What are the best hotel credit cards with no annual fee?

The best hotel credit card with no annual fee is the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card because it offers 10 miles per $1 spent on hotel reservations booked through hotels.com/venture and 1.25 miles per $1 on all other purchases. It also gives 20,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. Capital VentureOne offers greater flexibility because its rewards aren’t restricted to a specific hotel. You can stay at any hotel or fly any airline anytime, with no blackout dates.

But hotel cards with no annual fee that are co-branded with a specific chain may provide more incentives to brand-loyal customers.

The best co-branded hotel credit card is the Hilton Honors American Express card because it offers 7 points per $1 spent at Hilton properties and 5 points per $1 spent at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations. All other purchases earn 3 points per $1 spent. And the card offers 75,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months.

Hotel credit cards with no annual fee can save you anywhere from $59 to $550 per year, depending on the alternative. When you’re charged an annual fee, you’re basically paying for any benefits and rewards built into the card. Generally, the higher the annual fee, the more benefits the card offers. However, many hotel cards with no annual fee do offer significant benefits.

Here are the best hotel credit cards with no annual fee:

• Best overall: Capital One VentureOne.
  
• Best for hotel-specific rewards: Hilton Honors American Express.
  
• Best for everyday spending: Wells Fargo Propel American Express.
  
• Best for cheap hotel stays: Wyndham Visa Rewards.
  
• Best for business: Bank of America Business Advantage Travel Rewards.
• Best for students: Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students.
  

Bear in mind that American Express cards such as Hilton Honors and Wells Fargo Propel aren’t accepted in as many countries as Capital One VentureOne or the Wyndham Visa. American Express cards are accepted in more than 160 countries, whereas Visa cards can be used in more than 200 countries.