From luxury hotel stays to complimentary upgrades, discover the best hotel credit cards that cater to your travel needs and preferences.
When it comes to maximizing your hotel stays, having the right credit card in your wallet can be a game-changer. From earning points on bookings to receiving complimentary upgrades, the right credit card can enhance your travel lifestyle in more ways than one.
You have the option of a co-branded hotel credit card or a general travel credit card. Co-branded hotel cards offer perks and bonus rewards at a specific hotel chain, while general travel credit cards offer more flexibility in redeeming rewards at any hotel. You can get perks like airport lounge access, travel insurance, room upgrades options for cash back and more. The best hotel credit card depends on your travel habits and preferences. Let's explore how you can enhance your hotel experiences and unlock exclusive perks with the the best hotel credit cards available in the market today.
Quick Look: The Best Credit Card for Hotel Rewards
- Best for Hyatt Hotels: World of Hyatt Credit Card
- Best for IHG Hotels: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Best for Marriott Hotels: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
- Best for No Annual Fee: Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Best for Easy Redemption: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Best for Flexible Points Transfers: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
- Best for Luxury Travel: The Platinum Card from American Express
The 7 Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2024
Whether you're a frequent business traveler or a vacation enthusiast, there's a hotel credit card out there that can suit your needs and preferences. Compare and consider the features of each card before making a decision. Here are our top picks for this year's best credit cards for hotel rewards.
1. Best for Hyatt Hotels: World of Hyatt Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers one of the most valuable redemptions per point. You’ll also get a free night at every card anniversary, which makes the annual fee of $95 worth it. Hyatt also offers high points bonuses.
You’ll earn 9 points per dollar spent at Hyatt properties. You’ll also get Discoverist elite status as long as you have the card. Additional bonus points categories include hotels, gyms, transit and commuting service and airline tickets purchased directly from airlines.
You can use the points for hotel stays or room upgrades. Hyatt’s points are typically worth around 1.7 to 2.8 cents per point, which is one of the most valuable options.
Why We Love It: With its generous rewards program, complimentary elite status and valuable benefits, this card is a must-have for Hyatt enthusiasts. The high-value points for Hyatt hotels enhance their travel experience.
2. Best for IHG Hotels: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
If you plan to stay at IHG hotels, including the InterContinental, Six Senses, Kimpton, Holiday Inn or Iberostar, you’ll get a free night on your cardholder anniversary, making the annual fee of $99 worth it. You’ll also get automatic Platinum Elite status if you have the card. You can earn 10 points per $1 spent when you book a stay at an eligible IHG property,
Why We Love It: The IHG One Rewards Premier card offers many redemption options, from luxury options like Six Senses to budget choices like Holiday Inn Express.
3. Best for Marriott Hotels: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Like similar hotel-branded cards, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card offers a free night each year that becomes available from your cardholder anniversary. As long as you use this benefit, you can make up the annual fee of $95. Marriott offers a range of hotels from budget to upscale options in the U.S. and around the world. You can use points for flights, car rentals or sell your points for cash.
Why We Love It: This card offers high rewards rate and flexibility in points redemption, which makes it an excellent choice for frequent travelers and Marriott loyalists. Redeem points for Marriott hotels worldwide or use them for flights or car rentals.
4. Best for No Annual Fee: Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Regular APR
20.99% – 29.99% Variable | Hilton Honors American Express Card – Rates and Fees 29.99% variable for cash advances
VIEW PROS & CONS:*Terms apply ** Be advised that applicants who do not have a credit history in the U.S. but have had credit cards or loans in Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland or the United Kingdom will need to provide a SSN or ITIN during the application process.
Hilton Honors American Express Card is a no annual fee option with a solid welcome bonus. You could earn 70,000 Hilton Honors points + a Free Night Reward after spending $2,000 within six months from account opening.
Get bonus points on eligible Hilton purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status. However, other travel cards offer more points flexibility and bigger perks. The Hilton Honors program covers over 7,000 hotels in more than 120 countries, giving you plenty of booking options.
Why We Love It: With no annual fee, this card offers a range of benefits that can enhance your travel experience and help you earn rewards faster. Plus, the solid signup bonus with a lower minimum spend is worth considering.
5. Best for Easy Redemption: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture Rewards credit card offers easy earning and redemption that makes it one of the best options out there. You can redeem miles for hotel stays, flights, cab rides or cruises.
The Venture Rewards card frequently makes best travel credit card lists for its highly lucrative signup bonus and super-simple rewards redemption. You can earn 2X miles on every purchase and then get reimbursed for travel purchases or book a hotel room or trip through Capital One’s travel portal.
The 75,000-mile signup bonus when you meet the minimum spend is worth $750 in travel. You can also get reimbursed for TSA precheck, making the annual fee of $95 worth it for frequent travelers.
Why We Love It: This card is a great option for those looking for a credit card with easy redemption options. Whether you prefer to redeem for hotel nights, flights, rental cars or a combination of travel rewards, this card offers flexibility and simplicity in how you can use your rewards.
6. Best for Flexible Points Transfers: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Another highly-rated travel rewards credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, gives you the flexibility to earn and transfer points to a variety of travel partners. The signup bonus of 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months is worth about $750 in travel. But you can get an additional 25% more value, equivalent to $937.50, when redeemed through Chase Travel.
You can also earn 5 points per $1 spent on travel purchased through Chase, 3 points on dining and online grocery purchases, plus earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases.
Why We Love It: Chase is known for its valuable rewards program, especially when it comes to its transfer partners. With 14 transfer partners, Chase provides cardholders with a lot of flexibility and value when it comes to redeeming their points for travel or other rewards.
7. Best for Luxury Travel: The Platinum Card from American Express
- Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR | The Platinum Card® from American Express – Rates & Fees
VIEW PROS & CONS:*Terms apply ** Be advised that applicants who do not have a credit history in the U.S. but have had credit cards or loans in Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, South Korea, Switzerland or the United Kingdom will need to provide a SSN or ITIN during the application process.
The Platinum Card from American Express isn’t cheap but comes with credit card rewards worth hundreds of dollars on luxury travel. You can earn 5 points per $1 on certain flights and hotel stays. The introductory offer — if you meet the minimum spend — gives you 80,000 bonus points.
While it comes with a $695 annual fee, it also offers an impressive suite of perks and credits that make up for that as long as you use them. Bonuses include lounge access at 1,400 airport lounges worldwide, a 24/7 concierge service, premium status at several major hotel chains and upgrades and special amenities at fine dining restaurants.
Other credits and benefits include:
- $200 hotel credit
- $240 digital entertainment credit
- $155 Walmart+ credit
- $200 airline fee credit
- $200 Uber cash
- $100 global entry credit
- TSA precheck at no additional cost.
Why We Love It: The perks outweigh the annual fee, as long as you use them in your regular lifestyle. With its premium features, exclusive offers, and outstanding customer service, this card is truly the best choice for luxury travelers.
How Do Hotel Credit Cards Work?
Hotel credit cards are a type of rewards credit card. You will typically earn between one and five points per dollar spent. Many of these cards also offer a signup bonus of 50,000 to 100,000 points after you meet a minimum spend.
Then, for every dollar you spend, you earn hotel points that accrue in the card's affiliated hotel loyalty program. Not all hotel points are created equal. As a baseline, hotel points are usually worth 1 cent per point. More valuable points could be worth 1.7 to 2 cents per point.
How much you earn for each dollar depends on the credit card program. Most hotel credit cards offer a higher level of reward points for booking at the related hotel chain. For example, you’ll earn six Marriott Bonvoy points for every $1 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy with the Marriott credit card.
Some cards also offer additional bonus categories. For example, the Marriott card offers three points for every $1 at gas stations, grocery stores and dining, up to the first $6,000 spent each year. Similarly, the Hyatt card offers bonus points at restaurants, transit, gym memberships and airline tickets. There are also credit cards for consumers with bad credit or no credit history or to help you build credit.
Pros and Cons of a Hotel Credit Card
Before applying for any credit card, weigh the advantages and disadvantages for your situation. Here are some pros and cons of hotel credit cards.
Pros
- Earn impressive signup bonuses when you reach each card’s minimum spend
- Get higher status for premium room upgrades, free breakfast or other bonuses.
- Earn points to use for travel with everyday purchases
- Many hotel credit cards offer extra bonus categories, like a fifth night free when you book for four nights
Cons
- If you don’t stay at one hotel chain, the card's benefits might be limited.
- Many hotel credit cards come with annual fees that are only worth it if you use the other perks.
- If you’re not flexible with travel dates, rewards nights might require a lot of points.
Types of Hotel Credit Cards
There are two main types of hotel credit cards: co-branded cards and general travel cards. The list above contains a mix of both.
- Co-branded: Co-branded hotel credit cards are a collaboration between a specific hotel chain and a credit card issuer. The Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG cards in the list above are examples of co-branded hotel credit cards.
- General travel: General travel credit cards allow you to earn points or miles and redeem them in a variety of ways, including hotels, flights, rental cars, entertainment or cash back. On the list above, Chase Sapphire Preferred, Capital One Venture Rewards and The Platinum Card from American Express are examples of general travel credit cards that you can use to redeem hotel nights.
How to Choose the Best Credit Card for Hotels
When choosing a hotel credit card, consider the following factors:
- Brand: Do you prefer to stay at one hotel chain?
- Availability at destination: If you have a specific trip in mind, which hotels are available in your chosen destination?
- Signup bonus: Is the signup bonus competitive? Can you meet the minimum spend with your regular spending habits?
- Transfer partners: Do you have the option to transfer points or miles to other rewards programs you use regularly?
- Annual fee: How much is the annual fee? Is it waived for the first year? Do other credits make up for the fee? Will you actually use them?
- APR: What is the annual percentage rate if you have to carry a balance? Avoid carrying a balance to earn points, as the interest will negate the benefits.
- Fees: Are there any other fees associated with the card or redeeming points?
- Everyday earning: What are the base points you’ll earn with everyday purchases like gas and groceries?
- Other perks: Are there specific perks, like free breakfasts or airport lounge access that you’re looking for in a hotel credit card? Do the cards you're considering offer these benefits?
Should You Get a Hotel Credit Card?
Hotel credit cards offer a lot of value if you travel regularly or want to take more low-cost vacations. You should check available partners, the points you can earn and signup bonuses to choose the best card for your needs. While general travel cards often offer greater flexibility and rewards than a branded hotel credit card, if you’re a regular at one brand, the premium benefits are worth it, especially if the annual fee comes with a free hotel night.
Frequently Asked Questions
What credit cards do hotels accept?
Most hotels accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards. However, you should check with the specific hotel.
Is it good to use credit card for hotel?
Using a credit card to pay for a hotel can help you earn more bonus points, especially if it’s a branded credit card from the hotel’s parent company.
What credit score do you need for a hotel credit card?
What credit score you need for a hotel credit card depends on the card. There are hotel credit cards for consumers with fair to excellent credit scores. You will typically need a higher credit score to access premium credit card offers.
What is the easiest hotel credit card to get?
The easiest hotel credit card to get will vary depending on your credit score and financial history. However, some hotel credit cards that are known to have relatively low approval requirements include the Hilton Honors American Express Card and the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card. It’s always recommended to check your credit score and research the specific requirements for each card before applying.
How much do hotels authorize credit cards for?
Hotels authorize credit cards for the total stay amount plus additional funds for incidentals such as room service. Authorization amounts vary but usually range from $50 to $200 per night. This is done to cover any extra charges during the stay.
About Alison Plaut
Alison Kimberly is a freelance content writer with a Sustainable MBA, uniquely qualified to help individuals and businesses achieve the triple bottom line of environmental, social, and financial profitability. She has been writing for various non-profit organizations for 15+ years. When not writing, you will find her promoting education and meditation in the developing world, or hiking and enjoying nature.