Best hotel credit cards of December 2025

The Venture is a great mid-tier travel card for any travel credit card user's arsenal. There aren’t many travel cards with such competitive earning rates and significant welcome bonus while featuring a fair annual fee of just $95. 

“The Capital One Venture is a great card that can add value to pretty much anyone’s wallet. I use it to earn 2 miles per dollar on the purchases that fall outside of my other cards’ bonus categories. The annual fee is low, Capital One miles are easy to redeem and the card does come with a few nice perks — including TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fee reimbursement.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior content operations editor

Even if you’re new to the travel credit card world, consider this card’s sister product, the very popular Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees). The card’s up to $300 annual credit for purchases made with Capital One Travel nearly covers the higher annual fee — and that’s not even considering the added perks you’ll enjoy.

Whether you stay in Marriott properties occasionally or all the time, you can get a ton of use from the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless thanks to its benefits and strong earning rates. Bonus categories include purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels and up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year at gas stations, grocery stores and on dining  — meaning you can rack up points for future stays even faster.

“This card is worth keeping in my wallet every year due to the fact I can get outsize value from the free night certificate for a low $95 annual fee. Combining the 15 elite night credits I receive with this card with the ones I get by holding another Marriott business card means it is attainable for me to requalify for Platinum Elite status every year.” — Matt Moffitt, senior credit cards editor

Go all-in on Marriott Bonvoy with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, which not only gives automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status (two tiers higher than the Boundless), but also an annual free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points (or 100,000 if you top up with the extra 15,000 points that’s permitted).

Travelers who frequently stay at Hilton hotels and want luxury-level benefits without elite-qualifying stays. 

The combination of high-value credits, elite status and premium travel benefits can far outweigh the $550 annual fee if you maximize them.

For Marriott loyalists, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card delivers premium hotel perks within the Marriott portfolio, including an annual free night award and automatic Platinum Elite status, with a slightly higher annual fee. The World of Hyatt Credit Card is ideal for Hyatt loyalists, providing solid value through free nights, elite status and bonus points on Hyatt stays. For a mid-tier option within the same hotel family, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card provides valuable Hilton perks at a more moderate annual fee.

If you stay with Hilton’s brands fairly frequently, but not enough to achieve Gold elite status on your own, this card is a no-brainer. What’s more, it has high everyday earning rates to help you rack up even more points even more quickly, raking in 12 points per dollar on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels; 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets; 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases; and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

“This card is a keeper for me in large part because of the annual free-night-reward certificate I get after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. The elevated earning rates on everyday spending categories are also a good match for many of my purchases.” — Senitra Horbrook, former credit cards editor

Want many of the same benefits (and a sizable welcome offer) without having to pay an annual fee? Consider the Hilton Honors American Express Card instead (see rates and fees). It comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Silver elite status and earns 7 points per dollar on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels; 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets; and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Even travelers who only stay at IHG properties a couple of times a year should get a ton of use out of this card. For one, the award night certificate can justify the annual fee. Its earning rates of up to 26 points per dollar at IHG properties (10 points from this card, 10 points from being an IHG One Rewards member and 6 points from being a Platinum Elite, a benefit from this card); 5 points per dollar on travel, gas station and restaurant purchases; and 3 points per dollar everywhere else also mean you’ll accrue points quickly for even more stays.

“Having the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card unlocks one of my favorite credit card perks: IHG's fourth-night reward. This card benefit makes every fourth night cost zero points on stays of four nights or longer when I redeem IHG points. Plus, the card gives me an anniversary night worth up to 40,000 points every year, which is worth enough alone to justify paying the annual fee.” — Katie Genter, senior writer

If you like the IHG One Rewards program but aren’t convinced you need a card with an annual fee, think about carrying the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card instead. It often posts high welcome offers and has strong earning rates of its own along with conferring Silver elite status … all for $0 per year.

Small-business owners who prioritize Marriott properties for stays should consider adding this card to their business wallet. The $125 annual fee can easily pay for itself with the annual free night certificate. Not to mention, the additional perks of elite status and elevated earning rates add to its value.

“If I had to name one credit card I’ll never cancel, I’d choose this one. I love that its elite night credits stack with those from my personal Marriott credit card, and I can get far more value from the free night award than I pay for the card’s annual fee each year. This card has a permanent place in my wallet.” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer

If you are looking for a business hotel credit card but find your company frequents Hilton properties, consider The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card instead. The card offers many of the same perks as the Marriott Bonvoy Business but at a slightly more affordable annual fee of $195 (see rates and fees).

The Hilton Honors American Express Business card provides an excellent balance of benefits while maintaining a low annual fee. Cardholders can enjoy various perks, including  complimentary Gold Elite status and valuable travel protections. It's worth noting that the card offers the highest earning potential for points on Hilton purchases, as is common with cobranded cards. Please keep in mind that enrollment may be required for certain benefits.

“With generous perks like Gold status and the ability to unlock top-tier Diamond status with $40,000 of spend in a calendar year, the Hilton Honors Business Card is all about giving you perks beyond your money’s worth with a reasonable annual fee.” — Kyle Olsen, former points and miles reporter.

Unlike some other cards, the American Express® Business Gold Card does not provide hotel status. However, it offers the advantage of earning American Express Membership Rewards points, which can be transferred to Hilton or utilized with a wide range of hotel and airline partners. This flexibility allows cardholders to maximize their rewards by choosing with diverse options beyond just Hilton.

New travel credit card users who are looking for a solid no-annual-fee pick can find great value in the Marriott Bonvoy Bold’s earning rates and perks.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold is a great way to enter the Bonvoy program since it has no annual fee but still features automatic status and a solid welcome offer.

If you want to earn transferable points but are looking for a card without an annual fee, consider the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) instead. It earns a flat 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and can be transferred to any of Capital One’s 15+ travel partners.

This card is an excellent choice for Citi ThankYou points enthusiasts who want to earn rewards across every purchase without incurring an annual fee.

If you frequently spend money at supermarkets, on transit, gas and EV charging stations and want to earn Citi ThankYou points without having to pay an annual fee, the Citi Strata should be in your wallet. It earns solid reward rates in popular bonus categories and a flat rate of 1 point per dollar spent in non-bonus categories, so you’re earning rewards every time you tap to pay.

If you don’t mind paying an annual fee and still want to stay in Citi’s ecosystem, consider the new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. It features a hefty annual fee of $595 but offers decent value for travelers, like an up to $300 annual hotel benefit, Priority Pass Select membership and four Admirals Club lounge passes every calendar year. The Strata Elite also earns at least 1.5 points per dollar spent in nonbonus categories, making every purchase rewarding.

The Citi Strata Premier is a good card for both occasional and frequent travelers who will take advantage of the annual $100 hotel credit and elevated travel bonus rates.

Even if you only travel a few times each year, this card basically pays for itself when you utilize its perks and benefits.

If you’re seeking a more premium travel card that earns miles instead of points, consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. The Venture X earns a flat rate of 2 miles per dollar spent across all purchases with the exception of 10 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar spent on flights and vacation rentals also booked within the Capital One Travel portal.

Savvy travelers who know how to maximize Capital One’s many airline and hotel transfer partners (you even get 10,000 bonus miles every account anniversary). This card is also a strong earner since it racks up 10 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights, rental cars and vacation rentals booked via Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

“The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the card that rewards me for every purchase I make with 2 miles per dollar spent that I can then use toward my travel goals. I also love how easy it is to earn and redeem my miles either through transferring to partners or paying off travel purchases, big or small.” — Ashley Onadele, writer

The $95-per-year Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) is a great alternative to the Venture X since its everyday earning rate is also 2 miles per dollar and you can leverage all the same mileage redemption options as with the Venture X.

In short, everyone. This is a great card for rewards newbies and points pros alike thanks to the excellent value you can reap from the Chase Ultimate Rewards points this card earns — whether it’s by redeeming them for travel through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal or transferring them to the program’s airline and hotel partners, such as United and Hyatt. Its travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursement, are also excellent reasons to use it to pay for travel.

“The Chase Sapphire Preferred has remained a top card in my wallet for years. Between the consistently strong sign-up bonus, low annual fee and continual improvements that have been made over the years, it's hard for any other mid-tier rewards card to compare.” — Madison Blancaflor, senior editor

If Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of your main loyalty programs and you feel like graduating to a new level of luxury, think about the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Although its annual fee is higher, the Chase Sapphire Reserve offers perks including up to $300 in annual travel statement credits, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit (worth up to $120) once every four years, and Priority Pass lounge access so your time at the airport is that much more comfortable.

You don’t have to be a high spender to find value in this card. It’s well suited for those who travel frequently, will enjoy airport lounge access, will benefit from automatic elite status with Marriott and Hilton (enrollment required) and can maximize the card’s various statement credits. Plus, the card’s return on spending for travel purchases is very strong — as is the return in select business categories and purchases totaling more than $5,000. You’ll also enjoy a 35% points rebate on eligible flights booked with Amex Travel on up to 1 million points back per calendar year.

“I find that the annual perks and credits vastly outweigh the large annual fee. And that's even without using some of them. By using the benefits with Priority Pass and Amex lounges, the airline incidental credits, plus the statement credits for Clear, our cellphone plan and restocking my home printer with ink and paper from Dell, I get more value out of the card than it costs to keep it. Plus, it earns my favorite points — American Express Membership Rewards — earning 5 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked with Amex Travel.” — Ryan Smith, former credit cards writer

Enrollment is required for select benefits.

If you have a business banking relationship with Capital One, consider the Capital One Venture X Business card. It comes with a lower annual fee and access to Priority Pass™ lounges (after enrollment) and Capital One Lounges. Additionally, it earns at least 2 Capital One miles per dollar spent on all purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is best suited for travelers who can take full advantage of its elevated earning rates, statement credits and wide range of luxury benefits.

If you regularly spend on travel and lifestyle purchases, and want a premium reward card that delivers both luxury benefits and long-term value, the Sapphire Reserve is a card you should consider.

If you're looking for similar premium travel benefits but are an Amex loyalist, the American Express Platinum Card® is a strong competitor. It carries an $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) and offers extensive luxury perks, including access to the Amex Global Lounge Collection for eligible card members, complimentary Hilton and Marriott elite status (enrollment is required for select benefits), and annual statement credits across categories like airfare, hotels, ridesharing services, digital entertainment and more. Its rewards are also flexible to redeem for general travel, but are mostly focused on luxury experiences.

For those looking for a more budget-friendly entry point into travel rewards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a popular alternative — and one of our favorite beginner travel cards here at TPG. It has a much lower fee of $95, earns 3 points per dollar spent on dining, 2 points per dollar spent on travel and offers access to the same Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. While it lacks the premium perks of the Sapphire Reserve, it still provides solid travel protections and the ability to build up a stash of valuable points over time. It’s a great starter card for those new to travel rewards or not yet ready to commit to a premium card.