There are many good travel credit cards, but Chase’s Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card is dangling one of the more eye-catching travel perks of 2026: three free nights at Marriott hotels after you open the card.
On paper, it sounds simple. Spend $3,000 in your first three months, and Marriott will hand you certificates that cover three nights worth up to 50,000 points each.
But what does that look like in reality?
We have read the terms. Let’s break it down.
How the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card Works: Quick Facts
| Detail | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Annual Fee | $95 (not waived in the first year) |
| Spending Requirement | $3,000 in the first 3 months |
| Welcome Bonus | 3 Free Night certificates (worth up to 50,000 points each) |
| Expiration | Certificates expire 12 months after they’re issued |
| Customer Service | Chase: 1-800-432-3117 / Marriott: 1-800-627-7468 |
The Hook
Chase and Marriott are advertising one of the simplest travel perks you’ll see in 2026: three hotel nights, free, after you open the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card. All you have to do is spend $3,000 in your first three months. The card costs $95 a year, and in return, you’ll have three nights in your Marriott account that could be worth close to $1,000 in cash value if you redeem them well.
How the Three Nights Actually Work
Once you’re approved, the timer starts. Spend $3,000 on purchases—groceries, gas, dining, travel—and within about eight weeks Marriott deposits three free night certificates into your Bonvoy account.
Each one is good for a hotel night costing up to 50,000 points. If the property you want is a little more expensive (say 60,000 points), you can add 10,000 points from your account and still use the certificate. What you can’t do is stack certificates for a single night, or cash them out for money.
These nights aren’t forever. They expire 12 months from the date they post. If you’re eyeing a resort over Christmas, book early—once they’re gone, they’re gone.
And note: while the room is free, you’ll still pay for extras like parking or resort fees.
Where the Nights Can Take You
Think of three nights at the JW Marriott in Mexico City, where cash prices can run $300 a night—that’s nearly $900 in value. Or a long weekend at a Renaissance in Warsaw, a Courtyard in Tokyo, or a Westin in Florida during spring break.
You won’t unlock the Maldives or the Ritz-Carlton Kyoto with these certificates—those often price at 80,000 points and up—but for mid-tier hotels in good locations, they stretch surprisingly far.
The Fine Print That Matters
This isn’t a free-for-all. There are restrictions:
- Eligibility rules: You can’t get this bonus if you already hold the Boundless® or Bold®, or if you’ve picked up a Marriott/Starwood bonus in the past 24 months. Some AmEx Bonvoy cards also block you if you’ve applied in the last 90 days.
- Posting delay: The certificates don’t appear instantly. It can take up to 8 weeks after you hit the $3,000 spend.
- Account closure: If you close the card within 6 months, Chase and Marriott reserve the right to claw the nights back.
- Elite night credits: Each year, you’ll automatically get 15 nights toward elite status, plus one extra elite night for every $5,000 you spend.
- Path to Gold: Spend $35,000 in a calendar year and you’ll be bumped to Gold Elite.
These are the kinds of details that separate a smooth redemption from disappointment.
Ongoing Perks Beyond the Bonus
The Boundless® card isn’t only about the welcome offer. Every year you keep it, you’ll receive an annual free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points—often enough to cover a night at a decent Marriott or top it off with your own points for something nicer. You’ll also hold automatic Silver Elite status, which means a modest 10% points bonus on stays and the possibility of late checkout.
Points earning is competitive: 6 points per dollar at Marriott properties, 3 points on dining, groceries, and gas (up to $6,000 a year), and 2 points everywhere else. And if you travel abroad, there are no foreign transaction fees.
Pros and Cons
Why it’s appealing: Three free nights can be worth hundreds of dollars. Even one good redemption can offset the $95 fee. The annual 35,000-point night is a nice recurring benefit, and the card makes it easier to climb the Marriott status ladder.
Where it falls short: The 50,000-point cap excludes the most aspirational properties. Certificates vanish if you forget to use them. And while Silver Elite sounds good, it doesn’t deliver much beyond extra points. If you rarely stay with Marriott, the annual fee won’t feel justified.
Any Alternatives?
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card (No Fee): A lighter version with a 30,000-point bonus and no annual fee, but no free night certificate.
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® (AmEx, $650): A luxury card with Platinum status, an 85,000-point free night, and dining credits—better for heavy Marriott users.
- General Travel Cards (Chase Sapphire Preferred®): Flexible points you can transfer to Marriott or other hotels and airlines.
Explore our travel expert’s picks for the best travel cards to have in 2026.
What You Should Know
The 3 Free Nights offer is not a gimmick—it really can give you a long weekend away for less than $100 in annual fees. But it isn’t unlimited. You need to spend $3,000 in three months, use the certificates before they expire, and accept that the priciest resorts are out of reach.
For travelers who book Marriott properties even a couple of times a year, this is one of the most practical credit card bonuses available in 2026. If you plan ahead, it’s as close as you’ll get to pulling three hotel nights out of thin air.
Photo: Vera Tikhonova
