Which Card Is Best for Hotel Elite Status Through Spending?

Nov. 02, 2014

•

3 min read

Which Card Is Best for Hotel Elite Status Through Spending?

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.

Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.

TPG reader Chris sent me a message on Facebook asking:

"My wife and I both have jobs with minimal travel (less than 10 days a year), but have considerable personal credit card spending, and we'd like to know which is the best hotel branded credit card that offers elite status through spending but doesn't require stays/nights?"

Hotel elite status can almost be more lucrative than airline elite status. Perks like free breakfast or WiFi (depending on the program) can add up quickly. A lot of co-branded hotel credit cards now offer elite status if you spend a certain amount annually.

Choose a credit card that will get you hotel elite status. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

The first one I would recommend is the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card. Off the bat this card gives you Hilton Gold status, which I believe is the best all around hotel mid-tier elite status out there, as you get Club access and free breakfast. You can also earn Diamond status if you hit $40,000 a year in spending. Additionally, after you hit the $10,000 mark on that card, you get a free Category 1-4 hotel stay, which could easily pay for the annual fee. I think that card is one of the best hotel co-branded cards available.

Starwood status is my favorite elite status to have. I've been qualifying for Platinum for years now, and SPG Gold is also pretty decent. Just last year they added free internet as a benefit on that tier. Many people don't know that you get SPG Gold just for having The Platinum Card from American Express. You simply have to call the number on the back of the card and ask for your free Starwood Gold status. Another option is the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, which gives you Gold status after you spend $30,000 annually.

The newest credit card to offer top-tier status is the Chase Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card. This card gives you Gold status for your first year as a cardmember, and you can maintain it by spending $10,000 annually. You can also earn Platinum status by spending $75,000 a year. Platinum status won't always get you club access or room upgrades, but there are some free Club access certificates and an airline rebate credit, so that card could work for you if you like staying at high-end Ritz-Carlton properties. This status also transfers over if you stay at Marriott properties.

Those are my picks for the top cards to get hotel elite status through spending. For more info on hotel branded credit cards, check out this post.

If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook, or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.

Featured image by Choose a credit card that will get you hotel elite status. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.