The best hotel credit cards
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The best hotel credit cards of 2021:
When considering a hotel credit card, it's important to factor in your travel goals: Are you looking to stay at a five-star resort in the Maldives? Or do you want to be able to book a cheap staycation once or twice a year without paying an exorbitant annual fee?
It's also important to consider the card's welcome bonus, recurring benefits, ease of earning free nights via credit card spending, category bonuses, and elite status perks (if any). With that in mind, here are the best hotel credit cards.
If you're interested in rewards credit cards that offer travel benefits that extend beyond hotel perks, check out Business Insider's list of the best travel credit cards.
We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
The best hotel credit cards
Best travel card overall:
- Details
- Pros & Cons
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide, eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on orders over $12 for a minimum of one year on qualifying food purchases with DashPass, DoorDash's subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Earn 2x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services.
- High sign-up bonus starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit or any other statement credit benefits
If you're loyal to a specific hotel brand, having a co-branded card makes a lot of sense, as it can get you complimentary elite status, bonus points, and other perks when you stay with that chain. (You'll see our top card picks for each hotel brand further down in this guide).
Chase Sapphire Preferred review: One of the best rewards cards for beginners, with a sign-up bonus worth up to $750But if you care less about brand loyalty and more about earning as many points as possible, a general travel rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred could make more sense. This card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points (with 2x points on travel, including hotels), which you can redeem for travel bookings through Chase or transfer to partners including Hyatt and IHG to book).
The Chase Sapphire Preferred also offers excellent travel insurance, so it's a good card to use for hotel bookings and airfare.
Best travel coverage:
- Details
- Pros & Cons
- Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year. From 6/1/20 through 6/30/21, gas station & grocery store purchases will also count towards earning your Travel Credit
- 3X points on travel immediately after earning your $300 travel credit. 3X points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. For example, 50,000 points are worth $750 toward travel
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 50% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,000+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓®
- Earn 3x total points on up to $1,000 in grocery store purchases per month from November 1, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Includes eligible pick-up and delivery services
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
- Very high annual fee
- The new DoorDash statement credits may not be useful for everyone, which can make the recently increased annual fee harder to justify
The Chase Sapphire Reserve is the higher-end sibling of the Chase Sapphire Preferred, with many of the same benefits except higher earning rates (3x versus 2x points on travel and dining) and even better travel coverage. It includes everything from trip cancellation and trip delay insurance to primary car rental insurance. Unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve includes emergency evacuation insurance.
In exchange for the $550 annual fee, you get up to a $300 annual travel credit, Priority Pass airport lounge membership, and more.
Best for luxury hotel perks:
- Details
- Pros & Cons
- Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 10x points on eligible purchases on your new Card at U.S. Gas Stations and U.S. Supermarkets, on up to $15,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership. That's an additional 9 points on top of the 1 point you earn for these purchases.
- Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member and Additional Centurion Cards only.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel. Starting January 1, 2021, earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com.
- Enjoy complimentary access to the Global Lounge Collection, the only credit card airport lounge access program that includes proprietary lounge locations around the world.
- Receive complimentary benefits through American Express Travel with an average total value of $550 with Fine Hotels & Resorts® program at over 1,100 properties. Learn More.
- Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $550 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a great credit card for booking hotel stays for several reasons. First, it offers complimentary Gold elite status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy. This can get you room upgrades and bonus points on your paid stays — and Gold status with Hilton even gets you free breakfast.
Amex Platinum review: The best card for airport lounge access and other high-end travel perks, with a 75,000-point welcome bonusPlus, if you have the Platinum Card you can earn 5 points per dollar on Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts stays on up to $500,000 spent per calendar year starting in January 2021. These are stays at a collection of luxury properties booked through Amex, and your reservation includes benefits like complimentary upgrades, free breakfast, and property credits. The Amex Platinum has a $550 annual fee (See Rates), but it easily can be worth it thanks to benefits like this.
Best for Hilton stays:
- Details
- Pros & Cons
- Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership
- 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your Card on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
- 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at U.S. restaurants
- 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card
- Complimentary top-tier Hilton elite status
- Get a weekend night reward each year after you renew your card
- High welcome bonus
- Valuable annual statement credit for eligible Hilton purchases
- High annual fee
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card is hands-down the best co-branded hotel credit card out there. For starters, with the 150,000-point welcome bonus, you can book upwards of 30 free nights, depending on the hotel category. The card also comes with top-tier Hilton Diamond status, which gets you free breakfast, lounge access, and a 100% bonus on points earned via paid stays.
I was hesitant to pay the Hilton Aspire card's $450 annual fee, but I got $3,700 in value toward travel in my first yearThe Hilton Honors Aspire Card also offers a free weekend night reward when you renew your card, plus an extra free night when you spend $60,000 in a calendar year. Travelers will appreciate up to $250 in annual Hilton resort statement credits, up to $250 in annual airline incidental credits, and Priority Pass Select membership.
If you don't stay at Hilton properties frequently enough to justify this card's $450 annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, with a $95 annual fee (See Rates), is a better option. It earns 12x points on eligible Hilton purchases (compared to 14x on the Aspire), and like the Aspire it offers a high welcome bonus.
Best for IHG stays:
- Details
- Pros & Cons
- Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
- Enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights
- Earn up to 25 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG Rewards Club Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
- Anniversary reward night can be worth more than the annual fee
- Could offer better rewards on non-IHG purchases
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is one of the best hotel cards in terms of value.
IHG Rewards Club Premier review: Thanks to its annual free night, it's a valuable card even if you're not an IHG loyalistIn exchange for an annual fee of $89 (waived the first year), cardholders get complimentary Platinum elite status, a fourth night free on award bookings, and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit of up to $100 every four years. Additionally, cardholders earn a reward night every year, which can be used at any IHG hotel worldwide that costs up to 40,000 points per night.
Best for Hyatt stays:
- Details
- Pros & Cons
- Earn 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 total within 6 months of account opening.
- Free nights start at 5,000 points
- Receive 1 free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort after your Cardmember anniversary
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year
- Get automatic World of Hyatt Elite status and 5 qualifying night credits every year as long as your account is open
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status everytime you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn 9 points total for Hyatt stays - 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels & 5 Base Points per $1 you can earn as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airlines tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Valuable annual reward night
- Hyatt points are valuable, and this card earns 2x points on several bonus categories
- If you spend a lot on this card, you can earn a second free night
- Not too many extra benefits
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card comes with free Discoverist status, which offers benefits like premium internet and 10% bonus points on paid stays. Cardholders aiming for higher status will appreciate the five qualifying night credits issued every year and the ability to earn two additional credits per $5,000 spent on the card.
Best for Marriott stays:
- Details
- Pros & Cons
- Earn 75,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
- Earn 6X Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy™.
- 2X Bonvoy points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
- 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited Marriott Bonvoy points and get Free Night Stays faster
- Annual free night reward for hotels that cost up to 35,000 points can be worth more than annual fee
- The only lucrative bonus category is participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
- Upgrading to Gold status requires spending $35,000 on the card in an account year,
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card includes some solid perks for a mid-tier hotel credit card, including a free night each year after your cardmember anniversary at Marriott Bonvoy hotels that cost up to 35,000 points per night.
Another reason to consider it? It's currently offering one of the best sign-up offers among all Marriott credit cards: 75,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Best for Wyndham stays:
- Details
- Pros & Cons
- No annual fee
- Intro APR offer
- Strong points earning on Wyndham stays and gas stations
- 10% points discount for booking gofree Wyndham award stays
- Relatively low sign-up bonus
- Unsurprisingly, as a no-annual-fee card, it has a short benefits list
- You have to spend at least $15,000 on the card in a year to earn the 7,500-point anniversary bonus
The Wyndham Rewards® Earner Card offers fairly basic benefits, but it earns a solid 5 points per dollar on Wyndham purchases, along with 5 points per dollar at gas stations. The card has no annual fee, and it offers discounts on both paid and points bookings with Wyndham hotels.
Frequently asked questions
How did we choose the best hotel credit cards?
Personal Finance Insider analyzed dozens of hotel cards, looking at benefits, annual fees, rewards, and ancillary benefits to arrive at our final list of the very best options.
6 reasons why you should apply for a hotel credit card now, even if you're not traveling anytime soonMany hotel brands offer various "tiers" of credit cards. For example, in addition to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card with a $95 annual fee, there's the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, which has a $450 annual fee (See Rates) and includes an annual statement credit for Marriott stays.
When more than one personal credit card was available from a top hotel chain, we chose the card that offers the most value to an average guest, not someone who travels every weekend.
For instance, we chose the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card as the best credit card for Marriott stays, because it balances a moderate annual fee with a few valuable perks and a great sign-up bonus. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has more perks to justify its annual fee, but it's harder to recommend to everybody — especially since it only offers complimentary mid-tier Gold status with Marriott.
On the other hand, we named the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, with a $450 annual fee, the best card for Hilton stays, because it comes with several statement credits that can effectively reduce the fee — and it offers the highest level of Hilton elite status as a complimentary benefit to cardholders.
Are hotel credit cards worth it?
If you have a good credit score and pay your credit card bills off each month, it makes sense to get a rewards credit card that earns you points on your purchases — including hotel stays.
How do I find the right hotel credit card for me?
You'll have to decide whether you stay with a particular hotel chain frequently enough to opt for a co-branded hotel credit card (such as an IHG card). If you want to earn travel points and enjoy some benefits on your hotel stay but you don't stay in hotels very often, you're probably better off with a general travel rewards credit card, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or the The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Personal Finance Insider team. We occasionally highlight financial products and services that can help you make smarter decisions with your money. We do not give investment advice or encourage you to adopt a certain investment strategy. If you take action based on one of our recommendations, we get a small share of the revenue from our commerce partners. This does not influence whether we feature a financial product or service. We operate independently from our advertising sales team.
Business Insider may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card, please click here.
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