Get free breakfast, room upgrades and more with the best hotel credit cards

Co-branded hotel credit cards are great if you're loyal to a specific hotel chain, such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt or IHG. These cards can grant you instant elite status and earn hefty spending bonuses with that brand.

However, a general travel credit card may be a better choice if you prefer to have the flexibility to shop around for lodging. With a general travel card, you can earn the same amount of rewards on all hotel purchases, regardless of whether you stay at a big chain or a small boutique, and you can benefit from general travel discounts, such as annual travel credits and built-in travel insurance. The rewards you earn with a travel card can also be redeemed in various ways, instead of being tied to a specific brand.

Here are CNBC Select's picks for the top hotel rewards credit cards. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best hotel cards.)

Who's this for: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) is a great choice if you want to earn a competitive rewards rate on hotel purchases without paying an annual fee.

Standout hotel benefits: Cardholders earn 5X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. All other purchases earn 1.25X miles per dollar spent, which is a decent value considering the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee (see rates and fees). Miles can conveniently be redeemed to book new travel through Capital One Travel or to offset recent travel purchases. On top of that, Capital One miles can be transferred to several hotel programs including, Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards.

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Who's this for: The Credit One Bank Wander® Card provides a path to amass a wealth of rewards on hotel bookings even if you have an average credit score.

Standout hotel benefits: Cardholders 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner site (5X when you book and 5X when you complete the travel). Plus, earn 5X points on other eligible travel. The points are worth one cent each for redemptions like gift cards and statement credits, so you're earning 5% to 10% back on hotel reservations you pay for with this card.

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Who's this for? The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers an extensive suite of perks for loyal Hilton guests, whether you stay at the Waldorf Astoria, Homewood Suites or any other property in Hilton's portfolio.

Standout hotel benefits: Cardholders receive up to $400 in credit annually at Hilton resorts. Every year, you'll also earn a Free Night Reward valid at nearly any Hilton location (except for these properties), regardless of the cash cost. On top of that, card members enjoy complimentary top-tier Hilton Diamond status as long as they keep the card. Hilton Diamond status includes bonus points on stays, free breakfast or food and beverage credits, free premium Wi-Fi and room upgrades (when available).

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Who's this for? The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card may be for you if you're a more occasional Hilton guest and don't want to pay a high annual fee.

Standout hotel benefits: It has a modest $150 annual fee (see rates and fees) and, in turn, you'll receive complimentary Hilton Gold status, granting you upgrades to preferred rooms, free breakfast or daily food and beverage credit, as well as the chance to earn Hilton Diamond status through the end of the following year by spending $40,000 in a calendar year. You'll also earn a Free Night Reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.

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Who's this for? Small business owners who travel regularly will appreciate the Hilton perks that come with the Hilton Honors Business Card.

Standout hotel benefits: The card offers benefits like complimentary Hilton Gold status and the chance to earn Hilton Diamond status if the total eligible purchases on your card account during a calendar year reaches $40,000 or more. Every year, cardholders can receive up to $240 back for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton (up to $60 in statement credits per quarter).

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Who's this for: The points you earn with the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card can be transferred to Choice Hotels at a favorable ratio.

Standout hotel benefits: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card isn't a hotel card, but it earns 3X points on travel (among other useful categories), and you can easily redeem rewards for statement credits to offset lodging costs or transfer points to Choice Hotels. When you transfer Wells Fargo rewards to Choice Hotels, you'll get two Choice points for every Wells Fargo point.

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Who's this for? You should consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card if you want a card with premium travel perks at Marriott properties and competitive rewards.

Standout hotel benefits: Cardholders receive one complimentary night award every year after their card renewal month — no spending required. The complimentary night award can be redeemed for hotels worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. And to top it off, cardholders get automatic Platinum Elite status, granting perks like free breakfast at some brands and upgrades to suites, while those chasing a higher tier of status get 25 Elite Night Credits each year.

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Who's this for? The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is ideal for occasional Marriott guests who do not want to commit to a high annual fee.

Standout hotel benefits: This card stands out for offering a Free Night Award each year after your account anniversary, which you can use to redeem a one-night stay of up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. You'll also have complimentary Marriott Silver Elite status and the opportunity to earn Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 each year, as well as 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of elite status per year, with the ability to earn one additional Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 you spend with the card.

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Who's this for? Business owners who frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties should consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.

Standout hotel benefits: You'll get a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.

Cardholders also receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold status and one Free Night Award every year after your card renewal month. You can also earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your card in a calendar year. These awards can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott points) at participating in Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

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Who's this for? The World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth considering if you frequent Hyatt hotels, such as the Grand Hyatt, Hyatt House or Andaz, and want to benefit from enhanced loyalty perks.

Standout hotel benefits: Cardholders can benefit from up to two free-night awards per year. One free-night award is given annually on your account anniversary, and the other award is earned after spending $15,000 during a calendar year — which is lower than some other hotel cards on this list that require $60,000 to $75,000 in spending. These awards are valid at Category 1 to 4 hotels, which cost up to 18,000 points per night.

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Who's this for? The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is ideal for small business owners who are Hyatt enthusiasts and may have shifting spending habits throughout the year.

Standout hotel benefits: This card can earn you up to $100 in annual Hyatt credit — spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property on the card and earn $50 in statement credits, up to two times, each anniversary year. It also offers 15% off standard rates at Hyatt hotels through the Hyatt Leverage program. You can also qualify for a points rebate, after spending $50,000 on the card in a calendar year you receive 10% of your redeemed points back for the rest of the year (on up to 200,000 points redeemed).

Other useful perks include automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status, the opportunity to earn five elite night credits for every $10,000 you spend on the card and the ability to gift Discoverist status to five employees.

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Who's this for? Loyal guests of InterContinental Hotels Group hotels may want to check out the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card because of its welcome bonus, anniversary free night and IHG Platinum status.

Standout hotel benefits: This card comes with IHG Platinum status which provides complimentary room upgrades upon availability, late checkout and a welcome amenity at check-in, among other perks. Every account anniversary year, you receive a free night award that can be redeemed at IHG hotels with a current point redemption level of 40,000 points or less. Hotels in the IHG brand include Kimpton, Holiday Inn and Staybridge Suites. When you redeem points for stays for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay, zero points will be deducted from your account for the fourth night.

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Who's this for? If you enjoy staying at luxury hotels and want to get the VIP treatment, look no further than The Platinum Card® from American Express, which offers hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton and elite-like benefits at other hotels and resorts through the Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection programs.

Standout hotel benefits: Since this card is not tied to a particular hotel chain, you have flexibility in how you can redeem your rewards. Cardholders get an up to $200 annual hotel credit when booking through Amex's Fine Hotels and Resorts or Hotel Collection programs. Perks of these programs may include room upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast and property credits. Cardholders can also earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.

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Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees) earns flexible travel rewards at a generous pace, regardless of what type of lodging or other eligible travel you're paying for with the card.

Standout hotel benefits: This card offers some of the most competitive returns for hotel and other common travel expenses: Earn 10X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles per dollar spent on flights through the portal. Plus, you'll earn 2X points on all other purchases.

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The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a no annual fee card that earns valuable transferrable rewards.

Rewards

• 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel
• 1.25X miles on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card comes with travel accident insurance*, auto rental collision damage waiver* and extended warranty coverage*. Plus, you can benefit from 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, which is hard to find among travel cards. After the intro period ends, a 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR applies. There is a 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time (see rates and fees).

*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.

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While most of the best hotel cards require good to excellent credit, the Credit One Bank® Wander Card may be available to those with fair to average credit.

Rewards

• 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars you book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site
• 5X points on eligible travel
• 5X points on dining
• 5X points on gas purchases
• 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

This card has no foreign transaction fees and offers travel accident insurance. You can redeem points for gift cards, cash back or consumer goods and services. When redeeming for a statement credit, the minimum redemption amount is 1,000 points or $10.

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The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the most premium Hilton co-branded card and comes with a host of luxury perks.

Rewards

• 14X points on Hilton hotel rooms and at Hilton properties
• 7X points at U.S. restaurants
• 7X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amextravel.com
• 7X points on rental cars booked directly from select rental car companies
• 3X points on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first six months of card membership.

Annual fee

$550 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

This card has a lot of features that Hilton loyalists will love, including:

• A Free Night Reward each calendar year
• The ability to earn an additional Free Night Reward after making $30,000 in purchases and another after making $60,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
• Up to $400 in Hilton resort credit (Up to $200 semi-annually) each year on eligible purchases at participating Hilton Resorts
• $100 property credit when you book a minimum two-night stay at participating Waldorf Astoria or Conrad locations (book online or by calling 855-292-5757 and using code ZZAAP1 when booking by phone)
• No foreign transaction fees* (see rates and fees)
• Terms apply

The Hilton Aspire card's benefits don't stop when you check out of your Hilton hotel. This card has purchase and travel perks that can save you money on your next trip to or from a Hilton. As a cardholder, you're eligible for statement credits, travel perks and insurance benefits such as:

• Up to $200 in flight credit each year (Up to $50 back each quarter) on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through Amextravel.com
• Up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credit
• Free National Emerald Club Executive status (enrollment required)
• Cell phone protection
• Rental car loss and damage insurance
• Trip delay insurance
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Baggage insurance
• Return protection
• Extended warranty coverage
• Purchase protection
• Terms apply

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The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an ideal option for anyone who loves Hilton and doesn't need premium perks.

Rewards

• 12X points on eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
• 6X points on dining at restaurants in the U.S.
• 6X points at U.S. gas stations
• 6X points at U.S. supermarkets
• 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases
• 3X points on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 130,000 points after spending $3,000 in purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership.

Annual fee

$150 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

Hilton Surpass card members receive Hilton Honors Gold status with the ability to upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status after spending at least $40,000 on the card in a calendar year. It also has more incentive to spend because you'll receive a Free Night Reward after making $15,000 in purchases with the card in a calendar year.

Other benefits include:

• Up to $200 in annual Hilton credit (up to $50 in credit each quarter) for purchases made directly with a Hilton property
• National Emerald Club Executive status (enrollment required)
• Baggage insurance
• Rental car damage and loss coverage
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Terms apply

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The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card has benefits that can easily make it worth keeping.

Rewards

• 12X points on eligible Hilton purchases
• 5X points on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, then 3X points thereafter.

Welcome bonus

Earn 175,000 points after spending $8,000 in purchases on the card within the first six months of card membership. Offer ends June 5, 2024.

Annual fee

$195 annual fee (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

The Hilton Business card grants cardholders automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and provides a path to earning Hilton Honors Diamond status when you spend $40,000 or more on the card in a calendar year. You can also earn up to $240 in Hilton credit each year (up to $60 back per quarter) on eligible Hilton purchases.

This card also has many other potentially useful travel benefits such as no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), National Emerald Club Executive status, purchase protection, extended warranty coverage, baggage insurance and rental car damage and loss coverage.

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The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card packs a lot of value into a card with no annual fee.

Rewards

• 3X points at restaurants
• 3X points on travel
• 3X points at gas stations
• 3X points on transit
• 3X points on popular streaming services
• 3X points on phone plans
• 1X points on other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in the first three months after opening the account.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The points you earn with this card are usually worth one cent each for gift cards, statement credits and more. You can also transfer these points to Wells Fargo's travel partners, including Choice Hotels, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Iberia, Avianca and Aer Lingus.

When you pay your monthly wireless phone bill with this card, you can qualify for cell phone insurance. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, roadside assistance and rental car collision coverage. Cardholders also receive an intro 0% APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, after that, a variable 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99% APR applies.

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The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the best option for fast-tracking Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Rewards

• 6X points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• 3X points at restaurants worldwide
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines
• 2X points on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 185,000 points after making $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership. 

Annual fee

$650 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card members can receive up to $300 in dining statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month). They can also take advantage of an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®, as well as Priority Pass™ Select membership, which gives members access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide. There are also no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), rental car coverage, baggage insurance, trip delay insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, return protection, purchase protection, extended warranty protection and cell phone protection.

Anyone who values Marriott Bonvoy elite status should seriously consider this card. In addition to automatic Marriott Platinum elite status, cardholders receive 25 elite night credits every year. You can also receive $100 in Marriott property credit at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties when you book directly (two-night minimum stay). Every year when you spend at least $60,000 on your card, you'll receive an earned choice benefit, choices include one Free Night Award (at hotels costing 85,000 points or less), five Nightly Upgrade Awards and more.

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The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has enough ongoing perks to make it easy for even the occasional traveler to justify keeping the card.

Rewards

• 6X Marriott points at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• 3X Marriott points on the first $6,000 spent each year on grocery stores, dining and gas stations
• 2X Marriott points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Limited time offer: Earn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after making $4,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

Every account anniversary, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card members receive a Free Night Award valid at properties costing up to 35,000 points per night. You can top up Marriott Free Night Awards with up to 15,000 points, which can greatly expand your options. This benefit alone can easily be worth more than the annual fee if you typically pay for at least one night at a Marriott hotel per year.

Other benefits include no foreign transaction fees, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip delay reimbursement and purchase protection when you pay for travel and other large purchases with the card.

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The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is extra rewarding in various spending categories that small business owners will find useful.

Rewards

• 6X Marriott points on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• 4X Marriott points at restaurants
• 4X Marriott points at U.S. gas stations
• 4X Marriott points on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers
• 4X Marriott points on U.S. purchases for shipping
• 2X Marriott points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn three Free Night Awards after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. 

Annual fee

$125 annual fee (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

This card comes with a Free Night Award every account anniversary and this award is valid for a night that costs up to 35,000 Marriott points. You can earn a second free night (worth up to 35,000 points) after spending $60,000 or more on the card within a calendar year. While many nights at Marriott Bonvoy hotels cost over 35,000 points, you can top off these awards with up to 15,000 points. So you'll have more redemption options than you may realize.

Marriott Bonvoy Business Card members receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold status and 15 elite night credits each year, so you'll have a head start on earning Platinum status. This card also has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees), extended warranty coverage, purchase protection, baggage insurance and rental car insurance.

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The World of Hyatt Credit Card can help you earn free Hyatt nights and elite status at the same time.

Rewards

• 4X points at Hyatt hotels
• 2X points on airfare purchased directly from an airline
• 2X points on dining
• 2X points on local transit and commuting
• 2X points on fitness and gym club memberships
• 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 30,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening. Plus, earn up to 30,000 additional points by earning two bonus points total per $1 spent (on up to $15,000 spent) in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn one point.

Annual fee

$95

Notable perks

Cardholders are granted Hyatt's entry-level Discoverist status, which gets you an early check-in, 2 p.m. check-out, a preferred room based on availability and more. You'll also receive five tier qualifying night credits toward the next status tier automatically each year, with the ability to earn another two elite night credits for every $5,000 you spend on the card in a calendar year.

You also receive one free night per card member year (valid at Category 1 to 4 hotels) and can earn a second free night (also valid at Category 1 to 4 hotels) after spending $15,000 on the card in a calendar year. This card also offers a range of protections, including baggage delay insurance, purchase protection, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, rental car collision coverage and lost luggage reimbursement.

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The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card can help business owners and their employees save at Hyatt hotels in a variety of ways.

Rewards

• 4X points at Hyatt hotels
• 2X points in your top three spend categories each quarter through Dec. 31, 2024, then your top two categories each quarter. Eligible categories are dining, shipping, local transit and commuting, gas stations, airfare (purchased directly from airlines), social media and search engine advertising, car rental agencies and internet, cable and phone services
• 2X points on fitness club and gym memberships
• 1X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 60,000 points after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$199

Notable perks

If you love World of Hyatt elite status, this card can help you indulge in several ways. Cardholders get World of Hyatt Discoverist status and can give Discoverist status to up to five employees. You'll also earn five elite night credits for every $10,000 you spend on the card in a calendar year.

The card has a $199 annual fee, but that's partially offset by the up to $100 annual Hyatt Credit. Simply spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property on the card and earn $50 in statement credits, up to two times, each anniversary year. Once you've hit $50,000 in spending on the card in a calendar year, you'll receive a 10% rebate on points redemptions (on up to 200,000 points per year). You can add employee cards for no additional fee and receive 15% off standard rates at participating Hyatt hotels through the Hyatt Leverage program.

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The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card comes with a free night reward every year you keep the card, which can easily justify its annual fee.

Rewards

• 10X points at IHG hotels and resorts
• 5X points on travel
• 5X points at gas stations
• 5X points at restaurants
• 3X points on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 140,000 points after spending $3,000 on the card in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$99

Notable perks

Card members receive free IHG Platinum status as long as you keep the card and you can earn Diamond Elite status after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year. You'll also get a free night award that's valid at IHG hotels costing 40,000 points or less. When you're ready to use your IHG points, this card can help boost the value of your points with its fourth-night free benefit. Whenever you use points to book a consecutive four-night stay, the fourth night is free.

The card also comes with a handful of statement credit perks, including:

• Up to $50 in United TravelBank Cash each year ($25 deposit twice per year)
• Up to $100 every four years in application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS
• Earn a $100 statement credit and 10,000 IHG points after spending $20,000 on your card in a calendar year

When you use the card to purchase IHG points, you'll receive a 20% discount. It also has purchase protection, trip cancellation/interruption coverage, baggage delay insurance and lost luggage reimbursement.

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The Platinum Card from American Express has an incredible list of perks and offers elite status with two hotel chains.

Rewards

• 5X points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• 5X points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 80,000 points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership.

Annual fee

$695 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

The Amex Platinum Card provides members with an opportunity to earn over $1,500 in credits every year, including:

• Up to $200 annual hotel credit on eligible prepaid Hotel Collection or Fine Hotels and Resorts bookings
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit
• Up to $300 per calendar year Equinox credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit (Up to $50 back semi-annually; enrollment required)
• Up to $189 credit to enroll in CLEAR® Plus (subject to auto-renewal)
• Up to $240 annual digital entertainment credit (enrollment required)
• Up to $155 annual Walmart+ credit. (Plus Ups are not eligible. Subject to auto renewal)
• Up to $200 annual Uber Cash ($15 in Uber Cash per month; $35 in Uber Cash each Dec.)
• Up to $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSAPreCheck

Once you're done lining your pockets with this card's statement credit deals, don't forget to take advantage of the long list of luxury travel perks. These benefits include:

• Gold elite status with Hilton Honors
• Gold elite status with Marriott Bonvoy
• Rental car privileges with Hertz, Avis and National
• Complimentary Amex concierge service
• Airport lounge access
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
• Rental car insurance
• Trip delay insurance
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Cell phone protection
• Return protection
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty coverage
• Terms apply.

This card also earns American Express Membership Rewards points, which can be redeemed for statement credits, gift cards and retail purchases. However, you also have the option of transferring Amex points to airline and hotel partners, including Hilton, Marriott and Choice.

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The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has several key benefits that can easily make the annual fee worth it.

Rewards

• 10X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel portal
• 5X miles per dollar on flights booked via the Capital One Travel portal
• 2X miles on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$395 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

Capital One's Premier Collection offers Venture X cardholders premium perks at participating properties like a $100 experience credit, daily breakfast for two and complimentary Wi-Fi on every booking, plus other premium benefits like room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout when available.

With a $395 annual fee, this is one of the less expensive premium credit cards available and there are lots of benefits that make up for it, including a $300 Capital One Travel credit to use toward purchases made through Capital One Travel, airport lounge access, cell phone protection and 10,000 bonus miles on your account anniversary (worth at least $100 toward travel; see rates and fees).

When it comes time to redeem your rewards, you can either use your miles to book new travel through Capital One Travel, offset recent travel purchases or transfer them to various travel partners, including Accor, Choice and Wyndham.

This card's benefits can also take the edge off of travel with unlimited access to Capital One Lounges as well as the extensive network of Priority Pass and Plaza Premium airport lounges worldwide. When you pay for your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application with the card, you can receive a fee credit of up to $100.

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Paying for your hotel stay with the right credit card can make a big difference. Not only can you maximize the rewards you earn, but you may be able to score additional perks like automatic elite status, free breakfast, room upgrades and more. These hotel perks usually come with an annual fee, but they can be worthwhile for frequent travelers.

Most of the travel cards on this list require good or excellent credit (scores above 670), so it's a good idea to check your credit score using a credit monitoring service such as Chase Credit Journey or CreditWise before applying.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.

To determine which cards offer the best value for hotels, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cashback). 
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best hotel credit cards, we focused on cards that offer hotel-specific benefits or provide additional return on spending for hotels and other types of lodging. 

Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here.

For rates and fees for the Hilton Honor Surpass Card, click here.

For rates and fees for Hilton Honors Amex Business Card, click here.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply.  Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.  Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.