Best Hotel Credit Cards of September 2025

If you’re a frequent traveler, having the right hotel credit card can unlock significant value. The best hotel credit cards can transform your vacation experience — think free nights, accelerated rewards earning and room upgrades.

Whether you’re loyal to a specific brand or prefer the flexibility to book across different hotel chains, there’s a hotel rewards card to match your travel style and spending habits. 

Detailed Overview: Best Hotel Credit Cards

How Do Hotel Credit Cards Work?

Hotel credit cards function similarly to other travel credit cards, but with a focus on maximizing value for hotel stays. They fall into two categories: co-branded hotel cards and flexible rewards cards that earn points you can transfer to hotel programs. 

You can redeem the points you earn with a hotel credit card for free nights, room upgrades or other travel perks. Most importantly, they offer bonus earning rates for hotel spending and, oftentimes, hotel-specific perks like automatic elite status and annual free night certificates.

During a trip to France earlier this year, I charged everything — from my hotel stay to a few dinners, and even a massage — to my World of Hyatt Card. By the end of that five-day trip, I’d earned enough points for a complimentary night at a Category 3 property. That’s a win in my book!

Hotel Co-Branded Cards

Hotel co-branded cards are affiliated with specific hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton or Hyatt. These cards offer benefits like:

• Higher earning rates at the associated hotel properties (often 3 or more points per dollar)
• Automatic elite status 
• Special benefits like anniversary free night certificates
• Room upgrades (when available)
• Late checkout 
• No foreign transaction fees 

Flexible Points Cards 

These cards earn points in a transferable currency (like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards®) that can be transferred to eligible hotel travel partners. These cards often provide perks such as:

• Flexibility in how you use your rewards
• Booking portal bonuses offering improved redemption rates through the issuer’s travel portal
• Broader earning categories that can include dining, general travel and everyday spending
• Hotel collection benefits programs like Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Edit by Chase Travel℠
• Annual travel credits that can be applied to hotel stays
• Travel insurance benefits

How To Choose the Best Hotel Credit Card for You

Finding the right hotel credit card depends on your travel patterns, spending habits and travel goals.

Your Hotel Loyalty (or Lack Thereof)

A co-branded card makes perfect sense if you consistently stay with one hotel brand. You’ll maximize your earning potential and enjoy status perks, with some hotel cards, like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, offering instant top-tier status.

If you prefer hotel-hopping, staying at boutique properties, or mixing Airbnb stays with hotel stays, consider a flexible points card instead. This way, you’re not locked into one ecosystem and can transfer points to various hotel programs as needed.

Annual Fee vs. Benefits

Hotel credit cards range from no annual fee to premium cards costing $550+ annually. The higher-tier cards offer more substantial benefits, but you need to ensure you’ll use them enough to offset the cost.

For occasional travelers, a mid-tier card with a modest annual fee, like the IHG Rewards Premier ($99 annual fee), often offers decent benefits without a hefty price tag.

I remember the early days of my career and being skeptical of premium cards like the Hilton Aspire Card ($550 annual fee), but the math doesn’t lie: I’ve used the annual free night at hotels that easily cost $400+ per night, plus used the up to $400 annual Hilton resort credit (split into semi-annual credits of up to $200), and the card’s complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status has provided me and my family with many deliciously free breakfasts. 

Add those up, and you quickly realize that paying more upfront can sometimes deliver significant value.

Welcome Bonus Value

Many hotel cards offer generous welcome bonuses — sometimes enough for multiple free nights at luxury properties. However, it’s important to calculate whether you can comfortably meet the minimum spend before being swayed by flashy bonus numbers.

Additionally, you don’t want to decide on a card solely based on its welcome bonus, as not all points are created equal. Certain rewards provide more value than others.

Your Spending Patterns

The best hotel card for you should reward you where you spend the most. Some hotel cards offer big bonuses on hotel stays, but don’t reward much on spending categories like dining, gas or groceries.

When I tracked my monthly expenses, I discovered that dining out represented nearly 30% of my credit card charges. Choosing a hotel card that offered bonus points at restaurants significantly accelerated my rewards accumulation, even when I wasn’t traveling.

Review your monthly expenses and find a hotel card that maximizes points on your highest spending categories.

Redemption Options

Ask yourself: How much flexibility do you need from your rewards? Some hotel programs have blackout dates or limited availability for award nights, while others offer more reliable redemption options. Credit cards that earn transferrable points will provide even further flexibility, albeit at the expense of hotel-specific perks. Choose a hotel card that matches your travel habits and goals.

I used points from my World of Hyatt Card to upgrade my family’s stay in Paris from a standard room to a suite. The look on my daughter’s face when she saw the Eiffel Tower light up was absolutely priceless.

Pros and Cons of a Credit Card With Hotel Rewards

Before considering a hotel credit card, weigh the advantages and potential drawbacks to ensure it aligns with your travel priorities and financial habits.

Pros

• Free hotel stays through points and anniversary night certificates can save $1,000s 
• Automatic elite status provides money-saving perks like room upgrades, late checkout and sometimes complimentary breakfast
• Some cards offer statement credits for hotel purchases, helping offset any annual fees
• Most hotel cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, making them good for international travel
• Welcome bonuses can provide significant value, sometimes worth multiple free nights

When my family vacationed in Hawaii, using points for our five-night stay saved us over $2,800. That’s money I instead used toward experiences — a traditional luau and snorkeling with sea turtles — that became the highlights of our trip.

Cons

• Annual fees can be substantial, especially for premium cards
• Point values can be devalued over time as loyalty programs adjust
• Commitment to one hotel chain may limit your destination options or lead to paying higher rates just to stay with said brand
• Award night availability can be limited during peak seasons
• You’ll pay interest on any balance you carry, negating the value of any rewards you earn 

I’ve watched friends make irrational travel decisions in the name of earning more rewards or chasing status perks — like choosing an inconveniently located hotel or paying significantly more just to stay with their preferred chain. The best approach is to let the rewards enhance your travel, not dictate it.

Alternatives To Consider

While hotel credit cards can offer tremendous value for some travelers, they’re not the only option for earning rewards. Here are some alternatives that might better suit your needs:

General Travel Rewards Cards

Cards like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card offer flexible points that can be used to erase any travel purchase from your statement. 

During a road trip through Ireland last year, I stayed at several charming family-owned B&Bs because chain hotels were limited to the big cities. My Capital One Venture X card allowed me to “erase” these charges, something a hotel-specific card couldn’t have done. 

Airline Credit Cards

An airline credit card might deliver better value if you spend more on flights than on accommodations. Airline cards typically offer perks like free checked bags, priority boarding and companion certificates that can save frequent flyers thousands of dollars annually. 

Cash-Back Cards

For travelers who prioritize simplicity, a high-rate cash-back credit card like the Citi Double Cash® Card, an advertising partner, or Chase Freedom Unlimited® can provide straightforward returns on all purchases without the complexity of point systems. The cash earned can be applied to any travel expense or anything else you choose.

The information related to Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, The World of Hyatt Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® and Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products