If you’re someone who can instantly recognize the feel of a Westin Heavenly Bed, has a strong preference for the smell of a hotel brand’s bath products, or is greeted by name as you walk up to check in to your regular hotel, then a hotel credit card should definitely be in your wallet. Not only can a hotel credit card help you earn more points and free nights, but it can also elevate your status and ensure better treatment during your travels. In this overview of the best hotel credit cards, we’ll help you find the perfect match for you.
Best Hotel Credit Cards Compared 2024
Let’s start by comparing some of the best hotel credit cards available in 2024:
| Card Name | Point transfers to hotel programs | Annual Fees | Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Yes | Earn 130,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening | |
Our Recommendations for the Best Hotel Credit Card
Best for point transfers to hotel programs: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is our top choice for point transfers to top hotel programs, particularly Hyatt. No other hotel point transfer partner comes close to Hyatt in terms of the value you can get from your points. Besides the point transfers, this card offers plenty of additional value.
While some may be hesitant about the annual fee, keep in mind that the card offers a $300 annual travel credit that automatically applies to offset eligible travel expenses. This greatly reduces the effective cost of the card. Furthermore, for every travel purchase using this card, you’ll earn three points per dollar spent. And if you book your travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards, you’ll earn 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals, as well as five points per dollar on flights.
Other notable benefits of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card include a Priority Pass Select membership, granting you access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, and a comprehensive suite of travel insurance protections.
Here’s what you need to know about the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card:
- Ten points per dollar on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Five points per dollar on flights purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Three points per dollar on other travel purchases and dining.
- One point per dollar on all other purchases.
- Comprehensive suite of travel protection benefits.
- One-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®.
- $annual_fees annual fee.
- Member FDIC.
Best hotel credit card for automatic elite status: [Card Name]
While not inherently a hotel credit card, [Card Name] is a fantastic choice for hotel stays. With this card, you’ll receive automatic Gold elite status with Hilton and Marriott, offering benefits like late checkout, bonus points, and room upgrades (when available). This status can be activated by enrolling your card.
In addition, [Card Name] provides access to exclusive booking platforms such as Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection. These platforms offer upscale properties worldwide and provide elite-like benefits, including free breakfast for two, room upgrades, and unique property amenities like spa credits.
The card also offers a $200 statement credit toward your prepaid reservation with The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels & Resorts. When it comes to redeeming your points, you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards® points to three hotel programs or use them to “buy” a hotel stay through Amex Travel or Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts.
Here’s what you need to know about [Card Name]:
- Five points per dollar for airfare booked through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 in spending per calendar year).
- Five points per dollar on hotels reserved through Amex Travel.
- One point per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
- Rewards transfer to three hotel programs.
- Gold elite status with Marriott and Hilton (enrollment required).
- Thousands of dollars in potential value from statement credits annually.
- Top-tier airport lounge access.
- Solid travel insurance.
- $annual_fees annual fee.
Best hotel credit card for travel credits: [Card Name]
The [Card Name] card may not receive as much attention as others, but it offers the best travel credit benefit among all hotel credit cards. The card’s $325 travel credit offsets a significant portion of the $400 annual fee, and the credit can be automatically applied to eligible travel, dining, takeout, and delivery purchases charged to the card.
Once you’ve offset most of the annual fee, you’ll be left with a card that earns three points per dollar on travel and mobile wallet spending, along with a few Priority Pass lounge access visits annually. The real value of the card shines when you redeem your points. Points redeemed for travel are worth 1.5 cents each, regardless of whether you book through the U.S. Bank travel portal or use real-time rewards for statement credits.
Here’s what you need to know about the [Card Name]:
- Five points per dollar on prepaid hotels and cars booked through the Altitude Rewards Center.
- Three points per dollar on eligible travel purchases and mobile wallet spending.
- $325 in annual credits for eligible travel and dining purchases.
- Four free individual visit passes and four guest visit passes to Priority Pass lounges.
- Redeem points for travel at 1.5 cents each.
- $annual_fees annual fee.
Best hotel credit card for Marriott: [Card Name]
Marriott offers a range of Bonvoy credit cards, but our pick for the best combination of benefits and annual fee is the [Card Name]. With a [annual_fees] annual fee, this card provides excellent value compared to other more expensive options. It offers six Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent within Marriott’s family of brands, three points per dollar on your first $6,000 spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and dining, and a free night certificate that can be used at a hotel costing up to 35,000 points.
Additionally, the [Card Name] provides a unique opportunity to earn elite status by spending on the card. Cardmembers receive Silver Elite status and can earn up to Marriott’s highest elite status, Titanium, simply by using the [Card Name] for spending. Every $5,000 spent on the card earns one credit toward elite status, a benefit not offered by any other Marriott credit card.
Here’s what you need to know about the [Card Name]:
- Six points per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Three points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent each year at gas stations, grocery stores, and dining.
- Two points per dollar on all other purchases.
- 35,000 point free night stay award certificate every year after your account anniversary.
- Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
- 15 elite night credits every year just for having the card.
- One credit toward elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card.
- $annual_fees annual fee.
Best hotel credit card for IHG: [Card Name]
The [Card Name] is an easy pick for the best IHG card. With a [annual_fees] annual fee, it offers a free night certificate, Platinum status, and 10 points per dollar spent on stays at IHG hotels. By spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year, you can also earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus miles, which offsets the annual fee and offers additional value.
What sets the [Card Name] apart is its fast track to top-tier elite status. Cardmembers receive Platinum Elite status as a perk, and spending $40,000 on the card each year will grant you Diamond Elite status, the highest level at IHG. This makes the [Card Name] the fastest path to earning top-tier elite status at any hotel chain.
Here’s what you need to know about the [Card Name]:
- 10 points per dollar spent at IHG Hotels and Resorts.
- Five points per dollar spent on travel purchases, gas stations, and restaurants.
- Three points per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Automatic Platinum Elite status.
- Diamond Elite status when you spend $40,000 on the card in a calendar year.
- $100 statement credit and 10,000 bonus points after spending $20,000 each calendar year.
- $50 in United TravelBank cash to use when booking United flights.
- Redeem three nights, get fourth night free.
- $annual_fees annual fee.
Best hotel credit card for Hyatt: [Card Name]
For Hyatt loyalists, the choice is clear: the [Card Name]. With a modest [annual_fees] annual fee, this card offers four bonus points per dollar spent at most Hyatt properties, along with two points per dollar spent at restaurants, airline tickets, gym memberships, and local transit.
The [Card Name] provides a free night every year and an additional free night when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. These free night certificates can be used for a one-night stay at a category one to four hotel. Additionally, by using the [Card Name], you can earn five tier-qualifying nights every year, along with two tier-qualifying nights for each $5,000 spent on the card, putting you on the fast track to Globalist, Hyatt’s top-tier elite status.
Here’s what you need to know about the [Card Name]:
- Four bonus points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels.
- Two points per dollar spent at restaurants.
- Two points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly from airlines.
- Two points per dollar spent for gym memberships.
- Two points per dollar spent on local transit.
- One point per dollar spent everywhere else.
- One free category one to four nights every year, plus one additional free night when you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
- Five tier-qualifying nights every year just for having the card.
- Two tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on the card.
Best hotel credit card for business: [Card Name]
The [Card Name] is the small business version of the Amex Hilton Surpass, offering similar benefits. With this card, you’ll earn 12 points per dollar for Hilton purchases, enjoy automatic Gold elite status, and receive a generous welcome bonus. The card also provides a free-night reward and incurs an [annual_fees] annual fee.
One unique feature of the [Card Name] is the opportunity to earn a second free-night reward by spending a total of $60,000 within a calendar year. This perk may appeal to high-spending small businesses.
Here’s what you need to know about the [Card Name]:
- 12 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases.
- Six points per dollar on select travel purchases (U.S. restaurants, flights, and car rentals).
- Six points per dollar on business purchases (U.S. gas stations, shipping providers, and wireless phone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers).
- Three points per dollar for all other eligible purchases.
- Free-night reward (worth up to 150,000 points) after spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
- A second free-night reward (worth up to 150,000 points) after spending $60,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
- Automatic Hilton Gold status.
- Upgrade to Hilton Diamond status after spending $40,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
- Priority Pass Select airport lounge membership (up to 10 visits per year).
Our Methodology
Selecting the best hotel credit cards involves considering various factors, including point earning potential, free night benefits, statement credits, paths to elite status, and more. We also took into account our deep knowledge of major hotel programs, recognizing that not all points and elite statuses are created equal.
TIME Stamp Bottom Line
For generalist use, [Card Name] offers the best value proposition, combining points that transfer to hotels with a robust set of benefits. If you’re seeking elite status, co-branded cards from your preferred hotel chain are worth exploring.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use hotel credit card rewards for more than just hotel stays?
Hotel credit card rewards can often be used for more than just hotel stays. However, you’ll generally get the most value from your hotel points when you use them for stays within the hotel chain’s family of brands.
Can I transfer hotel credit card points to airline loyalty programs?
While some hotel programs allow points transfers to airlines, this is typically not the most valuable use of points. If you’re looking for point transfers to airlines, consider cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or The Platinum Card from American Express.
What are the annual spending requirements to maintain hotel credit card benefits?
Hotel credit card benefits vary by card, and most do not require minimum spending. However, some cards offer additional perks such as elite night credits and extra free night certificates for spending a certain amount on the card. Consult your card’s Guide to Benefits for more information.
Do hotel points expire?
Hotel points may expire based on the terms and conditions of the hotel loyalty program. However, if you consistently earn points on your account, your points won’t expire.