Best hotel credit cards for December 2024 #CashNews.co

Anytime you go on vacation, the hotel you choose can have a big impact on your trip — whether you prioritize luxury accommodations with the best views and amenities, or just need a place to sleep and recharge before setting back out to explore. No matter what type of traveler you are, you could save more on hotel stays when you travel with a hotel credit card. Here’s a look at the top hotel credit cards to save on an upcoming stay.

Why we like this card: We like the value you can get from the Chase Sapphire Preferred, whether you’re a seasoned travel pro or a beginner to travel rewards. For hotels specifically, the small $50 annual credit alone can make up more than half the annual fee cost — and beyond that, you’ll earn 5x points on hotels through Chase Travel and 2x on hotels you book elsewhere.

Redeeming your rewards for hotel stays or other travel expenses through Chase Travel is also a great benefit. The redemption boost you’ll get makes each Chase Sapphire Preferred point worth 25% more, or 1.25 cents per point.

And while it’s not a co-branded hotel card, it’s arguably the best hotel credit card for flexibility, as you can transfer your rewards to three different hotel loyalty programs, as well as several airline frequent flyer programs.

Why we like this card: The Hilton Honors Amex Card proves that you don’t have to pay a big annual fee to get big rewards. While you’ll earn the most rewards on your stays with Hilton, you can also earn a solid 5x points on everyday spending at U.S. supermarkets, restaurants, and gas stations — plus 3x rewards in all non-category spending. With Hilton Honors reward nights starting at 5,000 points per night, those extra points can take you far.

You can also get a lot of value from your complimentary Silver status the Hilton Honors American Express Card offers. Status perks include a 20% points bonus on Hilton stays, your fifth night free on award stays, elite rollover nights, and more. If you score the Gold status upgrade (after spending $20,000 in a calendar year), you’ll also receive room upgrades when available, daily food and beverage credits, milestone bonuses, and a boosted 80% points bonus on stays.

If you like Hilton but want more perks, consider the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.

Why we like this card: The Capital One Venture X is our premium travel credit card pick for hotel stays. It’s a good alternative for travelers who aren’t loyal to a single hotel brand but do want to maximize frequent bookings.

First, it offers one of the highest rewards rates around for hotel stays, at 10x miles when you book through Capital One Travel. As a Venture X cardholder, there are more benefits to booking through the issuer’s portal, too. You’ll get up to $100 in experience credits, daily breakfast, and more when you book The Premier Collection hotels — as well as up to $50 in experience credits, room upgrades, early check-in, and more when you book The Lifestyle Collection hotels.

The Capital One Venture X $300 annual travel credit also helps its premium price. Before you start earning those 10x miles on Capital One Travel spending, you’ll get reimbursed with credits for the first $300 you spend on travel through the site each year. Not only can that go a long way toward reducing the annual fee cost, but it’s also worth a lot of value toward your next hotel stay — whether you want to splurge on a night away or save on multiple nights at a lower price.

Why we like this card: While it offers a seemingly limitless suite of benefits, we’ll stick with specific Platinum Card perks for frequent travelers looking to maximize hotel stays.

For one, you’ll get up to $200 back each year in statement credits toward hotel purchases you make through Amex Travel. This credit applies to prepaid Amex Travel bookings you make with either Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection (minimum two night stay). Of course, you’ll also benefit from hotel stays you book through Amex Travel with the 5x points rewards.

The other big Platinum Card hotel perk is elite status with both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors. The complimentary Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy will get you a 25% points boost on hotel purchases, room upgrades, late checkout, welcome gifts at check-in, and more. Similarly, complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status comes with an 80% bonus on the points you earn on hotel stays, daily food and beverage credits (or continental breakfast), room upgrades when available, bonus points after meeting certain milestone hotel stays, and more.

Why we like this card: For a relatively affordable $95 annual fee, loyal Marriott customers can rack up plenty of free nights and other benefits with the Bonvoy Boundless card.

We also like that the Bonvoy Boundless benefits your purchases at home and while traveling. Take the 3x grocery store, gas station, and dining categories for example. If you max out these categories with a combined $6,000 spent each year, you’ll earn 18,000 points. With award night redemptions starting at 7,500 points, that’s two more nights each year — before even accounting for your other earnings.

Then there are the status benefits. You’ll get complimentary Silver Elite status, which comes with 10% bonus points on eligible stays, late checkout, and more — plus the opportunity to earn Gold Elite status (adding welcome gifts at check-in and room upgrades) after you spend $35,000 in a calendar year.

Why we like this card: Wyndham may not have as many well-known credit card options as chains like Hilton or Marriott, but it does have a comparable number of locations — with more than 9,000 worldwide properties. And with the Rewards Earner Plus, there are plenty of ways to save anytime you book a stay.

Automatic status and the anniversary points bonus are two perks you can benefit from year after year. Like other hotel cards on our list, we also like that the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus rewards non-travel spending. Not only are gas station purchases one of the card’s top-earning bonus categories, but each of the everyday rewards categories has no annual spending cap, guaranteeing you can maximize every dollar you spend.

When you’re a member of a hotel rewards program, you can earn points on your stays and other purchases to use toward future bookings with the hotel chain. Joining a hotel’s loyalty program is a great way to save on hotel stays — often one of the most expensive parts of a vacation. Common hotel rewards programs include Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt, Wyndham Rewards, IHG Rewards Club, and more.

Generally, the most common (and most valuable) way to redeem the points you earn from a hotel rewards program is for future hotel stays. Under most programs, you can either redeem your points toward a booking in full or pay with a combination of points and cash.

You might also have the option to redeem your hotel points for online purchases, experiences, gift cards, and more. Some even allow transfers to partner airlines. Before you choose an alternative redemption, make sure you compare the redemption value. Sometimes, these options may give you a lesser value for your points than if you wait and redeem them for your next hotel booking.

In addition to points you can use for future stays, hotel rewards programs also come with added benefits for members. That might include small perks like discounted rates and free wi-fi for basic members, but the value quickly grows as you move up in elite status. Top-tier hotel program members can earn everything from bonus earnings on hotel stays to suite-level room upgrades, welcome gifts, dedicated assistance, and more.

Unlike some other rewards programs, it’s difficult to pin down a value for many hotel rewards programs. That’s because hotels often use dynamic pricing when it comes to points redemptions. The value of your redemption can change over time depending on the property, when you book, when you plan to travel, and more factors.

In addition to hotel credit cards from specific hotel brands, you can also use a general travel credit card for hotel rewards. The points and miles you earn with these travel cards are typically more flexible, but still offer great savings on hotel stays.

One thing to consider is the different ways to maximize rewards you earn on hotel stays. Instead of booking directly from the hotel — like you would with a co-branded hotel card — you may only earn maximum points when you book through your card issuer’s travel portal. When you book this way, you can often still input your hotel loyalty program number and earn points as a member of the hotel program in addition to your credit card rewards.

Many credit card rewards programs also have transfer partners, which include hotel loyalty programs. This can be a good option if you’re a member of a specific hotel program, but you’re not sure you want to commit to a hotel credit card. Here are the hotel transfer partners offered by three popular rewards programs today:

American Express Membership Rewards

• Choice Privileges

• Hilton Honors

• Marriott Bonvoy

Related: The best Amex credit cards

Capital One Travel

• ALL Accor Live Limitless

• Choice Privileges

• Wyndham Rewards

Chase Ultimate Rewards

• IHG Rewards Club

• Marriott Bonvoy

• World of Hyatt

Learn more: See our picks for the best Chase credit card

Co-branded hotel credit cards and general travel credit cards are both great ways to make the most of your everyday spending. However, it’s important to consider your travel habits and general preferences before choosing one over the other. Here are some factors to consider:

• Flexibility: With a co-branded hotel card, you’re generally restricted to using your rewards with a specific hotel loyalty program. While redemption options can vary by program, you may not get much value if you use your points for something other than hotel stays. With a general travel card, on the other hand, you’re not limited to a single brand, and you can also use your rewards for other eligible travel expenses.

• Perks: If you’re a frequent traveler and tend to stay with the same chain, the elite status you can get from a co-branded hotel card can qualify you for better rooms and other freebies. Most general travel cards don’t offer the same, but some offer other valuable perks such as travel credits, complimentary airport lounge access, and valuable trip protections.

• Travel habits: Consider how you travel to get a better idea of which type of card is best. For example, if you prefer road trips, your hotel stays may be the most expensive part of your travel. However, if you’re a frequent flyer and often rent cars at your destination, you may want a card that gives you the flexibility to cover those expenses, too.

These are some details to consider before you choose a new hotel card:

A hotel card’s welcome bonus can often get you multiple free nights, whether you choose a co-branded hotel card or general travel card.

Before applying, make sure you understand the requirements to score the bonus your card offers. You’ll typically need to spend a few thousand dollars at minimum within three to six months of account opening.

If this isn’t within your regular budget, strategize how you can meet the bonus without risking high-interest card balances. For example, you could plan your application around an upcoming trip you’ve already saved money for — the extra expenses can help you hit the spending threshold without risking a debt balance you can’t pay off.

Look for the card with rewards categories that fit where you already spend most.

If you travel year-round and are always moving onto your next destination, you’ll probably want to prioritize travel rewards and top earnings on your hotel bookings. But if you only reliably travel a few times each year — a summer vacation, for example, followed by a holiday trip to visit family — you’ll likely get more value from a card with rewards on things like groceries, gas, and other essentials.

This is also a factor to consider if you’re adding a hotel credit card to cards you already have in your wallet. To make the most of every dollar you spend, look for categories you might be missing. Alternatively, you may choose a travel card with flat rewards on most purchases (or branded hotel card with a high non-category earning rate) to use as a catch-all for the spending categories you don’t maximize elsewhere.

Your card’s added benefits should add value over time — not just in the first year.

This is especially important for hotel cards that carry annual fees. Card benefits can be a great way to make up the cost of the annual fee, but they’re only valuable if they save you money on purchases you would have made anyway.

For hotel cards specifically, common benefits include annual Free Night Awards and elite status upgrades. If you stay with the hotel chain often, it can be easy to take advantage of the added benefits. Otherwise, you may want to look for other rewards cards that better fit your spending and travel.

As much as the credit card rewards and added benefits can make a big difference, the program under which you earn your rewards can, too.

For co-branded hotel credit cards, choose the loyalty program offered by the hotel brand you like and use most. If you’re already a member, look for ways your card can help you maximize your stays even further, with boosted points on bookings and faster paths to elite status.

If you’re considering a general travel card with great hotel rewards instead, you’ll still want to do your research into the card’s rewards program. Make sure you’ll get a good value when you use your rewards for hotel bookings, and compare other redemption options that may work for your travel plans. Don’t forget to also check out the program’s transfer partners — you may get more long-term value when you have the ability to transfer points and miles to your preferred airline and hotel brands.

As you compare hotel credit card offers, it’s important to consider both the benefits and drawbacks these cards present. Here are some of the advantages:

• Hotel savings: The best reason to open a hotel card is for the potential savings on hotel stays. Not only do these cards earn points that you can put toward future reward nights, but they also often come with annual Free Night Awards and other annual bonuses that can help you rack up savings on your stays over the long-term.

• Status benefits: One of the easiest ways to increase your status level with a hotel loyalty program is with a credit card. Many of our favorite co-branded hotel cards come with complimentary status boosts and paths to earn the next level with card spending. If elite status is important to you and you travel frequently enough to gain value from the perks, these benefits are worth considering.

• Welcome offers: Many hotel cards offer very high welcome bonus offers for new cardholders. With any of the hotel cards on our list above, you can get multiple free nights with the welcome bonuses alone. Consider planning ahead for when you apply for your hotel card to make the most of the welcome bonus offer for your next trip — and make sure the spending threshold is within your budget.

While hotel rewards credit cards come with some clear perks, there are also some disadvantages to consider before applying for one:

• Rewards value: Because of hotel program dynamic pricing, the value of your points can vary greatly depending on when you book and your itinerary. If you have any flexibility, you can compare different stays before you book to get the best redemption value.

• Limited rewards in other categories: While many of the cards on our list offer great rewards on travel and everyday expenses, that’s not always true for hotel cards. Many hotel credit cards can provide limited rewards in everyday categories. If you’re looking for a well-rounded card for earning hotel rewards, make sure you compare each of the bonus categories offered to your regular spending.

• Maximize with frequent travel: Consider your travel habits before you open a hotel card. If you don’t travel often or you often choose to stay in AirBnBs and other rentals, a hotel card may not be worth it.

There’s no single best travel credit card for everyone, but there are several cards that offer more value potential than others. Check out our picks for the top travel credit cards to help you start your search.

This will ultimately depend on your travel habits and other preferences. If you want maximum flexibility, you may consider a Capital One Miles card like the Capital One Venture X, which lets you book with your preferred travel provider and request a statement credit.

However, if you want valuable redemption options and great transfer partners, a card in the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, can be an excellent fit. Check out other Chase credit cards to learn more.

Other rewards programs with flexible redemption options include American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Wells Fargo Rewards.

Many rewards credit cards offer cash-back rewards instead of points or miles. If you prefer a simple approach to rewards, cash back may be your best bet.

Some travel credit cards may also offer cash back, but it’s important to note the redemption value before you proceed. In some cases, you may get as little as half the value with cash as you would if you used your points for travel.

What are the current top-rated credit cards for cash back and travel rewards?

If you’re looking for a card that offers the best of both worlds, consider one from the Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, or Wells Fargo Rewards programs. In each case, you’ll get 1 cent per point for cash-back redemptions, which is the standard for the best cash-back credit cards.

While we believe co-branded hotel credit cards can offer great savings for some hotel brand loyalists, they’re not for everyone. That’s why we focused on curating a list that includes both general travel cards with great hotel savings and hotel credit cards for specific chains.

We started with cards we’ve already rated highly among the dozens of card options we compared for our list of best travel credit cards. This helped us narrow down a short list of cards with solid rewards value and welcome bonus. We also looked for baseline details useful for travelers, like no foreign transaction fees and fraud protections.

For co-branded options, we included the best card options for the top three hotels by number of locations worldwide among those cards on our short list. Those hotels were Marriott and Wyndham, both with 9,000+ properties, and Hilton with 7,500+. We wanted to focus on hotels with the greatest number of properties to ensure the cards are useful for the greatest number of travelers.

We also focused on co-branded hotel credit cards with lower annual fees. For many people, we estimate that the hotel card may not be the only card in their wallet. And the more credit cards you have with high annual fees, the more you could be eating away at your potential annual value

If you have a favorite hotel brand not included above, you may get better value from another co-branded hotel card with, for example, IHG or Hyatt rewards. The most important thing to consider if you’re opening a co-branded card is your own relationship and spending with the brand. You should have a strong preference for the hotel and be sure that you can maximize the loyalty program rewards before you open a hotel credit card.

For the general travel credit card recommendations, we sorted out our top travel card picks by those that offer some added benefit specifically for hotel stays. Then, we created the superlatives included above to call out the features we believe set these cards apart for hotel spending.

While we believe these travel cards (and more on our best travel credit cards list) can offer great value even beyond hotel rewards, we specifically chose cards that provide maximum savings or benefits for hotel stays.

This article was edited by Rebecca McCracken

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