Enjoy a generous welcome offer and luxurious hotel benefits with the best co-branded hotel card, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express.
Hotel credit cards, whether co-branded or general travel cards earning transferable points or miles, can unlock a world of hotel benefits usually reserved for elite loyalty program members.
The best hotel cards will offer hefty welcome bonuses and a strong earning rate (which are both co-branded and general travel card perks). Co-branded cards typically offer automatic elite status and VIP perks, ranging from complimentary room upgrades to late checkouts. In contrast, general travel cards tend to give you more flexibility when redeeming points or miles for hotel stays.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x to 14x points
While the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express has a high annual fee ($550), its generous suite of benefits makes it the best and most valuable hotel credit card on our list. Cardholders get automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status and all the perks that come with it (enrollment required), as well as a free night award, up to $400 in Hilton Resort statement credits, up to a $100 Hilton property credit and more.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
Apply Now
Earn 2x to 10x miles
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is our top choice for earning rewards on hotel stays, due to its lucrative earning rate and sign-up bonus. You can rack up 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Points can be used to book travel (including hotels) through the Capital One Travel portal, yet you can also transfer rewards to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x to 7x points
The Hilton Honors American Express Card doesn’t charge an annual fee, which makes it a good choice for infrequent travelers. The card offers an especially generous welcome offer for a $0-annual-fee card, as well as a great rate on paid Hilton stays and other spending. The card’s benefits also include automatic Hilton Honors Silver status (enrollment required) and no foreign transaction fees.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x to 12x points
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a great choice for frequent travelers who mostly want to earn free hotel nights each year. This card comes with an exceptional earning rate for Hilton hotel stays and a range of everyday spending categories. Moreover, its generous welcome offer can be worth up to several free nights right off the bat. The card also comes with automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, as well as the ability to earn Hilton Honors Diamond status for spending $40,000 on the card within a calendar year (enrollment required).
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 3x to 12x points
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is our top pick for small business owners for several reasons — including its lucrative welcome offer and excellent rewards rate. Cardholders also get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, along with the opportunity to elevate to Diamond status after spending $40,000 on eligible purchases in a calendar year (enrollment required). Benefits like 10 Priority Pass airport lounge visits per year (enrollment required), no foreign transaction fees and the ability to earn up to two free night awards for spending on the card also help it stand out.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 2x to 6x points
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is an excellent choice for frequent travelers and dedicated Marriott loyalists who want the star treatment that comes with a luxury hotel credit card. The more you travel, the more value you’ll get out of the airport lounge access benefit and other benefits. And depending on your travel patterns, you may be able to make back the high annual fee many times over.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn up to 9x points
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is valuable for Hyatt loyalists for a few reasons — including its generous earning rate and the fact you get automatic Hyatt Discoverist status for a reasonable $95 annual fee. The World of Hyatt program is one of the best hotel rewards programs, since points are worth more than other hotel loyalty points (approximately 1.7 cents each) based on our recent valuations.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 2x points to 17x points
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is one of the best Marriott credit cards for frequent travelers loyal to the Marriott Bonvoy program. With a lucrative welcome offer, it’s great for those who want to leverage their everyday spending to land the biggest rewards. The card is linked to a brand with an extensive portfolio — over 8,000 properties — giving you a large number of options to use that welcome offer.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn up to 26x points
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is best for loyal IHG hotel travelers who want to maximize rewards on paid stays, while also enjoying some basic benefits. You’ll get one free award night each year on your card anniversary, automatic Platinum Elite status in the IHG Rewards program and more.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 2x to 3x points
For travelers who regularly stay at Best Western hotels, the Best Western Rewards Mastercard can offer significant value with its high rewards rate and top hotel perks. For a $0 annual fee, cardholders can enjoy automatic Gold status, early check-in, late checkout and more.
On top of these lucrative benefits, cardmembers can also earn up to three free nights in bonus points: You earn 40,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened, and 20,000 points when you spend $5,000 every 12 billing cycles. The extra 20,000 points is relatively easy to hit over 12 months, so this is a sweet deal for a card that doesn’t charge an annual fee.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 1x to 6x points
The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus® Card is our pick for the best hotel credit card for Wyndham because of its fantastic sign-up bonus and excellent hotel perks. Cardholders will automatically be granted Wyndham Rewards Platinum member level, which offers benefits like car rental upgrades, early check-in and more. You’ll also enjoy 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year after paying the renewal fee. Plus, you can earn 75,000 bonus points, enough for up to 10 free nights after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 180 days. And you’ll get all this and more for a moderate $75 annual fee.
While not co-branded to a specific hotel chain, general travel rewards credit cards can be great for consumers who aren’t particularly brand loyal and prefer to stay at a variety of properties. These cards can come with perks like elite status for multiple hotel programs, travel and hotel credits, airport lounge access and more.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Rewards: 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a flexible travel card that’s perfect for frequent travelers who stay in a lot of different hotels. It comes with both Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold elite status (enrollment required). Cardmembers receive a $100 experience credit with booked stays at properties in The Hotel Collection with American Express Travel. Terms apply. Stays booked at Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel come with luxury perks like early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades, breakfast for two, experience credits and more.
The card also lets you earn American Express Membership Rewards points that can be used to book hotel stays, flights, rental cars and more. American Express points also transfer directly to an array of frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs, including Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers a broad set of travel protections for frequent travelers for a very reasonable annual fee. You’ll get trip cancellation/interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, trip delay reimbursement and primary auto rental collision damage waiver. Cardholders also have access to travel and emergency assistance wherever they travel. Further, Chase Ultimate Rewards® points can be used for a range of flexible options, including airfare, hotel stays and other travel through Chase, gift cards and statement credits.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
While the Chase Sapphire Reserve® has the same flexible rewards program of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, quite a few luxury perks are added into the mix. In exchange for a $550 annual fee (which is mostly covered by the card’s $300 flexible travel credit) you get Priority Pass airport lounge access. Cardholders also get a slightly higher rewards rate on travel, making the card a preferable choice for heavy travelers.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Earn 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Redeeming miles with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a breeze, with several options to choose from — including using miles to erase past travel purchases. You also have the option to transfer miles to Capital One’s airline and hotel partners or book travel directly through Capital One.
The card earns 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Rewards: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card helps students build credit, earn rewards and book hotel rooms in their own name. A minimum security deposit of $200 is required, yet you can earn an unlimited 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). There’s a $0 annual fee — and as for foreign transaction fees, there are none.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Annual Fee | Rewards Rate | Welcome Offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express*
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Overall
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$550 | 14X points on eligible purchases at hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio, 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and U.S. restaurants and 3X points on other purchases | Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. | |
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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
General travel
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$395 | 2X Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10X Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5X Miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel | Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
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Hilton Honors American Express Card
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No annual fee
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$0 | Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations AND 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. | Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. | |
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Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
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Free nights
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$150 | Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio. Earn 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations. Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases. Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. | Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025. | |
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The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
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Small business
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$195 | Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases. Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter. Terms & Limitations Apply. | Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/8/2025. | |
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
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Marriott
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$650 | Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. | 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. | |
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World of Hyatt Credit Card*
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Hyatt
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$95 | 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. 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships. Plus, earn 1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | 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. | |
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card*
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Sign-up bonus
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$95 | Earn up to 17X total points at participating Marriott hotels. Earn 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. Earn 2X points on all other purchases. | Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. | |
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card*
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IHG
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$99 | Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. 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. | Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | |
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Best Western Rewards Mastercard*
Review Coming Soon
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Best Western
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$0 | 13x points on Best Western purchases (10 points as a Best Western Rewards® member, 3 points for using your Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®) and 2x points on other purchases | 40,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened | Review Coming Soon |
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Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus® Card*
Learn More
on Barclays's secure site |
Wyndham
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$75 | Earn 6X points on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham as well as on qualifying gas purchases, 4X points on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®) and 1X points on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Vacation Club down payments). | Earn 75,000 bonus points, enough for up to 10 free nights after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 180 days. |
Learn More
on Barclays's secure site |
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The Platinum Card® from American Express
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Luxury benefits
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$695 | 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Terms apply. | Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. | |
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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Travel insurance
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$95 | Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more. | Get up to $1,050 in Chase Travel℠ value. Earn 60,000 bonus points after $4,000 in purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. That's worth $750 when redeemed through Chase Travel. Plus, get up to $300 in statement credits on Chase Travel purchases within your first year. |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
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Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Travel credits
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$550 | Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases. | Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
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Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Easy redemption
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$95 | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
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Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Students
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$0 | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) | N/A |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Hotel credit cards allow you to earn and redeem points with a hotel brand and access hotel and resort perks like elite status, early check-in, late check-out, room upgrades, welcome gifts, premium Wi-Fi and more. Some hotel cards will allow you to transfer points earned to travel transfer partners, like airlines or rental car companies. These cards also typically reserve the highest bonus rates for purchases with the hotel brand, with other rates that vary depending on the category.
Some hotel credit cards, like Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus® Card, give cardholders discounts on booked rooms. Other cards may offer discounts on rooms through free anniversary nights annually or the fourth or fifth award night free.
Hotel cards are ideal for frequent travelers who prefer to stay at a particular hotel brand and plan to book multiple stays annually. It’s not a good choice for those who book accommodations depending on who has the best deals.
The value of a hotel point will depend on the particular hotel (or issuer) loyalty program, as well as how you choose to redeem your points.
| Hotel loyalty program | Points value |
|---|---|
| IHG Rewards | ' 0.5 cents per point (1,000 points = $5) |
| Wyndham Rewards | 0.9 cents per point (1,000 points = $9) |
| World of Hyatt | 1.7 cents per point (1,000 points = $17) |
| Hilton Honors | 0.5 cents per point (1,000 points = $5) |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 0.9 cents per point (1,000 points = $9) |
Tip: You should check the value of your target redemption option before you transfer flexible points (like Chase Ultimate Rewards®) into a hotel program. You may be better off redeeming points through the card’s travel portal. For example, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card points are worth 1.25 when redeemed for travel through the Ultimate Rewards portal. As you can see from our chart above, most hotel program redemptions (outside of Hyatt) are worth less than this.
Make a co-branded hotel credit card worth it by staying brand loyal and traveling frequently.
You’ll get the most bang for your buck with a co-branded hotel credit card if you typically stay with the same hotel brand three or more times a year.
Even for travelers who stay with different hotel brands, or for those who only stay at hotels once or twice a year, hotel credit cards can still come in handy if you value earning free nights, perks and upgrades during your stay. When you accumulate enough points, you can cash your rewards in for free hotel stays on your next vacation.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
A co-branded hotel credit card is a great tool that allows you to earn extra points for hotel stays, as well as earn on your everyday spending. | The downside of hotel co-branded cards is that you receive the most benefit when you’re staying at the hotels in that brand’s portfolio. Co-branded cards are great for travelers who stay loyal to one particular brand, but not as convenient for those seeking flexibility. |
Not interested in going brand loyal yet? General travel credit cards earn flexible points that can be worthwhile when you want to maintain flexibility, while also saving some dollars towards hotels when you travel.
Accumulate flexible points during the year and transfer to a hotel partner through your issuer’s rewards program.
| Credit card issuer | Hotel partners | General travel cards |
|---|---|---|
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The benefits offered with a hotel credit card vary depending on the hotel brand and card. Some hotels have several co-branded cards with different features and perks. Below are common benefits offered with hotel credit cards.
Free night(s)
There’s nothing better for travelers than free travel, including free hotel stays. Many hotel credit cards come with a free night each year on the anniversary of your account opening, redeemable at various properties worldwide (although some are limited to specific category levels). Other cards offer a free night during award stays lasting multiple consecutive nights.
Elite status
One of the most common perks with hotel cards is automatic elite status with the hotel chain. Hotels often have tiered status levels based on the number of nights stayed during the year or other criteria. A hotel card can help you jump to a higher status level and access additional luxury perks like free Wi-Fi, club or lounge access, meal credits and more.
Statement credits
Some hotel cards come with valuable statement credits you can use annually to recoup money spent at their hotels and resorts. For example, the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express gets you up to $400 in statement credits (up to $200 semiannually) for eligible purchases at Hilton properties. It also comes with up to $100 in credits for purchases at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts.
Enhanced earning rates
Instead of earning one or two points per dollar for hotel stays, some hotel cards offer higher bonus rates on hotel brand purchases using the card. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card earns 6 more points per $1 on top of your base point earnings at Marriott hotels. Meanwhile, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card earns 10 points per $1 on top of your base point earnings at IHG hotels and resorts. And, because the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card automatically elevates you to IHG Platinum elite status, you get a 50% bonus on your base points (5 additional points per $1), just by opening the card.
Are you loyal to one particular brand of hotel, or do you prefer to mix up your stays based on where you’re traveling? If you’re a strong brand loyalist, and almost always travel to places where you can stay at that brand’s hotels, a hotel co-branded card may make sense for you. If you don’t like to be confined to one brand, you may want to consider a general travel card.
Tip: Consider the size of a hotel program’s network and make sure it has locations where you want to travel. Marriott, Hilton and IHG are large hotel programs that generally offer the best coverage. If you’re collecting points for a trip, you should also check bookings for your intended travel dates to make sure award nights are available before you invest in a co-branded card.
Co-branded hotel cards typically offer hotel-specific perks that can add significantly to their value. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card offers a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points each year on your card anniversary. This benefit alone justifies the annual fee each year for many cardholders.
Keep an eye out for these benefits:
Now consider the most important factors that will impact a credit card’s dollar value: sign-up bonus, earning rate and point value.
First year value = sign-up bonus + (earning rate x estimated annual spend) x redemption value – annual fee
Sign-up bonus
First, look at the number of points or miles you earn, but don’t stop there. Calculate the dollar value of the bonus and also look at how many nights the points will cover for the hotel you plan to book.
You should also look at the minimum spending requirement you have to meet in order to get the bonus. Make sure you can comfortably meet the requirement while paying off your balance in full each month — you definitely don’t want to pay interest that would cancel out all or part of your bonus.
Earning rate
The earning rate is one of the most important factors in choosing the best hotel rewards credit card for you. Look at how many points you’ll earn for stays at one of the hotels in the brand portfolio, as well as what you’ll earn in other bonus categories and for all other spending. Review your spending patterns to see how much you can earn with each card you’re considering.
Point value
All points are not created equal, and hotel loyalty program points tend to be worth less than the points on general travel cards with transferable points. Don’t just look at the number of points you’ll earn with your everyday spending — consider how much those points are worth in dollars, along with what the points translate to in terms of hotel stays.
Weigh the card’s first year value in step 3 against the perks mentioned in steps 1 and 2 — and pick the card that satisfies your needs best.
New to hotel loyalty? Discover the benefits of these top hotel rewards programs.
| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| International travel | 7,000+ |
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| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business travel | 1,000+ |
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| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luxury travel | 6,500+ |
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| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget travel options | 6,000 |
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| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America travel | 1,600+ |
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| Best for: | Number of hotels: | Brands owned by the hotel chain: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of destinations | 9,000+ |
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There are several tried-and-true methods for getting a free stay at a hotel, from opening a credit card to becoming a loyalty program elite member. Here’s a rundown of the most common ways to get a free hotel stay:
One of the fastest and easiest ways to get a free stay at a hotel is to get a hotel rewards credit card. A hotel rewards card typically comes with a sign-up bonus that you earn for spending a certain amount on your card within a certain time. You can earn the bonus by putting your everyday spending on the card, then cash the bonus in for a free stay.
Another way to earn a free hotel stay is by joining a hotel loyalty program and staying regularly at hotels that are part of that program. Each time you complete a qualified stay, you’ll earn points you can accumulate toward a free night or stay in the future.
Many hotel credit cards offer a free night certificate when you meet certain criteria. For example, it’s common to offer a free night each year after your cardmember anniversary. You may also earn a free night by spending a certain amount on your card. The details will vary based on the program.
Another great way to get a free hotel stay is to earn elite status with your preferred hotel loyalty program. For example, with the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program, each elite status level you attain will grant you a higher number of points on Marriott hotel stays that you can then use towards a free hotel stay. In addition, when you achieve Platinum status, you can choose five Suite Night Awards as your Annual Choice Benefit.
Hotel credit cards are affiliated with a hotel chain and its loyalty program, offering cardholders the ability to earn points for free stays. Each card will offer a varying rewards rate, with elevated bonuses for hotel spending. Some hotel credit cards even offer complimentary elite status and other exclusive hotel and travel benefits.
If you travel often, you should consider applying for a hotel credit card. As a cardholder, you’ll earn an elevated rewards rate on any hotel stays and everyday purchases. However, you’ll want to select a credit card with the best hotel loyalty program for you — this will depend on which hotel chain you prefer.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the best Marriott credit card out there. As a luxury hotel card, you’ll pay a $650 annual fee, but you’ll earn benefits like up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
Hotel credit cards work just like any other travel rewards card. If there’s an annual fee, you’ll pay this fee every card membership year. You’ll earn hotel points through the card’s reward rate, redeemable for free stays through the loyalty program. And, depending on the card, you’ll earn complimentary elite status, affording you bonus points and free nights.
The pros of hotel credit cards include the opportunity to earn points for free stays, hotel elite status and free night awards. The cons are that you’re locked into one hotel brand, and hotel points are worth notoriously less than airline miles and general travel rewards points.
All hotel co-branded credit cards offer the ability to earn points that you can redeem toward free hotel stays. Or, you can opt for a general travel rewards card, like The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, to transfer your points to hotel loyalty programs.
Any frequent traveler — whether you travel solo, with your family or in groups or for business — is a great candidate for a hotel credit card. If you already own an airline or general travel rewards cards, adding a hotel credit card to your wallet can help you diversify your points-earning strategy.
While most hotels require a credit card for booking, it is possible to pay with cash, a debit card or a prepaid card in some instances. To find out what hotels don’t require a credit card, we recommend calling the hotel directly and asking what their policy is regarding non-credit card payments.
If you’re deciding between a Marriott versus Hilton credit card, the answer will depend on your personal preferences and travel habits. If you tend to stay more frequently with one brand over the other, consider getting a credit card for that hotel chain. You could always get a card for both brands and just make sure that one or both of them don’t charge an annual fee in order to keep the cost of ownership down.
To make choosing the right hotel credit card easier, we’ve looked at credit cards reviewed on LendingTree, as well as cards on major issuer sites, to compile a list of the best rewards credit cards available right now. Our recommendations are based on the following criteria:
APR
How the hotel card’s annual percentage rate (APR) compares to other cards in its category and whether or not there’s a low interest intro offer on purchases and/or balance transfers.
Rewards
The card’s rewards earning rate, points value and how easy points are to redeem.
Additional perks and benefits
These include things like free nights, hotel room upgrades, elite status, complimentary breakfast and more.
Annual fee
Whether or not a card charges an annual fee, if the fee is waived for the first year and if the card benefits offset or outweigh the annual fee.
Sign-up bonus
Whether or not a card comes with a welcome offer or sign-up bonus, how easy it is to earn the bonus and how valuable is the bonus overall.
Foreign transaction fees
Does the card charge foreign transaction fees and, if yes, does that limit the card’s overall value.
Transferable points
Whether or not the card earns transferable points, how flexible are those points and how many transfer partners do they include.
Our choices are not influenced by our advertisers.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by third parties such as Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as certain terms, conditions, and exclusions apply.
The information related to the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, World of Hyatt Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, Best Western Rewards Mastercard, Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus® Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express, Business Green Rewards Card from American Express, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express and Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
