The best hotel credit cards for 2020. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. Hilton Hotel Credit Cards
The best hotel credit cards
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card : Best low-cost for Marriott
- IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card: Best for IHG
- American Express® Green Card: Best for travel, including hotels
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for luxury hotels
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Best mid-tier card for earning on hotels
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: Best low-cost card for Hilton
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card: Best overall for Marriott
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: Best overall for Hilton
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card: Best for Hyatt
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best premium card for earning on hotels
If you’re looking for the best card for hotel stays across all top hotel brands, it doesn’t get much better than the Amex Platinum Card. You’re getting 5x Membership Rewards points (a 10% return) on all prepaid hotels booked via Amex Travel and through Amex and Fine Hotels & Resorts. Plus, you get automatic elite status with both Hilton and Marriott.
Comparison of the best hotel credit cards
| CREDIT CARD | BONUS | ANNUAL FEE |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card | 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. | $95 |
| IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card | 140,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your new card. | $89 |
| American Express® Green Card | 30,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening (terms apply) | $150 (see rates & fees) |
| The Platinum Card from American Express | 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months (terms apply) | $550 (see rates & fees) |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred Card | 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months | $95 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | 125,000 bonus points after after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership (terms apply) | $95 (see rates & fees) |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex | Earn 75,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months (terms apply) | $450 (see rates & fees) |
| Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express | 150,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months (terms apply) | $450 (see rates & fees) |
| World of Hyatt Credit Card | 25,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months plus an additional 25,000 points after you spend $6,000 total on purchases within the first six months of account opening. | $95 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve | 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening | $450 |
Best hotel credit cards
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Annual fee: $95 – Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card
Earning rates: 6x on eligible Marriott purchases and 2x on everything else – Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Elite status: Automatic Silver elite status, plus 15 elite night credits each calendar year toward reaching a higher status. Reach Gold status by spending $35,000 or more on your card in a calendar year.
Other benefits: Receive a free night award every year on your account anniversary when you renew your card, worth up to 35,000 points. Enjoy free premium in-room Wi-Fi.
Analysis: This card earns the same amount on Marriott stays as its premium counterpart, which is an effective return of 4.8% based on TPG’s valuations. While you are more limited with where you can use its annual award night, you can still get terrific value from it. Just don’t expect benefits like suite upgrades and free breakfast with the Silver elite status that the card comes with. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.
Further Reading:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card Review
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card – The best hotel credit cards
Annual fee: $89
Welcome bonus: Earn 140,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your new card.
Earning rates: 10x at IHG properties; 2x at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants; 1x everywhere else
Elite status: Enjoy automatic IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status.
Other benefits: A fourth night reward on award stays of four or more nights, an annual award-night certificate worth up to 40,000 points, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit, up to $100, and no foreign transaction fees.
Analysis: Even if you only stay at IHG properties once each year, the award night certificate alone can usually justify the card’s annual cost. Stack that with the automatic Platinum Elite status and you’re sure to come out ahead. And with the card’s highest-ever sign-up bonus, now is a great time to add it to your wallet.
Further Reading:
- IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card Review
American Express® Green Card – The best hotel credit cards
Annual fee: $150 (see rates & fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 30,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $2,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Earning rates: 3x miles on global restaurants and travel, including transit; 1x miles on all other purchases.
Elite status: N/A
Other benefits: Travel protections (for trips booked on or after Jan. 1, 2020) and no foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees)
Analysis: The venerable American Express® Green Card has gotten a major upgrade — and a new annual fee. Cardholders now earn 3x points for a broad definition of travel — including airfare, hotel rooms, car rentals, tour operators, travel agencies, campsites and home shares, plus transit covering ride hailing, buses, taxis, metros, subways, tolls and more. You’ll also earn 3x points for dining worldwide and 1x on everything else. The 3x for hotels, travel and transit is equal to what’s offered by the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Terms apply.
Current TPG valuations put the Green from Amex at 2.0 cents, making its welcome offer worth $600.
Beyond the earning potential, the card comes with extended warranty protection, purchase protection and return protection. When you’re on the road, you have a baggage insurance plan and secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, with the option to upgrade to primary coverage through Amex’s Premium Car Rental Protection. For travel purchases made with the card on or after Jan. 1, 2020, you’ll be covered with trip delay insurance.
Further Reading:
- American Express Green Card Review
The Platinum Card from American Express – The best hotel credit cards
Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months, though check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’re targeted for a 100,000-point bonus (offer subject to change at any time)
Earning rates: Earn 5x on flights booked directly with airlines and through American Express Travel, plus prepaid hotel bookings through amextravel.com and Fine Hotels & Resorts. Earn 1x on everything else.
Elite status: Cardmembers can register for automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.
Other benefits: Almost too many to include. Access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection, which includes Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass, Escape and Airspace lounges, plus Delta Sky Clubs on same-day Delta flights. Up to a $100 fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years. Up to $200 in annual airline fee statement credits on incidental fees charged by the airline you select. Uber VIP status and up to $200 annual Uber credit split into monthly $15 credits for US rides plus a bonus $20 in December. Up to a $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit split into two $50 statement credits for the two halves of the year. Complimentary memberships in Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred and National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive. Access to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts bookings and perks. Discounted premium tickets via the Amex International Airlines Program.
Analysis: 5x points on hotel stays is a very solid return, but what makes the card stand out is the perks it offers at luxury hotels booked through the Fine Hotels & Resorts program. Every FHR stay comes with benefits such as complimentary room upgrades when available; noon check-in; 4:00 p.m. checkout; on-site food and beverage credits and more. At select hotels in the Amex FHR program, you can also enjoy a free night — usually the third or fourth — and will earn hotel points with most programs as per usual.
On other hotel stays you’ll enjoy the benefits of Gold status from the Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalty programs. Both of these hotel elite statuses entitle you to some solid on-property benefits, such as late checkout and bonus earnings on stays. Just note that prepaid stays booked through Amex Travel (not FHR) typically don’t get hotel points or elite benefits so you’ll need to book direct to take advantage of your status.
Further Reading:
- American Express Platinum Review
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Annual fee: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Earning rates: Earn 2x on travel and dining at restaurants and 1x spent on all other purchases worldwide
Elite status: N/A
Other benefits: In addition to waiving foreign transaction fees, this card offers primary rental car coverage, up to $500 in trip delay reimbursement if you’re delayed more than 12 hours or overnight, up to $10,000 in trip cancellation and interruption insurance and up to $100 per day for up to five days in baggage delay reimbursement if your bag is delayed more than six hours.
Analysis: If you frequently spend on travel — in general, not just at hotels — and dining, and you want to use your points to book travel with partners like United and Hyatt, a Chase Sapphire card is a no-brainer. The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a great pick for newbies since it has a lower annual fee and still earns valuable bonus points on broad travel and dining categories. It allows you to transfer the points you earn to ten airline and three hotel loyalty programs.
Further Reading:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Annual Fee: $95 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: 125,000 bonus points after after you use your new card to make $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first three months of card membership.
Earning rates: 12x on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels; 6x at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; and 3x on all other eligible purchases.
Elite status: Automatic Hilton Gold status and the opportunity to earn Diamond status by spending $40,000 a year on the card.
Other benefits: Earn a weekend night reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year. Get 10 Priority Pass lounge visits every year.
Analysis: This is the card to have if you can’t quite justify the high fee on the Hilton Amex Aspire. Hilton Honors Gold status is among the most valuable mid-tier hotel statuses out there, getting you an 80% points bonus, a fifth night free (plus no resort fees) during reward stays, space-available upgrades, free in-room and lobby Wi-Fi, late check-out, free breakfast and two free bottles of water. The weekend night certificate can easily get a few hundred dollars of value, and the 10 free visits to Priority Pass lounges are just enough for occasional travelers. Plus, you’re still getting a very solid return of 7.2% on your Hilton stays plus 3.6% back on your restaurant, supermarket, and gas station purchases in the U.S. (all based on TPG’s most recent valuations).
Further Reading:
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card Review
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
Annual fee: $450 (see rates and fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 75,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earning rates: 6x at participating Marriott properties, 3x at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with the airline, and 2x on everything else.
Elite status: Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold status with your card, and earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status after making $75,000 in eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year. Each calendar year you also receive credit for 15 nights toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy elite status.
Other benefits: Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you’ll receive a free night award worth up to 50,000 points, good for up to a standard Category 6 hotel. Each year you also receive up to $300 in statement credits for eligible purchases (including room rates) at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and enjoy up to $100 in credits for on-property charges when booking stays of two nights or more at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties. Cardmembers also get Priority Pass Select lounge access and a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit worth up to $100 every four years.
Analysis: If you want a card that earns you bonus points for booking Marriott stays and some elite perks, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex is worth a close look. The card has a $450 annual fee (see rates and fees), but the annual $300 Marriott statement credit essentially lowers that to $150.
In addition to earning you 6x points on eligible Marriott stays, this card offers a free night award at properties that cost up to 50,000 points per night each year after your account anniversary. You also get complimentary Gold elite status, which comes with a few benefits like a 25% bonus on points and space-available upgrades to enhanced rooms, and you can upgrade to Platinum status after spending $75,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Further Reading:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card Review
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express – Hilton Hotel Credit Cards
Annual fee: $450 (see rates and fees). Hilton Hotel Credit Cards.
Welcome bonus: Earn 150,000 points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months. Hilton Hotel Credit Cards.
Earning rates: 14x at participating Hilton hotels; 7x on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rentals and at U.S. restaurants; and 3x on all other eligible purchases. Hilton Hotel Credit Cards.
Elite status: Enjoy automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status. Hilton Hotel Credit Cards.
Other benefits: One weekend night reward every year after renewal plus an additional night at eligible properties after you spend $60,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year. Enjoy up to $250 in statement credits each year of card membership for eligible purchases at participating Hilton resorts. Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $250 per calendar year in statement credits for incidental fees such as checked baggage and flight change fees. Get up to $100 in credits for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts on two-night-minimum stays. Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access for card holder and two guests.
Analysis: Hilton released three new cards with Amex in 2018, and the Aspire is now the most rewarding option in the cobranded lineup. It earns you the most Hilton points per dollar on paid stays with the brand (14x points) and also offers some pretty sweet annual travel credits. You get a $250 Hilton resort statement credit each year for eligible on-property purchases, plus an annual credit of up to $250 for incidental airline fees such as baggage charges. Other benefits include complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status, a free weekend night each year upon your account renewal and the ability to earn an additional free weekend night by spending $60,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Further Reading:
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Review
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Annual fee: $95
Welcome bonus: Earn 25,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Plus earn an additional 25,000 points after you spend $6,000 total on purchases within the first 6 months.
Earning rates: 4x at Hyatt properties; 2x on local transit and commuting, at restaurants, on airline tickets and on fitness club and gym memberships; 1x everywhere else
Elite status: Discoverist status automatically, though you also receive five qualifying night credits toward the next level of elite status each year and the opportunity to earn two additional night credits for each $5,000 spent on the card.
Other benefits: One free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each year after your cardmember anniversary plus a second free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each year when you spend $15,000 on the card during your cardmember year.
Analysis: This card comes with a modest annual fee which you can easily recoup when you redeem the anniversary free night, valid at Category 1-4 hotels. Even most of Hyatt’s low-tier properties sell for $100+ a night, so you should be able to easily break-even with the card.
When it comes to bonus categories, you’ll earn 4x points per dollar on purchases at Hyatt. TPG values Hyatt points quite highly at 1.7 cents each, making this return worth a solid 6.8%. That’s a great return, though I personally would still opt to use a Chase Sapphire Reserve instead. Earning 3x points per dollar that could be transferred to Hyatt (or to United, or British Airways or Singapore … get the idea?) is a better return to me than simply earning 4x Hyatt points.
Further Reading:
- The World of Hyatt Credit Card Review
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Annual fee: $550
Welcome bonus: Earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Earning rates: Earn 3x travel and dining at restaurants and 1x spent on all other purchases worldwide
Elite status: N/A
Other benefits: Get a $300 annual travel credit that can be used toward a wide variety of purchases, Priority Pass lounge access and an application fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (up to $100) every four years. Enjoy numerous protections like primary rental car insurance, industry-leading trip cancellation and delay coverage, lost luggage reimbursement, a concierge service and access to the Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection. You’ll also now receive up to $120 in DoorDash credits ($60 in 2020 and $60 in 2021), free Door Dash DashPass food delivery and a Lyft Pink membership, which includes ride discounts and priority airport pickups.
Analysis: The Chase Sapphire Reserve has the same bonus categories of travel and dining as the Chase Sapphire Preferred, but it earns 3x points on these purchases (excluding the $300 travel credit), and it includes several more perks, including an application fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry every four years. Unlike the Chase Sapphire Preferred — which has the ability to redeem points for 1.25 cents apiece through the Chase travel portal — the Reserve lets you redeem points for 1.5 cents apiece. It has a $550 annual fee, but that’s effectively lowered to $250 when you factor in the $300 travel credit.
Further Reading:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve Review
Marriott Credit Card
Hilton Hotel Credit Cards