The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card just launched a new welcome offer of 3 free nights and 10x points in popular categories – worth up to 175,000 points

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• There's a new, lucrative welcome offer on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
• You can earn Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card.
• New cardholders can earn 10x total points on up to $2,500 in combined purchases at grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations within the first six months.
• Read Insider's guide to the best rewards credit cards.

Hot on the heels of a hefty elevated welcome offer, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card is back with another increased bonus. This time, instead of a straight increase in points, Chase and Marriott are mixing it up a bit with a new, tiered offer we've never seen before.

New Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card cardholders can earn Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card. Categories for the total of 10x points on up to $2,500 in combined spending include grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations. All told, between the three free nights (worth up to 50,000 points each) and the 10x spending bonus, the potential bonus value is effectively up to 175,000 points.

Read more: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card review

This isn't as high as the record five-night bonus the card offered last year, but it's still a much better deal than the standard 75,000-point offer. Here's what to know if you're thinking of applying.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless 3 free night and 10x point offer

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card

The new Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card offer is unique in that it awards its bonus in the form of three free night certificates, valid at Marriott hotels that cost up to 50,000 points per night. That's equivalent to a standard award night at a Category 6 hotel, or even an off-peak night at an upscale Category 7 property.

Of course, you could also redeem your free night certificates at lower-tier properties – Marriott Bonvoy award nights start at just 5,000 points for an off-peak Category 1 location – but you won't squeeze the most value from your bonus this way. That makes this offer less flexible than others that award straight points – you're limited to three nights maximum no matter how or where you redeem. With a points bonus, you could stretch your points for a longer stay at a lower-category hotel, or splurge on a short stay at a luxurious resort.

Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize Marriott Bonvoy points

Another unusual aspect of this bonus is the 10x points on groceries, gas, and dining new cardholders can earn on up to $2,500 in combined purchases in the first six months. If you spend the maximum amount, you could earn 25,000 more Marriott points – enough for a standard free night at a Category 4 hotel, or up to five free nights at an off-peak Category 1 location.

There's another limitation on this offer that makes it unattractive if you prefer using Marriott points for flights. While you can transfer Marriott points to over 40 airline partners, the way this bonus is awarded – in the form of free night certificates – means you won't have the option to convert the bonus into airline miles. If you prefer that flexibility, you're better off looking at another rewards credit card right now, or waiting for a different offer.

Along with an increased welcome bonus, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card offers solid benefits that come in handy whether you stay with Marriott frequently or even just a few times a year. The most compelling perk can more than offset the card's Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card annual fee: Each year on their account anniversary, cardholders receive a free night certificate valid at hotels that cost 35,000 points or less.

I've consistently been able to redeem Marriott 35,000-point free night certificates at hotels that cost much more than the annual fee. This alone is a good reason to keep the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card open year after year, but there are other benefits that also make the card a good long-term keeper.

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card comes with automatic Marriott Silver status, which gets you perks like a 10% points bonus on paid stays and priority late checkout. If you spend $35,000 or more in an account anniversary year, you'll get an upgrade to Gold status, which comes with additional benefits. The card also comes with 15 elite night credits each year, which can give you a nice boost if you're working toward earning higher status.

Read more: 11 credit cards that get you hotel elite status just by having them in your wallet

You'll also get travel and shopping protections when you use your card, including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement, and purchase protection.

Before you decide if the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card is right for you, be sure to read Insider's guide to the best Marriott credit cards. For instance, hardcore Marriott loyalists and road warriors may want to look at the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card instead, which offers much more in the way of benefits – but also charges a much higher Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card annual fee Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card – Rates & Fees.

There's also the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card to consider, but it offers a modest welcome bonus of just Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card, and fewer perks.

Jasmin Baron is an associate editor at Personal Finance Insider, where she helps readers maximize rewards and find the best credit cards to fit their lifestyles. She has covered credit cards, points and miles, and loyalty programs for over seven years, and she's a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF).

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