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If you're a frequent guest of any hotel chains, picking up one of the best hotel credit cards is a game changer. These cards all earn rewards points that you can turn into free nights and score big savings on every trip. In addition, many hotel cards have special benefits that improve your travels, such as elite status in hotel loyalty programs, complimentary breakfasts, and even statement credits toward hotel purchases. All you need is the right hotel credit card for you. You'll find the best offers below.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Great for: Travel rewards bonus
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
Rewards Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, and 2x on all other travel purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
1X-5X points
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
60,000 bonus points
With a big sign-up bonus, the sky's the limit for this top-rated travel rewards card. Plus, the premium points program for travel and dining offers even more value for travel enthusiasts everywhere. Read Full Review
Great for: Luxury travel perks
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Regular APR
22.49%-29.49% Variable
Rewards 5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 3x points on travel and other dining. 1x points on all other purchases.
1X-10X points
Annual Fee N/A
$550
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
60,000 bonus points
The sign-up bonus, premium rewards for travel and dining, and a wide array of travel benefits give this card quite a bit of value. Read Full Review
Great for: Hotel rewards and savings
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, at gas stations, for air travel, and on hotels, 1x points on other purchases
1x - 3x points
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
60,000 ThankYou® Points
While it has flown under the radar, this rewards card packs big value with bonus opportunities and flexible travel points. Read Full Review
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Great for: Luxury travel perks
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000
The high annual fee is justifiable for frequent travelers who can take full advantage of a deep bench of valuable perks, including the big welcome offer, robust rewards, and lucrative annual travel credits. Read Full Review
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Great for: Marriott benefits
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards Earn up to 17x total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy™; Earn 3X Bonvoy points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining; Earn 2x Bonvoy points per $1 spent on other purchases.
2x - 17x points
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card!
Earn 3 Free Night Awards
The sign-up bonus, premium hotel rewards earn rate, and deep bench of hotel properties makes this a compelling pick for hotel stays.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Great for: Frequent Marriott stays
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
Regular APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer 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.
95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points
It's one of the most expensive hotel cards we've seen, but the benefits could be worth thousands for the right type of cardholder. Read Full Review
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Great for: IHG® benefits
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards Earn up to 26 points per $1 at IHG Hotels and Resorts: 10 points per $1 for purchases with this card, up to 10 more points per $1 from IHG for being an IHG One Rewards member; and up to 6 points per $1 from IHG for Platinum Elite Status, a benefit of this card. 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
3X - 26 points
Annual Fee N/A
$99
Welcome Offer Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 140,000 bonus points
This card has a very lucrative bonus you can earn after opening an account, and allows you to rack up tons of point on hotel stays.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Great for: Hyatt benefits
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable
Rewards 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.
Up to 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt
Annual Fee N/A
$95
Welcome Offer 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.
Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points
The annual fee is well justified for even occasional Hyatt hotel customers, given the card's big welcome offer, annual free night, and points program.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Great for: Premium Hilton benefits
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.99% to 29.99%, variable
Rewards 14 points per $1 at Hilton properties, 7 points per $1 on flights booked directly with the airline, rental cars booked through certain agencies, and dining in eligible U.S. restaurants, 3 points per $1 on all other eligible purchases
3X - 14x points
Annual Fee
$450
Welcome Offer 150,000 Hilton Honors points by spending $4,000 in the first three months of card opening
150,000 Hilton Honors points
This card comes with a high annual fee, but if you travel frequently and love to stay with Hilton, the benefits of the card can easily outweigh the fee.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Great for: Hilton benefits
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
20.99% to 29.99%, Variable
Rewards 12x points on Hilton purchases, 6x points on U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. dining, 3x points on other eligible purchases
3X - 12x points
Annual Fee $0 introductory annual fee, $95 thereafter
$0 introductory
Welcome Offer Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 3 months of Card Membership.
130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
Automatic Hilton Gold status is one of the many lucrative perks, including sky-high points for Hilton stays and for restaurants, groceries, and gas.
Here are the key details for the top hotel credit cards.
Great for: Travel rewards bonus
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers one of the bigger travel rewards bonuses we've come across. It earns versatile and valuable Ultimate Rewards points that you can use with multiple hotels.
Read the full Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review
Great for: Luxury travel perks
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a high-end travel card with a $300 annual spending credit toward travel purchases. Cardholders get special hotel benefits when booking with The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection℠.
Read the full Chase Sapphire Reserve® review
Great for: Hotel rewards and savings
The Citi Premier® Card earns an impressive 3 points per $1 in multiple bonus categories, including hotel purchases. It includes a $100 hotel savings on a single hotel stay of $500 or more booked through thankyou.com once per calendar year.
Read the full Citi Premier® Card review
Great for: Luxury travel perks
The Platinum Card® from American Express is packed with travel benefits, including a robust rewards program, elite status with multiple hotels, and valuable statement credits. Terms apply.
Read the full The Platinum Card® from American Express review
Great for: Marriott benefits
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has a modest annual fee that is justifiable even for the occasional traveler staying at Marriott properties. The rewards program and sign-up bonus are standout features.
Read the full Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card review
Great for: Marriott benefits
If you frequent Marriott properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a practical no-brainer. While the annual fee is high (see rates and fees), it packs in a big welcome offer and lucrative rewards program. Terms apply.
Read the full Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card review
Great for: IHG® benefits
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers a free night every account year, complimentary Platinum Elite status, and up to 26 points per $1 spent at IHG® hotels.
Read the full IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card review
Great for: Hyatt benefits
The World of Hyatt Credit Card includes up to two free nights per year, complimentary Hyatt Discoverist status, and a big introductory welcome bonus.
Read the full The World of Hyatt Credit Card review
Great for: Premium Hilton benefits
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card includes a robust rewards program on Hilton Hotels, certain flights, and U.S. restaurants (terms apply). But you'll need to frequent the properties to make the most of the annual fee (see rates and fees).
Read the full Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card review
Great for: Hilton benefits
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is the lower annual fee cousin of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. While the fee is lower, the card still includes a big welcome offer and rich rewards program (terms apply, see rates and fees). This is the Hilton card to choose if you're staying at Hilton properties a few times per year.
Read the full Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card review
A hotel credit card earns points that you can redeem for free hotel stays. Most hotel credit cards are tied to a specific hotel chain and earn points in that hotel's loyalty program. These cards often have special hotel benefits, such as complimentary elite status in the hotel brand's loyalty program and free night certificates every card membership year.
There are also hotel credit cards that aren't tied to a specific hotel brand. Instead, they earn travel points that you can use for bookings with multiple hotel chains. Some of the best travel credit cards let you book with a variety of hotels and airlines using your rewards. Since they're not connected to a single hotel chain, these cards give you more flexibility with the hotels you book. But they usually don't have the hotel-specific benefits you get with more traditional hotel credit cards.
To compare hotel credit cards, first decide if you want a card tied to a hotel chain or a more general travel credit card with a rewards program that lets you book multiple hotels. This helps you narrow down your options.
Once you know which type of card you want, you can compare credit cards side by side. Here are the most important features to look at:
The best credit card for hotels is The Platinum Card® from American Express. It includes complimentary Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status (enrollment required), premium rewards on hotels booked through amextravel.com, and complimentary benefits at over 1,000 properties through the Fine Hotels & Resorts® program. It also earns American Express Membership Rewards points that are transferable to multiple hotel chains. Terms apply. Although it has a $695 annual fee (see rates and fees), it's the perfect choice if you want luxury perks with a variety of hotels.
Keep in mind that no hotel credit card is right for everybody. Depending on your travel habits, you may prefer a different option, such as a travel credit card with one hotel chain that you visit frequently. Or, if you travel outside the United States quite a bit, it would make sense to review credit cards for international travel. Check out all the best hotel credit cards so you can pick the one that will reward you the most.
Here are the biggest pros and cons of hotel credit cards:
RELATED: See The Ascent's list of the best sign-up bonus credit cards
Now, let's take a closer look at the advantages of hotel cards:
It's also important to consider the disadvantages of hotel credit cards:
A hotel credit card is right for you if you stay at hotels multiple times per year. If you usually stay at the same hotel chain, look for a card with that hotel. Cards tied to a specific hotel loyalty program can be very rewarding for the hotel's most loyal guests. If you don't have a particular hotel you use most, then a more all-purpose hotel rewards card would be a better choice.
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Travel rewards bonus |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Luxury travel perks |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Hotel rewards and savings |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Luxury travel perks |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Marriott benefits |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Frequent Marriott stays |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: IHG® benefits |
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Hyatt benefits |
|
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Premium Hilton benefits |
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
|
Great For: Hilton benefits |
A hotel credit card earns rewards points that are redeemable for hotel stays. Traditional hotel credit cards are connected to one hotel chain and earn points in the loyalty program for that hotel. They also usually have extra perks with the hotel, such as certificates for free nights or elite status in the hotel's loyalty program. The other type of hotel card is general travel cards that earn points you can use for hotel bookings or other travel.
Compare hotel credit cards by looking at the following features:
The Platinum Card® from American Express is the best card for hotels overall. This card offers the most versatile hotel benefits, including elite status with multiple hotels, complimentary benefits through its Fine Hotels & Resorts® program, premium rewards on hotel bookings through amextravel.com, and flexible points redeemable with several different hotels. Terms apply and select enrollment is required. Instead of being limited to a single hotel, you can use this American Express card to save money at properties from different brands all over the world.
If you have one hotel chain you stay with all the time, then a rewards card with that hotel is likely best for you. In that case, you can get the most value through the benefits a credit card tied to that hotel chain offers.
Our Credit Cards Experts
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, click here
For rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here
For rates and fees for the The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa and Mastercard. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.