Earn 5X points on Chase Travel? purchases, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1X points on other purchases.
A hotel credit card can be the golden key that unlocks a world of benefits usually reserved for elite loyalty program members. The best hotel cards offer hefty credit card welcome bonuses, automatic elite status, and VIP perks that range from complimentary room upgrades to late check-outs and so much more. Some hotel credit cards are co-branded with a specific chain (ideal for loyalists) while others are general travel credit cards with hotel-related perks.
Keep reading to learn more about hotel credit cards and which cards we recommend.
Earn 5X points on Chase Travel? purchases, 3X points on dining, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services, and 1X points on other purchases.
Earn up to 26X points per $1 spent when staying at an IHG hotel. Earn 5X points for every dollar spent at gas stations, U.S. restaurants, and on travel, and 3X points on all other purchases.
Earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase Travel? immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually, 10X points on Chase Dining purchases, 5X points on flights booked through Chase Travel, 3X points on non-Chase travel and dining, and 1X points on all non-bonus spending.
Earn 12X points on eligible purchases made directly with Hilton hotels and resorts, 6X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. supermarkets, 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3X points on all other eligible purchases.
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You won’t get a complimentary Free Night Award with this card but it still offers a multitude of valuable benefits for the Hilton loyalist.
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Points on eligible Hilton purchases, 5X points on eligible U.S. restaurant, U.S. supermarket, and U.S. gas station purchases, and 3X on all other eligible purchases.
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Earn 6X points per dollar spent at participating hotels, 3X points at restaurants worldwide, 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X points on other eligible purchases.
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Earn 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases at Hyatt Hotels. Earn 2X points on your top 3 spend categories each quarter (categories are: dining, shipping, airline tickets when purchased directly with the airline, local transit & commuting, social media & search engine advertising, car rental agencies, gas stations and internet, cable & phone services), earn 2X points on fitness club and gym memberships and earn 1X points on all other purchases.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards? points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, and 1X points on other eligible purchases.
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Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotel stays, vacation rentals or rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other purchases.
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A hotel credit card is a travel credit card that earns points with a hotel chain, like Hilton or Marriott. If you’re loyal to one hotel brand, a co-branded hotel credit card can reward you for remaining loyal, with perks like free night rewards, elite status, and more.
Hotel credit cards allow you to earn points and rewards, but how much you can earn depends on the hotel’s rewards policy and the type of card you carry. Every dollar you spend can earn points in your card’s hotel loyalty account. You can redeem these points toward hotel-specific perks through the hotel rewards program.
Hotel rewards programs are a kind of loyalty program offered by a specific hotel or chain. When you earn points with your hotel credit card, you can redeem these points toward perks like room upgrades, free nights, and even credits to use toward the in-room minibar. These available perks vary based on the loyalty program you’re with.
Here’s how much hotel points are estimated to be worth with some of the most popular loyalty programs:
Rewards Program | Estimated Point Value | Estimated Value of 20k Points |
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Hilton Honors | 0.6 cents per point | $120 |
IHG One Rewards | 0.8 cents per point | $160 |
Marriott Bonvoy | 0.8 cents per point | $160 |
World of Hyatt | 2.4 cents per point | $480 |
Wyndham Rewards | 1.1 cent per point | $220 |
The benefits a hotel credit card offers can vary from card to card but these are two of the best perks you may be able to get:
One of the most coveted benefits of a hotel credit card is the ability to earn free nights. Often, this perk rolls around yearly, around your cardmember anniversary. Some cards even offer extra free nights as a part of a new cardholder sign-up bonus after you spend a certain amount within a set time.
Many hotel loyalty programs offer complimentary elite status to cardholders. Being an elite member can entitle you to a variety of perks such as room upgrades, bonus rewards on your hotel bookings, complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, earlier check-in, late check-out, and more.
It’s usually a straightforward process to redeem hotel rewards points, and the process tends to be similar between different loyalty programs. Often, redeeming your points for hotel stays gives you the most “bang for your buck.”
Here’s an example of what the process to redeem points may look like:
Most hotel credit cards automatically enroll you in their loyalty program, but not all. Make sure you’re signed up to earn extra points on top of what you already get from your card.
Typically, you get the most rewards points from your hotel card for booking directly with the hotel chain or through your credit card issuer’s travel portal, rather than through a third-party service.
These bonuses can be worth thousands of hotel points but require you to spend a certain amount in a set time. Plan accordingly when applying for a hotel credit card to ensure you can earn the bonus.
When choosing a hotel credit card, there are a few key factors you’ll want to consider:
If you regularly stay with a particular hotel, this step may be a no-brainer. If you’re between a few, think about factors like where certain hotels are located.
Many co-branded hotel credit cards offer generous?sign-up bonuses?to new card members who spend a certain amount in a set time frame. These bonuses can allow you to earn extra points, free night rewards, and more, depending on the card you choose.
Some hotel cards only offer elevated rewards earning on purchases made with their chain while others offer?rewards for everyday spending, like on dining or grocery purchases. If you spend more in a certain category than another, look for a card that can reward you for those purchases.
Some hotel cards offer benefits like annual free night rewards, hotel elite status, and airport lounge access. Consider the value of these benefits to you and whether you can utilize them.
Some hotel?credit cards have no annual fee, while others charge hundreds of dollars. Think about your budget and whether you’ll be able to get enough value from a card to make its annual fee worth it.
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Note: All information for The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card has been collected independently by?LA Times Compare. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass? Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant? American Express? Card, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card? from American Express, please visit this page.
It’s a good idea to consider a hotel card if you are a regular guest at a specific hotel chain. Many major hotel chains offer a hotel credit card, making it likely your hotel of choice will, too.
Many cardholders can find that they can easily get their money’s worth with these cards. The perks often make up for fees and costs, but only you know whether a hotel card is right for you. Weigh the costs and benefits against your spending habits to make sure you’re making the right choice.
If you are looking to get hotel rewards points from your credit cards, the best option is to choose a hotel-branded credit card from your hotel chain of choice. Typically, if you are looking to cash out your card points on hotels, choosing cards with hotel-specific points will get you farther than if you were to choose a general travel rewards card.
Here are the best hotel rewards cards for major hotel chains that can help you rack up points:
Yes, hotel points can expire. However, if your account remains active and in good standing, your points often won’t expire.
Here’s the expiration policy of a few popular rewards programs:
Hotel rewards program | Expiration policy |
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Hilton Honors | Points expire after 2 years of no qualifying account activity |
IHG Rewards | Points expire after 1 year of no qualifying account activity |
Marriott Bonvoy | Points expire after 2 years of no qualifying account activity |
World of Hyatt | Points expire after 2 years of no qualifying account activity |
“Qualifying account activity” usually refers to anything that keeps your account active, like making purchases, transferring points, or redeeming points. This can vary from program to program so make sure you know what is needed to keep your account active with your particular loyalty program.
Sometimes, but we don’t usually recommend it. The transfer rate is often sub-par so it’s best to redeem your points toward hotel stays. If you want more flexibility, a general travel rewards credit card can provide more redemption options.
* Opinions expressed here are those of LA Times Compare and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publication. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.