Best hotel credit cards of 2020

Whether you’re a die-hard loyalist to a particular hotel chain or you stay wherever it’s most convenient, there’s a hotel credit card for you.

Hotel credit cards can help you earn points that can be redeemed for free nights at the hotel of your choice, or they can even propel you through the ranks of a hotel’s elite program. This guide will help break down some of the best hotel credit cards out there so you can choose one that’s right for you.

Best hotel credit cards

Here are our picks for the top hotel credit cards in the following categories.

Best hotel card with no annual fee
Hilton Honors American Express Card

Apply now Rates & Fees

670
Min. credit score

$0
Annual fee

75,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 7x
Points

Among the hotel cards with no annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Card card pulls ahead thanks to its point-earning potential.

See details

• Pros and cons
• Details

Pros

• Get a sizable 75,000-point welcome offer after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases during your first 3 months of account opening.
• Earn 7x points at eligible Hilton hotels and resorts. Earn 5x points at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, and 3x points on everything else.
• Get a complimentary upgrade to Hilton Honors Silver.

Cons

• As an Amex card, it's not as widely accepted overseas

Annual fee	$0
Purchase APR	15.74% to 24.74% variable
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	75,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	7x points on Hilton Honors purchases, 5x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases

Compare more hotel credit cards with no annual fee

Best hotel credit card for transfering points to hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card

Read review Rates & Fees

740
Min. credit score

$450
Annual fee

100,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 6x
Points

If you're looking for a dedicated hotel credit card with point transfer flexibility, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card fits the bill nicely. Plus, this luxury card offers an array of hotel perks.

See details

• Pros and cons
• Details

Pros

• Get a 100,000-point welcome offer after you spend $5,000 in purchases within your first 3 months of account opening. This is worth at least one free night.
• Earn 6x points on eligible Marriott purchases, 3x points at US restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2x points on everything else.
• Get strong hotel perks, including a Marriott credit.

Cons

• Get a hefty $450 annual fee.
• Get a potentially higher than average purchase APR, up to 24.74% variable.

Annual fee	$450
Purchase APR	15.74% to 24.74% variable
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	100,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3x at US restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2x for all other purchases

Please note: All information about Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card has been collected independently by Finder and this card is no longer available through this site.

Compare other Chase hotel credit cards

Best hotel credit card for free nights
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card

See offer Rates & Fees

670
Min. credit score

$89
Annual fee

140,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 25x
Points

Few cards can match the free nights offered by the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card. Best of all, the card's free nights are not restricted to a welcome offer.

See details

• Pros and cons
• Details

Pros

• Signup bonus. Earn 140,000 bonus points once you spend $3,000 in your first 3 months of account opening. Most credit cards that offer such generous signup bonuses usually require a higher spend of around $4,000 in the first three months.
• Earn points. Earn 25x points on IHG stays, 2x points at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants and 1x points on everything else you buy.
• Fourth reward night free. Redeem your points for four or more reward nights and get an additional reward night.

Cons

• Annual fee. To use the card and its perks, you'll pay $89 each year.

Annual fee	$89
Purchase APR	17.49% to 24.49% variable
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	25x points at IHG hotels, 2x on gas, groceries and dining and 1x on all other purchases

Compare other travel credit cards

Best for airport lounge access without a high annual fee
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Apply now Rates & Fees

670
Min. credit score

$95
Annual fee

125,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 12x
Points

The Surpass card is unique in offering limited access to Priority Pass lounges despite its status as a hotel card. Plus, the card's earning potential is solid.

See details

• Pros and cons
• Details

Pros

• Earn 12x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio.
• Earn 6x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases on your card at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations.
• Earn 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your card.

Cons

• Pay a $95 annual fee to use this card.
• Use this card in limited places as it's not as widely accepted overseas.

Annual fee	$95
Purchase APR	15.74% to 24.74% variable
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	125,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	12x points on Hilton Portfolio spending, 6x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases

Best for travel credits
Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Finder rating: 4.6 / 5

★★★★★

See offer Rates & Fees

740
Min. credit score

$550
Annual fee

50,000
Points welcome offer

Up to 10x
Points

When it comes to travel credits, few cards can match the sheer value offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve® credits. Other cards may offer less, or place greater restrictions on how you use your credit.

See details

• Pros and cons
• Details

Pros

• Signup bonus. Earn 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in your first 3 months of card membership. This is worth $750 if you redeem through the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal.
• Earn rewards points. Earn 3x points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide and 1x points on all other purchases. The 3x points can be worth 4.5% back if redeemed on travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards. You also earn 10x points on Lyft purchases until March 2022. This can be worth up to 15% back in travel purchases via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.
• Annual travel credit. Get $300 in statement credit as reimbursement for your travel purchases every year on your card account anniversary.

Cons

• Annual fee. Awesome perks come with a high annual fee. You'll pay $550 annual fee for the card.

Annual fee	$550
Purchase APR	18.49% to 25.49% variable
Foreign transaction fee	None
Welcome offer	50,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
Rewards	10x points on Lyft rides, 3x points on dining and travel after earning your $300 travel credit and 1x points on all other purchases

Looking for a new card? Take our quiz to find the best fit.

Compare hotel cards by bank or hotel program

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Name	Product	Welcome offer	Rewards	Annual fee	Filter values
Hilton Honors American Express Card		75,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	7x points on Hilton Honors purchases, 5x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases	$0		Earn 75,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
CardMatch™ from creditcards.com		See terms	See terms	See terms		Use the CardMatch tool to find cards you're likely to qualify for with your credit score, without a hard pull on your credit.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card		75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	6x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels and 2x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The World of Hyatt Credit Card		25,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. 25,000 points after spending another $6,000 in the first 6 months	9x points at Hyatt hotels as a World of Hyatt member, 2x on gyms, commuting, dining and airlines and 1x on all other purchases	$95		Earn 25,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. 25,000 points after spending another $6,000 in the first 6 months.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card		140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	25x points at IHG hotels, 2x on gas, groceries and dining and 1x on all other purchases	$89		140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ credit card		30,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months	3x points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 2x on travel and 1x on all other purchases	$0		30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.	See offer View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card		125,000 points after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months	12x points on Hilton Portfolio spending, 6x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases	$95		Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors™ Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 or more in purchases with your new card within the first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card		75,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	6x points at Marriott Bonvoy, 4x points at US restaurants, US gas stations and on US wireless telephone and shipping services, 2x points on all other purchases	$125		Earn 75,000 bonus points after you use your new card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card		125,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months	12x points at Hilton, 6x points on select business and travel and 3x points on all other purchases	$95		Earn 125,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first 3 months of card membership. Rates & fees	Apply now View details	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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When is a hotel credit card worth it?

Whether a hotel credit card is worth grabbing depends on just how often you stay at hotels during travel. Much of this comes down to the annual fee and whether you can earn back enough in perks and rewards to overcome that cost.

For a mid-range card like the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, this doesn’t prove too difficult. At just $89 annually, the card’s annual fee is covered by the free night stay you get each year. This means most of your spending can go toward earning rewards for additional free nights.

For a card like The Platinum Card, on the other hand, you’re staring down a $550 annual fee. To make up for that, you’ll need to make sure you take advantage of the card’s various perks and statement credits.

How to compare hotel credit cards

Here’s a quick overview of the major card features you’ll want to look at when comparing hotel credit cards:

You asked, we listened: Top 5 common questions

Unsung heroes in the travel card space, hotel cards have a lot to offer. Here are the 5 most common questions we receive on the subject.

1. How much are credit card hotel points worth? The average value of your accrued hotel points ultimately vary depending on the specific hotel loyalty program.
2. Can I get a hotel credit card with bad credit? Generally, most hotel credit cards require a good or better credit score. With that said, there are a few credit cards that may offer rewards on hotel spending that you can obtain with bad credit.
3. What kinds of hotel cards are there? Hotel credit cards come in two varieties: cobranded, which are released under the umbrella of a specific hotel chain, and general, which can be used on any hotel.
4. What is the best hotel credit card? The “best” hotel credit card ultimately comes down to your hotel and spending preferences.
5. What’s the difference between hotel credit cards and travel credit cards? Hotel credit cards offer points, perks and rewards on hotel related purchases. Travel credit cards offer general reward points that can be used on hotels as well as other travel options, such as airlines and cruises.

Ask the experts

• Nada Nasr Bechwati
• Associate Professor of Marketing
• Bentley University

Which hotel has the best rewards program? Or is there a best?
There is no best for everyone. However, each individual needs to examine her consumption behavior to decide what is best for her. Cards with no annual fees are favored usually, but some fees can be seen as risk-free too. For instance, a card with a $75 annual fee is perfectly fine if it comes with one-night free stay per year. One needs to be careful about the locations of the hotel though. Does the hotel operate in a location you want to or tend to visit? Some hotels operate in only few places.

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• Kevin McEvoy
• Ph.D., Assistant Professor in-Residence
• School of Business at University of Connecticut

When is a hotel credit card worth it?
There are a few circumstances where hotel card could be worth it to a consumer:
1. They travel frequently to the same locations
2. They find a hotel chain with the right balance of room availability, amenities and price
3. They intend to use the hotel program reward points for travel, staying at the same chain at locations that offer the same balance of room availability, amenities and price
4. They choose to stay at the same hotel chain whenever possible

To sum up, the answer is in the usage. If the hotel card is used frequently for stays at that specific hotel chain, the hotel credit cards may be better. If it is used as a more general card, a wider-use general card may be better.

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• Robert Warren
• Instructor
• University of North Dakota

What is the best way to earn hotel stays?
Careful planning is the best way to earn hotel stays. Having travelled the world over the past 20 years for business, I’ve come to appreciate being a member of a hotel chain’s rewards program and taking advantage of the free stays that come with it. In selecting the best program for you, it’s important to identify a chain offering properties in locations you frequently visit and at a price point that’s competitive with competing offers. I’ve tried using some of the online aggregator sites but in my mind they don’t offer the same benefits as sticking with one of the majors. With the majors you get the free nights and other benefits like room location and special checkout times.

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• Yuping Liu-Thompkins
• Professor of Marketing & Director
• Old Dominion University

Are hotel cards for a specific chain worth it versus a general travel card?
A general travel card is definitely more flexible, allowing you to earn points wherever you stay or whoever you fly with. However, most chain-specific cards do offer pretty valuable extra benefits, such as:

• Elite status upgrade. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ credit card offers enough elite night credits to qualify the cardholder for Silver status.

Higher point ratio for purchases at the chain. An example is the

• Hilton Honors American Express Card that offers 7x points for every dollar spent at Hilton properties, compared to 3x points on all other purchases.

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• Tulay Girard
• Professor of Marketing
• Penn State Altoona

When is a hotel credit card worth it?
I typically try to take advantage of the best offers by any of my credit cards during a given time period. I use the American Express-Hilton Honors co-branded card to earn hotel points and also to take advantage of the additional rewards offered by Amex. For example, I can maintain gold member status regardless of how many nights I stay in a year by just using my Amex.

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Bottom line

There are numerous great hotel credit cards out there, but it’s hard to go wrong with one of the five we’ve highlighted above. If you need more help choosing what’s right for you, compare no-annual-fee hotel cards or check out hotel loyalty brands for more in-depth information.

If you’re looking for more flexible options, consider a travel credit card designed for airline travel to find one that suits your needs.