Hotels Credit Cards Comparison and Reviews

If you're a frequent traveler, you're likely no stranger to the world of hotel credit cards. These cards offer a range of benefits, from free stays to airport lounge access.

Some popular hotel credit cards include the Hilton Honors Aspire Card, which offers a free weekend night award after spending $15,000 in a calendar year. Others, like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, provide a free night award after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.

With so many options available, it can be tough to know which one is right for you. Consider your travel habits and what features are most important to you, such as free stays or points earning potential.

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card offers 6x points on Marriott hotel spending, which I value at a return of 4.2%.

The Citi Strata Premier Card offers a 5.1% return on hotel spending, with a $95 annual fee.

For another approach, see: Are Hotel Credit Cards Worth It

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the best co-branded hotel credit card, offering 14x points on Hilton spending, which I value at a return of 7%. This beats the return on spending offered by all transferable points cards.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card comes with top-tier Hilton Diamond status, which gets you free breakfast, lounge access, and a 100% bonus on points earned via paid stays.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great option for brand-agnostic travelers, offering $300 in credits each year toward hotels, airfare, and car rentals booked through the Capital One Travel Portal.

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card offers 6 Wyndham points per dollar on eligible Wyndham purchases and at gas stations, making it a great choice for Wyndham stays.

The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard offers 10x points on Choice spending, which I value at a return of 6%. This is excellent, and beats the return on spending offered by all transferable points cards.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers a free night reward when you renew your card at your account anniversary, plus an extra free night when you spend $60,000 in a calendar year.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a 10,000-mile bonus each card anniversary, worth at least $100 in travel.

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Hotel credit cards offer a range of benefits beyond just accumulating points for future stays. You can use your rewards to upgrade hotel rooms you've booked through your credit card, which can be a great perk if you're looking to treat yourself to a higher-end experience.

Many hotels also offer additional perks through their credit card programs, such as credits for the hotel restaurant or access to the special concierge floor. If you're not sure what perks your card will get you at your preferred hotel, don't be afraid to ask the attendants at the front desk.

You can also use your hotel rewards card to earn airline miles, which can be a great option if you're looking to rack up miles for future flights. Sometimes, using your rewards card to book a flight can even score you a better deal than booking directly through the airline's website.

Hotel rewards cards often include travel insurance and protections, such as hotel theft insurance, trip cancellation protection, and rental car insurance. Be sure to check with your credit card issuer to see what specific benefits are included with your card.

Here are some of the lesser-known benefits of hotel rewards cards:

Annual fees for hotel credit cards can be steep, but they often come with perks that make them worth the cost. The Hilton Honors Aspire card, for instance, has an annual fee of $550, which includes $200 worth of annual statement credits on flight purchases and $400 back on eligible purchases at Hilton resorts.

Some cards offer more affordable options, like the Hilton Honors Surpass Card, which has an annual fee of $150 and earns 12 points per dollar on Hilton purchases. This is a more budget-friendly option for those who don't want to shell out as much for a hotel credit card.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, on the other hand, has a whopping annual fee of $650, but it comes with automatic Silver elite status and Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 spent. If that's too much, the Marriott Bonvoy Business card has an annual fee of $125 and earns six points per dollar at Marriott properties.

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The $650 annual fee is a significant cost, but it comes with some valuable perks.

Cardholders receive up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.

This fee also grants access to a $100 credit for on-property charges each time you book a two-night-minimum stay at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis properties.

You can also earn 25 elite night credits towards the next level of Marriot Bonvoy Elite status each calendar year.

The Hilton Honors Aspire Card has an annual fee of $550, which is quite steep. This fee, however, comes with a range of perks that might justify the cost for frequent travelers.

The card offers $200 worth of annual statement credits for flight purchases, and $400 back on eligible purchases at Hilton resorts each year.

The $95 annual fee might still seem steep, but it's worth considering the benefits you'll get with this card. Annual fee: $95.

You can earn points to put toward free stays quickly, with six points per dollar on Marriott purchases and two points per dollar on everything else.

Automatic Silver elite status is included, which can be a great starting point for Marriott loyalty program members.

The Marriott Bonvoy Business card has an annual fee of $125. This is a relatively affordable option for those looking to earn rewards on business travel expenses.

You can qualify for this card even as a sole proprietor or freelancer, and you don't need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to apply. Your Social Security Number will suffice.

The card offers impressive earning rates, including six points per dollar at Marriott properties. This is a great perk for frequent Marriott travelers.

Four points per dollar can also be earned on purchases at restaurants across the globe and gas stations in the US, as well as on wireless telephone services and shipping. This can add up quickly, especially for business owners with frequent expenses in these categories.

Two points per dollar are earned on all other eligible purchases, providing a solid foundation for earning rewards on a variety of business expenses.

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The Hilton Honors Aspire Card offers a free weekend night reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year, which can be redeemed at participating Hilton properties.

If you're looking for a card with no foreign transaction fees, consider the Citi Premier Card, which also offers a 3x points bonus on travel purchased through the Citi Travel Portal.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a $95 annual fee, which is waived for the first year, and offers 2x points on travel and dining purchases.

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Hotel credit cards are worth it if you frequently stay with a particular hotel chain and like earning points with its loyalty program.

If you stay with a single hotel chain often, you'll earn bonus points and get hotel-specific perks during your travels, making it easier to choose the right hotel credit card for you.

Most major hotel chains offer no-annual-fee credit cards, but they typically come with smaller welcome bonus offers, lower earning rates, and fewer perks.

General travel rewards cards like the Sapphire Preferred Card or The Platinum Card from American Express might be a better option if you don't stay with a single chain often.

If you're totally against paying an annual fee but are loyal to a certain chain, you may want to consider a no-annual-fee hotel card, but be aware of the smaller benefits.

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