If you love to travel and stay at hotels, you might want to consider getting a hotel credit card. Hotel credit cards offer rewards and benefits that can help you save money and enjoy perks such as free nights, room upgrades, elite status, and more. However, not all hotel credit cards are created equal. Some may suit your travel preferences and budget better than others. In this article, we will review some of the best hotel credit cards for 2024, based on different categories and criteria. We will also provide some tips on how to choose the right hotel credit card for you.
Best Hotel Credit Card for Earning and Redeeming Points: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is not a co-branded hotel credit card, but it is one of the best travel credit cards in general. It offers a generous welcome bonus, a high reward rate on travel and dining purchases, a $300 annual travel credit, and a 50% boost in value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You can also transfer your points to 13 airline and hotel partners, including Marriott, Hyatt, and IHG, at a 1:1 ratio. This gives you a lot of flexibility and options to use your points for hotel stays. The card also comes with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, which gives you access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, and a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® every four years. The only downside is the hefty $550 annual fee, but if you travel frequently and value the benefits, it can be well worth it.
Best Hotel Credit Card for Beginners: Chase Sapphire Preferred®
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a great hotel credit card for beginners, as it has a lower annual fee of $95 and a simpler reward structure than the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. You can earn 2 points per dollar on travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. You can also get a 25% boost in value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, or transfer your points to the same airline and hotel partners as the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The card also offers a generous welcome bonus, no foreign transaction fees, and travel and purchase protection benefits. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a good starter card for anyone who wants to earn and use points for hotel stays, without paying a high annual fee.
Best Hotel Credit Card for Hotel Elite Status: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel card that offers a lot of benefits for hotel lovers. You can get automatic Gold status with Marriott and Hilton, which can give you perks such as late checkout, room upgrades, free breakfast, and bonus points. You can also get access to the Fine Hotels & Resorts program, which offers benefits such as room upgrades, daily breakfast, $100 property credit, and more at over 1,100 luxury hotels worldwide. You can also earn 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, and on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com. You can use your points to book hotels through American Express Travel, or transfer them to 18 airline and hotel partners, including Marriott, Hilton, and Choice. The card also comes with a $200 annual airline fee credit, a $200 annual Uber credit, a $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit, and a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® every four years. You can also enjoy access to over 1,200 airport lounges worldwide, including the exclusive Centurion® Lounges. The card has a high annual fee of $695, but if you can take advantage of the benefits, it can be a great card for hotel enthusiasts.
Best Hotel Credit Card for Frequent Hilton Guests: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a co-branded hotel credit card that offers a lot of value for frequent Hilton guests. You can earn 12 points per dollar on eligible purchases at Hilton properties, 6 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations, and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases. You can also get a free weekend night reward after you spend $15,000 on your card in a calendar year, and another one after you spend an additional $45,000 in the same year. You can use your points to book free nights at over 6,000 Hilton hotels and resorts worldwide, with no blackout dates. You can also get automatic Gold status with Hilton, which gives you benefits such as 80% bonus points, free breakfast, and room upgrades. You can also upgrade to Diamond status if you spend $40,000 on your card in a calendar year, which gives you more perks such as 100% bonus points, executive lounge access, and guaranteed room availability. The card has a reasonable annual fee of $95, and no foreign transaction fees.
Best Hotel Credit Card for Frequent Marriott Guests: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card is a co-branded hotel credit card that offers a lot of value for frequent Marriott guests. You can earn 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. You can also get a free night award every year after your account anniversary, valued at up to 35,000 points. You can use your points to book free nights at Marriott hotels and resorts worldwide, with no blackout dates. You can also get automatic Silver Elite status with Marriott, which gives you benefits such as 10% bonus points, priority late checkout, and free Wi-Fi. You can also earn Gold Elite status if you spend $35,000 on your card in a calendar year, which gives you more perks such as 25% bonus points, enhanced room upgrades, and 2 p.m. late checkout. The card has a reasonable annual fee of $95, and no foreign transaction fees.
How to Choose the Right Hotel Credit Card for You
The best hotel credit card for you depends on your travel preferences, budget, and goals. Here are some questions to ask yourself before you apply for a hotel credit card:
- How often do you travel and stay at hotels?
- Which hotel brands do you prefer or are loyal to?
- How much are you willing to pay in annual fees?
- What kind of rewards and benefits do you value the most?
- How flexible do you want to be with your points and redemption options?
Based on your answers, you can narrow down your choices and compare the features and benefits of different hotel credit cards. You can also use online tools and calculators to estimate the value of your points and rewards, and see how much you can save and earn with each card. Remember to read the terms and conditions carefully, and pay your balance in full and on time every month to avoid interest charges and fees. By doing so, you can maximize the value of your hotel credit card and enjoy your travel experiences more. 🏨
Source: Conversation with Bing, 1/28/2024
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(2) Best Hotel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee Of January 2024. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/credit-cards/best/hotel-card-no-annual-fee/.
(3) Best hotel credit cards in 2024 | CNN Underscored Money. https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/best-hotel-credit-cards.
(4) Best travel credit cards for hotels in 2024 – Lonely Planet. https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/best-travel-credit-cards-hotels.
(5) Best Hotel Credit Cards for 2024 – Buy Side from WSJ. https://www.wsj.com/buyside/personal-finance/best-hotel-credit-cards-32c87444.
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