The Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express offers a wide array of benefits, including top-tier Hilton Diamond status (enrollment required), a free night each year, a Hilton Resort credit and other high-value travel credits.
Hotel credit cards can unlock a world of hotel benefits usually reserved for elite loyalty program members. The best hotel cards will offer hefty welcome bonuses and a strong earning rate for purchases. Many hotel credit cards offer perks like complimentary hotel elite status, free night awards and other travel perks.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x to 14x points
While the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has a high annual fee ($550), its generous suite of benefits makes it the best and most valuable hotel credit card on our list. Cardholders get automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status and all the perks that come with it (enrollment required), as well as a free night award, up to $400 in Hilton Resort statement credits, up to a $100 Hilton property credit and more.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
Apply Now
Earn 2x to 10x miles
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is our top choice for earning rewards on hotel stays, due to its lucrative earning rate and sign-up bonus. You can rack up 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Points can be used to book travel (including hotels) through the Capital One Travel portal, though you can also transfer your rewards to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x to 7x points
The Hilton Honors American Express Card doesn’t charge an annual fee, which makes it a good choice for infrequent travelers. It offers an especially generous welcome offer for a $0-annual-fee card, as well as a great rate on paid Hilton stays and other spending. The card’s benefits also include automatic Hilton Honors Silver status (enrollment required) and no foreign transaction fees.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x to 12x points
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a great choice for frequent travelers who mostly want to earn free hotel nights each year. This card comes with an exceptional earning rate for Hilton hotel stays and a range of everyday spending categories. Moreover, its generous welcome offer can be worth up to several free nights right off the bat. The card also comes with automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, as well as the ability to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status for spending $40,000 on the card within a calendar year (enrollment required).
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x to 12x points
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is our top hotel card pick for small business owners for several reasons — including its lucrative welcome offer and excellent rewards rate. Cardholders also get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, along with the opportunity to earn Diamond status by spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year (enrollment required).
You also get 10 Priority Pass airport lounge visits per year (enrollment required) and can earn up to two free night awards if you spend enough on eligible purchases.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 2x to 6x points
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and dedicated Marriott loyalists who want the benefits that come with a luxury hotel credit card, like airport lounge access and elite status.
The complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status allows you to earn extra points on each stay (enrollment required), and may even get you complimentary room upgrades. The monthly dining credit also gives you money back on restaurant purchases worldwide.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 2x to 6x points
If you’re a Mariott Bonvoy loyalist who doesn’t want to pay the high annual fee of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you might consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. While it has a lower annual fee (which typically comes with fewer perks), it still gives you access to Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status (enrollment required) and the ability to earn a free night award with spending each year.
Plus, earning 1,000 bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott will allow frequent travelers to quickly rack up Bonvoy points.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn up to 9x points
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is valuable for Hyatt loyalists for a few reasons — including its generous earning rate and the fact that you get automatic Hyatt Discoverist status for a reasonable $95 annual fee. The World of Hyatt program is one of the best hotel rewards programs, since points are worth more than other hotel loyalty points (approximately 1.7 cents each) based on our recent valuations.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 2x points to 17x points
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is one of the best Marriott credit cards for frequent travelers loyal to the Marriott Bonvoy program. With a lucrative welcome offer, it’s great for those who want to leverage their everyday spending to land the biggest rewards. The card is linked to a brand with an extensive portfolio — over 8,000 properties — giving you a large number of options to use that welcome offer.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn up to 26x points
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is best for loyal IHG hotel travelers who want to maximize rewards on paid stays, while also enjoying some basic benefits. You’ll get one free award night each year on your card anniversary, automatic Platinum Elite status in the IHG Rewards program and more. Plus, the fourth night free benefit on award stays is one of the most useful perks of any hotel credit card — allowing you to reduce the cost of four-night stays by 25%.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 1x to 6x points
The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus® Card is a great card if you stay at Wyndham hotels, and it’s very cheap for a co-branded hotel card. It has a fantastic sign-up bonus and excellent hotel perks. Cardholders will automatically be granted Wyndham Rewards Platinum Elite status, which offers benefits like car rental upgrades, early check-in and more.
Although you won’t get a free night each year like some other paid cards offer, you do receive 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year after paying the renewal fee, which can be used towards a free night.
While not co-branded to a specific hotel chain, general travel rewards credit cards can be great for consumers who aren’t particularly brand loyal and prefer to stay at a variety of properties. These cards can come with perks like elite status for multiple hotel programs, travel and hotel credits, airport lounge access and more.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a broad set of travel protections for frequent travelers for a very reasonable annual fee. You’ll get trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and primary auto rental collision damage waiver. Cardholders also have access to travel and emergency assistance wherever they travel.
Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be used for a range of flexible options, including airfare, hotel stays and other travel through Chase TravelSM. Points can also be redeemed for gift cards and statement credits.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply.
While the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has the same flexible rewards program of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, quite a few luxury perks are added into the mix. In exchange for a $550 annual fee, you get Priority Pass airport lounge access and several other luxury travel perks.
Cardholders also get a higher rewards rate when they book through the Chase Travel portal, making the card a good choice for frequent travelers. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® also comes with a $300 annual travel credit that’s applied automatically to a wide variety of travel expenses.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: Earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Redeeming miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a breeze, with several options to choose from — including using miles to erase past travel purchases. You also have the option to transfer miles to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners or book travel directly through Capital One.
The card earns 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card helps students build credit, earn rewards and book hotel rooms in their own name. It’s a secured card, and the minimum security deposit is $200.
It has fairly generous rewards for a secured card: You can earn an unlimited 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). There’s no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn.
The Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is one of the best options for business owners looking to maximize their hotel stays. It comes with an outstanding welcome offer as well as excellent bonus spending categories, especially for many small businesses.
One of the best features of the Ink Preferred is that you have flexibility when booking your hotel stay. You can use your points to book any hotel through Chase Travel (with a 25% bonus), or you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to hotel chains like Hyatt, IHG or Marriott.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*
|
Overall
|
$550 | 14X points on eligible purchases at hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio, 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and U.S. restaurants and 3X points on other purchases | Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. | |
|
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
General travel
|
$395 | 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel | Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Hilton Honors American Express Card*
|
No annual fee
|
$0 | Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations AND 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. | Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. | |
|
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card*
|
Free nights
|
$150 | Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. | Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. | |
|
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card*
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
Small business
|
$195 | Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases. Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter. Terms & Limitations Apply. | Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/8/2025. |
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card*
|
Marriott
|
$650 | Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. | Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card*
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
Marriott (runner-up)
|
$250 | Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points). Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card. | Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. |
Learn More
on American Express's secure site |
|
World of Hyatt Credit Card*
|
Hyatt
|
$95 | Earn up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt - 4 Bonus Points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member. 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships. Plus, earn 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent. | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*
|
Sign-up bonus
|
$95 | Earn up to 17X total points at participating Marriott hotels. Earn 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. Earn 2X points on all other purchases. | Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | |
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card*
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IHG
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$99 | Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | |
|
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus® Card*
Learn More
on Barclays's secure site |
Wyndham
|
$75 | Earn 6X points on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases, 4X points on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®) and 1X points on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Vacation Club down payments). | Earn 75,000 bonus points, enough for up to 10 free nights after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 180 days. |
Learn More
on Barclays's secure site |
|
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Travel insurance
|
$95 | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Luxury benefits
|
$550 | Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Easy redemption
|
$95 | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Students
|
$0 | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) | N/A |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Business travel
|
$95 | Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases-with no limit to the amount you can earn. | Earn 90,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Hotel credit cards allow you to earn and redeem points with a hotel brand and access perks like elite status, early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades, welcome gifts, premium Wi-Fi and more. Some hotel credit cards give cardholders discounts when they book their room, while others offer annual free anniversary nights or a free night when you book for four or more consecutive days.
Brand-specific hotel cards are ideal for frequent travelers who prefer to stay at a particular hotel brand and plan to book multiple stays annually. If you’re not loyal to a particular hotel brand, or if you just want more flexibility, a general travel card may be a better option.
The value of a hotel point will depend on the particular hotel (or issuer) loyalty program, as well as how you choose to redeem your points. Here’s a quick look at about how much a hotel point is worth with some of the largest hotel loyalty programs:
| Hotel loyalty program | Points value |
|---|---|
| Hilton Honors | 0.5 cents per point (1,000 points = $5) |
| IHG Rewards | 0.5 cents per point (1,000 points = $5) |
| Choice Privileges | 0.8 cents per point (1,000 points = $8) |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 0.9 cents per point (1,000 points = $9) |
| Wyndham Rewards | 0.95 cents per point (1,000 points = $9.5) |
| World of Hyatt | 1.7 cents per point (1,000 points = $17) |
Tip: Check the redemption value before transferring points. It might not be a good idea to transfer flexible points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards®) to a hotel rewards program. Instead, consider redeeming points through the card’s travel portal. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card points are worth 1.25 cents per point when redeemed through the Chase TravelSM portal. Most hotel program redemptions are worth less.
A co-branded hotel credit card is one that’s tied specifically to a particular hotel chain or brand. They can be a great option if you tend to stay with the same hotel brand. This allows you to take advantage of the perks that come with many co-branded hotel credit cards, like elite status or increased earning rates.
Even for travelers who stay with several hotel brands, or for those who only stay at hotels once or twice a year, hotel credit cards can still come in handy. Some hotel cards have no annual fee, or a low enough annual fee that you could recoup the cost with just one hotel stay. On top of that, you’ll earn rewards that you use on your next vacation.
Tip: Co-branded cards may also offer perks like complimentary elite status in the hotel’s rewards program. Elite status has a slew of benefits that vary by program and tier. Elite status benefits can include free room upgrades, welcome drinks and snacks and late checkout.
| Pro | Con |
|---|---|
Earn extra points for hotel stays Some cards let you earn on everyday spending as well as hotel stays Many cards offer elite status benefits Some cards offer additional travel perks, like lounge access Great if you usually only stay with one brand of hotels | The best co-branded cards can have high annual fees You receive the most benefit when you’re staying at the hotels in that brand’s portfolio Rewards aren’t flexible You may get more value from general travel cards |
If you like the flexibility of being able to stay with any brand, but still want to earn travel rewards, consider general travel cards. They earn flexible points — and sometimes statement credits — that can reduce the cost of travel expenses, including hotel stays. Depending on your card, you may be able to use these points to book hotel stays directly, or transfer points to a hotel partner.
| Credit card issuer | Hotel partner transfer ratios | General travel cards |
|---|---|---|
| American Express |
|
|
| Chase |
| |
| Capital One |
|
The benefits offered with a hotel credit card vary depending on the hotel brand and card. One of the best reasons to have a hotel card is the array of benefits that come with them. Here are a few of the benefits that you might have available with your card:
Free night(s)
There’s nothing better for travelers than free travel, including free hotel stays. Many hotel credit cards come with a free night each year on the anniversary of your account opening, redeemable at various properties worldwide (though limits or conditions may apply). Other cards offer a free night during award stays lasting multiple consecutive nights.
Elite status
One of the most common perks with hotel cards is automatic elite status with the hotel chain. Hotels often have tiered status levels based on the number of nights you stay during the year or other criteria. A hotel card can help you jump to a higher status level and access additional luxury perks like free Wi-Fi, club or lounge access, meal credits and more.
Statement credits
Some hotel cards come with valuable statement credits you can use annually to recoup money spent at their hotels and resorts. Some cards offer statement credits when you stay at certain hotels or resorts, while others offer statement credits for other purchases like restaurants or general travel purchases.
Enhanced earning rates
Hotel credit cards almost always offer higher earning rates on hotel bookings and expenses, which means co-branded cards are usually the best cards to use when you’re paying for your hotel stay. Some hotel cards also offer enhanced earning rates on other travel categories, or even everyday spend categories, which can include dining, gas or groceries, depending on the card.
If you’ve decided that a hotel credit card is right for you, here are a few of the different factors that you’ll want to consider as you choose the right hotel credit card for you:
If you’re a frequent traveler who usually stays with one particular hotel chain, getting that chain’s co-branded hotel credit card may make sense for you. On the other hand, if you’re a less-frequent traveler or often stay at different brands, you may not want to be tied down to just one specific chain. In that case, a more general hotel credit card might be a better option.
Co-branded hotel cards typically offer hotel-specific perks that can add significantly to their value. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points each year on your card anniversary. This benefit alone justifies the annual fee each year for many cardholders.
Keep an eye out for these benefits:
One thing that you’ll want to do is look through each of the perks that come with a hotel card and decide how much those perks are worth it to you. For example, if getting your fourth night free on IHG award stays is worth $50 to you each year, that can help offset some of the annual fee of the IHG Premier card.
Now consider the most important factors that’ll impact a credit card’s dollar value: sign-up bonus, earning rate and point value.
First year value = sign-up bonus + (earning rate x estimated annual spend) x redemption value – annual fee
Sign-up bonus
First, look at the number of points or miles you earn, but don’t stop there. Calculate the dollar value of the bonus, while also looking at how many nights the points will cover for the hotel you plan to book.
You should also note the minimum spending requirement you have to meet in order to get the bonus. Make sure you can comfortably meet the requirement while paying off your balance in full each month — you definitely don’t want to pay interest that would cancel out all or part of your bonus.
Earning rate
The earning rate is one of the most important factors in choosing the best hotel rewards credit card for you. Look at how many points you’ll earn for stays at one of the hotels in the brand portfolio, as well as what you’ll earn in other bonus categories and for all other spending. Review your spending patterns to see how much you can earn with each card you’re considering.
Point value
All points are not created equal, and hotel loyalty program points tend to be worth less than the points on general travel cards with transferable points. Don’t just look at the number of points you’ll earn with your everyday spending — consider how much those points are worth in dollars, along with what the points translate to in terms of hotel stays.
Besides the value of the points that you’ll earn, many hotel credit cards offer benefits that you may find useful. This could include things like elite status, travel insurance, statement credits or other perks. Look at the benefits that come with any hotel card you’re choosing (in terms of what it’s worth to you) versus the cost of the card.
For example, how much is rental car insurance or travel delay insurance worth to you? It may be very useful or not that useful at all (if you already have another credit card with overlapping benefits, or if you never rent a car). Factor in the value of these hotel card benefits when deciding how much you’re willing to spend on a card.
This is a brief overview of some of the top hotel loyalty programs, including the number of hotels they operate and the brands they own:
| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: |
|---|---|---|
| International travel | 8,800+ |
|
| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: |
|---|---|---|
| Business travel | 1,300+ |
|
| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: |
|---|---|---|
| Luxury travel | 8,000+ |
|
| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: |
|---|---|---|
| Budget travel options | 6,000+ |
|
| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: |
|---|---|---|
| North America travel | 1,380+ |
|
| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: |
|---|---|---|
| Number of destinations | 9,200+ |
|
One of the fastest and easiest ways to get a free stay at a hotel is to get a hotel rewards credit card. A hotel rewards card typically comes with a sign-up bonus that you earn for spending a certain amount on your card within a certain time. You’ll also earn points from every purchase that you make when you use your card. The points that you earn can be redeemed for free hotel nights.
Another way to earn a free hotel stay is by joining a hotel loyalty program and staying regularly at hotels that are part of that program. Each time you complete a qualified stay, you’ll earn points that can be put towards a free night or stay in the future.
Many hotel credit cards offer a free night certificate when you meet certain criteria. For example, it’s common to offer a free night each year after your cardmember anniversary. You may also earn a free night by spending a certain amount on your card. The details will vary based on the program.
Another great way to get a free hotel stay is to earn elite status with your preferred hotel loyalty program. For example, with the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, each elite status level you attain will grant you a higher number of points on Marriott hotel stays that you can then use towards a free hotel stay.
Hotel credit cards help you get hotel perks and earn extra hotel rewards. Some are co-branded hotel credit cards that offer brand-specific benefits, sometimes including elite status. Other hotel cards are usually general travel cards that allow you to earn travel and hotel rewards across brands.
A hotel credit card can absolutely be worth it if you travel even a few times a year. Many hotel cards offer free nights or other perks that can be well worth the card’s annual fee. Frequent travelers who generally stay with the same hotel brand will likely get a lot of value from that chain’s co-branded credit card. But before you get a hotel card, do the math and make sure the benefits you’ll receive outweigh the cost of the card’s annual fee.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the best Marriott credit card out there. It has a $650 annual fee, but it comes with numerous high-value benefits (see rates & fees). For example, you can earn up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
Hotel credit cards often come with excellent benefits for hotel stays, including complimentary elite status, enhanced earning rates and other travel perks. If you’re able to use these benefits, a hotel card makes a lot of sense. However, one big con of co-branded hotel cards is that the points, perks and benefits that you earn are only useful at that specific hotel brand. For example, you can’t use the benefits from a Hilton card if you stay at a Marriott.
All co-branded hotel credit cards allow you to earn hotel points, so you can eventually get a free hotel stay. In addition, some co-branded hotel credit cards also offer benefits like free night certificates, or a free night if you use points to pay for three plus nights in a row. General travel hotel cards also earn points which you can then use to either transfer to hotel points programs or book directly for a free night at a number of different hotels.
Any frequent traveler — whether you travel solo, with others, or for business — is a great candidate for a hotel credit card, since it can help you reduce your overall hotel costs. When choosing a hotel card, look at the perks, benefits and earning structure of the card to make sure you’ll be getting the most value for your specific situation.
Most hotels require a credit card or debit card for booking, though it is possible to pay with cash, a debit card or a prepaid card in some instances. To find out which hotels don’t require a credit card, we recommend calling the hotel directly and asking what their policy is regarding non-credit card payments.
If you’re deciding between a Marriott versus Hilton credit card, consider your personal preferences and travel habits, and choose a card with the brand that you stay with more often. If you stay with both, consider getting a general card that’ll allow you to earn rewards with both brands, or review the benefits to see which card will give you more value. Just make sure that the value of the benefits you receive outweighs the cost of the card’s annual fee.
To make choosing the right hotel credit card easier, we’ve looked at credit cards reviewed on LendingTree, as well as cards on major issuer sites, to compile a list of the best rewards credit cards available right now. Our recommendations are based on the following criteria:
APR
How the hotel card’s annual percentage rate (APR) compares to other cards in its category and whether or not there’s a low interest intro offer on purchases and/or balance transfers.
Rewards
The card’s rewards earning rate, points value and how easy points are to redeem.
Additional perks and benefits
These include things like free nights, hotel room upgrades, elite status, complimentary breakfast and more.
Annual fee
Whether or not a card charges an annual fee, if the fee is waived for the first year and if the card benefits offset or outweigh the annual fee.
Sign-up bonus
Whether or not a card comes with a welcome offer or sign-up bonus, how easy it is to earn the bonus and how valuable is the bonus overall.
Foreign transaction fees
Does the card charge foreign transaction fees and, if yes, does that limit the card’s overall value.
Transferable points
Whether or not the card earns transferable points, how flexible are those points and how many transfer partners do they include.
Our choices are not influenced by our advertisers.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, Hilton Honors American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, World of Hyatt Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus® Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express, Business Green Rewards Card from American Express and American Express® Green Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
