What's the best hotel credit card bonus offer right now?

Yes, hotel credit cards are useful because they can get you significant discounts on hotel stays, free nights, and perks typically reserved for members who’ve earned elite status through the hotel’s loyalty program. Hotel credit cards are most useful to frequent travelers who favor a specific hotel chain. Occasional guests may be able to take advantage of hotel card features such as generous initial bonuses, automatic elite status and no annual fee, though.... read full answer

How Hotel Credit Cards are Useful

Reward points provide opportunities for significant savings on your next hotel stay.

Routinely using your hotel credit card for purchases will earn you points to redeem for free nights or room upgrades, for example.

You can save hundreds with initial bonuses and other high-end perks.

The best hotel credit cards can get you a lucrative initial bonus for spending a certain amount during the promotional period. Top-notch hotel cards also unlock a treasure-trove of VIP perks such as free Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, valuable statement credits, and more.

Hotel credit cards offer an array of benefits to fit nearly any budget.

High-end hotel credit cards are geared toward frequent hotel guests who are willing to pay a hefty annual fee to reap all of the card’s extravagant benefits and lucrative bonuses. That said, light travelers on a budget can go with a hotel credit card with no annual fee and still get tremendous value.

Hotel credit cards can get you quicker access to loyalty program benefits.

Guests enrolled in a hotel’s loyalty program are likely to climb the program’s status tiers faster with an affiliated hotel rewards card. Elite status upgrades can get cardholders perks such as free nights, room upgrades, late checkout, and more.

To get the most out of your hotel credit card rewards, you should redeem them often. Not only does this reduce the chance that your points will diminish in value, but it also allows you to save money on your hotel stays more often, which is the whole point of earning rewards points in the first place.

If you’re having trouble finding the right hotel credit card for your specific needs, check out our editor’s picks for the best hotel credit cards to help narrow your search.

Yes, the most reliable ways to get free hotel rooms are to use a credit card with hotel rewards, and to join hotels’ free loyalty programs. Plus, you can always ask a hotel to match a better price you’ve found, and checking in late can sometimes lead to free upgrades since the hotel will have a better sense of which rooms won’t be needed. But for fully comped stays, credit cards and loyalty programs are your best bet.... read full answer

How to get free hotel rooms with credit cards

With credit cards, there are two paths you can take. If you’re not particularly loyal to any one hotel chain and value flexibility, just get a travel rewards credit card whose points or miles can be redeemed for stays at any hotel. For instance, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card let you book hotels using rewards on their travel portals.

But if you tend to favor one hotel chain over others, the most efficient way to get free nights is with a co-branded hotel credit card. You’ll earn the most rewards at the hotel chain in question, redeemable for free nights. And if you join the hotel’s loyalty program, you’ll usually get an extra point or two per dollar spent, on top of what the card gives you.

Here are the best cards to get free hotel rooms:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed for travel statement credits, which includes hotel stays. $95 annual fee.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: 60,000 points for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. You also get annual statement credit for travel purchases, including hotel reservations. Earn a total of 10 points per $1 spent on hotels and car rentals booked through Chase, a total of 10 points per $1 spent on prepaid restaurant reservations or takeout orders made through Chase, a total of 5 points per $1 spent on flights purchased through Chase, 3 points per $1 spent on all other travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases. Redeem for hotels on Chase’s travel portal, for the highest points value. $550 annual fee.
• IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card: One free night every account anniversary and when redeeming points for 3+ nights. 175,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. 10 points per $1 spent at IHG hotels, 5 points per $1 at gas stations, restaurants and on travel, as well as 3 points per $1 on all other purchases. Redeem for free nights. Annual fee: $99.
• The World of Hyatt Credit Card: One free night each account anniversary and an extra night after meeting a set spending requirement. 30,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. 4 points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels, 2 points per $1 at restaurants, on tickets booked with airlines, transit and gym memberships, 2 points per $1 on all other purchases in the first 6 months (on up to $15,000 spent), 1 point per $1 on all other purchases after that. Redeem points for free nights. $95 annual fee.

The easiest way to get free hotel rooms is to get a credit card that rewards you with them each account anniversary and/or offers other rewards redeemable for hotel stays. That’s because you’ll be earning free stays with every purchase you make, not just on reservations.

How to get free hotel rooms through hotel rewards programs

You can also earn free nights by joining some of the best hotel rewards programs. Every time you book a stay, you’ll earn points that you can redeem for free nights. The best hotel rewards programs for earning policies are Radisson Rewards and World of Hyatt.

The best travel rewards programs are the United MileagePlus and Delta SkyMiles frequent flyer programs as well as the Wyndham and Marriott hotel loyalty programs. If you don’t want to commit to a single travel provider, the best general travel rewards program is Capital One Venture Rewards.

United MileagePlus and Delta SkyMiles are the best travel rewards programs for frequent flyers because they offer a variety of perks ranging from free checked bags to airport lounge access. The exact benefits each program gives depends on the level of membership. Generally, though, all members will receive free checked bags and priority boarding on their respective airline’s flights. Higher-level members will also receive access to United and Delta lounges. The programs are free to join and the more you spend, the higher your level of membership. Plus, members can earn free flights faster by applying for a ... read full answerUnited credit card or a Delta credit card. Some very rewarding offers are available.

Wyndham Rewards and Marriott Bonvoy are the best travel rewards programs for frequent hotel guests because their members earn the most rewards value per dollar spent and have lots of properties to choose from. For example, Marriott Bonvoy now includes all Ritz-Carlton and SPG properties as well. If you decide to join either of these free loyalty programs, you might also want to consider applying for the Wyndham Credit Card, the Wyndham Credit Card with No Annual Fee or one of the Marriott credit cards. They all require at least good credit for approval.

Sticking with credit cards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option for people who want to keep their travel options open. You can easily redeem Venture miles for pretty much any travel-related expenses. The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is another card with similarly flexible travel redemption policies.

In other words, there are plenty of different travel rewards programs to fit whichever method of travel you use most often.

Best Travel Rewards Programs:

• United MileagePlus – Best Frequent Flyer Program
• Wyndham Rewards – Best Hotel Loyalty Program
• Capital One Venture Rewards – Best General Travel Rewards Program
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® – Best Everyday Travel Rewards Program
• Delta SkyMiles – Honorable Mention
• Marriott Bonvoy – Honorable Mention

With the best frequent flyer programs, the stress of flying is lessened thanks to priority boarding, lounge access and free flights. With hotel rewards programs, you can easily earn free nights just for staying at your favorite hotels and resorts.

Travel isn’t always limited to just flights and hotel nights, though. Credit cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited card can also help you save on other everyday purchases. And if you travel a lot but not always with the same company or using the same mode of transportation, a credit card with general-purpose travel rewards is a good choice.