valuations, this translates to a return of 5.04% on Marriott purchases, 3.36% on dining and grocery store spending, and 1.68% on everyday purchases. These rates are decent for a co-branded hotel credit card.
Cardholders also enjoy travel and purchase protections, including baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, trip delay reimbursement, and lost luggage reimbursement. Additionally, cardholders can take advantage of Chase Offers, which provide discounts or bonus points through targeted promotions.
While the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card offers some benefits that Marriott travelers will find useful, it may not provide the best value for its annual fee compared to other Marriott credit cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, for example, offers automatic Silver Elite status, 15 elite night credits, and a free night award for just a $95 annual fee. The Amex Marriott Bonvoy Business Card allows cardholders to unlock Gold status for just $125, and it also comes with a free night award automatically each year.
In conclusion, the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card from Chase comes with perks that Marriott travelers will appreciate. However, it may not provide the best value for its annual fee when compared to other Marriott credit cards. It’s important to consider your travel habits and needs before deciding if the annual fee is worth it for you.