Hotel Credit Cards

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

Co-branded hotel credit cards are great for earning points that you can redeem for free nights. Many of these cards come with perks like elevated status, early check-in or late check-out, room upgrades, and free breakfast. Some of these cards even include a free night after hitting a spending tier or renewing your card each year.

If you’re a frequent guest of a particular hotel brand or targeting a stay in a destination or just want to use your everyday bills and expenses to earn hotel rewards, consider a hotel credit card to enhance your stay and your travel reward possibilities!

Best Hotel Credit Cards

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: 30,000 Hyatt points after spending $3,000 on your card within the first 3 months of opening your card. Plus, earn 2x for every dollar you spend (on purchases that would normally earn just 1x per dollar) up to $15,000 in the first 6 months of being a cardholder for the possibility to earn another 30,000 Hyatt points. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn a category 1-4 free night every year for your card anniversary
• Earn another category 1-4 free night if you spend $15k during your cardholder year
• 9x on Hyatt purchases
• 2x on restaurants, gym memberships, commuter transit costs, and airfare booked with the airline
• 1x on all other purchases
• Hyatt Discoverist status + 5 qualifying night credits every year
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $95

Hyatt points are one of the most valuable travel rewards currency to earn and that’s saying a lot! Hotel points are generally valued at less than a cent per point. Hyatt points are double, even triple the value of other hotel programs.

Hyatt has more than 900 properties in 65 countries around the world. Hyatt’s award chart is broken into off-peak, standard, and peak pricing. Nevertheless, the cost of free nights at many of their upscale hotels remains reasonable.

This is one of my favorite cards to keep in my wallet. Everyday spending in $5k increments earns 2 elite nights and $15k in a calendar year earns another free night. 

card_name

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months as a cardholder. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn an Anniversary Free Night at eligible hotels up to 40k points per night + earn a reward night when you redeem IHG points for a consecutive 4-night stay (i.e. 4th night free)
• Earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
• 5x on restaurants, at gas stations, and on travel
• 3x on all other purchases
• IHG Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental(R), Crowne Plaza(R), Kimpton(R), EVEN(R)Hotels, Indigo(R) Hotels, and Holiday Inn(R)
• Up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS every 4 years
• Automatic Platinum Elite status as long as you're a cardholder
• No foreign Exchange Fees
• Member FDIC

Annual Fee: $99 

IHG points are so handy to have! IHG has a large global footprint of properties including well-known brands like Holiday Inn Express and Intercontinental. The IHG Premier card also gives the 4th reward night free, and should you have the IHG Select card (no longer available), your 4-night stay can be stacked with the 10% refund on redeemed points. 

My IHG points have come in handy especially on road trips and in National Park gateway towns, where prices can be high in season! My all-time favorite Holiday Inn Express is in Springdale, Utah…the entrance to Zion National Park.

card_name

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months as a cardholder. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• 17x up to on IHG Hotels & Resorts bookings
• 3x on monthly bills, restaurants, and at gas stations
• 2x on all other purchases
• Redeem 3 nights, get the 4th night free on award stays
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at Hotels & Resorts such as InterContinental(R), Crowne Plaza(R), Kimpton(R), EVEN(R) Hotels, Indigo(R) Hotels, and Holiday Inn(R)
• No foreign Exchange Fees
• Member FDIC

Annual Fee: $0

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of opening your account.

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn up to 17x the Marriott points at Marriott hotels
• 3x on gas, grocery purchases, and dining up to a combined $6,000 every year
• 2x on all other purchases
• Earn a free night each year at hotels up to 35k points per night for your account anniversary
• Get 1 Elite Night for every $5,000 spent on the card
• Silver Elite Status
• Trip protection for delays and lost baggage
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $95

I love that Marriott Bonvoy points can be used to redeem for hotel nights, but can also be transferred to 40+ airline transfer partners. Among these partners are Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, both of which aren’t accessible through any other flexible points program.

Marriott also has thousands of hotels around the world, some of which are bound to be in your bucket list destinations!

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

Current Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months. 

Favorite Card Features:

• Earn up to 14x the Marriott points for every $1 spent on Marriott hotels
• 2x on travel, 1x on all other purchases
• Silver Elite status and 15 elite night credits each year
• No foreign Exchange Fees

Annual Fee: $0

card_name

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months as a cardholder. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy(R) points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide & at U.S. grocery stores (on up to $15k in combined purchases at restaurants & U.S. supermarkets each calendar year, then 2X points thereafter)
• 2x on all other purchases
• Get complimentary Gold Elites status & earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy(R) on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit
• Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15k on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy(TM) Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R). Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Earn 1k Marriott Bonvoy Points for each eligible paid stay
• 15 Elite Night Credits: Every calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy(TM) American Express Card(R) you are eligible to receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy(R) Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $250

card_name

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn two 85k Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. Each award can be used for 1 night for redemptions at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for a value up to $1,200. Some hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.

Favorite Card Features: 

• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 each month) for eligible purchases made with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card at restaurants worldwide.
• Earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) program
• Earn 3x Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent at restaurants around the world & on flights booked directly with airlines
• Earn 2x Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades (including rooms with views and suites), when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn a Marriott Brilliant Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month at hotels up to 85k points per night at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R). Some hotels have resort fees
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck(R): Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a 5-year membership for TSA PreCheck(R) (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) & pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant(R) American Express(R) Card. 
• Cell Phone Protection: you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs for damage, like a cracked screen or theft for a maximum value of $800 per claim when you use your Eligible Card to pay the wireless bill on which the cell phone line appears during the prior month. A $50 deductible applies to each approved claim. Cardholders are eligible for 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• Each calendar year after spending $60k on eligible purchases made on their Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant(R) American Express(R) Card, Card Members are eligible to choose an Earned Choice Award benefit. (You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.)
• $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton(R) or St. Regis(R) when you book directly using a special rate for a 2-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Enroll in Priority Pass(TM) Select, which offers unlimited access to 1,200+ lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. 
• No foreign Exchange Fees on international purchases
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $650

card_name

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months as a cardholder. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• 7x on Hilton purchases
• 5x on U.S. grocery and U.S. gas spending
• 3x on other eligible purchases
• Hilton Silver status
• No foreign Exchange Fees (See rates & fees details)
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $0

I’ve enjoyed so many stays at Hilton properties around the world and they’ve been made even better with the Hilton status that comes with my co-branded credit card! Plus, I love that this card earns bonus points for grocery spending.

The highest-tier Hilton properties cost a lot of points per night, but Hilton’s low to mid-level hotels can cost just 10k-30k points per night. Maximize the 5th-night free benefit and you can save serious points and dollars on your next trip. 

Hotel Business Credit Cards

If you’re a business traveler or you want to earn hotel points for your business expenses, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott offer business co-branded cards.

Business cards aren’t only for companies. Solopreneurs and people with side hustles can often qualify for business credit cards. 

card_name

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months from your account opening. Offer ends 7/19/23

Favorite Card Features:

• 12x on eligible purchases made directly with Hilton hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio
• 6x on U.S. gas stations, restaurants, cell phone service, shipping costs, flights booked with the airline directly, and rental cars booked with the car rental company directly.
• No foreign exchange fees
• Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Earn 1 free weekend night after spending $15k in a calendar year. Earn an additional free weekend night by spending an additional $45k in the same calendar year
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $95

card_name

Welcome Bonus: Limited Time Offer! Earn 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points after spending $8,000 in purchases with your new card in the first 6 months as a cardholder. Offer ends 11/1/23.

Favorite Card Features:

• 6x the Marriott Bonvoy points per $1 you spend spend on eligible purchases at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy(R) program
• 4x on dining worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, cell phone service from a U.S. provider, and U.S. purchases on shipping.
• Earn 2x on all other purchases.
• Get a 7% discount off standard rate reservations for standard guest rooms at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program by booking directly through Marriott. Terms and conditions apply.
• Get a Free Night Award after your annual renewal month at hotels participating in the Bonvoy program priced at 35k points a night and under. Plus, earn another Free Night Award after spending $60k on your card in a calendar year.
• Marriott Bonvoy points can also be transferred to 40+ airline partners and redeemed for award flights.
• Get Marriott Bonvoy Gold status as a cardholder
• Terms Apply

Annual Fee: $125

card_name

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 140,000 IHG points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months. 

Favorite Card Features: 

• Earn a Reward Night each card anniversary at eligible hotels around the globe + earn a Reward Night when you redeem IHG points for a 4-night consecutive stay at an IHG hotel.
• Earn up to 26x per $1 on IHG purchases when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts
• 5x on restaurants, at gas stations, travel, and select advertising purchases
• 3x on all other purchases
• 4th night free on award stays
• $100 Credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck
• Automatic Platinum Elite status for as long as you have the Premier Business card
• No foreign Exchange Fees
• IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental(R), Crowne Plaza(R), Kimpton(R), EVEN(R) Hotels, Indigo(R) Hotels, and Holiday Inn(R)
• Member FDIC

Annual Fee: $99 

card_name

Current Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 Hyatt points after spending $5,000 on your card within the first 3 months of opening your card. In addition, earn 15,000 Bonus Points when you spend $12,000 in the first 6 months as a cardholder.

Favorite Card Features: 

• $100 in Hyatt credits on Hyatt purchases each year you renew your card ($50 2x a year)
• 9x on Hyatt purchases
• 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on purchases in your top 3 spending categories each quarter through 12/31/24. Then, 2x on your top 2 spending categories thereafter.
• 2 Bonus Points on gym memberships
• 1 Bonus Point on all other purchases
• Hyatt Discoverist status + 5 qualifying night credits every year
• Earn up to $100 in Hyatt statement credits. When you spend $50+ at any Hyatt property, you'll earn a $50 statement credit, up to 2x each anniversary year.
• No foreign Exchange Fees
• Member FDIC

Annual Fee: $199

Disclosure:

The Globetrotting Teacher has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Globetrotting Teacher and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Comments & responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.