Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
In a previous life, I traveled for work — a lot. I've easily logged over 700 hotel nights between work and personal travel. And I've used lots of hotel and travel credit cards along the way. My wife and I have or have had over half the cards on this list.
I value co-branded hotel cards mostly for their perks, not the rewards. Hotel points tend to be less valuable than airline miles or transferable rewards. So even though hotel points are useful, the right hotel card for you could be a flexible rewards credit card.
Senior reporter Jason Stauffer can answer your questions about how to make the most of your credit cards in his weekly Points Pro column. Submit yours here.
Best hotel credit cards
- Best for no annual fee: Bilt Blue Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Best for complimentary elite status: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Best for Choice and Wyndham: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Best for Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Best for earning elite status: The World of Hyatt Credit Card
- Best for IHG: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Best for no annual fee
Who's this for: In my opinion, Bilt is the most valuable travel rewards program. While you don't need a Bilt credit card to earn Bilt Points, it's tougher to earn points without one. The Bilt Blue Card is a deceptively valuable no-annual-fee travel credit card (see rates and fees). It only earns 1X points everywhere, but you can earn up to 1.25X points on housing payments (rent and mortgage) with no transaction fee. This is a valuable way to get rewarded for what is likely your largest expense.
Standout hotel benefits: Bilt Points transfer to seven hotel loyalty programs and Virgin Red, the loyalty program for Virgin Group (including Virgin Atlantic) and can be used to book Virgin Hotels. The partners include World of Hyatt (1:1), Marriott Bonvoy (1:1), Hilton Honors (1:1) and more.
The Bilt Blue Card offers a solid entry card to the world of Bilt, offering 1X on everyday purchases without charging an annual fee.
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- No annual fee
- Can earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments
- Additional steps for no-fee rent payments
- Bilt Cash redemptions are complicated
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee.
- 1X points on everyday spend
- Welcome offer: $100 of Bilt Cash when you apply and get approved. At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.
- Earn additional points through Bilt Neighborhood Benefits™ when you use your card at Bilt's network of 50,000+ merchant partners.
- Other benefits: No foreign transaction fees, Cellular Wireless Telephone Protection, Purchase Assurance, MasterRental Coverage (See Guide to Benefits)
Balance transfer fee
Greater of 5% or $5
Best for luxury perks
Who's this for? If you enjoy staying at luxury hotels and want to get the VIP treatment, look no further than the American Express Platinum Card®, which offers Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors and Sterling Status with The Leading Hotels of the World. You can also unlock elite-like benefits (enrollment required) at other hotels and resorts through Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection.
Standout hotel benefits: Since this card is not tied to a particular hotel chain, you have flexibility in how you can redeem your rewards. You'll get up to $600 in hotel credits (split into $300 in statement credits semi-annually) on prepaid Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings. You can also earn 5X points on prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
- Not as rewarding for purchases as other lower-fee travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 Delta Sky Club visits (subject to visit limitations) when flying on an eligible Delta flight, Priority Pass™ membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. *As of 01/2026
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights™ by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. As a Platinum Card® Member you have special access to reservations on select nights at participating sought after Resy restaurants in select cities through Platinum Nights™ by Resy. Simply add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile to book your reservation.
- $219 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $219 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM late check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Get up to a $12.95* statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
*The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. Perks of these programs may include room upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast and property credits. You'll also earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
Best for complimentary elite status
Who's this for? The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers an extensive suite of perks for loyal Hilton guests. If you appreciate Hilton elite status, this is the card for you because it offers complimentary Diamond status (Hilton's second highest status) just for having the card.
Standout hotel benefits: The Aspire Card offers up to $400 in annual statement credits at Hilton Resorts, with $200 available from January through June and another $200 from July through December, when charged to your room at participating resorts. It also grants an Annual Free Night Reward redeemable at nearly any Hilton hotel (excluding properties listed on Hilton's exclusions page), regardless of how much the room normally costs.
You'll also receive a $100 property credit at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts. To qualify for this benefit, you need to book a two-night stay with your card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and choose the Aspire Card Benefit rate.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card grants you complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status and a Free Night Reward every year.
- Earn up to $889 in statement credits every year
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status
- Free Night Reward every year
- High annual fee
- Additional Free Night Rewards have high spending requirements
- Some credits are only earned quarterly or semi-annually, which makes them more complicated to fully maximize
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Best Points Offer Yet! Earn 200,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 01/13/2027.
- Enjoy complimentary Diamond status with your Card. Diamond status gives you a 100% Bonus on Base Points you earn on every stay, Premium Wi-Fi and space-available room upgrades at select properties, executive lounge access at select properties, and more.
- Earn 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
- Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
- $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline, through AmexTravel.com, or through the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster at 60+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $219 per calendar year in statement credits when you pay for your membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Hilton Honors Aspire Card.
- Earn up to 3 Free Night Rewards with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Receive one complimentary Free Night Reward each membership year. Earn a second Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 or more on purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Earn a third Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
- $550 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best for Choice and Wyndham
Who's this for: The points you earn with the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card can be transferred to Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards at a 1:2 ratio.
Standout hotel benefits: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card earns 3X points on travel (including hotels), gas stations, restaurants, transit, phone plans and streaming services. You're essentially earning 6X Choice or Wyndham points on all of those purchases, including at Choice and Wyndham hotels. That's more than what you would earn with the no-annual-fee co-branded cards both of those chains offer.
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers generous bonus spending categories and lets you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee.
- Excellent bonus rewards across travel and everyday categories
- Get access to all Wells Fargo transfer partners, including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
- Features an intro APR on purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
- Doesn't include travel credits or other valuable travel perks
- Lacks key travel protections, such as trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption coverage
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Balance transfer fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for Marriott
Who's this for? The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card has a hefty $650 annual fee (see rates and fees), but has the most extensive benefits list of any Marriott credit card.
Standout hotel benefits: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant comes with a complimentary Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month. This Free Night Award can be redeemed for hotels worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points (certain hotels have resort fees) and can be topped off with up to 25,000 points. You can receive a $100 property credit at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis hotels when you book directly using a special rate (two-night minimum stay required).
You also receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status and 25 Elite Night Credits each year toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status (limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account). The elite nights you earn from Marriott cards also count toward earning lifetime Bonvoy status.
Every year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, you can choose a Brilliant Earned Choice Award, including:
- Five Nightly Upgrade Awards
- One Free Night Award (worth up to 85,000 points)
- 50,000 Marriott points
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium hotel card that gives you high-level elite status, dining credits and a Free Night Award every year.
- Up to $300 in dining credit every year
- Free Night Award every year worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status
- High annual fee
- Marriott doesn't publish an award chart and the rewards are typically less valuable compared to the top travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points plus a $250 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 09/30/2026.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: With the $300 Brilliant Dining Credit, you can get up to $25 per month each calendar year in statement credits for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide when you pay with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Receive either a $120 statement credit for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee every 4 years, when charged to your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Each calendar year, receive 25 Elite Night Credits towards the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,300 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or in-between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best for earning elite status
Who's this for? When I say that The World of Hyatt Credit Card is the best option for earning hotel elite status, I'm not saying it earns status faster than other cards. I think it's best for earning elite status because it helps you qualify for what I consider the best hotel status — Hyatt Globalist.
This status gets you complimentary breakfast or club lounge access (for up to two adults and two children in the room), waived resort fees (for awards and eligible cash rates), free parking on Free Night Awards and the ability to share status benefits with Guest of Honor awards. When I was a Hyatt Globalist, I was able to get free breakfast at the hotel's Michelin-starred restaurant for nine people (booked in three rooms). I'm not aware of any other hotel loyalty program where that would be possible.
Standout hotel benefits: Every year, you receive one free night award on your account anniversary, and you can earn a second after spending $15,000 during a calendar year. These awards are valid at Category 1 to 4 hotels, which cost up to 25,000 points per night.
You get automatic Discoverist status (the lowest tier) and five qualifying night credits toward the next status each calendar year. Every $5,000 you spend on the card earns you two more qualifying night credits with no limit on the number of elite nights you can earn.
If you qualify for a business credit card, the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is slightly better at earning status. You earn five qualifying night credits for every $10,000 you spend on the card per calendar year.
Best for IHG
Who's this for? The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has a strong welcome offer and ongoing perks that make it worth keeping, such as a free Anniversary Night and IHG Platinum Elite Status.
Standout hotel benefits: Every account anniversary year, you receive an Anniversary Free Night, which is valid at IHG hotels costing up to 40,000 points. You can top off this award with an unlimited number of points. Every year when you spend $40,000 or more on your IHG One Rewards Premier card, you'll receive Diamond Elite Status through Dec. 31 of the following year.
As an IHG cardholder, you'll also be able to take advantage of a fourth night free when you redeem points for a four-night stay at an IHG hotel. This works for every fourth night of your points stay. If you book an eight-night stay, the fourth and eighth nights would be free.
Hotel credit card comparison
| Rewards on hotel spending | Annual fee | Annual free night | Complimentary hotel status level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Bilt Blue Card | 1X points on all purchases and the ability to earn up to 1.25X points on your rent or mortgage payments with no transaction fee | $0 | No | None |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | 14X Hilton Honor Bonus Points at Hilton | *$550 | Yes | Hilton Honors™ Diamond status |
| Wells Fargo Autograph® Card | 3X points on travel, including hotels | $0 | No | None |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels | *$650 | Yes | Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum elite status |
| The World of Hyatt Credit Card | 4X points at Hyatt Hotels | $95 | Yes | Hyatt Discoverist |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | 10X points at IHG properties | $99 | Yes | IHG One Platinum |
| American Express Platinum Card® | 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel® | *$895 | No | Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, Leading Hotels of the World Sterling Status (enrollment required) |
*See rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card; See rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card; See rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®; *A maximum benefit amount and certain restrictions and limitations apply. Please review the Mastercard Guide to Benefits for details: https://www.biltrewards.com/terms/blue-card-guide-to-benefits
How to choose a hotel credit card
Choosing a hotel credit card may be as simple as applying for the co-branded credit card for the hotel chain you're most loyal to. But even in that scenario, you're likely to have more than one card to choose from, so here are a few important considerations.
Rewards rate
How many points the card earns per dollar can be a big part of the value you receive. However, you don't want to get stuck on the total number. If the card comes with elite status, that will indirectly boost your return on spending with that brand.
For travel credit cards with flexible rewards, pay attention to the transfer ratio to hotel partners. For example, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card earns 3X points on travel, including hotels, but Wells Fargo points transfer to Choice Privileges at a 1:2 ratio. So the Autograph Card is essentially earning 6X Choice points on travel.
Annual fee vs. benefits
The top hotel cards also have the highest annual fees, which may or may not be worth paying. A several-hundred-dollar annual fee can be justifiable if you maximize the card's elite status, statement credits or free night rewards. Just be sure to consider what benefits you'll use and whether they are worth paying an upfront annual fee to access.
General vs. specific perks
Co-branded hotel credit cards can unlock complimentary elite status, extra opportunities to earn elite credit, statement credits, free nights and more. The caveat is that those benefits often only apply when you're staying with that specific hotel chain. If your favorite brand doesn't have rooms available when and where you want to travel, you could be forced into staying in bland, benefit-less lodging.
Anyone who prefers to price shop or keep their hotel options open is likely to be better off with a general travel credit card. You could earn elevated rewards on travel (including hotels) and take advantage of travel insurance. However, you'll be missing out on elite status, free night certificates and similar perks.
FAQs
What's the best card for earning hotel points?
The best card for earning hotel points depends on whether you're loyal to a single hotel chain or prefer the flexibility of booking whatever lodging is best for a specific trip. Co-branded hotel cards tend to have valuable perks that are only useful with that specific brand, whereas a general travel card can provide value for any hotel booking, but lacks elite status benefits.
What credit score do you need for a hotel credit card?
Most of the best hotel credit cards require good to excellent credit. However, there are some cards with dining, gas and travel rewards that are rewarding for hotel stays and are available if you have average credit.
Which Amex card is best for hotels?
The best American Express card for hotels is likely the Platinum Card® for most people because it earns valuable rewards and offers automatic gold status with Hilton and Marriott.
Why trust CNBC Select?
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 article 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.
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Our methodology
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 cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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 X to stay up to date.
Read more
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 of the American Express Platinum 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. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
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.
