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In a nutshell
These hotel credit cards let you earn rewards for free hotel nights, suite upgrades and more.
- Some of the best hotel credit cards are co-branded with major hotel companies, whereas others are flexible rewards credit cards.
- Co-branded hotel credit cards can offer on-property hotel benefits like free wifi and room upgrades, whereas flexible rewards cards for hotels do not.
- The benefit of flexible rewards credit cards is the ability to use your points for stays with different hotel brands, or for airfare, gift cards or other types of redemptions.
Best hotel credit cards
- card_name: Best overall
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best for Hilton loyalists
- card_name: Best for Hyatt Loyalists
- card_name: Best for IHG Loyalists
- card_name: Best premium card for flexibility
- card_name: Best premium card for transfer partners
- card_name: Best for Marriott loyalists
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® : Best mid-tier Marriott card
- Wyndham Rewards Earner Card: Best for Wyndham fans
- card_name: Best for no annual fee
Our top recommendations for hotel credit cards
card_name: Best overall
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Why we like it
Often touted as the perfect beginner travel credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with all the necessities that a traveler needs. It’s got a large welcome bonus, it earns points quickly and it confers excellent travel insurance to protect you against flight delays and rental car dings.
The biggest selling point of the card is its flexible rewards. You can travel for pennies on the dollar by transferring the points you earn to airline and hotel loyalty programs such as Hyatt, United Airlines, British Airways and many more. You can also redeem your points for flights, rental cars and cruises through Chase Travel at a rate of 1.25 cents each.
Why we like it
The card_name is more of a travel credit card than a hotel credit card, and the flexibility of its rewards is where it truly shines. This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points that transfer 1:1 to hotel brands like IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt, However, users can also transfer points to frequent flyer programs like British Airways, Southwest Rapid Rewards and United MileagePlus.
Customers can also book hotel stays and other travel with a nearly endless number of hotels and resorts around the world directly through the Chase portal. Points redeemed for travel through Chase are worth 25% more compared to redeeming for statement credits or gift cards.
This card also comes with a generous sign-up bonus, an exceptional earning rate for everyday purchases and a reasonable annual fee of annual_fees. Due to the many built-in protections offered with this card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® is also one of the best credit cards for travel insurance.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best for Hilton loyalists
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Why we like it
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers lucrative benefits like a free night award each year, automatic Hilton Diamond status, various statement credit offers and even a Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership with unlimited visits (valued at $469). The huge welcome bonus and exceptional earning rates are just icing on the cake.
card_name: Best for Hyatt loyalists
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card
Why we like it
Why we like it
While the earning rate on the card_name is lower than some other hotel credit cards, points earned in this program are significantly more valuable. In fact, off-peak free night awards with Hyatt start at just 3,500 points per night.
This card makes it easier to earn more rewards for paid Hyatt stays and on other purchases, and it comes with automatic World of Hyatt status and the potential to earn several free nights through credit card spending. Many travel insurance perks are also offered, including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
card_name: Best for IHG loyalists
IHG(R) Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
IHG(R) Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Why we like it
With the card_name, you can earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 in the first three months, which is enough for up to four free nights at an IHG hotel. For ongoing rewards, you can earn up to 26x points when staying at IHG and 5x points for travel, dining, and gas station purchases, and 3x everywhere else. You’ll get a free night award worth up to 40,000 points every year after your account anniversary.
Cardholders also get a fourth night free when redeeming three award nights as well as a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points when spending $20,000 or more on the card in a calendar year. Considering the automatic Platinum Elite status and other card benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, the card is a great value for loyal IHG customers.
Why we like it
The card_name is the best hotel credit card for IHG enthusiasts since it offers so many benefits for an annual fee of just annual_fees per year. Cardholders get automatic Platinum Elite status, plus a free night each year worth up to 40,000 points. Several built-in travel insurance benefits also come with this offer, and members get a fee credit for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck.
Also note that free night awards start at just 5,000 points, and there are more than 6,000 IHG hotels and resorts to choose from.
card_name: Best premium card for flexibility
VentureOne Rewards from Capital One
VentureOne Rewards from Capital One
Why we like it
The card_name is a flexible travel credit card that works well for hotels. We say this because Capital One transfer partners include two hotel programs, Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards hotel programs. Cardholders can also use their Capital One miles to book any hotel or rental condo that's available through the Capital One Travel portal.
Members get benefits like a $300 annual travel credit and a Priority Pass Select membership, plus a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck membership and 10,000 anniversary miles when they renew their card each year.
card_name: Best premium card for transfer partners
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a premium travel rewards credit card with souped-up travel perks that the frequent traveler will love. You’ll get up to $300 in annual statement credits to offset virtually any travel purchase; you’ll get the highest level of travel insurance; you’ll get access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.
This card’s points can save you a bundle on travel in two key ways: You can redeem them for airfare, hotel stays, rental cars and more through Chase Travel at a rate of 1.5 cents. Or, you can convert them into several different airline miles and hotel points currencies to potentially get a value of 2 cents (or more) in travel from your rewards.
Why we like it
The card_name is exceptional for hotels due to its access to Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners, including three hotel programs. Cardholders can also use their points to book hotels, vacation rentals and other types of travel through the Chase portal, and points are worth 1.5 cents each for this redemption.
This premium travel credit card has a annual_fees annual fee, but benefits like a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass Select membership and the fee credit for Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA PreCheck membership help justify the cost.
card_name: Best for Marriott loyalists
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Why we like it
The card_name has a high annual fee for a hotel credit card, but it's meant for true Marriott enthusiasts who frequently stay with the brand. To make up for the annual_fees annual fee, the card comes with $300 in annual dining statement credits, a $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit, Priority Pass Select membership (valued at $469) and a free night award (up to 85,000 points) upon card renewal.
This card also comes with some travel protections built in, so it's a solid hotel credit card if you want travel insurance.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®: Best mid-tier Marriott card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless®
Why we like it
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® may not have the luxury travel benefits that come with premium hotel credit cards, but it does make it easy to earn more rewards for paid hotel stays. The sign-up bonus on this card can be enough for five free nights as well, and perks like automatic elite status and free night awards increase this card's long-term value.
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card: Best for Wyndham fans
Wyndham Rewards Earner Card
Wyndham Rewards Earner Card
Why we like it
The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card offers very generous benefits in exchange for its $0 annual fee, including automatic elite status and the opportunity to book hotels with 10% fewer points. This rewards program is also very broad since there are more than 9,000 properties to choose from worldwide, and free night awards normally cost 7,500 points, 15,000 points or 30,000 points.
This card even has a 0% intro APR on balance transfers, which is incredibly rare for hotel credit cards but may be useful if you need to consolidate and pay down high-interest debt.
card_name: Best for no annual fee
Hilton Honors Card from American Express
Hilton Honors Card from American Express
Why we like it
Thecard_name is very basic when you compare it to other hotel credit cards, but its rewards and included benefits make it a good option with no annual fee. Users can earn a generous welcome bonus and ample rewards for spending in plenty of everyday categories, and they get automatic Silver status with a pathway to Gold status.
The card also comes with a handful of complimentary benefits that may prove useful, including a ShopRunner membership, access to a Global Assist hotline and purchase protection against damage or theft.
| Card name | Annual fees | Welcome bonus | Credit score |
|---|---|---|---|
card_name | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | $550 | Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus points. | 690 |
card_name | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
card_name | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
card_name | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
card_name | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
card_name | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
card_name | annual_fees | bonus_miles | credit_score_needed |
How we chose the best hotel credit cards
To find the best hotel credit cards on the market today, we compared both co-branded hotel credit cards and flexible travel credit cards that let cardholders transfer points to hotel brands. From there, we compared offers based on their welcome bonuses, rewards flexibility, included perks and features and travel insurance benefits.
Ultimately, we looked for credit cards that offer the most lucrative rewards structures and welcome offers, as well as flexibility within their designated rewards programs. We also looked at cards based on their interest rates and fees, including foreign transaction fees and annual fees. The cards we selected for this ranking offer the most value in exchange for the annual fees they charge.
Choosing the best hotel credit card: Where to begin
If you're on the hunt for the best hotel credit card for your needs, you'll have to do some research upfront. In the meantime, think over the perks and benefits you want from a card, as well as how much you're willing to pay each year in annual fees.
Here's a rundown of the most important factors to consider:
Rewards programs
First, make sure any card you're considering offers the type of hotel rewards you want. This could mean earning hotel loyalty points in a program like Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt or Wyndham Rewards. However, you can also look at credit card rewards programs that let users redeem their points for hotels and other travel through a portal or transfer to airline and hotel programs.
Flexible rewards programs to check out include American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and the Citi ThankYou program.
Fees
Compare hotel credit cards based on their annual fees, and make sure any annual fee you're paying comes with enough benefits and rewards to justify it. Also check for credit cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees if you plan to use your hotel credit card for vacations abroad.
Travel benefits
Travel-related benefits also vary widely among these cards, and those with the highest annual fees offer premium perks like high levels of elite status, airport lounge access and annual statement credits. Some hotel and travel credit cards also offer travel insurance benefits.
Customer satisfaction rankings
Customer satisfaction rankings can help you learn what kind of customer service you'll receive when you apply for specific cards. The chart below reveals how major credit card issuers scored for customer satisfaction within J.D. Power's 2023 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study. This study relied on responses from 31,418 credit card customers from all the major card issuers between August 2022 through June 2023. Scores are out of 1,000 possible points.
| Credit card issuer | J.D. Power score |
|---|---|
American Express | 657/1000 |
Bank of America | 629/1000 |
Discover | 629/1000 |
Capital One | 616/1000 |
Chase | 607/1000 |
Citi | 606/1000 |
Wells Fargo | 602/1000 |
Fifth Third | 584/1000 |
U.S. Bank | 576/1000 |
PNC | 574/1000 |
How to make the most of your hotel credit card
A hotel credit card can be a valuable tool, but you'll get more out of the experience if you use your card wisely. Here are some tips to help you maximize your hotel credit card's benefits.
- Consider pairing a few different rewards credit cards. Many rewards enthusiasts pair up a few cards to take advantage of their unique features and benefits. A common strategy involves getting a co-branded hotel credit card and a travel credit card that lets users transfer rewards to different programs. That way, you can get some hotel-specific perks but still have the flexibility to redeem some of your rewards however you want.
- Book directly with hotels or travel portals to earn more rewards. Co-branded hotel credit cards offer the most rewards if you book hotel stays directly with them. Meanwhile, flexible travel credit cards tend to offer their highest rewards rates for hotels and rental cars booked through their respective portals.
- Pair your credit card balance in full each month. Never carry long-term debt on a rewards credit card. If you do, the credit card interest you pay will wipe out the value of the rewards you earn very quickly.
- Take advantage of free night awards. Remember whether your card has free hotel nights and go out of your way to use them each year. If you don't use them in time, free night awards can expire.
- Utilize free night booking benefits. Also, check whether your hotel loyalty program offers a free night when you book a certain number of award nights in a row. For example, IHG credit card customers get a fourth night free when they book at least three consecutive nights with points, and Marriott Bonvoy members get a fifth night free when they book at least four nights in a row with points.
Are hotel credit cards worth it?
Hotel credit cards can be well worth it for road warriors and families who want some elite benefits when they stay with their favorite hotel brand. Not only do these cards come with their share of complimentary perks, but they offer elevated rewards rates for paid hotel stays and other purchases.
Many co-branded hotel credit cards also come with automatic elite status, which can lead to even more benefits and make it easier to climb to higher status tiers over time.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Can you transfer hotel reward points?
The redemption options for hotel points depend largely on the program, and some do let you transfer hotel points to airlines at relatively disappointing rates. For example, IHG One Rewards points can be turned into airline miles with programs like American Airlines and JetBlue. However, you only get 2,000 airline miles for 10,000 IHG One Rewards points with most programs.
Do hotel points expire?
Hotel loyalty expiration policies vary by brand. For example, both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity. With the IHG One Rewards program, points expire after 12 months of inactivity.
What credit score do you need for a hotel credit card?
Most hotel credit cards and travel credit cards require very good or excellent credit. However, credit card issuers consider their approval requirements to be proprietary, so they do not list specific credit score requirements for their products.
What is a hotel-branded credit card?
Some hotel credit cards are considered "co-branded," meaning they are offered through a credit card issuer and a hotel loyalty program like IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt or Wyndham Rewards.
Can you have more than one hotel credit card?
You can definitely have more than one hotel credit card. You can also have a combination of hotel credit cards and travel credit cards.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit URL.
For rates and fees of the card_name, please visit URL.
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AP Buyline’s content is created independently of The Associated Press newsroom. Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content. Learn more about our policies and terms here.