Best hotel credit cards of September 2023: Free nights and more

The information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

A hotel credit card is a travel card that rewards its users for brand loyalty. You earn points in the hotel chain’s loyalty program by using the card to book rooms at the chain’s hotels or resorts and, in some cases, by making eligible non-travel purchases. Other incentives may include free nights, free room upgrades and access to the hotel chain’s travel partners.

A hotel credit card works similar to a rewards or cash back card but usually focuses its rewards around hotel partnerships. Often these cards will come with high rewards rates on hotel bookings and include perks like credits for hotel stays. 

There are many types of hotel credit cards. One is a co-branded hotel card that works through a partnership between an issuer and a hotel brand. These cards usually include enrollment in the hotel's loyalty program. Another type of hotel credit card is a general travel rewards card that offers hotel-related perks and benefits without being exclusively associated with a single hotel chain. Read on for more details.

Types of hotel cards 

Hotel credit cards can be general travel cards, co-branded cards, business cards or personal cards. Some of these cards can fit into more than one category, such as general travel business cards or co-branded personal cards. 

When deciding on which type of hotel card you get, consider how much you travel, which brands you love, the card’s rewards rates and the additional perks. Perks could include hotel credits, travel protections or even business perks. Keeping these factors in mind helps narrow down the options to find the perfect card(s) for you.

Co-branded vs general

When it comes to co-branded cards versus general travel cards that offer hotel benefits, the biggest difference is flexibility. With co-branded cards, the credit card is attached to a specific hotel chain, such as Hilton or Marriott. Because of this, you not only get high rewards on stays with the brand, you also get perks like complimentary silver or gold status and room upgrades. However, a downside is that the best perks only apply to one specific hotel brand,  while other perks may fall short.

For general travel cards, you can book anywhere with any brand. Some cards even let you earn big on Airbnb stays and flights. They can also come with perks like luggage protection and travel credits. A downside can be that these cards can lean into rewarding flights more than hotel stays and might not be as rewarding for those who tend to stay at the same hotel.

Business vs personal

Personal and business cards differ in accessibility. Personal hotel cards are the most common, available to people who meet the credit score and application requirements. They come with perks that can enhance your vacation stays, including generous welcome offers and perks that you can personalize to your lifestyle.

Though many people can get personal hotel credit cards to use for leisure, not everyone can receive a business hotel credit card. You must have a qualifying business, whether a corporation or small business. If you don’t travel often for work, a business hotel card may not have much value. That being said, if you do find yourself booking hotels for work, these cards often come with better perks than the non-business versions.

Whether or not a hotel card is the right choice for you depends on your travel habits, budget and financial priorities. Make sure to weigh the pros and cons before choosing a particular card.

Wondering how to pick the best hotel credit card? The right hotel card for you will vary based on your travel habits and preferences. Follow these steps to help you in your search.

Evaluate how often you’ll stay at hotels.

If you only travel once or twice per year, it may be a safe bet to rule out cards with high annual fees. If you stay at hotels frequently, all the perks and benefits that come with a hotel card may be worth it, such as extra free nights, complimentary elite status privileges or automatic accommodation upgrades. Take a close look at your travel habits and estimate the total value you can expect to get from different cards’ rewards and perks based on your spending habits. If a card carries an annual fee, be sure to factor that in to see which option will net the best overall value.

Choose your favorite hotel or hotel brand. 

Co-branded travel cards tend to partner with large national and international hotels brands. Most hotel credit cards carry the names of chains such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, IHG and Radisson. If your favorite hotel is a small regional brand or you prefer to stay at smaller hotels when you travel, you may be better off with a general travel credit card.

Remain conscious of points redemption. 

Using points when you travel can be tricky, especially when you’ve saved them up for a while and you want to ensure you get the most out of them. If you’re a traveler looking to maximize your points, check how much value you can get out of different redemption options to ensure you’re making the most of your hard-earned rewards. For example, your points may be worth less when you redeem for cash back, gift cards or merchandise instead of a hotel stay. Hotel bookings will generally be the best use of your rewards, but since many hotels use dynamic pricing systems, be sure to also consider when would be the best time to use your points. Your points may not be worth as much if you opt for a stay during peak travel season versus another time of the year. Checking to see if certain hotels’ redemption options or award-booking policies will be more valuable for you than others’ is a key step toward maximizing your hotel card.

Why get a hotel credit card?

A hotel credit card can offer a lot of year-round value if you travel frequently or want to enjoy the benefits of an elite hotel loyalty status you may not otherwise qualify for. For instance, some loyalty programs offer complimentary membership status to cardholders along with boosted rewards rates and room discounts — sometimes for no annual fee. And though they’re generally geared toward earning points on hotel stays, hotel cards can also earn points on non-travel purchases like dining, groceries or gas. 

As a niche product, hotel credit cards appeal to specific types of consumers. But anyone who stays at least a few times annually at a hotel may benefit from a hotel card.

Here are some of the ways that you might fit the profile:

If you’re unsure which of these spending styles fit your financial and travel needs, consider checking out our spender type tool to help you determine which credit card can give you the most comfortable getaway.

Hotel programs aren’t always the strongest redemption option for credit cards, especially compared to airlines. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not worth it. Many hotel programs hover around 0.7 or 0.8 cents per dollar in value. However, the rates of points or miles per dollar on hotel cards are much higher. For general travel cards, you can recieve 2X to 5X points/miles per dollar while co-branded cards typically offer more.

For example, Amex Platinum card rewards earn 5X points on prepaid hotels. Let’s say that you use this card for a $500 stay at a Hilton hotel. You would earn 2,500 points, worth $15 in redemption value, according to Bankrate’s 0.6 cent value for the Hilton Honors program. If you used the Hilton Honors Amex for this stay istead, you would earn 3,500 points, worth $21 in redemption value.

What cards offer complimentary elite status with hotel loyalty programs?

Complimentary elite status with a hotel loyalty program or a fast-track to elite status is a valuable feature available on several hotel rewards cards. After all, kickstarting your elite status journey could give you a boost toward incredibly valuable perks like improved rewards rates, exclusive upgrade privileges, extra award nights or other discounts.

Qualifying for elite loyalty status usually centers around frequent card use, but a credit card might carve you a shortcut toward elite status if it carries an automatic status offer. Here’s a list of popular cards that offer complimentary elite status to cardholders and their program point values:

Even the best hotel credit cards are only worth it when you take full advantage of the hotel rewards programs and associated perks. Here are a few tips on how to get the most out of your card and the hotel reward points you’ll earn:

• Make sure you’re a member of the associated hotel rewards program. They’re free to sign up for and will provide you with extra resources on how to get the most out of your booking. As both a loyalty member and co-branded cardholder, you’ll earn extra points on top of your card’s rewards rate. For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns 6X points on over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. If you become a Marriott Bonvoy loyalty member, you earn an additional 10X points on stays. Plus, your automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status – complementary of the Boundless card – adds an additional point to the category, boosting your Marriott hotel rewards rate up to 17X points.
• Pair multiple credit cards. Your new hotel credit card will give you big point totals for hotel purchases, but not necessarily on everything else. Use your hotel card alongside high-earning cash back cards, other travel cards or one that allows you to transfer points to your preferred hotel chain.
• Book directly through the hotel or issuer’s shopping portal. You usually receive extra value by booking your room through the hotel’s website or an issuer’s shopping portal, like Chase Ultimate Rewards. Booking through third-party sites may not qualify for the expected rewards rate.
• Use your rewards. While it can be tempting to hoard points for a huge payout, it may be smarter to redeem more frequently. Award night pricing may change often, especially for hotels that have dynamic pricing, so you may get more value from your rewards by spending them on stays throughout than by saving them all for a trip during peak vacation season, when your points carry the least value.

When it comes to hotel credit cards and travel tips, Bankrate's Travel Toolkit and a huge collection of resources are at your service:

• How much are hotel points worth?
• Best Western Rewards Guide
• Hilton Honors Guide
• IHG Rewards Club Guide
• Marriott Bonvoy Guide
• Wyndham Rewards Guide

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