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The 5 best hotel credit cards: Earn rewards while you travel
Whether it is for business or pleasure, traveling can take a big toll on your wallet. Once you cover your airfare, there is still the matter of where to lay your head, and hotels can quickly get expensive -- especially if you plan on staying for a while.
The best hotel credit cards can help you save money on the hotels you need, while simplifying the process of searching for and booking a hotel.
We reviewed many different hotel credit cards to find the best ones for your upcoming travel. Based on our exhaustive study, these are the best hotel credit cards in 2023:
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel.
- 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card comes strong right out of the gate with 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 within your first three months of having the card. There is also an anniversary bonus that gives you 10,000 bonus miles, or $100 toward travel, every year. Capital One Travel is available to you, as well, giving you up to $300 back in statement credits each year when you use the service to book your travel.
To simplify your travel, there are additional perks, like up to $100 toward Global Entry and TSA PreCheck® Credit, plus 10x the miles on your hotel and rental car and 5x the miles on flights when you book through Capital One Travel. All other purchases earn you 2x the miles for extra earnings. However, watch out for that annual fee that will cost you almost $400 per year.
Pros:
- Excellent rewards
- Generous intro offer
- Anniversary bonus
Cons
- Excellent credit required
- High annual fee
- No introductory APR
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
- 2x on all other travel purchases.
- 1x on all other purchases.
- 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
- 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
- 2x on all other travel purchases.
- 1x on all other purchases.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has a low starting APR compared to other hotel credit cards. When you sign up, you automatically receive 60,000 bonus points after you spend your first $4,000 within the first three months of having the card. It is the equivalent of $750 worth of travel when you use Chase Ultimate Rewards to book your travel.
There are other travel benefits, too, such as 5x the points on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 2x the points on your other travel purchases. Plus, there is a $50 annual hotel credit that rewards you with a free night each year. For your dining needs, you earn 3x the points on restaurants, whether it is dine-in, takeout, or delivery. Chase will help you with your grocery purchases if you prefer to eat at home, giving you 3x the points on online grocery orders, excluding wholesale clubs and other specific retailers. After dinner, settle in with a movie because you also will earn 3x the points on certain streaming services. All other purchases will give you 1 point per dollar.
Pros:
- Rental car coverage
- Introductory points
- Bonus cashback
Cons:
- Annual fee applies
- Must have good credit
- No intro APR
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Hotels.com® Rewards Visa® Credit Card
Best for flexibility
With a competitive APR, Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card skips many of the fees assessed by its competitors instead of sticking to a streamlined fee schedule. There are no annual or foreign transaction fees, which can easily save you hundreds of dollars each month. The welcome offer is extremely reasonable, giving you two free reward nights worth $250 after you spend $1,000 within your first three months. Plus, an additional reward night worth $125 when you spend $4,000 in the the first 6 months. You also receive a free reward night once you earn 10 stamps, valued at $500 each.
Cardholders receive an automatic silver membership, which provides such member exclusives like airport transfers, complimentary breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. Up to $600 of cell phone protection is also available when you pay your bill with your card.
Pros:
- Robust rewards
- No annual fee
- Travel protection
Cons:
- No anniversary nights
- No bonus categories
- Expiration date for rewards
All information about the Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card has been collected independently by ZDNET.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
The Platinum Card from American Express helps provide the well-rounded benefits you need for your upcoming travel. When you spend $6,000 on your card within the first six months, you will receive 80,000 points. To help you save on extra fees, there is up to a $200 annual airline fee credit to cover incidental travel fees, plus a $189 credit for CLEAR® Plus security benefits. Each year, you can receive up to a $200 hotel credit in statement credits for certain prepaid hotel stays (minimum two-night stay required) when you book through American Express Travel. There is up to $200 in Uber Cash for rides or eats annually, your choice, plus up to $300 back on your Equinox membership per calendar year.
To keep you entertained during your travels, there is a digital entertainment credit that is worth $240 and covers many of your favorite services, like Audible, Disney+, Hulu, and SiriusXM. If you are a Walmart+ customer, you can receive up to $155 back for your monthly membership fees (subject to auto-renewal). You can also shop at Saks with up to $100 in statement credits each year ($50 semi-annually). You also receive access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection with additional privileges for the Priority Pass™ Select lounge when you sign up in advance. As far as points, you receive 5x the points on flights, up to $500,000, plus 5x the points for hotels booked through AmexTravel.com. All other purchases earn 1x the points on your other purchases. However, the annual fee is expensive in typical Amex fashion, costing almost $700.
Pros:
- Introductory bonus points
- Generous rewards
- Savings for popular merchants
Cons:
- Very high fee
- Limited categories
- Must have good credit
The Platinum Card® from American Express
How did we choose these products?
There are plenty of hotel credit cards out there to choose from - in fact, most large hotel chains offer them. However, each card can be very different from the last, and not all of them may offer the best benefits or terms for your needs.
We regularly review hundreds of hotel credit cards to find the very best hotel credit cards in 2023. These are some considerations to help you find the right credit card for your family:
- Consider the hotel chain. From Marriott to Hilton and even Hotels.com, the kind of hotels you can book will vary considerably from card to card. You should also consider what properties are located around the country and even the world to ensure that hotels are available wherever you plan to travel.
- Check fees. Things like annual and foreign transaction fees can cut into your rewards significantly, especially when they cost several hundreds of dollars each year. Instead, look for a card that offers a reasonable fee schedule for the type of card you want.
- Look at the APR. Your credit card's annual percentage rate (APR) is a critical consideration in your search because it determines how much interest you will pay.
- Check your credit score. Your credit score is a huge factor in determining whether you are approved for a credit card or not. Certain credit cards may be more lax in their credit requirements, making getting a hotel credit card far more attainable. Other credit cards may demand excellent credit for approval, so it is important to always check to see what kind of credit is required, so you don't risk your credit on an unnecessary - and potentially harmful - credit check.
Which is the right card for you?
Even with our list of 2023's best hotel credit cards, it can still be overwhelming when trying to determine exactly which one is best designed for you.
Our expert recommendations can help save you both the time and the headache of trying to decipher which hotel credit card is best for you.
Choose this product... | If you want... |
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Flexible rewards for luxury travel |
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | Travel insurance with bonuses |
Hotels.com® Rewards Visa® Credit Card | The option to book different chains |
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card | An affordable card for your Marriott stays |
The Platinum Card from American Express | Premium travel benefits with flexibility |
What is a hotel credit card?
A hotel credit card is a type of credit card that can be co-branded with a participating hotel chain, such as Marriott or Hilton. Others may take a more generalized, flexible approach to hotel bookings by working with a number of different hotel chains, such as the Hotels.com credit card.
Why do I need a hotel credit card?
If you travel frequently, a hotel credit card could be a fantastic option for you because it enables you to save money in one of the areas where you spend the most. The best hotel credit cards not only help you save on travel, but they can also include extra perks, like transit and dining rewards, as well as exclusive access to airline lounges.
What is the best hotel credit card?
The best hotel credit card all depends on your specific needs and travel preferences. For example, if you are a fan of Marriott hotels, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card could be the right card for you. Others like the Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card provide greater flexibility when you want to book with different hotels. Our heavily researched list of the best hotel credit cards in 2023 is a wonderful place to start.
Are there alternative cards worth considering?
We reviewed many credit cards in our search for the best hotel credit cards and found some great runner-up options. Before you conclude your search, these other hotel credit cards may be worthy of your consideration:
- Best Western Rewards Premium Mastercard: A budget-friendly pick
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Easily redeemable rewards
- Chase Freedom Flex℠: Choose how to redeem your rewards
- Discover it® Miles: A great option for travel miles
- IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card: Best for long stays
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Something worthy of a Hilton enthusiast
- World of Hyatt Credit Card: Excellent for Hyatt fans
Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
Before you commit to a credit card, be sure to check out our lists of 2022's best no annual fee credit cards and rewards credit cards for vacation rentals.