What Credit Card Should I Be Using for Hotel Incidental Charges?
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Starting today, "Reader Questions" will be answered twice a week — Tuesdays and Thursdays — by TPG Assistant Editor Brendan Dorsey. Brendan has been with TPG for a year and a half and hails from Northern California.
A common question many people ask is, "what's the best credit card for a particular purchase?" This was TPG reader Ross' dilemma regarding a recent points stay at a hotel in Hawaii, and purchases he charged to his room...
[pullquote source="TPG Reader Ross"]I am staying at the Marriott in Waikoloa, HI and booked using points from my Chase Sapphire Reserve. When I go to check out of the hotel should I pay the bill (drinks / food / any room charges) with the Amex Platinum I gave the desk when I checked in or the Sapphire Reserve?[/pullquote]
We need to break down this question into two parts. First, does Ross have to use his American Express Platinum Card, which he gave to the Marriott Waikoloa when he checked in, even though he booked the stay with points from his Chase Sapphire Reserve? And second, what card should he use to pay for his hotel incidentals, i.e.: for food, drinks and any room charges?
Let's start with the first question. The answer is pretty simple: no, Ross doesn't need to use his Amex Platinum just because he gave it to the desk when he checked in. He also doesn't need to use his Chase Sapphire Reserve for incidentals, even though his stay was paid for with Ultimate Rewards points.
The more complicated question is the second one. Which card is the best to use for hotel incidentals?
In Ross' case. he's asking whether he should use his Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve. The Platinum card gets 5x points on hotels, but that's only when booking through Amex Travel for prepaid hotels. Meaning once Ross actually gets to the hotel, his Platinum would only earn 1 point per dollar.
Ross will have better luck if he uses his Sapphire Reserve, which gets 3x points on all travel and dining purchases. So anything he buys at the property — be it from the poolside bar or hotel spa — and charges to his room will likely code as a hotel purchase, and should net him the 3x points.
It's also important to note how much different points are worth, which you can find in TPG's monthly points valuations. Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards are both quite valuable and flexible when it comes to redemptions. Membership Rewards points are worth 1.9 cents apiece while Ultimate Rewards are worth 2.1 cents.
Let's say Ross charges $300 to his room during his stay. Not only will the category bonus be higher if he uses the Sapphire Reserve, but the points are worth more:
| Card | POint Bonus | Hotel Charges | points earned | Value earned |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Sapphire Reserve | 3x | $300 | 900 | $18.90 |
The Platinum Card® from American Express | 1x | $300 | 300 | $5.70 |
As we can see, Ross will be getting significantly more value if he uses the Sapphire Reserve — a full $13.20 more.
Now, not everyone is going to have this particular card combo, as both of these are premium cards with high annual fees. But what you can personally take away from this question is that when you're staying at a hotel, make sure you're using a card that gets bonus points or miles on travel or hotel purchases.
Lower annual fee cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card both get 2x points (miles on the Venture) on all travel purchases. In Ross' case, since he's staying at a Marriott, he could also use a card like the Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express, which would get him 6x points on all purchases at a Marriott or Starwood property. Or if he had a Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card, that would net him 5x Marriott Rewards points on any similar transaction. You could even use a card like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card that comes with a $250 Hilton Resort statement credit if you're staying at an eligible Hilton property.
So if you've booked a hotel with points or a certain card, just make sure you look through your wallet once you actually get to the property and figure out which card gets the highest category bonus for travel or hotel purchases — it can mean a real difference in return. Thanks for the question, Ross, and if you're a TPG reader who'd like us to answer a question of your own, tweet us at @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or email us at info@thepointsguy.com.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees