Best Hotel Credit Cards

How you go about comparing hotel credit cards and choosing one to apply for depends on a few individual factors:

• Your travel habits obviously matter because you need to decide whether you travel enough for a hotel credit card to make sense and, if so, whether you can commit to a single hotel chain.
• Your credit score is important, too, because most hotel credit cards require good or excellent credit for approval. If you don't know your score, you can check it for free on WalletHub.
• Your rewards preferences also play a role. Are you more interested in a big initial bonus or a card to use for years?

These should be your biggest considerations when you start looking for a hotel credit card.Once you start to narrow down your options, the following tips will help you pinpoint the right choice:

1. Convert Earning Rates to Dollars – Credit card points and miles are worth about a penny apiece on average. But values vary widely among hotel credit cards. To find out how many points you'll need for a free night at each hotel chain. And compare the amount you'd have to spend to earn that many points with the cost of purchasing a reservation in cash.
2. Get a Personalized Recommendation – WalletHub's latest report on the Best Hotel Rewards Programs includes a tool that will help you find the right hotel rewards for your individual needs.
3. Read Reviews – Hotel credit card reviews can tell you a lot about each individual offer. And you can learn more from reviews of each hotel's rewards program, more generally. For example, you can see what WalletHub's editors think of Hilton Honors, Marriott Rewards, IHG Rewards and the rest of the most popular hotel loyalty programs.
4. Consider All-Purpose Travel Rewards – Hotel credit cards require you to sacrifice flexibility by committing to a single hotel chain. General-purpose travel rewards credit cards, on the other hand, reward you at the same rate on all travel-related purchases. And they allow you to redeem earnings for any travel expense. So if you discover that you won't earn considerably more with a hotel credit card, you may opt for the more flexible option.

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.

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.

The best hotel credit card with no annual fee is the Hilton Honors American Express Card because it offers 7 points / $1 spent at Hilton properties. The Hilton Credit Card also offers an initial bonus of 80,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, this credit card has a 0% foreign transaction fee, in addition to its $0 annual fee.

Best Hotel Credit Cards with No Annual Fee

In case you don't want to be tied to a specific hotel brand, you should consider getting a general travel credit card with no annual fee. That way can earn rewards on all travel expenses.

Best Travel Credit Cards with no Annual Fee

• Overall: Chase Freedom Unlimited
• Students: Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students
• Business: Spark Miles Select Card

Hotel credit cards with no annual fee can save you up to hundreds of dollars 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.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card
This review is not provided, commissioned or endorsed by any issuer. Opinions and ratings are our own.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card are both Chase-issued hotel rewards credit cards designed for travelers with above-average credit. Both the World of Hyatt Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless come with perks such as free nights and elite status that may cover the cost of owning each card. Potential applicants should also consider whether they can commit to either hotel brand before submitting an application for one of these cards.

If you need more info to help you decide between the World of Hyatt Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, read on for an in-depth look at these two hotel cards in the comparison chart below.

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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.

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®: 50,000 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. 140,000 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 credit cards help cardholders earn free flights, hotel stays and other travel accommodations with every purchase made. Known for big initial bonuses and rich ongoing rewards, the best travel rewards credit cards can easily save the average person more than $1,000 over the first two years of use.

Best Travel Credit Cards of May 2022

This content is not provided or commissioned by any issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer. Please keep in mind that while some offers may come from WalletHub advertising partners, sponsorship status played no role in card selection. 

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The best hotel credit card bonus is 140,000 points for spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card. You can redeem those bonus points at 6,000 destinations around the world, such as InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn.

Here are some other good hotel credit card bonus offers:

There are plenty of other options though, so feel free to look at our editors' latest picks for the best hotel credit cards.

You should also get acquainted with the major hotel loyalty programs if you're thinking about applying for a hotel credit card tied to a particular chain. Some hotel rewards programs are better than others, just like hotel credit cards.

The best hotel credit card for bad credit is the Bank of America Custom Cash Secured Card because it accepts people with a bad credit score. It also offers 1 - 3% cash back on purchases. Bank of America Custom Cash Secured Card also has a $0 annual fee, making it a low-cost way to satisfy a hotel's credit card requirement wherever you stay.

Keep in mind that hotel credit card options are limited for people with bad credit. Plus, there are no co-branded hotel credit cards for bad credit available at the moment.

More info about hotel credit cards for bad credit

While there are unsecured cards for bad credit, they often come with high fees that reduce your initial spending power. And the credit limit will likely start at just $300 or so anyway. Having sufficient available credit is crucial when booking hotels. Hotels often place a “hold” of $50-$200 per day on your account for incidentals. If the hold exceeds your credit limit, the booking may not process, or you could be subject to an over limit fee.

Secured cards are a better option because you usually can add to the deposit to increase your spending power. You should be able to get enough credit to cover hotel costs and their holds.

Best Hotel Bookings Credit Cards for Bad Credit:

Even though the best hotel credit cards for bad credit cards are secured cards, keep in mind that your primary objective should be to rebuild credit rather than earn hotel rewards.

By using your secured card responsibly and making timely payments, you can eventually qualify for a better hotel credit card. The Capital One Venture is among the best hotel credit cards. This card requires at least good credit for approval.

One of the easiest hotel credit cards to get is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. You can get approved for this card with limited credit, and using this credit card for hotel purchases will give you 1.5% cash back (or 5% cash back if you book through Capital One Travel). Plus, it comes with a $39 annual fee.

Some other good options would be the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card and the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card.

Here are some of the easiest hotel credit cards to get:

• Capital One QuicksilverOne: With this card, you get 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. Its annual fee is $39. Accepts applicants with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history).
• Petal 2 Card: This card offers 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to 1.25% back after 6 months of on-time payments, and 1.5% cash back after 12 consecutive months of paying on time. Plus, it has a $0 annual fee. Accepts applicants with limited credit (less than 3 years of credit history).
• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card: With this credit card, you earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice, 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent quarterly in the 3% and 2% categories combined), and 1% back on all other purchases. This card has a $0 annual fee. It requires you to place a minimum security deposit of $300. Accepts applicants with bad (300+) credit.

Keep an eye out for the following key terms and potential restrictions when looking into a hotel rewards program. Doing so will simplify your search for a hotel credit card and help you get the most from whichever card you choose.

1. Earning Rate – The number of points that you'll earn for each $1 that you spend is obviously quite important. And hotel credit cards generally offer different earning rates for different purchase categories. Some credit cards also require you to sign up for bonus rewards in certain categories on a quarterly basis.

2. Rewards Tiers – With certain credit cards, you earn rewards at a particular rate until you've spent a predetermined amount, at which point the rewards will come in at a faster or slower pace. While this type of tiered rewards program is not that common with hotel loyalty programs, it's something to watch out for as it can affect your overall earning rate.

3. Cost of a Free Night – How quickly you'll earn hotel points doesn't mean much if you don't know how much they're worth. So find out how much a free night costs, in terms of both points and dollars.

4. Redemption Limitations – Do you have to cover the full cost of a reservation with points, or can you use “cash,” too? Do you need more points for nights at nicer hotels? Are any dates, hotels, or types of rooms off-limits? It's important to ask yourself these sorts of questions because they speak to the usability of a given hotel's rewards.

5. Initial Rewards Bonus – Many hotel rewards credit cards offer a large number of bonus points for spending a certain amount during the first few months your account is open. This can get you at least a couple free nights right off the bat.

6. Expiration Dates – Oftentimes, hotel points will expire if there's no activity on your account for a certain period of time. This is one reason why only frequent travelers should get hotel credit cards. Regularly making purchases and redeeming your rewards keeps you safe from expiration dates.

7. Status Points – Some hotel chains have multiple credit card offers. The number of status points each provides, both initially and on an ongoing basis, could be a deciding factor between them. But annual fees generally rise along with status-point earning rates. So only focus on this feature if you stay at a particular hotel chain regularly. Doing so will allow you to get value from fringe benefits like complimentary breakfast and room upgrades.