Are hotel credit cards worth it?

Even if you only stay in hotels a few times a year, it can be worth it to carry a hotel credit card. That’s especially true if you stay with one chain in particular, but not enough to earn elite status on your own. Hotel credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses of hundreds of thousands of points or several free nights that can be worth well over $1,000, depending on how you use them. They also field valuable benefits, such as anniversary free nights, that can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, plus automatic hotel elite status with value-added perks, like early check-in, late checkout, food and beverage credits and the ability to earn even more bonus points on stays. What’s more, some hotel credit cards provide even more premium perks — such as on-property statement credits during stays, application fee refunds for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck , airport lounge access and comprehensive travel protections like trip delay insurance — that can add up to tremendous savings.

How do you get hotel points?

There are a few ways to earn hotel points, and carrying a hotel credit card is among the best. First, you can earn hotel points by signing up for a hotel chain’s loyalty program and staying with participating properties. For instance, if you stay at World of Hyatt brands like Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Place, you can earn points on each and every paid stay. Carrying a hotel credit card is a great way to supplement that earning since you accrue points not only on stays that you pay for with your card, but also on everyday purchases that you use your card to make. Finding a hotel credit card that earns multiple points per dollar on the purchases you make the most, such as groceries or gas, can boost your earning even further. Some hotel rewards programs have online shopping or dining portals , such as Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy. When you sign up and dine out, you can earn several points per dollar on meals at participating restaurants.

What is the best hotel rewards program?

The best hotel rewards program will depend on your travel habits and goals. If you tend to stay at the brands that are part of one chain, such as Hilton or IHG, then its loyalty program will probably be the best choice for you to focus on. On the other hand, if you are not loyal to a particular brand or two, you’ll want to evaluate your strategy for earning and redeeming points in the best way possible. It’s worth looking at all the brands that participate in each hotel loyalty program, which can run the gamut from no-nonsense, budget-conscious motels to ultraluxurious resorts. Pick a hotel rewards program that has the types of hotels where you tend to stay. Aside from your potential travel plans, you should look at which hotel credit cards will offer you the rewards and benefits you’ll be able to maximize most easily and put to use most frequently. After all, you don’t want to get stuck paying the annual fee for a hotel credit card whose perks you don’t use and whose hotels you don’t stay at. On the other hand, if you find a hotel credit card that offers benefits you can derive real value from, that earns bonus points on your major purchase categories each month and that has hotels where you actually want to redeem those points, then you’ve probably pinpointed the best hotel rewards program for you.

Which hotel credit card is best?

Like deciding what is the best hotel rewards program for you, choosing which hotel credit card is best will be based on your travel needs and goals, along with your everyday spending habits. For those who don’t travel frequently and only stay in hotels a few times a year, getting a hotel credit card with no annual fee (or a low one) that still offers a few benefits like low-level elite status and the ability to rack up bonus points on purchases is probably the best way to go. If you stick to one or two chains and spend a decent number of nights per year in each, you might want to consider a hotel credit card that offers a few more benefits with an annual fee of $100 or under . These cards tend to earn more points per dollar on more types of purchases and confer a higher tier of automatic elite status with more perks that you can take advantage of on a regular basis, such as space-available room upgrades and late checkout, thanks to your more frequent travels. Finally, if you are all-in on loyalty to one of the major chains, spend many nights per year at participating properties and can optimize both hotel- and non-hotel-related perks, such as statement credits for certain types of bookings, mid- and high-tier elite status that might include perks like complimentary daily breakfast during stays, airport lounge access and application fee refunds for frequent traveler programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you might want to consider a premium hotel credit card whose annual fee could be as high as $695. The type of traveler you are, how many hotel stays per year you usually book and the kinds of benefits you’re looking to reap from your hotel credit card will determine which hotel credit card is best for you. The good news is there are plenty of choices out there and options for trip-takers of every stripe.

Do hotel points expire?

Whether or not your hotel points expire depends on the specific program. Best Western Rewards points do not expire, for instance. However, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of no account activity. Wyndham Rewards points expire after just 18 months of no account activity, but they also expire four years after you earn them, whether your account has been active or not. Account activity in all these cases means earning or redeeming points, so it’s not just about having to book extra stays to keep your account in good standing. If you redeem points for a stay, that should reset your clock, too. Keeping your miles from expiring is also an excellent reason to carry a hotel credit card, since any points you earn with it, including on your day-to-day spending, will register as account activity and reset your points’ lifetime. We have a handy guide to expiration policies for airline miles and hotel points that can help you keep track of your points balances and ensure your hard-earned points stay safe.

Are hotel points transferable?

Many types of hotel points are transferable, and even transferable in different ways, depending on the terms and conditions of the specific hotel loyalty program. For instance, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to 39 airline loyalty programs. For most, the transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile. And, with most partners, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points, you earn 5,000 bonus airline miles, meaning you end up with 25,000 miles instead of just 20,000. Likewise, World of Hyatt members can convert their hotel points into airline miles with 25 airline loyalty programs, though the value proposition of doing so is not great. Many hotel loyalty programs also allow members to transfer points between their accounts. For instance, both Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt members can transfer points to one another for free, though certain terms, conditions and limits apply regarding how many transfers members can make, the minimum and maximum number of points that are transferable and how long both accounts must have been open.

Best hotel credit cards of June 2023

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If you’re a traveler that is often loyal to a particular hotel chain, having a cobranded hotel credit card can be a no-brainer. Unlike airline credit cards that don’t always offer strong enough perks to justify paying an annual fee, most hotel cards offer extremely valuable benefits packages. Perks can include an anniversary free night certificate, complimentary elite status (that may score you free breakfast), bonus points and potentially even on-property credits.

Some hotel credit cards are also currently offering increased welcome bonuses, making this a great opportunity to rack up points and perks for future getaways.

Here are some of the best hotel credit card offers from our partners.

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Comparing the best hotel credit cards of June 2023

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Card	Best for	Welcome Offer/Sign Up Bonus	Earning Rate	Annual Fee
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card	Best premium travel credit card	75,000 miles	10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day	$395
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	Best low-cost card for Hilton	Earn 130,000 Points and a Free Night Reward	Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card	$95
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card	Best card for IHG	140,000 points	Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases	$99
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card	Best rewards card for non-bonus spending	75,000 miles	5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day	$95
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	Best business card	Earn 120,000 points	Get 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com Earn 1.5X points on eligible purchases at US construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.	$695
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	Best card for Marriott	Earn 95,000 points	Earn 6 Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy™ program. 3 points at Worldwide Restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2 points on all other eligible purchases.	$650
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Best for luxury benefits	Earn 80,000 points	Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.	$695
The World of Hyatt Credit Card	Best card for Hyatt	Earn up to 60,000 points	Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships	$95
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	Best for travel credits	60,000 points	Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases	$550
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Best for travel insurance	60,000 bonus points	5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards® 3x on dining. 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.	$95

Frequently asked questions

Even if you only stay in hotels a few times a year, it can be worth it to carry a hotel credit card. That’s especially true if you stay with one chain in particular, but not enough to earn elite status on your own.

Hotel credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses of hundreds of thousands of points or several free nights that can be worth well over $1,000, depending on how you use them. They also field valuable benefits, such as anniversary free nights, that can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars, plus automatic hotel elite status with value-added perks, like early check-in, late checkout, food and beverage credits and the ability to earn even more bonus points on stays.

What’s more, some hotel credit cards provide even more premium perks — such as on-property statement credits during stays, application fee refunds for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, airport lounge access and comprehensive travel protections like trip delay insurance — that can add up to tremendous savings.
There are a few ways to earn hotel points, and carrying a hotel credit card is among the best.

First, you can earn hotel points by signing up for a hotel chain’s loyalty program and staying with participating properties. For instance, if you stay at World of Hyatt brands like Hyatt Regency and Hyatt Place, you can earn points on each and every paid stay.

Carrying a hotel credit card is a great way to supplement that earning since you accrue points not only on stays that you pay for with your card, but also on everyday purchases that you use your card to make. Finding a hotel credit card that earns multiple points per dollar on the purchases you make the most, such as groceries or gas, can boost your earning even further.

Some hotel rewards programs have online shopping or dining portals, such as Eat Around Town by Marriott Bonvoy. When you sign up and dine out, you can earn several points per dollar on meals at participating restaurants.
The best hotel rewards program will depend on your travel habits and goals. If you tend to stay at the brands that are part of one chain, such as Hilton or IHG, then its loyalty program will probably be the best choice for you to focus on.

On the other hand, if you are not loyal to a particular brand or two, you’ll want to evaluate your strategy for earning and redeeming points in the best way possible. It’s worth looking at all the brands that participate in each hotel loyalty program, which can run the gamut from no-nonsense, budget-conscious motels to ultraluxurious resorts. Pick a hotel rewards program that has the types of hotels where you tend to stay.

Aside from your potential travel plans, you should look at which hotel credit cards will offer you the rewards and benefits you’ll be able to maximize most easily and put to use most frequently. After all, you don’t want to get stuck paying the annual fee for a hotel credit card whose perks you don’t use and whose hotels you don’t stay at. On the other hand, if you find a hotel credit card that offers benefits you can derive real value from, that earns bonus points on your major purchase categories each month and that has hotels where you actually want to redeem those points, then you’ve probably pinpointed the best hotel rewards program for you.
Like deciding what is the best hotel rewards program for you, choosing which hotel credit card is best will be based on your travel needs and goals, along with your everyday spending habits.

For those who don’t travel frequently and only stay in hotels a few times a year, getting a hotel credit card with no annual fee (or a low one) that still offers a few benefits like low-level elite status and the ability to rack up bonus points on purchases is probably the best way to go.

If you stick to one or two chains and spend a decent number of nights per year in each, you might want to consider a hotel credit card that offers a few more benefits with an annual fee of $100 or under. These cards tend to earn more points per dollar on more types of purchases and confer a higher tier of automatic elite status with more perks that you can take advantage of on a regular basis, such as space-available room upgrades and late checkout, thanks to your more frequent travels.

Finally, if you are all-in on loyalty to one of the major chains, spend many nights per year at participating properties and can optimize both hotel- and non-hotel-related perks, such as statement credits for certain types of bookings, mid- and high-tier elite status that might include perks like complimentary daily breakfast during stays, airport lounge access and application fee refunds for frequent traveler programs like TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, you might want to consider a premium hotel credit card whose annual fee could be as high as $695.

The type of traveler you are, how many hotel stays per year you usually book and the kinds of benefits you’re looking to reap from your hotel credit card will determine which hotel credit card is best for you. The good news is there are plenty of choices out there and options for trip-takers of every stripe.
Whether or not your hotel points expire depends on the specific program. Best Western Rewards points do not expire, for instance. However, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of no account activity. Wyndham Rewards points expire after just 18 months of no account activity, but they also expire four years after you earn them, whether your account has been active or not.

Account activity in all these cases means earning or redeeming points, so it’s not just about having to book extra stays to keep your account in good standing. If you redeem points for a stay, that should reset your clock, too.

Keeping your miles from expiring is also an excellent reason to carry a hotel credit card, since any points you earn with it, including on your day-to-day spending, will register as account activity and reset your points’ lifetime.

We have a handy guide to expiration policies for airline miles and hotel points that can help you keep track of your points balances and ensure your hard-earned points stay safe.
Many types of hotel points are transferable, and even transferable in different ways, depending on the terms and conditions of the specific hotel loyalty program.

For instance, Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to 39 airline loyalty programs. For most, the transfer ratio is 3 Marriott Bonvoy points to 1 airline mile. And, with most partners, when you transfer 60,000 Marriott points, you earn 5,000 bonus airline miles, meaning you end up with 25,000 miles instead of just 20,000. Likewise, World of Hyatt members can convert their hotel points into airline miles with 25 airline loyalty programs, though the value proposition of doing so is not great.

Many hotel loyalty programs also allow members to transfer points between their accounts. For instance, both Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt members can transfer points to one another for free, though certain terms, conditions and limits apply regarding how many transfers members can make, the minimum and maximum number of points that are transferable and how long both accounts must have been open.

Best hotel credit cards

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why we love it: Although this card carries a high annual fee ($695; see rates and fees), it’s worth it for high-end travelers who can take advantage of benefits such as extensive airport lounge access and a plethora of statement credits, including up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits and up to $200 in annual hotel statement credits for Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings.

Who should use it: The Amex Platinum is geared toward luxury travelers, but its money-saving perks go far beyond travel and include statement credits toward Equinox membership, digital entertainment, Walmart+ subscriptions and more (enrollment is required for select benefits).

Unlocking elite status: Amex Platinum cardmembers can register for both automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status (enrollment is required). Hilton Honors Gold status usually requires staying 40 nights per year and confers perks like bonus earning on stays and daily food and beverage credits. Marriott Gold status, meanwhile, usually requires staying 25 nights per year and bestows privileges such as bonus earning on stays and availability-based room upgrades.

Why it’s in my wallet: “I put all of my flights on this card to earn 5 points per dollar spent. I make sure to take full advantage of the Uber, Saks Fifth Avenue, Hulu/Disney+ and Clear Plus credits (enrollment required for these benefits). And, honestly, pulling a Platinum card out of your wallet to pay for something does feel pretty fancy.” — Matt Moffitt, senior credit cards editor

Alternative card option: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has similar benefits to the Amex Platinum and earns more miles per dollar on everyday spending (i.e., non-bonus categories) with an annual fee that is much lower.

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Official application link: Platinum Card from American Express

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Why we love it: The Venture X gives cardholders many of the same benefits as other premium travel rewards credit cards — lounge access, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee statement credit and annual statement credits for trips booked through Capital One Travel (up to $300 in this case) — but at a much lower annual fee of $395 per year. Right now, you can earn up to 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Who should use it: 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 booked via Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases.

Unlocking elite status: Although cardholders aren’t eligible to register for automatic elite status with any of the major hotel loyalty programs, this card does open up the possibility of enjoying elite like perks such as availability-based room upgrades and complimentary daily breakfast on stays booked through Capital One’s new Premier Collection, a curated list of high-end hotels around the globe.

Why it’s in my wallet: “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

Alternative card option: The $95-per-year Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great alternative to the Venture X since its welcome offer is identical, 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.

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Official application link: Capital One Venture X

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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Why we love it: This midrange hotel card offers plenty of valuable benefits, including automatic Hilton Honors Gold elite status, 10 Priority Pass lounge visits every year and the ability to earn a free night reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year — all for just a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees).

Who should use it: 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; and 3 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Unlocking elite status: Hilton Honors Surpass cardholders automatically receive Hilton Honors Gold status, which comes with perks such as space-available room upgrades, a daily food and beverage credit, a fifth night free (plus no resort fees) during award stays, late checkout and more. Cardholders who make $40,000 or more in purchases on the card in a calendar year are bumped up to Hilton’s top-tier Diamond status.

Why it’s in my wallet: “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, credit cards editor

Alternative card option: 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.

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Official application link: Hilton Honors Amex Surpass Card

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Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Why we love it: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best all-around travel rewards credit cards thanks to a solid welcome offer, relatively low annual fee and strong earning rates on travel, dining, streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart).

Who should use it: 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 at 1.25 cents apiece 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.

Unlocking elite status: Although this card doesn’t confer elite status outright, you can transfer the points it earns to World of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy and redeem them for nights with those loyalty programs, thus upping your elite qualifying nights through stays. Cardholders also receive up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary for hotel stays purchased through Ultimate Rewards.

Why it’s in my wallet: “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 content operations editor

Alternative card option: 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 $100) once every four years, and Priority Pass lounge access so your time at the airport is that much more comfortable.

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Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred

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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

Why we love it: The strong sign-up bonus, a reasonable annual fee and an annual free night reward worth up to 35,000 points (or up to 50,000 thanks to Marriott Bonvoy’s free night certificate top-up perk) all make this hotel credit card one of the best around.

Who should use it: 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.

Unlocking elite status: Cardholders can expect automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status plus 15 elite night credits each calendar year toward reaching higher status. They can also hit Gold status by making $35,000 or more in purchases on the card in a calendar year.

Why it’s in my wallet: “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

Alternative card option: 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).

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Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

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World of Hyatt Credit Card

Why we love it: For a relatively low annual fee, you get some tremendous perks with this card, including one free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each year after your cardmember anniversary, plus a second free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each cardmember year when you spend $15,000 on the card.

Who should use it: Hyatt loyalists who want to up their earning potential thanks to this card’s accrual rates, which include at least 9 points per dollar on Hyatt stays (4 per dollar at participating properties, plus 5 per dollar for being a World of Hyatt member), 2 points per dollar on dining out and on airline tickets purchased directly from airlines, 2 points per dollar on gym and fitness club memberships, 2 points per dollar on local transit and commuting, and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Unlocking elite status: Cardholders receive automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status — with perks like bonus earning on stays, availability-based upgrades and priority for availability-based late checkout — in addition to receiving five qualifying night credits toward the next level of elite status each year and two additional elite night credits for each $5,000 spent on the card each calendar year.

Why it’s in my wallet: “The World of Hyatt Credit Card remains an integral card for me, especially for the ability to earn up to two free night awards each year. In addition, receiving five elite night credits just for having the card each year helps set me on the path toward renewing my top-tier Globalist status.” — Senitra Horbrook, credit cards editor

Alternative card option: The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great alternative to the World of Hyatt Credit Card since the Ultimate Rewards points it earns can be transferred to Hyatt, along with a dozen or so other airline and hotel partners, so you’re not locked into a single hotel loyalty program.

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Official application link: World of Hyatt Credit Card

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IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card

Why we love it: Consistently high welcome offers, a midrange annual fee, excellent earning rates and valuable benefits like an annual award night certificate worth up to 40,000 points and a Nexus, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit worth up to $100 every four years all make this card a keeper.

Who should use it: 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.

Unlocking elite status: Cardholders receive automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum elite status, which normally requires spending 40 nights per year in IHG hotels and includes perks like earning bonus points on stays, a free welcome drink or snack, complimentary availability-based upgrades and more.

Why it’s in my wallet: “Having the IHG 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

Alternative card option: 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 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.

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Official application link: IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card

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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Why we love it: This premium hotel credit card costs a pretty penny ($650 per year; see rates and fees), but packs in tons of perks to compensate for it, including a free night award worth up to 85,000 points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program (certain hotels have resort fees) and up to $300 in statement credits for eligible purchases (up to $25 per month) at worldwide restaurants. It’s also a decent earner, accruing 6 points per dollar at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Who should use it: Luxury travelers loyal to Marriott will likely make the most of this card thanks to both its hotel- and non-hotel-related benefits, which include up to $100 in credits for on-property charges when booking stays of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties, Priority Pass Select lounge access and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit worth up to $100 every four years. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Unlocking elite status: Folks with this card enjoy complimentary automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status, which usually requires staying 50 nights per year and includes benefits such as availability-based upgrades (including to some suites) and late checkout until 4 p.m., club lounge access at certain properties, and a welcome amenity of points, a gift or free breakfast. They also receive 25 elite night credits each calendar year toward a higher level of status, which can be a very helpful boost.

Why it’s in my wallet: “This card is an absolute must for those who stay at full-service Marriott brands multiple times a year, but not quite enough to earn Marriott Platinum elite status on their own, and unlocks perks like free breakfast, club access and suite upgrades.” — Summer Hull, director of content

Alternative card option: If you want to rack up Marriott Bonvoy points at a quick clip but the idea of a card with a $650 annual fee is a dealbreaker, consider Chase’s Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card instead, which has a much lower $95 annual fee but still accrues bonus points on everyday purchases and offers automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status, along with 15 elite night credits per year to help you hit a higher tier.

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Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex

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Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card

Why we love it: This card’s steady sign-up offer of 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening is enough for up to six free nights at participating properties, of which there are 9,000 worldwide. Who doesn’t love a card that can get you a great vacation in one go?

Who should use it: The key to unlocking this card’s true potential is to leverage its earning rates by maximizing its bonus categories of 6 points per dollar on eligible Wyndham and gas purchases, 4 points per dollar on dining and grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) and 1 point per dollar on all other eligible purchases. If those types of purchases are your typical spending centers, then you’ll be racking up enough points for free stays more quickly than you think. That’s not even taking into account this card’s 7,500-point anniversary bonus every year.

Unlocking elite status: Cardholders can enjoy automatic Wyndham Rewards Platinum elite status for perks like early check-in, preferred room choice and car rental upgrades with Avis and Budget.

Why it should be in your wallet: If you stay at Wyndham’s thousands of properties around the world, this card makes it super easy to rack up points for free stays quickly thanks to its excellent bonus earning categories.

Alternative card option: Small-business owners might prefer the Wyndham Earner® Business Card, which has an annual fee of $95 (as opposed to $75 with the Earner Plus) but earns more points per dollar on Wyndham stays and gas, and has bonus categories of marketing, advertising and utilities. It also unlocks Wyndham Rewards’ top-tier Diamond status to boot.

The information for the Wyndham Earner® Business card, and Wyndham Earner Plus Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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Official application link: Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Why we love it: Where to begin? This card is truly one of the best hotel credit cards around thanks to stellar earning rates, automatic elite status and tons of value-added perks that can save you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars per year.

Who should use it: This card has a few key benefits that should be the deciding factors on whether it’s the right choice for you. First, it awards cardholders with one free night reward good at any participating Hilton Honors property that can be worth well over $1,000, depending on where you redeem it, plus a second free night reward after spending $60,000 or more on purchases with your card in a calendar year. Each year of membership, cardholders also get up to $250 in statement credits toward eligible purchases made with participating Hilton resorts and up to $250 per calendar year in statement credits for incidental fees such as checked baggage, inflight refreshments, and flight change fees on an airline you designate. That’s some great value.

Unlocking elite status: One of this card’s almost-too-good-to-be-true perks is automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status, which normally requires staying 60 nights per calendar year and includes benefits such as earning 100% bonus points on stays, space-available upgrades to standard suites, executive lounge access at eligible properties and a daily food and beverage credit, among other features.

Why it’s in my wallet: “I love that the Hilton Aspire provides top-tier Diamond status as a cardmember perk along with a $250 airline fee credit, $250 Hilton resort credit and an annual free night reward. These perks provide my husband and me with enough value in just a few Hilton stays each year to justify the annual fee.” — Katie Genter, senior writer

Alternative card option: With a much lower annual fee of just $95 (see rates and fees) but similar earning rates and welcome offer (and just automatic Hilton Honors Gold status rather than Diamond), the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card might be a better choice for some travelers.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

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What is a hotel credit card?

A hotel credit card is a type of rewards credit card that earns points with a specific hotel loyalty program, such as Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt, on everyday spending.

You can then redeem these points toward free stays and other awards, such as suite upgrades. Some general travel rewards credit cards earn points that can be transferred to hotel partners as well.

In addition to earning points on purchases, hotel credit cards usually come with other benefits, such as automatic hotel elite status and annual free night certificates. Some premium hotel credit cards even offer high-end perks like airport lounge access or statement credits toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry applications.

How to choose a hotel credit card

Here are the main factors to consider when choosing a hotel credit card.

First, think about the hotels where you tend to stay and pick a hotel credit card that earns points with those hotels’ loyalty programs.

If you tend to stay in hotels that participate in Marriott Bonvoy, such as Westin, Courtyard by Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, then a card that earns Marriott Bonvoy points is probably your best bet. If your main chain is Hilton — which includes brands like DoubleTree, Embassy Suites and Waldorf Astoria — you may want to consider a credit card that earns Hilton Honors points instead.

Next, consider a card’s sign-up bonus. Opening a new hotel credit card can be a fantastic opportunity to earn hundreds of thousands of hotel points or several free award nights in a short period of time by meeting the introductory offer terms, such as spending a certain dollar amount on purchases within a set time frame.

The quality of a hotel credit card’s welcome bonus should be one of the primary data points in your decision whether or not to apply for it.

Beyond the points you can earn through a sign-up bonus, however, look at the purchase categories where a hotel credit card earns bonus points on an ongoing basis. If groceries and gas are two of your main expenses each month, pick a hotel credit card that earns bonus points at supermarkets and gas stations. If you spend more on dining out and airfare, think about the hotel credit cards that earn multiple points per dollar on those types of purchases.

You’re probably going to want to hang on to your hotel credit card for a while, so look into the types of ongoing and annual benefits that each card you’re thinking about offers. Some hotel credit cards offer free award night certificates each year after your cardmember anniversary. Others confer automatic hotel elite status, or a boost toward higher status levels, just for carrying them. Still others offer value-added perks, such as airport lounge access or statement credits toward luxury hotel stays. Think about the kinds of perks a card you’re considering includes and whether you’ll be able to maximize them.

Finally, hotel credit cards have annual fees ranging from $0 up to hundreds of dollars per year. Before opening a new hotel credit card, think about whether that expense fits your budget and if it will be worth it based on how much value you’ll be able to get from a hotel credit card’s benefits.

Benefits of hotel credit cards

Hotel credit cards typically offer several types of benefits which can not only make it easier to rack up free nights faster, but also to enjoy your stays even more when traveling. Here are several benefits to look out for in any hotel credit card you apply for.

Hotel loyalty program points-earning

When you use a hotel credit card to make purchases, you earn points toward free stays, sort of like you earn points when actually staying at a hotel.

What’s great about earning points with hotel credit cards, though, is that many of them accrue multiple points per dollar on a wide range of purchase categories.

First and foremost, you should earn several points per dollar when using your card to pay for stays and other purchases at the hotel chain that the card is cobranded with.

Then, look at what other categories a specific card earns bonus points in. These can range from airfare and car rentals to dining, gas, groceries and more. Pick a card that earns the most points in the categories where you spend the most each month.

Complimentary elite status

Hotel elite status can be a great way to enjoy extra benefits during stays. Typically, you have to spend a certain number of nights or earn a certain number of hotel points on stays throughout a calendar year in order to earn elite status.

However, many of the best hotel credit cards offer cardholders automatic elite status at the lower or middle tiers, which can confer benefits such as earning bonus points on stays, food and beverage credits and late checkout, among other perks.

Some hotel credit cards also offer elite night credits toward earning a higher level of status if your typical travel activity already gets you elite status. This can be a great way to boost yourself to a higher rung of status, and thus enjoy even more benefits.

Free night certificates

One of the best benefits any hotel credit card can offer is an annual free night award. Usually, you receive this type of perk each year after your cardmember anniversary comes around and you pay the card’s annual fee. Some hotel credit cards offer these types of free night certificates for making a certain dollar amount of purchases with the card each year, too.

Some of these free night certificates have conditions attached to them, such as only being usable on weekend nights or at a restricted number of hotel categories, or being worth only up to a certain number of points. Others are relatively open-ended and usable at any participating property with standard award availability.

When considering a hotel credit card, look at the type of free night certificates it offers, what you need to do to earn them, and where they are redeemable to determine how you’ll be able to put them to the best use.

Airport lounge access

Certain premium hotel credit cards offer airport lounge access as one of their benefits. However, this can vary greatly by the card.

The Platinum Card® from American Express, for instance, which earns American Express Membership Rewards points that you can transfer to Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and Choice Privileges, also grants cardholders access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges and Priority Pass, Escape and Airspace lounges, plus Delta Sky Clubs on same-day Delta flights. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

By contrast, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card only offers Priority Pass lounge access for the cardholder and up to two guests (additional guests are charged $32 per lounge visit, and authorized users do not receive Priority Pass membership). Enrollment is required.

The information for the Hilton Aspire card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Other hotel benefits

Carrying a hotel credit card confers other hotel benefits as well — some related to elite status, and some that are card-specific.

For instance, thanks to the Hilton Honors Gold elite status you can enjoy with the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, you can count on perks such as space-available room upgrades, a daily food and beverage credit, a fifth night free (plus no resort fees) during award stays, late checkout and more.

Certain hotel credit cards offer benefits that go beyond simple elite status, though. In addition to automatic Marriott Bonvoy Platinum elite status, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card extends value-added benefits such as a $100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit when using your card for qualifying charges at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels when you book directly using a special cardholder rate for stays of two nights or more.

How to maximize hotel rewards points

There are several things savvy travelers can do to maximize hotel rewards points, from snagging high introductory offers on hotel credit cards to racking up points even faster with strategic spending.

Earn the sign-up bonus

One of the fastest and easiest ways to maximize hotel rewards points is to open a new hotel credit card and earn its sign-up bonus. That’s because these sign-up bonuses can be worth hundreds of thousands of hotel points, or come in the form of individual free night certificates worth tens of thousands of points each.

Sign-up bonuses change all the time, though. For that reason, it’s important to do some homework and find out whether the current sign-up bonus of a hotel credit card you may be interested in is at the higher end of the spectrum (i.e., worth more points than usual).

Some hotel credit card welcome offers require you to spend anywhere from $1,000-$5,000 on purchases within the first three to six months of account opening. Only apply for a hotel credit card if it has a spending requirement you can meet through responsible spending and if you can pay your balances off on time and in full. Otherwise, you might rack up debt and interest that costs far more than your hotel points are worth.

Join the associated hotel’s loyalty rewards program

It should go without saying, but if you are considering a hotel credit card, you should join the associated hotel’s loyalty rewards program. If you are not yet a member, signing up for a hotel credit card will usually generate a membership number for you with the hotel rewards program.

However, if you already have an account with the hotel loyalty program, make sure it is attached to your credit card so that you earn the points or awards from its sign-up bonus and that your everyday spending funnels the points you earn directly into your account. This will also ensure that any elite status benefits to which you are entitled are associated with your account during stays.

Book directly with the hotel or use a shopping portal

When it comes to earning hotel rewards points and credit toward elite status, many of these programs tend to require that you book your hotel stays directly with them rather than through a third-party online travel agency.

You don’t give up anything by doing so since most hotel chains have a best rate guarantee, which means if you find a better price for the same stay, dates, room category, etc., the hotel will match the better rate, and sometimes even offer a refund or discount to make up for the inconvenience.

Aside from booking stays to earn hotel points, you can ramp up your points-earning by making purchases through an online shopping portal. An online shopping portal is basically a website where you log in using your loyalty program or credit card credentials. Once logged in, you can browse the list of partner merchants, which typically include well-known hotels along with hundreds of retailers like Macy’s, Nike and Best Buy. When you click through to the retailers’ sites from the online shopping portal, you can then earn additional points per dollar or cash back on those purchases. It’s a great way to accrue even more points on purchases you plan to make anyway.

Methodology

Finding the best hotel credit card for you can be a stressful and overwhelming process, especially for beginners. The TPG team has spent hours researching the best offers and compiling our top options — some from our partners and some not — to help you compare cards. We looked at sign-up offers, earning structures and bonus categories, annual fees, redemption options and more to pick the best hotel credit card offers available to you.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Aspire Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Card, please click here.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

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Card Name

Best hotel credit cards

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card