Best Hotel Credit Cards

The credit score you need for the Hotels.com Credit Card is 700 or better. That means people with at least good credit have a shot at getting approved for the Hotels.com Credit Card.

You should note that while your credit score is an important factor, there are plenty of other things that will impact your chances of being approved for the Hotels.com Credit Card, too. Some other key criteria include your income, existing debt load, number of open accounts, recent credit inquiries, employment status and housing status.

Since all these criteria are taken into consideration, you might be able to get approved with a slightly lower credit score. But it's best to wait to apply until you meet the Hotels.com Credit Card credit score requirement. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.

The most exclusive credit card is the American Express Centurion Card, also known as the Amex Black Card. It is reportedly reserved for people who spend at least $100,000 per year, and an invitation is needed to apply. The so-called Amex black card is far too exclusive for most people, as a result, but there are plenty of other prestigious and exclusive credit cards that are attainable if you have excellent credit and make a lot of money.

To help you determine which, if any, of the most exclusive credit cards are right for your needs, WalletHub’s editors compared 1,500+ credit card offers and identified the best, most prestigious options for different types of applicants.

What Are the Most Exclusive Credit Cards?

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 with no annual fee is the Hilton Honors American Express Card because it offers 7 Hilton Honors Bonus Points $1 spent at hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5 points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3 points per $1 on all other purchases. The Hilton Credit Card also offers an initial bonus of 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus 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®: 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. 140,000 points + 1 Free Night 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 August 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 and 1 free night 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 $200. 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.