The best hotel credit cards provide exclusive benefits you can't get elsewhere, such as complimentary elite status and associated perks such as free room upgrades and late check-out when available.
Business Insider analyzed dozens of credit cards for hotel stays to establish this list of our top recommendations. We evaluated benefits, annual fees, rewards, and ancillary benefits as well as potential drawbacks.
When more than one card is available from a top hotel chain, we chose the hotel credit card that offers the most value to an average guest, not just for someone who travels every weekend.
These are the best hotel credit cards in 2025 for every type of traveler.
Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2025
| Best for | Card | Annual Fee |
| Marriott guests | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | $95 |
| Hilton guests | Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | $150 (rates and fees) |
| Hyatt guests | The World Of Hyatt Credit Card | $95 (rates and fees) |
| IHG guests | IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | $99 (rates and fees) |
| Choice Hotels guests | Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® | $95 (rates and fees) |
| Wyndham guests | Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card | $75 |
| Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo guests | One Key™ Card | $0 |
| Non-loyalists | Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $95 |
Best for Marriott Guests
$95
N/A
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Earn 3 Free Night Awards and 50,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
If you want to earn Marriott points on your everyday spending, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is a great option with a reasonable annual fee and a generous welcome bonus offer. It comes with good benefits, including a free night award each card anniversary and elite status credits for meeting spending thresholds.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless CardThere are six different Marriott credit cards to choose from, but most people will get the most value out of the mid-tier Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. Marriott's extensive portfolio of hotels includes St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton on the high end, down to Courtyard and Four Points on the budget end.
This card earns bonus rewards on Marriott expenses and on groceries, gas, and dining (up to an annual limit). Bonvoy points expire after 24 months of inactivity, so using this card — or any Marriott hotel credit card — on a regular basis can help you keep your rewards active.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card comes with an annual free night worth up to 35,000 Bonvoy points, issued each year after your card renewal. You can earn your way to higher elite status through spending as well.
Annual fee: $95
Complimentary elite status: Silver (lowest tier of five)
Earning rate: up to 17 points per dollar on purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining, and 2 per dollar points on all other purchases
Benefits:
- Annual free night award worth up to 35,000 Bonvoy points after renewing your card
- Earn one elite night credit toward elite status for every $5,000 spent on the card
- 15 elite night credits toward elite status per calendar year
Automatic Silver elite status, which comes with:
- 10% more points on hotel stays
- Late check-out when available
- Earn Gold elite status after spending $35,000 on the card in a calendar year
Welcome offer: 3 Free Night Awards, each valued up to 50,000 points, after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening, plus earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within six months of account opening, worth up to $2,100 in Marriott travel value according to our valuations
Read more in our Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card review.
Pro tip: Marriott offers a no annual fee credit card option that also comes with Silver elite status: the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card . On the opposite end of the elite spectrum, you can automatically jump to second-highest tier Platinum status with the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Best for Hilton Guests
$150
N/A
20.24% - 29.24% Variable
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
This card is a terrific choice if you stay with Hilton, even occasionally. It balances excellent benefits, including Gold status and 10 airport lounge visits per year, with a modest annual fee. And while it doesn't come with an automatic free night certificate on your account anniversary, you can earn one by spending $15,000 on the card in a year.
Amex Hilton Surpass- Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- 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 Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
- Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $150 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is one of several Hilton credit cards designed for travelers who love brands like Waldorf Astoria, Curio Collection by Hilton, and Hilton Garden Inns.
The Amex Hilton Surpass hits the sweet spot of offering good value for a relatively low annual fee, with the opportunity to earn significantly better benefits by spending on the card.
Amongst several valuable benefits, cardholders can earn a free night's stay each year after spending $15,000 on the credit card. This bonus is noteworthy because there's no price limitation on the free night certificate, which means you could book a free five-star stay at luxury properties like the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal with a little strategic spending.
Annual fee: $150 (rates and fees)
Complimentary elite status: Gold (second-highest out of four tiers)
Earning rate: 12 points per dollar on purchases made directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio, 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations, 4 points per dollar on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3 points per dollar for all other eligible purchases
Benefits:
- Up to $200 in annual Hilton credits (up to $50/quarter) on eligible purchases (terms apply)
- National Rental Car elite status
- Earn a free night reward each year after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year
- Earn top-tier Platinum elite status after spending $40,000 in eligible purchases in a calendar year
Automatic Gold elite status, which comes with:
- 80% points bonus on stays
- Free bottled water
- Fifth night free on eligible award stays booked entirely on points
- Complimentary room upgrades when available
- Free daily breakfast or food and beverage credit, depending on the property
Welcome offer: 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership, worth around $650 in Hilton travel value according to our valuations
Read more in our Hilton Honors Aspire card review.
Pro tip: Budget-conscious travelers can choose a Hilton credit card with no annual fee: the Hilton Honors American Express Card. They can also go big with the heavy-hitting Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card , which comes with top-tier Diamond elite status.
Best for Hyatt Guests
$95
N/A
19.99% - 28.49% Variable
Earn up to 60,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
If you like staying at Hyatt hotels, The World Of Hyatt Credit Card is an excellent complement to Hyatt's generous and competitive loyalty program that offers free nights and a path toward higher-tier elite status. Even if you're not a hardcore Hyatt fan, the card's useful benefits can appeal to most travelers — and make the card worth keeping year after year.
World Of Hyatt credit card- Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
- Enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open.
- Get 1 free night each year after your Cardmember anniversary at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort
- Receive 5 tier qualifying night credits towards status after account opening, and each year after that for as long as your account is open
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
- Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
- Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
- Member FDIC
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card is the best hotel credit card for Hyatt guests, with a free annual night certificate each year, and plenty of ways to earn better elite status and another free night by spending on this credit card.
Cardholders get complimentary entry-level Discoverist elite status, which comes with a number of nice benefits such as 2 p.m. late check-out when available.
Annual fee: $95
Complimentary elite status: Discoverist (second-lowest of four tiers)
Earning rate: up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays (4 points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels and up to 5 points per dollar from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member), 2 Bonus Points per dollar spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships, and 1 point per dollar spent on other purchases
Benefits:
- Annual free night certificate for Hyatt Category 1 to 4 hotels
- Earn a second free night Category 1 to 4 certificate after spending $15,000 or more on the card in a calendar year.
- Five qualifying night credits toward elite status each year
- Earn two additional night credits per $5,000 spent on the card
Automatic Discoverist elite status, which includes:
- 2 p.m. late check-out when available
- 10% points bonus on eligible purchases
- Preferred room choice within booked room type when available
- Waived resort fees on award stays when applicable
- Benefits at Mr. and Mrs. Smith hotels and at the Venetian Resort Las Vegas
Welcome offer: 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, plus up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points per dollar in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point on up to $15,000 spent, worth around $900 in Hyatt travel value, according to our valuations
Read more in our World of Hyatt credit card review.
Best for IHG Guests
$99
N/A
19.99% - 28.49% Variable
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
If you stay at IHG properties even just a few times a year, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a great way to save money on your hotel stays and enjoy extra benefits. The annual free night alone can easily be worth much more than the annual fee, and perks like up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash and valuable annual spending incentives make the card even more compelling.
IHG One Rewards Premier CardThe IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is the best hotel credit card for fans of IHG brands like Kimpton, Intercontinental, and Holiday Inn.
Cardholders get generous benefits including a free reward night each year on hotels worth up to 40,000 points per night; Platinum elite status; a fourth night free on award bookings of three or more nights; and a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck®, or NEXUS application fee credit of up to $120 every four years.
Annual fee: $99
Complimentary elite status: Platinum (second-highest tier of five)
Earning rate: up to 26 total points per dollar spent when you stay at an IHG Hotel & Resorts, 5 points per dollar on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants, and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases
Benefits:
- Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck®/NEXUS application credit every four years
- Annual free night on stays worth up to 40,000 points per night after renewing your card
- Fourth night free when booking award stays of three nights or longer
Automatic Platinum elite status, which comes with:
- 60% points bonus on stays
- Complimentary Hertz Five Star elite status
- Early check-in when available
- 2 p.m. late check-out when available
- Welcome amenity at check-in
Welcome offer: 140,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, worth around $910 in IHG travel value according to our valuations
Read more in our IHG Rewards Club Premier credit card review.
Best for Choice Hotels Guests
$95
N/A
19.99%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable
Earn 60,000 points
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
Wells Fargo has two Choice Hotels credit cards, and the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® is the most rewarding of the pair with automatic elite status, and points on your card anniversary.
Choice Privileges Select Mastercard- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - enough to redeem for up to 7 Reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. Additional fees may apply.
- Earn 10X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties.
- Earn 5X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $95 annual fee.
- Up to $800 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Receive 20 Elite night credits qualifying for at least Platinum level status each calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fee.
The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® is the best hotel credit card for you if you like to stay at brands like Comfort Inn, Cambria, and Ascend Collection Hotels.
Cardholders receive generous benefits, including credit card cell phone protection, complimentary Platinum elite status, and a credit that covers Global Entry and TSA PreCheck application fees. They also get 30,000 points each year on their card renewal anniversary, which is typically enough to book at least one free night at lower-cost Choice hotels.
Annual fee: $95
Complimentary elite status: Platinum (second-highest tier out of four)
Earning rate: 10 points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties, 5 points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services, and 1 point on other purchases
Benefits:
- Up to $800 per eligible cell phone insurance claim after $25 deductible
- Up to $120 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck® application credit every four years
- No foreign transaction fees
Automatic Platinum elite status, which comes with:
- 25% points bonus on stays
- 19 rollover nights toward future elite status
- Early check-in when available
- Late check-out when available
- Elite welcome gift at check-in
- Status match with PENN Play Rewards casino loyalty program
Welcome offer: 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first three months from account opening, worth around $420 in Choice Hotels travel value according to our valuations
Read more in our Choice Privileges Select Mastercard review.
Best for Wyndham Guests
$75
0% promo APR for 6 billing cycles on all Wyndham Timeshare purchases and 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening
20.49%, 24.74% or 29.74% Variable
Earn 45,000 bonus points
Good to Excellent
Pros
Cons
The Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card is an excellent choice if you stay at Wyndham hotels. It comes with perks like automatic Platinum elite status and booking discounts, for a modest annual fee.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus CardThe Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card is the best hotel credit card for fans of Wyndham properties. Some of the best-known Wyndham brands include Days Inn, La Quinta, and Super 8.
Cardholders automatically receive Platinum status, Wyndham's second-highest elite tier, which comes with a number of nice benefits like late check-out and early check-in when available. They also get an automatic boost of 7,500 Wyndham points each year after renewing the credit card, which is enough to book a free night at some of Wyndham's lowest-cost properties.
You'll earn points very quickly with this card if you drive often, since it earns 6 points per dollar on qualifying gas purchases. Foodies will also rack up quick rewards on dining and grocery transactions.
Annual fee: $75
Complimentary elite status: Platinum (second-highest tier out of four)
Earning rate: 6 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases made at Hotels by Wyndham and on qualifying gas purchases; 4 points per dollar spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®); 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments)
Benefits:
- 7,500 Wyndham points each year after renewing your card
- 10% discount when booking award stays on points
- Cardmember discount when booking stays directly through Wyndham
Automatic Wyndham Platinum status, which includes:
- Late check-out when available
- Early check-in when available
- Caesars Rewards status match
- Avis and Budget rental car upgrades when available
- Preferred room choice when available
Welcome offer: 45,000 bonus points, enough for up to six nights at participating properties, after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days from account opening, worth around $360 in Wyndham travel value, according to our valuations
Read more in our Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus credit card review.
Best for Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo Guests
$0
N/A
19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable
Earn $300 in OneKeyCash™
N/A
Pros
Cons
The no-annual-fee One Key™ Card is best for casual travelers who aren't loyal to a single hotel chain.
This card earns OneKeyCash, Expedia's version of travel rewards, which can be redeemed for eligible purchases at Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
Cardholder benefits include generous cell phone insurance coverage; primary rental car insurance; credit card travel insurance; no foreign transaction fees; and a generous welcome bonus to jump-start your adventures.
Annual fee: $0
Complimentary elite status: Silver (second-lowest tier of four)
Earning rate: 3% in OneKeyCash™ on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo purchases and at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining, and 1.5% on all other purchases
Benefits:
- Up to $1,000 in eligible cell phone insurance claims after $25 deductible
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Primary rental car auto collision damage waiver (CDW)
- Travel accident insurance
- No foreign transaction fees
- Earn Expedia One Key Gold elite status after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year
Automatic Expedia One Key Silver elite status, which comes with:
- 15% discount or higher on select hotels
- Priority customer service support
- Bonus perk at VIP Access properties
Welcome offer: $300 in OneKeyCash™ after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months
Read more in our Expedia credit card review.
Best for Non-Loyalists
If you aren't loyal to a particular hotel chain, you'll get the best benefits from a travel rewards credit card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
Cardholders get up to $50 on each eligible stay booked through Capital One's Lifestyle Collection of boutique hotels and resorts. Better yet, you earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and vacation rentals booked through the Capital One travel portal.
It's easy to earn and redeem Capital One miles for hotels and vacation rentals. You can book directly with the hotel, book through Capital One, or utilize Capital One transfer partners for hotel chains Accor, Choice Hotels, and Wyndham.
Annual fee: $95
Hotel transfer partners: Accor, Choice Hotels, Wyndham
Earning rate: 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and unlimited 2 miles per dollar on every other purchase
Benefits:
- Up to $50 experience credit per eligible hotel stay through Capital One's Lifestyle Collection
- 5 miles per dollar on stays booked through Capital One
- Early check-in when available
- Late check-out when available
- Welcome offer: 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
Read more in our Capital One Venture card review.
Travel Credit Cards With Hotel Benefits
Travelers who aren't loyal to a particular hotel chain get the most value out of using a travel credit card that earns transferable points, which offers a lot more flexibility for redemption.
You can typically use these rewards with any airline or hotel by booking through the credit card's travel portal, or by transferring them to airlines and hotels that partner with the issuer.
Travel credit cards with lower annual fees often offer annual credits toward eligible hotel stays booked through the issuer's travel portals, while premium credit cards with airport lounge access often come with exclusive access to curated boutique hotels and generous experience credits on eligible stays.
Read more about our top-choice travel credit cards with hotel benefits:
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- The Platinum Card® from American Express
Business Credit Cards for Hotels
If you regularly stay in hotels as a business owner, you may want to consider getting one of the best small business credit cards for travel expenses.
You can either get one of the best business credit cards for travel or consider a dedicated business credit card for your preferred hotel chain.
Read our dedicated reviews of some of the best hotel business credit cards:
- The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
- IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Hotel Credit Cards
When considering the best hotel credit cards as well as the best credit cards for hotel stays, we focused exclusively on options that broadly benefit various different types of travelers.
Some hotel credit cards offer a free night after each account anniversary or for meeting spending thresholds. These nights can be worth much more than the cards' annual fees, and make them worth keeping year after year.
We also considered travel credit cards that offer unique benefits for hotel stays, whether those are boutique properties through the issuer's travel portal or elite status with a specific chain.
You can learn more about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
FAQs
What is the best credit card for hotel stays?
The best credit card for hotel stays depends on how often you stay in hotels. If you consistently stay with a hotel chain like Marriott or Hilton, you should book stays with a hotel credit card like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. If you are an infrequent traveler or prefer booking the best deal regardless of brand, consider a travel rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred instead, which comes with an annual credit of up to $50 toward eligible hotel bookings.
Are any hotel credit cards worth it?
Yes, several hotel credit cards can be worth it for people who value perks and benefits through that hotel chain. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card come with top-tier elite status, while many basic hotel credit cards offer entry-level or mid-tier elite status as a cardholder benefit.
Which credit card gives free hotel nights?
Several credit cards give free annual hotel nights. Low annual-fee credit cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and The World Of Hyatt Credit Card offer annual night certificates that can be redeemed at some of their lower-cost properties, while premium cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card come with annual certificates for free nights that can be redeemed for some of the highest-value properties in their portfolios.
Which credit card is best to book hotels with?
The best credit card for booking hotels varies based on your personal travel habits. If you have a hotel credit card such as The World Of Hyatt Credit Card, you'll usually earn the best rewards by booking a property within the Hyatt portfolio and paying with that credit card. If you have a travel credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, you can book through Chase to earn extra rewards (and redeem an annual credit of up to $50 toward eligible hotel stays), or book directly with the hotel chain.
***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
