Find the Best Hotel Rewards Credit Card

 

Read our ULTIMATE Guide to Hotel Rewards Programs and Hotel Credit Cards#

How Do Hotel Rewards Credit Cards Work?

Hotel cards are very straightforward – you earn points for staying at hotels. Well, there’s a little more to them than that. For instance, hotel rewards credit cards are tied with one hotel chain, like Hyatt, Hilton, Radisson, Best Western, and more. Stays at these chains earn additional rewards.

Many hotel rewards cards also earn additional rewards for purchases ins elect categories. These can include dining, gas stations, grocery stores, and other groups. Businesses can benefit significantly from bonus categories, which include advertising, shipping, air travel, and more. Business cards sometimes include personal categories, like grocery stores and restaurants as well.

Rewards points earned through hotel cards apply towards a variety of awards, including:

• Free nights at hotel properties worldwide
• Flights with airline partners
• Car rentals with partner agencies
• Merchandise
• Cash back or gift cards

Hotel cards often come with sign up bonuses, Sign up bonuses with these rewards cards come either after making a minimum number of purchases within a certain number of months of card membership. These purchase requirements might entail a spend of $3,000 on purchases on the card in a calendar month, but typically spending bonuses are 90 days or one year in duration.

Hotel Credit Cards: Pros and Cons

Hotel cards, like other rewards credit cards, have their positives and their negatives.

The Benefits of Hotel Credit Cards

Hotel credit cards offer a variety of benefits for cardholders. Like airline credit cards and travel cards, hotel rewards cards sometimes include generous signup bonuses. These signup bonuses usually involve points (which can be worth as much as $1,000) plus free nights each year. Other features include complimentary upgrades, statement credits, and even airport and travel perks.

Hotel cards also offer extraordinary value for money for those that are loyal to one hotel chain. Staying with brands within the chain earns additional points per dollar spent, which I turn can lead to more free nights. Participating stays also result in higher tiers in the hotel loyalty programs, which provide upgrades, free Wi-Fi, complimentary stays, late check-out, and more.

The Drawbacks of Hotel Rewards Cards

Because hotel cards are co-branded with a specific hotel brand, they offer limited value to those who aren’t particular about their hotel when traveling. If, for example, you prefer to stay with IHG, but are going to a city where there isn’t an IHG property, your IHG Rewards club premier Credit Card won’t be as useful as a travel rewards credit card. Similarly, the Radisson Rewards Visa Signature or the Radisson Rewards Visa won’t be very useful outside of Radisson stays.

General travel credit cards, like the Priceline Rewards Visa,  also offer greater versatility in that they provide enhanced rewards for all facets of travel, not just hotel stays. This isn’t true for all hotel credit cards. Cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card earn additional rewards on a variety of travel purchases, including gas station purchases and flights booked through American Express Travel. Still, however, you might find better-rounded value with a generic travel card.

How to Maximize Hotel Rewards Points

Beyond amazing perks, such as complimentary night stays early check-in and late check-out, or free breakfast, one of the best parts of hotel rewards programs is the fantastic value for money members get for their points. Hotel rewards points are applicable for room upgrades, free nights, or other hotel-centric perks. These points also apply to flights with participating airline partners.

Getting the most value for money with hotel loyalty points requires an understanding of what each point is worth, as well as to what partners points can be transferred

Current Hotel Rewards Points Valuations (Updated)

Here are the latest point valuations for the major hotel loyalty programs we feature on our site, as well as what these valuations mean in the real world when it comes to transferring points to major hotel partners.

• Best Western Reward Points – 0.6 cents/ point
• Hilton Honors Reward Points – 0.6 cents/ point
• IHG Reward Points – 0.5 cents/ point
• Marriott Bonvoy Reward Points – 0.75 cents/ point
• Radisson Rewards Points – 0.4 cents/ point
• VOILÀ Rewards Points – 0.7 cents/ point
• World of Hyatt Reward Points – 1.7 cents/ point
• Wyndham Rewards Points – 1.1 cents/ point

These evaluations will help you find the best credit card for hotel points. And having the ideal hotel points credit card can make the difference between a free night., or having to spend a little bit more on your next stay.

What to Look for In a Hotel Rewards Card

There are many things to consider when looking for a hotel card.  These depend on the need of the individual. However, there are things to keep an eye on:

• Signup bonuses
• Annual fees
• Rewards flexibility
• Cardholder perks
• No foreign transaction fees

Should You Get a Hotel Rewards Credit Card?

Hotel credit cards offer significant value, but should you apply? The answer is likely “yes” if you meet the following criteria:

• You plan to stay with one hotel brand. Staying with these brands will earn extra rewards.
• The perks are valuable. Value with perks and benefits vary based on the individual. Do you travel enough to get value from hotel-centric perks?
• You have an excellent credit score. Travel credit cards require higher credit scores, meaning that they may be out of the reach of many applicants. The best credit scores also get the most significant rewards. Before applying, make sure you have good odds of approval – otherwise, your credit report may take a hit with nothing to show for it.
• You plan to pay your statement balance in full each month. Rewards cards make no sense if you carry a balance. That’s because the interest you accrue will eliminate the rewards you earn or every purchase.
• The benefits outweigh the annual fee. Will the points, perks, and credits offer more value than the yearly cost of being a card member?

Third-Party Booking Site Credit Cards

Booking through third-party sites is a popular option when planning travel and booking hotels. Unfortunately, many reward programs limit the ability of members to do so. While this might seem like a negative, there are ways to earn points when booking through these sites.

One of the easiest ways to earn points when booking travel via a third-party is a credit card branded with those sites! Yes, third-party sites like Experida.com, Orbitz, and Priceline have their own credit cards!

Here are some of the top card offers for travel sites:

• CheapOair Visa® Credit Card
• Orbitz Rewards® Visa®
• Priceline Rewards™ Visa® Card
• Expedia® Rewards Card
• OneTravel Visa® Credit Card

Travel Rewards Business Credit Cards

A much broader rewards option for small businesses is travel rewards cards. These credit cards come from a  variety of banks and credit unions. Companies that travel – both near and far – can use their rewards to save money on flights, hotels, and other travel-related expenses.

Here are some of the leading travel credit cards for businesses:

• Amex Business Green Rewards Card
• Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard®
• BB&T Spectrum Travel Rewards for Business Credit Card
• PNC Travel Rewards Visa® Business Credit Card
• Ocean Bank Business Rewards Preferred Credit Card
• Priority Destinations® World Elite Business Mastercard
• Capital One® Spark® Miles for Business
• Security Service Power Business Travel Rewards Credit Card
• National Bank of Arizona AmaZing Rewards® for Business Card
• Synovus Business Travel Rewards Visa® Credit Card
• Bank of Missouri Visa® Business Rewards PLUS Card
• Bank of the West Business Rewards Mastercard®
• BBVA Visa® Business Rewards Credit Card
• Union Bank Business Rewards Visa® Credit Card
• Fifth Third Business Rewards Card

For more information on business credit cards, including travel credit cards for small businesses, please visit our dedicated Business Credit Cards category page.

Hotel Credit Cards for Businesses

• Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

FAQs About the Best Hotel Credit Cards

Many questions arise when considering applying for a hotel credit card.  Here are some of the more commonly asked questions concerning hotel cards, loyalty programs, and:

Is it worth it to get a hotel credit card?

• Yes and no. If you travel rarely, hotel cards don’t make much sense – unless the card charges no annual fee. Those who frequently travel for business or pleasure can get significant value from a hotel rewards card.

What are the common perks of hotel credit cards?

• Many good hotel cards offer the same basic features. These perks include free Wi-Fi, late checkout, potential upgrades, and more. As a rule of thumb, the higher the annual fee, the better the rewards with a credit card from a hotel brand.

How do I get a free night with a hotel card?

• All hotel credit cards offer the chance of free night stays. Some cards come with hefty sign-up bonuses, which equate to one to five free nights automatically, while another award free night stays after each cardmember anniversary.

Which hotel cards offer free nights?

• As mentioned, some credit cards come with a complimentary night stay after each year of card membership. The following hotel cards currently offer a free night stay to holders each year:
  • Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
  • World of Hyatt Credit Card
  • Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
  • Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
  • Radisson Rewards Visa
  • Radisson Rewards Premier Visa Signature
  • Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex

What’s the best hotel loyalty program?

• The best rewards programs depend on the user and their intent. However, the Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and World of Hyatt programs have an excellent reputation. These loyalty programs offer significant value, impressive rewards, and great perks for members.

Are there hotel cards for people with bad credit?

• Unlike airline cards, there are no secured hotel cards. Because of this, they are getting a hotel rewards card requires a good credit score – as a minimum. To get a hotel credit card, applicants need a credit score in the 700s, though a score above 680 might be enough in some cases.

Are there any alternatives to hotel cards?

• • Because there are no secured hotel cards, people with bad credit should consider a travel rewards card or an airline card. Travel cards are a good choice as they offer a variety of options for redeeming points and offer a greater selection of brands to choose from.

What hotel cards offer free breakfast?

• Free breakfast is something everyone enjoys, no matter your credit score or loyalty tier. Several credit cards offer free breakfast as a cardholder perk, including:
  • Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
  • World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Additionally, some hotel loyalty programs offer complimentary breakfast by membership tier:
  • Best Western – Free for all Best Western Rewards members.
  • Hilton Honors – Gold members receive free breakfast. Gold status requires 20 stays within a calendar year, 40 nights within a calendar year, or 75,000 Hilton Honors Base Points within a calendar year.
  • World of Hyatt – Globalist members get free breakfast. This tier requires 60 qualifying nights, 100,000 points, or hosting 20 qualifying events/meetings per year.
  • Marriott Bonvoy – Platinum Elite status required for free breakfast. This tier requires 50 nights per year to reach.
  • Radisson Rewards – Platinum status earns free breakfast. Platinum is the highest tier and requires 60 nights within a year or 30 stays within a year.
  • IHF and Wyndham Rewards – No tiers receive complimentary breakfast.

Browse the Best Hotel Rewards Credit Cards of 2021

Trying to find your ideal hotel rewards credit card? Maybe you want information on the best hotel credit card rewards program? BestCards has comprehensive and impartial reviews of over 800 credit cards. Scan our hundreds of reviews, or read our ULTIMATE Guide to Hotel Rewards Programs and Hotel Credit Cards#

Ready to get started? Ready to find the ideal hotel rewards card for you?  Let’s find your best card today!