Whether you’re a leisure traveler or someone who spends dozens of nights in a hotel for business each year, a credit card with hotel rewards can help you save on one of the mostly costly travel expenses.
Hotel credit cards may be co-branded — meaning they earn rewards toward a certain hotel brand’s loyalty program — or general travel cards that let you earn and redeem rewards on hotel stays.
Like any credit card, choosing the right hotel card for you largely comes down to your own travel and spending habits.
Some hotel loyalty programs have a much broader footprint than others, and certain brands may have more properties in the places you actually travel to and stay in often. Not only that, but hotel credit cards all have their own unique earning rates, and some can have better benefits than others — like elite status and annual free nights.
These are the best hotel credit cards available today to help you begin saving toward your next trip:
Best Hotel Credit Cards
Editorial Independence
As with all of our credit card reviews, our analysis is not influenced by any partnerships or advertising relationships.
- Intro offer:100,000 points
- Annual fee:$0
- Regular APR:17.99%-26.99% Variable
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases 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.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Rewards for Hilton purchases and in everyday categories
- No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees)
- Automatic Hilton Honors Silver elite status
- Rewards rate is lower than other Hilton credit cards
- Other Hilton cards grant higher hotel elite status and more added benefits
- Co-branded hotel rewards aren’t as flexible as other travel rewards programs
Additional Card Details
- Complimentary Silver elite status with Hilton, with ability to upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold Status after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases with the card within a calendar year
- Car rental loss and damage insurance when you pay for a rental car with your card
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
- Access to American Express’s Global Assist® Hotline, which provides 24/7 travel assistance by phone
- Access to additional cards for authorized users, such as your child, spouse, or employee
- Intro offer:100,000 Bonus Points
- Annual fee:$95
- Regular APR:18.24% – 25.24% Variable
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card. Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Generous welcome bonus offer
- Free award night every year after your cardmember anniversary and automatic Silver Elite status
- No foreign transaction fees
- $95 annual fee
- No bonus rewards categories beyond Marriott spending
- Annual free night award redemption value is capped at 35,000 points
Additional Card Details
- Automatic Silver Elite status each account anniversary year
- Reach Gold Status by spending $35,000 or more each calendar year
- Earn a free night award (worth up to 35,000 points) every year after your account anniversary
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year
- Travel and purchase protections
- $95 annual fee
- 18.24% to 25.24% variable APR
- Intro offer:140,000 points
- Annual fee:$99
- Regular APR:18.24% – 25.24% Variable
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Generous welcome bonus
- Rewards on IHG hotel bookings and in everyday categories
- Added travel benefits and automatic IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status
- No foreign transaction fees
- $99
- Few rewards redemption options outside of hotel stays at IHG properties
- High APR for purchases
Additional Card Details
- Get a free reward night each year on your cardmember anniversary (worth up to 40,000 points)
- Automatic Platinum Elite status with the IHG Rewards Club program
- Earn 10,000 bonus points after you spend $20,000 each account anniversary year and make at least one additional purchase after meeting the $20,000 threshold
- Fourth reward night free when you redeem points for three or more nights
- Fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck membership every four years
- No foreignt transaction fees
- Travel and purchase protections
- Intro offer:60,000 points
- Annual fee:$95
- Regular APR:18.24% – 25.24% Variable
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. 3x on dining. 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Generous welcome offer
- Tiered bonus points categories
- 25% points boost when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 1:1 point transfer at airline and hotel partners
- No foreign transaction fee
- $95 annual fee
- High APR
- Need to spend within bonus categories to maximize rewards
- Other cards have similar bonus categories with higher rewards rates
Additional Card Details
- 25% redemption boost on points redeemed for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards or eligible statement credits via Pay Yourself Back
- Get 10% value of annual purchases back in points every account anniversary
- $50 in annual hotel credits toward hotel stays booked through Chase
- Primary auto rental collision damage waiver
- Travel protections
- Purchase protections
- Intro offer:Earn 100,000 points
- Annual fee:$695
- Regular APR:See Pay Over Time APR
- Recommended credit score:670-850 (Good to Excellent)
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.
NextAdvisor’s Take
- Valuable welcome offer
- Tiered rewards structure
- No foreign transaction fee
- Travel perks including lounge access and airline fee credits
- Very high annual fee
- Relatively high APR
- Not great for rewards outside travel categories
Additional Card Details
- Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
- Up to $240 in digital entertainment credits (up to $20 per month) on eligible purchases and subscriptions with: Audible, Disney+, The Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required
- Up to $155 annual Walmart+ membership credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups are excluded.
- Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings, which requires a minimum two-night stay, through American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card
- $189 annual statement credit for a Clear® membership
- Up to $200 in Uber Cash to use on rides or Uber Eats in the U.S. annually ($15 per month and a bonus $20 in December), plus Uber VIP access
- $300 in annual statement credits (up to $25 per month) on eligible Equinox memberships or a digital subscriptions to Equinox+, an on-demand fitness app
- Up to $100 in annual statement credits toward purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com (up to $50 every 6 months, per calendar year)
- Access to American Express Global Lounge Collection including Centurion Lounges and Delta SkyClubs (when flying same-day Delta Air Lines flights)
- Access to Fine Hotels & Resorts program, plus credits and benefits during your stay, including $100 credit towards eligible onsite activities
- Hilton Honors Gold elite status enrollment
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status enrollment
- Travel and purchase protections
- American Express preferred seating and presale access
Best Hotel Credit Cards Summary
| Card Name | What It’s Good For | Annual Fee | Welcome Offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | Good for Hilton | $0 | 100,000 points after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of card membership Plus, earn up to $100 in statement credits on eligible purchases made on the card at any of the Hilton family hotels in the first 12 months of Membership |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card | Good for Marriott | $95 | Limited Time Offer: Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
| IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card | Good for IHG | $99 | 140,000 points plus 1 free night after spending $3,000 within 3 months of account opening |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Good for General Travel | $95 | 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Good for Hotel and Airbnb Stays | $95 | 60,000 points after spending $4,000 within 3 months of account opening |
| The Platinum Card from American Express | Good for Hotel Elite Status | $695 | 100,000 points after spending $6,000 in the first 6 months of card membership |
How Do Hotel Credit Cards Work?
Hotel credit cards offer rewards on your purchases that you can use toward future hotel stays, room upgrades and other hotel perks. There are generally two main types of hotel credit cards: co-branded hotel credit cards and travel credit cards that let you redeem rewards for hotels.
- Co-branded hotel credit cards: These cards are offered by major card issuers like Chase and American Express in partnership with hotel loyalty programs like Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. With a co-branded hotel card, you’ll earn points toward the hotel’s loyalty program. A major benefit of this type of card is the added brand perks and benefits. Some hotel credit cards offer automatic elite status, annual hotel credits, and free night awards with the hotel chain each year.
- General travel credit cards: If you’re not loyal to a single hotel brand, or you’re looking for a more flexible card option, general travel cards are another way to earn points and miles toward future hotel stays and other travel. You’ll accrue points on your regular spending and bills or other travel purchases. Then, you can redeem for hotel stays through the issuer’s travel portal or transfer directly to a hotel loyalty programs. While travel credit cards offer more flexibility, few come with any specific benefits for hotel stays.
Pro Tip
If you want elite hotel status but you would rather earn flexible points, consider the Platinum Card from American Express. This flexible travel credit card earns Amex Membership Rewards points, but comes with Gold elite status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy.
Are Hotel Credit Cards Worth It?
To decide whether a hotel credit card is right for you, consider how you already spend your money, and how often you travel. The decision may be different depending on whether you prefer travel with one brand, you’re interested in earning status, you want more flexible redemption options, and other factors.
In general, co-branded hotel credit cards are most valuable for people who stay with a specific hotel brand a few times per year and want some added benefits within the loyalty program — like early check-in or free award nights. For business travelers who might spend several weeks in a hotel each year, co-branded hotel credit cards can be even more helpful to climb the elite status ladder and score extra benefits along the way.
On the other hand, if you’re more flexible in your hotel preferences, you might benefit more from a general travel rewards credit card. With these cards, you can rack up points based on your spending — varying from everyday purchases like dining and groceries to travel spending. Most flexible travel credit cards let you redeem your rewards for hotel stays through the issuer travel portal, or even transfer your points to specific hotel loyalty programs, among other redemption options.
Do Hotel Rewards Expire?
When it comes to flexible travel credit cards that earn points you can use for hotels, rewards typically do not have an expiration date as long as your account is open. On the other hand, points you earn in hotel loyalty programs often do expire if you don’t have any qualifying account activity for a specific length of time (which can vary by program).
Here’s a rundown of the expiration policies for many major hotel loyalty programs.
| Loyalty program | Expiration policy |
|---|---|
| Choice Privileges | 18 months with no qualifying activity |
| Hilton Honors | 24 months with no qualifying activity *No points will expire until December 31, 2022 |
| IHG Rewards | 12 months with no qualifying activity |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 24 months with no qualifying activity |
| World of Hyatt | 24 months with no qualifying activity |
| Wyndham Rewards | 18 months with no qualifying activity |
While these expiration policies may seem severe, even very minor activity on your account can reset the clock and keep your points alive. For example, your expiration timeline for hotel points starts over any time you earn any hotel points or you redeem points for a hotel stay or other redemptions. If you have a hotel credit card that you use to earn points on a regular basis, you can continue to keep your hotel points alive in perpetuity.
However, if you don’t travel often and think you might reach these deadlines, that may be reason to choose a more general travel credit card — or even cash back credit card — that you can use to earn rewards on your everyday spending without worrying about expiration dates.
