Best Hotel Credit Cards
Selected by WalletHub Editors from 1,000+ credit cards — Updated June 21, 2017
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Hotel credit cards aren’t quite as popular as their airline-affiliated counterparts, perhaps because airfare tends to be more expensive than lodging. Nevertheless, the right hotel rewards card can make the perfect complement to the wallet of a brand-loyal frequent traveler. One of the main impediments to profiting from hotel credit card points — aside from infrequent patronage — is that all of the chain-specific offers that are currently available require good or excellent credit for approval. Those who do not qualify should focus on cost-effective credit building – in other words, prioritize approval and a lack of fees over rewards – in order to save as much money as possible until truly rewarding offers are in the cards. If, however, you’re in the fortunate position to expedite earning free nights with the aid of a hotel rewards credit card, just browse the offers below to see what type of bounty awaits you. We compared more than 1,000 offers based on initial bonuses, ongoing earning rates, fees, and rewards-program status qualifications to identify the most lucrative cards for different types of travelers (some of which may come from WalletHub advertisers). Check them out so you can check-in without swiping next time you go out of town!… show moreshow less
Hotel credit cards aren’t quite as popular as their airline-affiliated counterparts, perhaps because airfare tends to be more expensive than lodging. Nevertheless, the right hotel rewards card can make the perfect complement to the wallet of a brand-loyal frequent traveler.
One of the main impediments to profiting from hotel credit card points — aside from infrequent patronage — is that all of the chain-specific offers that are currently available require good or excellent credit for approval. Those who do not qualify should focus on cost-effective credit building – in other words, prioritize approval and a lack of fees over rewards – in order to save as much money as possible until truly rewarding offers are in the cards.
If, however, you’re in the fortunate position to expedite earning free nights with the aid of a hotel rewards credit card, just browse the offers below to see what type of bounty awaits you. We compared more than 1,000 offers based on initial bonuses, ongoing earning rates, fees, and rewards-program status qualifications to identify the most lucrative cards for different types of travelers (some of which may come from WalletHub advertisers). Check them out so you can check-in without swiping next time you go out of town!
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.
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One of the main impediments to profiting from hotel credit card points — aside from infrequent patronage — is that all of the chain-specific offers that are currently available require good or excellent credit for approval. Those who do not qualify should focus on cost-effective credit building – in other words, prioritize approval and a lack of fees over rewards – in order to save as much money as possible until truly rewarding offers are in the cards.
If, however, you’re in the fortunate position to expedite earning free nights with the aid of a hotel rewards credit card, just browse the offers below to see what type of bounty awaits you. We compared more than 1,000 offers based on initial bonuses, ongoing earning rates, fees, and rewards-program status qualifications to identify the most lucrative cards for different types of travelers (some of which may come from WalletHub advertisers). Check them out so you can check-in without swiping next time you go out of town!
2017’s Best Hotel Credit Cards – Editors’ Picks
| Best For… | Card Name |
| Biggest Bonus | Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature Credit Card |
| Ongoing Rewards | IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card |
| Any Hotel | Barclaycard Arrival Plus World Elite Mastercard |
| Business Travelers | Club Carlson Business Rewards Credit Card |
Learn more about these elite hotel rewards offers below.
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.
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Hotel-Specific Points
Hotel-Specific Points
Club Carlson℠ Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Credit Card 101 reviews
IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card 171 reviews
Best For Frequent Travelers (International): Cardholders receive 60,000 bonus points for spending at least $1,000 during the first three months as well as one free night each year; 5 points per $1 spent at IHG properties, 2 points per $1 at grocery stores, gas stations and restaurants; 1 point per $1 on everything else; and complimentary IHG Platinum Elite Status.
There is no annual fee during the first year ($49 thereafter) and no foreign transaction fee.
There is no annual fee during the first year ($49 thereafter) and no foreign transaction fee.
Club Carlson Business Rewards Credit Card 12 reviews
Best For Business: In addition to the same initial and annual rewards bonuses available through the personal version of this card, users also get 10 points per $1 at Carlson Rezidor hotels, 5 points per $1 on everything else. Cardholders also get complimentary Club Carlson Gold Elite status and the ability to save up to 15% on business purchases through Visa Savings Edge.
Honorable Mention: Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card (80,000 bonus points; $85 annual fee)
While many hotel and airline rewards credit cards are affiliated with specific travel providers, meaning their points and miles can only be redeemed with that particular company or one of its transfer partners, another class of rewards cards offers generic points and miles that can be redeemed for any travel-related expense. This flexibility makes such cards quite useful to travelers who aren’t loyal to a given hotel chain, and their stand-out value should have even broader appeal. The best offers in this category are as follows:
Honorable Mention: Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card (80,000 bonus points; $85 annual fee)
Points For Any Hotel
While many hotel and airline rewards credit cards are affiliated with specific travel providers, meaning their points and miles can only be redeemed with that particular company or one of its transfer partners, another class of rewards cards offers generic points and miles that can be redeemed for any travel-related expense. This flexibility makes such cards quite useful to travelers who aren’t loyal to a given hotel chain, and their stand-out value should have even broader appeal. The best offers in this category are as follows:
Barclaycard Arrival Plus™ World Elite MasterCard® Proceed 3,208 reviews
Best Overall: $500 initial bonus redeemable any travel-related expense, the miles equivalent of 2% cash back across all purchases as long as you redeem for travel, 5% miles redemption refund, no first-year annual fee ($89 thereafter) and no foreign transaction fee.
BankAmericard Travel Rewards® for Students Credit Card 244 reviews
Best For Students: 20,000-point initial bonus, 3 points per $1 on airfare, 1.5 points per $1 on everything else and no annual fee.
Honorable Mention: Expedia+ Voyager Card From Citi (25,000-point initial spending bonus, 4 points per $1 on Expedia purchases, $95 annual fee, no foreign transaction fee) For more great offers, check out WalletHub’s Best Overall Travel Credit Cards.
Honorable Mention: Expedia+ Voyager Card From Citi (25,000-point initial spending bonus, 4 points per $1 on Expedia purchases, $95 annual fee, no foreign transaction fee) For more great offers, check out WalletHub’s Best Overall Travel Credit Cards.
Tips for Finding the Best Hotel Credit Card
Much like finding the right hotel for your budget and preferences, trying to select a hotel credit card can be a confusing process – especially if you’re committing to a particular chain for the foreseeable future. Here are some helpful tips to help you navigate the hotel waters and avoid springing a financial leak:
- Compare Your Annual Hotel Spending To Other Credit Card Charges: Essentially, you need to determine whether hotel reservations comprise a big enough portion of your total spending to warrant getting a hotel points card instead of an everyday cash back card, a 0% card or a card offering generic travel rewards.
The basic rules of thumb are that you should only make a co-branded hotel card your primary spending vehicle if you spend at least 20 nights in that chain each year. Supplementing an existing card with hotel plastic offering a lucrative one-time bonus is also an option, but you must have plans to stay in a hotel and use this bounty in the 3-6 months after account opening. Otherwise, the points could be devalued or simply forgotten about over time. - Decide How Long You Want To Keep The Card: Your plans for a new hotel credit card will dictate how you evaluate offers. If you think you’ll have the card for only a year or two, then you should give initial bonuses far more weight than ongoing perks. On the other hand, if you have no timetable for closing your account, things like regular rewards earning rates, per-stay bonuses and potential room upgrades will prove to be increasingly important the longer your plastic stays active.
- Double-Check Point Values For Your Preferred Redemption Methods: There’s often little rhyme or reason to the number of points required to book a free night with a given hotel chain other than peak season and weekends being where you’ll typically get the least value. What’s more, hotel credit card users have numerous redemption options aside from complimentary reservations – including concert tickets, gift cards and merchandise.
Figuring out the point valuations not only for your favorite vacation destinations but also for each additional redemption method you may be interested in will help you more accurately gauge a given card’s value and identify the best way to use it. This may seem like a lot of work, but it’s worth it to avoid bad financial surprises. - Get The Skinny On The Booking Process: In addition to verifying that a given hotel chain actually has properties in all of your favorite travel destinations, it’s a good idea to check out customer reviews as well as the redemption page on the chain’s website. Peer feedback serves as a great screen against any obvious limitations, and doing a little online digging will give you the chance to scan the fine print for other, less obvious drawbacks.
When it comes to ongoing rewards, users earn 10 points for every dollar spent on Club Carlson reservations and five points per dollar on all other purchases. This card charges a $75 annual fee and has a 3% foreign transaction fee.