What credit score do you need for a hotel credit card?

Most hotel credit card issuers recommend applicants have a good to excellent credit score, or a FICO score above 670.

Do hotel points expire?

Hotel rewards points don't usually expire if your account is open, active and in good standing, although terms and conditions vary by program. The reason for expired points is often the consumer, not the company. Here's a chart with rewards expiration policies for several popular hotel loyalty programs Hotel Rewards Program Rewards Expiration Policy Hilton Honors Rewards expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity IHG One Rewards Rewards expire after 12 months of no qualifying activity World of Hyatt Rewards expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity Marriott Bonvoy Rewards expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity Wyndham Rewards Rewards expire after 18 months of no qualifying activity, and after 48 months regardless of activity Radisson Rewards Rewards expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity Best Western Rewards Rewards don't expire Accor Live Limitless Rewards expire after 12 months of no qualifying activity Choice Privileges Rewards expire after 18 months of no qualifying activity Keep in mind that "qualifying activity" is pretty broad. While the exact terms vary by program, usually any sort of account activity will keep your account active — including earning, redeeming and transferring points.

Do hotel credit cards reimburse you for cancellation?

Reimbursement for canceling a hotel reservation depends largely on: The hotel chain Which card you booked with (or if you booked with rewards) The advance notice you're giving before cancellation The circumstances of your cancellation It may be difficult to get your money back if you cancel your accommodations at the last moment simply because you changed your mind. However, should you need to cancel your trip due to circumstances beyond your control, you may have a better chance of being reimbursed if your hotel card offers trip cancellation or interruption insurance. Always review the cancellation guidelines at the time of booking.

Are hotel points transferrable?

Several reward programs (like Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, and IHG One Rewards) allow you to transfer points to partner airlines or redeem for travel, gift cards and merchandise, but you often lose a lot of value by doing so. One of the only exceptions where you may get outsized value would be transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. You’ll get a 5,000-mile bonus for a total of 25,000 miles with your selected airline. Marriott Bonvoy has several airline partners that no other flexible rewards program has as a transfer partner, which may open some new travel prospects for you.

What is the best credit card to use for vacation rentals?

If you prefer vacation rentals over hotels, a general travel credit card with a solid bonus on travel purchases is likely your best option. Either of the One Key cards may also be suitable for you.

Best Hotel Credit Cards for September 2025 - Earn Free Nights

Compare Bankrate's top 2025 hotel credit cards

Card name	Best for	Rewards highlights	Bankrate score
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card	Flexibility	5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠ 3X points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries 2X points on all other travel purchases.	4.9 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Hilton Honors American Express Card	No annual fee	7X points on eligible Hilton purchases 5X points on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations 3X points on all other purchases	4.3 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	Business travel	12X points on eligible Hilton purchases 5X points on made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year 3X points on all other eligible purchases	4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	Marriott fans	6X points at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines 2X points on all other purchases	4.6 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	Everyday spending	12X points on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts 6X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases 3X points on other eligible purchases.	4.7 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card	Marriott business card	6X Marriott Bonvoy Points on participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels 4X points on restaurants, U.S. gas stations and wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping 2X Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card points on all other eligible purchases.	4.7 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Luxury benefits	5X points on up to $500,000 of directly booked flights with airlines per calendar year and 5X on prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com	4.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
One Key™ Card	Hotel deals	3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores and on dining 1.5% in OneKeyCash on other purchases
One Key+™ Card	One Key fans	3% in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores and on dining 2% in OneKeyCash on other purchases
The World of Hyatt Credit Card	Point value	Up to 9X points for Hyatt stays – 4X points on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5X points from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member 2X points at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline 1X points on all other eligible purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card	Marriott fans	Up to 17X points at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® program 3X points on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining 2X points on all other purchases
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card	IHG stays	Up to 26X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts 5X points on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants 3X points on all other purchases

On This Page

What is a hotel credit card?

A hotel credit card is a travel card that typically rewards its users for making purchases at a specific hotel brand. You earn points in a hotel chain’s loyalty program by using the card to book rooms at the chain’s hotels or resorts and by making eligible non-travel purchases. Other incentives may include free nights, elite status, upgrades and access to the hotel chain’s travel partners. Let's examine the two types of hotel credit cards.

Co-branded hotel cards are offered through a partnership between an issuer and a hotel brand. These cards usually include enrollment in the hotel's loyalty program and reward your purchases with points in that program.

These cards generally earn the highest rewards rates for purchases with the hotel brand and may offer additional perks like elite status or free night certificates. Cards with higher fees often provide valuable perks that help offset the cost, while lower-fee cards may offer these as incentives for meeting spending milestones.

General travel rewards cards include hotel-related perks and benefits without being exclusively associated with a single hotel chain. These cards usually have a set of airline and hotel partners, along with other methods for redeeming points. Generally, transferring points to hotel partners isn't the best use of your points, but can be useful if you only stay at hotels occasionally or need to top off your points balance.

Pros and cons of hotel credit cards

Whether or not a hotel card is the right choice for you depends on your travel habits, budget and financial priorities. Make sure to weigh the pros and cons before choosing a particular card.

Pros

Hotel cards regularly offer lucrative welcome offers for new cardholders who meet the spending requirements within a specified period.
A co-branded hotel card will likely offer a higher-than-average rewards rate on eligible hotel purchases compared with a general travel card.
Late check-in, complimentary breakfast and room upgrades are some of the perks offered by co-branded hotel credit cards. Many hotel cards also offer automatic or expedited pathways to elite status, providing even more perks.

Cons

To get the most value from your card, you might have to navigate complicated rewards programs and redemption processes. The value can also decline significantly when you transfer points to travel partners or redeem for merchandise.
Although rewards rates are high with some co-branded hotel cards, the points’ redemption values may not be worth as much as those earned with non-branded travel cards.
You’ll most likely have to pay an annual fee of $95 or more if you want noteworthy perks at hotels.

How to choose a hotel credit card

The right hotel card for you will depend on your travel habits and preferences. Here are a few first steps to help you in your search.

Keep track of how often you stay at hotels

If you only travel once or twice per year, it may be a safe bet to rule out cards with high annual fees. If you stay at hotels frequently, all the perks and benefits that come with a hotel card may be worth it, such as extra free nights, complimentary elite status or automatic upgrades. Take a close look at your travel habits and estimate the total value you can expect to earn from different cards’ rewards and perks based on your spending. If a card carries an annual fee, be sure to factor that in to see which option will net the best overall value.

Figure out which hotel brand works best for you

Co-branded travel cards tend to partner with large national and international hotel brands. If you have a card that gives you elite status and valuable perks, you may want to book most of your stays with that brand to maximize value.

Whether you enjoy luxury resort stays or have frequent road-warrior stays, you can find a hotel card to meet your needs and enhance your travel experience. If your favorite hotel is a small regional brand or you don’t stay at the same chain of hotels when you travel, you may be better off with a general travel credit card.

Have a plan for maximizing value

Getting the best value for your points when you travel can be tricky, especially when you’ve been saving them up for a while. If you’re a traveler looking to maximize your points, review a card’s rewards program to see if it offers multiple redemption options or point transfers. You can also review Bankrate’s points valuation guide to get a sense of how hotel points stack up to other rewards programs. See which categories are ideal for your spending needs so you can earn as many points as quickly as possible.

Expert advice for hotel credit cards

Hotel credit cards can be worthwhile, but it’s best to know how to manage them effectively to make them worth the spot in your wallet. Here are some of our top tips for maximizing your hotel credit cards so you can get the best returns.

It’s free to sign up for hotel programs, so the first step is to sign up. As both a loyalty member and co-branded cardholder, you’ll earn extra points on top of your card’s rewards rate and have access to elite status perks if you qualify.

Just because a hotel card has a high rewards rate doesn’t mean you are getting outstanding value. Many hotel programs hover under 1 cent per dollar in value. For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass earns 6X points at U.S. supermarkets, while an American Express Gold card earns 4X points. However, according to our valuations, Hilton points are worth roughly 0.6 cents each, while Membership Rewards points from the Amex Gold are worth around 2.0 cents each. So while the Gold has a lower rate, it offers much higher value.

To give you a better idea of the value of various hotel rewards, here's a list of loyalty programs and their point values, according to Bankrate's valuations:

Rewards program	Bankrate value*	Estimated value of 50,000 points/miles
Best Western Rewards	0.6 cents	$300
Hilton Honors	0.6 cents	$300
World of Hyatt	2.3 cents	$1,150
IHG One Rewards	0.7 cents	$350
Marriott Bonvoy	0.7 cents	$350
Radisson Rewards Americas	0.4 cents	$200
Wyndham Rewards	0.9 cents	$450

While not always ideal for everyday spending, co-branded cards really shine when you are staying with the brand. For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earns 14X points for Hilton stays, which stacks with an extra 20X points from base earnings and the bonus earnings from the card’s automatic Diamond status for up to a whopping 34X points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. Take a close look at your points values and redemption opportunities so you can better understand where you can get the most value.

Complimentary or fast-track to elite status with a hotel loyalty program is a valuable feature available on several hotel rewards cards. Kickstarting your elite status journey could give you a boost toward incredibly valuable perks like improved rewards rates, exclusive upgrade privileges, extra award nights or other on-property discounts.

Qualifying for elite loyalty status usually centers around frequent card use, but many cards carry automatic status or provide bonus elite nights for hitting certain milestones. Here’s a list of popular cards that offer complimentary elite status to cardholders or provide enough automatic elite night credits to qualify for elite status, along with the annual fees and Bankrate's estimated point values for each program:

Card	Status	Annual fee	Program point value (according to Bankrate)
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$695	2.0 cents
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$695	2.0 cents
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status (through December 31, 2027); upgrade to IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status after spending $75,000 in a calendar year	$795	2.0 cents
Sapphire Reserve for Business℠	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status (through December 31, 2027); upgrade to IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status after spending $120,000 in a calendar year	$795	2.0 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*	Hilton Honors Diamond (enrollment required)	$550	0.6 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$150	0.6 cents
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$195	0.6 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Card	Hilton Honors Silver (enrollment required)	$0	0.6 cents
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$99	0.7 cents
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$99	0.7 cents
IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$49	0.7 cents
The New United Club℠ Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$525	0.9 cents
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Silver Elite (card membership required)	$0	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite	$650	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$125	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$250	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card*	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$250	0.7 cents
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card*(no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$450	N/A
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$0	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
The World of Hyatt Credit Card*	World of Hyatt Discoverist	$95	2.3 cents
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card*	World of Hyatt Discoverist	$199	2.3 cents
Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®	Choice Privileges Platinum	$95	N/A
Choice Privileges® Mastercard®	Choice Privileges Gold	$0	N/A
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card*	Wyndham Rewards Diamond	$95	0.9 cents
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card*	Wyndham Rewards Platinum	$75	0.9 cents
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card*	Wyndham Rewards Gold	$0	0.9 cents
Sonesta World Mastercard*	Sonesta Travel Pass Elite	$75 ($0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year	N/A

Card	Status	Annual fee	Program point value (according to Bankrate)
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$695	2.0 cents
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$695	2.0 cents
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status (through December 31, 2027); upgrade to IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status after spending $75,000 in a calendar year	$795	2.0 cents
Sapphire Reserve for Business℠	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status (through December 31, 2027); upgrade to IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status after spending $120,000 in a calendar year	$795	2.0 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*	Hilton Honors Diamond (enrollment required)	$550	0.6 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$150	0.6 cents
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$195	0.6 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Card	Hilton Honors Silver (enrollment required)	$0	0.6 cents
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$99	0.7 cents
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$99	0.7 cents
IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$49	0.7 cents
The New United Club℠ Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$525	0.9 cents
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Silver Elite (card membership required)	$0	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite	$650	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$125	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$250	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card*	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$250	0.7 cents
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card*(no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$450	N/A
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$0	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
The World of Hyatt Credit Card*	World of Hyatt Discoverist	$95	2.3 cents
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card*	World of Hyatt Discoverist	$199	2.3 cents
Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®	Choice Privileges Platinum	$95	N/A
Choice Privileges® Mastercard®	Choice Privileges Gold	$0	N/A
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card*	Wyndham Rewards Diamond	$95	0.9 cents
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card*	Wyndham Rewards Platinum	$75	0.9 cents
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card*	Wyndham Rewards Gold	$0	0.9 cents
Sonesta World Mastercard*	Sonesta Travel Pass Elite	$75 ($0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year	N/A

You usually receive extra value by booking your room through the hotel’s website or an issuer’s travel portal. Booking through third-party sites may not qualify for the expected rewards rate or count toward elite status qualification. Also, hotel bookings through travel portals will make you ineligible for any elite status benefits you have, although they may have other special offers you can utilize for your trip.

Many issuers offer the highest rewards rates for hotel bookings when you use their travel portal. To see which makes sense for your trip, compare the costs and rewards earned when you book via the portal against those of booking directly. Be sure to factor in the value of elite benefits that might not be applied to your trip.
Award pricing may change often, especially for hotels with dynamic pricing. You should check the price of your stays throughout the year since you can easily rebook and save points when the prices drop. You might also consider setting up alerts with sites that specialize in monitoring hotel prices and award availability, so you can act quickly when prices change.

Bankrate Insight

Many hotel credit cards offer cardholders a fast-track to elite status, complimentary award nights each year or at least enough points in their welcome offers to qualify for free nights. The three main ways to earn free nights at hotels outside of redeeming your rewards are: leaning into hotel loyalty programs, earning sign-up bonuses and spending in bonus categories toward a card’s annual award night perk.

Here’s how our experts use their hotel credit cards

Our experts prefer different cards to meet their various needs. Here's a look at some of our expert picks for hotel credit cards.

Bankrate staff insights

The World of Hyatt Card is my top choice for hotel credit cards. I get a free night every year and another after spending $15,000 annually. The card also helps me earn nights towards maintaining my Globalist status. In my opinion, Hyatt is far and away the best with rewarding their top elite members. I almost always get upgraded to a better room, and I never have issues checking in early or extending my stay until 4 pm on checkout day. This card is a mainstay for as long as I continue to be a Hyatt loyalist.”

Ryan Flanigan, Bankrate credit cards writer

For daily spending, the Hilton American Express Surpass Card is hard to beat. It has solid everyday bonus categories, and the free night certificate after spending $15,000 on your card in a calendar year is worth earning. You also get Hilton Honors™ Gold status which is the best mid-tier hotel status. I like Hilton hotels for family travel, so there’s always a Hilton card in my digital wallet.

Harlan Vaughn, Bankrate credit cards senior editor

We are definitely occasional travelers. However, my husband still uses his Hilton Honors American Express Card. At the height of his work travel, he was charging his on-site hotel stays to that card and accumulated nearly a million points. He's still a Diamond status member and we're still using those points to this day to book occasional nights — probably only once a year. What's nice is that Hilton has a ton of properties across the world — some of the best ones you wouldn't even know are in the Hilton family.

Courtney Mihocik, Bankrate credit cards senior editor

Frequently asked questions about hotel credit cards

Most hotel credit card issuers recommend applicants have a good to excellent credit score, or a FICO score above 670.

Hotel rewards points don't usually expire if your account is open, active and in good standing, although terms and conditions vary by program. The reason for expired points is often the consumer, not the company.

Here's a chart with rewards expiration policies for several popular hotel loyalty programs

Card	Status	Annual fee	Program point value (according to Bankrate)
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$695	2.0 cents
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$695	2.0 cents
Chase Sapphire Reserve®	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status (through December 31, 2027); upgrade to IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status after spending $75,000 in a calendar year	$795	2.0 cents
Sapphire Reserve for Business℠	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite Status (through December 31, 2027); upgrade to IHG One Rewards Diamond Elite Status after spending $120,000 in a calendar year	$795	2.0 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*	Hilton Honors Diamond (enrollment required)	$550	0.6 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$150	0.6 cents
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	Hilton Honors Gold (enrollment required)	$195	0.6 cents
Hilton Honors American Express Card	Hilton Honors Silver (enrollment required)	$0	0.6 cents
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$99	0.7 cents
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$99	0.7 cents
IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$49	0.7 cents
The New United Club℠ Card*	IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite (card membership required)	$525	0.9 cents
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card*	IHG Rewards Club Silver Elite (card membership required)	$0	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite	$650	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$125	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$250	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ credit card*	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$250	0.7 cents
The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card*(no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite	$450	N/A
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$0	0.7 cents
Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
Marriott Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card* (no longer open to new applicants)	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite	$95	0.7 cents
The World of Hyatt Credit Card*	World of Hyatt Discoverist	$95	2.3 cents
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card*	World of Hyatt Discoverist	$199	2.3 cents
Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®	Choice Privileges Platinum	$95	N/A
Choice Privileges® Mastercard®	Choice Privileges Gold	$0	N/A
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card*	Wyndham Rewards Diamond	$95	0.9 cents
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card*	Wyndham Rewards Platinum	$75	0.9 cents
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card*	Wyndham Rewards Gold	$0	0.9 cents
Sonesta World Mastercard*	Sonesta Travel Pass Elite	$75 ($0 Intro Annual Fee for the first year	N/A

Keep in mind that "qualifying activity" is pretty broad. While the exact terms vary by program, usually any sort of account activity will keep your account active — including earning, redeeming and transferring points.

Reimbursement for canceling a hotel reservation depends largely on:
- The hotel chain
- Which card you booked with (or if you booked with rewards)
- The advance notice you're giving before cancellation
- The circumstances of your cancellation
It may be difficult to get your money back if you cancel your accommodations at the last moment simply because you changed your mind. However, should you need to cancel your trip due to circumstances beyond your control, you may have a better chance of being reimbursed if your hotel card offers trip cancellation or interruption insurance. Always review the cancellation guidelines at the time of booking.
Several reward programs (like Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt, and IHG One Rewards) allow you to transfer points to partner airlines or redeem for travel, gift cards and merchandise, but you often lose a lot of value by doing so. One of the only exceptions where you may get outsized value would be transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. You’ll get a 5,000-mile bonus for a total of 25,000 miles with your selected airline. Marriott Bonvoy has several airline partners that no other flexible rewards program has as a transfer partner, which may open some new travel prospects for you.
If you prefer vacation rentals over hotels, a general travel credit card with a solid bonus on travel purchases is likely your best option. Either of the One Key cards may also be suitable for you.

How we choose the best hotel credit cards

We select cards for “Best” credit cards pages based primarily on how cards score in our proprietary card rating system, our editors’ subjective assessment of card quality, card approval odds and credit requirements and unique card features.

Cards typically must score a minimum of 3.0 stars to be included on a “Best” list. However, we may include cards with scores below 3.0 if they have low credit requirements or unique features — despite their scores, these cards may still be among the “best” in certain categories. Card ratings are not influenced by advertisers or issuer relationships in any way.

Card selection and ordering may vary based on business considerations, including Bankrate visitor interest, site interactions and card application volume. Affiliate commissions (see how we make money), limited-time offers and a card’s general popularity in the product landscape may also influence which cards we feature on our pages and the order in which they appear. Bankrate’s editorial and business teams also strive to feature a variety of card types from various issuers.

Here’s a quick look at how our rating methodology breaks down for hotel cards:

How we rate rewards cards

Hotel cards fall into our “Rewards card” scoring category. Our rating methodology for these cards focuses heavily on rewards value — what kind of return we’d expect based on the average person’s spending and a card’s added bonuses and annual fee.

Here’s how overall scoring breaks down for rewards and cash back cards.

Value 65.00%
Flexibility 15.00%
Perks 15.00%
Customer experience 5.00%

The primary criteria for a rewards-earning card’s rating is its rewards value. This includes the card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we first calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories and how closely its categories align with the average person’s spending habits. In other words, we assess whether the card earns rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories.

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2023 was $77,280 per consumer. From here, we determine a “chargeable” spend (which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards). After subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases, education and healthcare, we get a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.

This includes the following spending by category:
- Groceries: $6,000
- Dining out: $3,900
- Entertainment: $2,500
- Gas: $2,400
- Apparel and services: $2,000
Using this data, we are able to assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 26 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries.

We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various [issuer, airline and hotel] rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other rewards cards.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Here’s a deeper look at the factors considered as part of a rewards card’s “Value” rating:
5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Ongoing rewards value 30%
- Sign-up bonus value 25%
- Annual fee & average APR 20%
- Rewards rate 15%
- Annual bonus value 10%
We also score cards based on how much it costs to keep them in your wallet or carry a balance.

To start, each card is scored based on whether it offers an intro APR and how its ongoing APR compares to the rates available on other rewards cards. However, the latter rating only has a slight influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance.

More important to both a card’s score and its inclusion in our list is how its annual fee influences its overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value.

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees.

With this in mind, we rate a card based primarily on how its ongoing rewards value and ongoing perk value (such as annual credits or bonuses) stack up against those of other cards in the category when you subtract annual fees.

That said, we strive to include as many no-annual-fee options in our list as possible since many people would rather not worry about offsetting fees, even if a card carries impressive rewards and perks.
Rewards cards may make it easy to earn a lot of points, miles or cash back, but how easy is it to use those rewards? Co-branded hotel cards tend to have the best redemption value for hotel stays and purchases, but many offer other redemption options, too. It takes a ton of effort to redeem rewards or you can only redeem rewards in a couple of ways, a card may be more trouble than it’s worth.

As such, we rate each card’s flexibility based on the restrictions it imposes on earning and redeeming rewards. We factor this rating into a card’s overall score and consider it when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list.

Flexibility factors include whether a card only allows you to earn a high rewards rate on only a small amount of spending or requires you to meet a certain earning threshold before you can redeem rewards. We also examine whether your points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to travel partners.
We also score each card’s set of features – its perks and benefits — against five tiers of features to provide a rating.

We break down these tiers as follows:
- Tier 1 includes fewer features than even standard credit cards (for example, an ultra-streamlined card that offers basic utility and next to nothing in the way of ancillary benefits).
- Tier 2 includes the benefits you’d expect on standard Visa or Mastercard credit cards, such as free access to your credit score, car rental insurance and $0 liability for fraudulent charges.
- Tier 3 includes “prime card” or better-than-average card features like cellphone insurance, lost luggage insurance, concierge services and purchase protection.
- Tier 4 includes luxury features such as airport lounge access, elite status with an airline or hotel and credits for expedited security screening membership programs.
- Tier 5 includes the sort of exemplary benefits you’ll find on top-tier luxury cards, such as high-value travel credits, free hotel award nights, cardholder memberships and other unique and valuable perks.
In evaluating the best cards, we tend to favor cards that offer at least Tier 3 benefits, unless they include other unique features that could make up for less-impressive perks.

*Information about all credit cards marked with an asterisk has been collected independently by Bankrate. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

Hotel Rewards Program	Rewards Expiration Policy
Hilton Honors	Rewards expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity
IHG One Rewards	Rewards expire after 12 months of no qualifying activity
World of Hyatt	Rewards expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity
Marriott Bonvoy	Rewards expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity
Wyndham Rewards	Rewards expire after 18 months of no qualifying activity, and after 48 months regardless of activity
Radisson Rewards	Rewards expire after 24 months of no qualifying activity
Best Western Rewards	Rewards don't expire
Accor Live Limitless	Rewards expire after 12 months of no qualifying activity
Choice Privileges	Rewards expire after 18 months of no qualifying activity

Best hotel credit cards of September 2025: Free nights and more

+ Show Summary

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Hilton Honors American Express Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

The Platinum Card® from American Express

One Key™ Card

One Key+™ Card

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Compare Bankrate's top 2025 hotel credit cards

What is a hotel credit card?

Pros and cons of hotel credit cards

Pros

Cons

How to choose a hotel credit card

Keep track of how often you stay at hotels

Figure out which hotel brand works best for you

Have a plan for maximizing value

Expert advice for hotel credit cards

Make sure you’re a member of the hotel’s rewards program

Find out which cards provide the best returns

Make the most of elite status perks

Book directly through the hotel or issuer’s shopping portal

Check your bookings often

Here’s how our experts use their hotel credit cards

Bankrate staff insights

Frequently asked questions about hotel credit cards

What credit score do you need for a hotel credit card?

Do hotel points expire?

Do hotel credit cards reimburse you for cancellation?

Are hotel points transferrable?

What is the best credit card to use for vacation rentals?

How we choose the best hotel credit cards

Great rewards value

Reasonable rates and fees

Redemption flexibility

Valuable perks