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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.
Robin Hartill, CFP®, is The Ascent’s Head of Product Ratings and has worked for The Motley Fool since 2020. Her work has appeared in various national publications, including Yahoo! Finance, NerdWallet, Investopedia, CNN Underscored, MSNBC, USA Today, and CNET Money. She previously wrote The Penny Hoarder’s syndicated “Dear Penny” personal finance advice column.
Great for: Travel rewards bonus
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR N/A
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
21.49%-28.49% Variable
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.
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases
Annual Fee N/A
$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 Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
The enormous welcome bonus (worth $750), bonus travel and dining rewards, and $50 annual hotel credit alone make this card well worth the annual fee. This card’s points are valuable and easy to use, as you can redeem them at 25% more value for Chase Travel bookings, giving it less of a learning curve than other travel cards. It also has a strong list of travel protections you don't see often from such an affordable card, including primary rental car insurance, trip delay reimbursement, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Read Full Review
Great for: Luxury travel perks
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
Regular APR
22.49%-29.49% Variable
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.
5x points on flights and 10x points on hotels and car rentals through Chase Travel℠.
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 Travel℠.
60,000 bonus points
All the perks we've come to expect from a top travel card, including a $300 annual travel credit, airport lounge access, and big bonuses on travel and dining. Points are transferable to airline and hotel partners or worth 50% more if you book through Chase Travel. The annual fee is hefty, but if you can use all its features, this card could be well worth the cost. 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 10x on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets. Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations. Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
1x - 10x points
Annual Fee
$95
Welcome Offer Earn 70,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $700 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
70,000 ThankYou® Points
Citi Strata Premier offers a unique combination of bonus categories we don't see on many travel cards. It earns 3X points on travel and everyday-type categories, including supermarkets and gas/EV charging. You can also earn a welcome bonus worth $700. That combination of rewards is an excellent value for a relatively low annual fee. Plus, if you run into any problems on a trip, its complimentary travel protections (including coverage for trip delays, trip cancellations and interruptions, and lost/damaged luggage) could save the day. Read Full Review
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
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Rewards 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Membership Rewards® Points on other purchases. Terms and limitations apply.
1X-5X Membership Rewards® Points
Annual Fee
$695
Welcome Offer 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.
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
This luxury travel card has some of the most prestigious perks you'll find — access to over 1,400 airport lounges, elite status with Hilton and Marriott Bonvoy, and spending credits worth over $1,500 in value every year. Just be ready for the hefty annual fee, which can be offset in the first year with a welcome bonus worth $800 in points. Terms apply. Read Full Review
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 points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points on all other purchases.
Up to 17X Points on Stays
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.
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
APR
20.99%-29.99% Variable
Rewards Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
2X-6X points
Annual Fee
$650
Welcome Offer Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
185,000 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
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 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.
3X - 26X points
Annual Fee N/A
$99
Welcome Offer Earn 5 Free Nights after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earn 5 Free Nights
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.
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 you can earn 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.
Great for: Premium Hilton benefits
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: N/A
Balance Transfers: N/A
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
$550
Welcome Offer 150,000 Hilton Honors points by spending $6,000 in the first six 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.
Great for: Hilton benefits
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: n/a
Balance Transfers: n/a
APR
20.99%-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
$150
Welcome Offer Earn 130,000 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.
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 Strata 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 Strata 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. The cards in this travel category 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:
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, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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: 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, 4.50 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: Frequent Marriott stays |
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
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: 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 |
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate travel credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria Includes rewards systems and bonus categories, rewards redemption flexibility, and sign-up bonuses.
Our highest-rated travel credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best travel card recommendations. Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring travel credit cards from reputable brands.
Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.
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.
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, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
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 Mastercard and Visa. The Motley Fool recommends Amex.