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Hotel credit cards are an excellent way to maximize the benefits of your everyday and travel spending to redeem for hotel perks. Typically, rewards from hotel credit cards include room upgrades and free nights but can include a wide variety of benefits such as airport lounge access and restaurant discounts. Many hotel chains offer similar incentives in their credit card memberships, but there are some that go the extra mile, so if you have a preferred place you like to stay when traveling, you may want to check out how that property’s credit card stacks up against the rest.
Hilton Honors® American Express Credit Card
With no annual fee and a high rate of Hilton Honors rewards, the Hilton Honors American Express card is a great option for those who favor Hilton properties when traveling. In your first three months as an active cardmember, spending $1,000 will earn you an extra 70,000 HH (Hilton Honors) Bonus points plus a Free Night Reward. Eligible purchases earn you triple HH Bonus points, while restaurant, grocery store and gas station purchases earn you an impressive five times the points and stays at Hilton properties earn you a whopping seven times the points.
Hilton properties include Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton and many more across the globe with more than 6,500 hotels worldwide.
Hilton Honors® American Express Business Credit Card
Unlike the original Hilton Honors American Express, the Business card does have an annual fee of $95. The perks, however, are greater, starting with a bonus of 130,000 HH (Hilton Honors) Bonus Points and a Free Night Reward when you spent $3,000 in your first three months as an active cardmember on eligible purchases. When staying at a Hilton property, you can earn twelve times the HH Bonus Points, while earning six times the points on certain business and travel expenses and three times the points on the rest of your eligible purchases. After spending $15,000 in a calendar year on your card, you’ll earn a Weekend Night Reward, and you can earn another night, if you spend an additional $45,000 that same calendar year on eligible purchases.
Hotels.com™ Rewards Visa® Credit Card
Online giant Hotels.com has its own reward card that boasts a $0 annual fee. Users achieve automatic Silver status upon the opening of the account which translates into free breakfasts, airport transfers and VIP exclusives at participating properties. For each $1,000 spent on purchases in your first three months as an active cardmember with your card, you receive two reward nights worth a total of $250. Ongoing rewards include one stamp for each $500 you spend using the card, with each ten stamps earning you a reward night.
Another perk of using the Hotels.com Rewards Visa is that you aren't tied down to a singular brand of hotel instead, you can choose whichever participating property makes the most sense for you on each trip and earn points accordingly.
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Those who frequently stay at Hyatt properties will be pleased with the perks of the World of Hyatt credit card. Earning 30,000 bonus points is possible after $3,000 is spent within the first three months of active card membership, with extra points awarded for eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. After that, users can earn nine points for every dollar they spend while staying at a Hyatt property and two points on other select travel expenses such as local transit and airline tickets, when obtained from the airlines directly. For every calendar year you are a member, you’ll earn a free night after your account’s anniversary, and you can receive a second night when you spend a minimum of $15,000 during that year on eligible purchases.
Hyatt properties include Park Hyatt, Miraval, Grand Hyatt, Alila and Andaz, along with many others totaling over 1,000 properties in 68 countries.
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
The IHG Rewards Club Premier card , comes with an $89 annual fee but offers some incredible points options. After spending $3,000 within three months of opening your account, you can earn 125,000 bonus points and a Free Night. Afterwards, you can earn points on everyday purchases such as grocery stores and gas stations, and you can earn even more if you’re staying at an IHG property, earning up to a whopping 25 points per dollar on qualifying stays when you combine card benefits with IHG rewards benefits.
IHG boasts over 6,000 properties, with Atwell Suites, Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express and Staybridge Suites among their many brands.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless ™Credit Card
Earning three free nights and 100,000 bonus points is easy with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card; simply spend $3,000 in eligible purchases within your first three months of card membership. Additional single nights are granted each year as a membership anniversary gift. There is a $95 annual fee, but points are easy to rack up with two points earned for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases and up to 17 points for every dollar spent at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy, making this an excellent card for those who favor Marriot Bonvoy when traveling.
Marriott Bonvoy is the largest hotel empire in the world, with 30 distinct brands offered. These include Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance Hotels, Sheraton Hotels and Resorts, Marriott Hotels and many more.
Marriot Bonvoy Bold ™ Credit Card
For those who like Marriot Bonvoy properties but don’t travel enough to offset the cost of the annual fee of the Marriot Bonvoy Boundless card, the Marriot Bonvoy Bold credit card is a solid option. With no annual fee and a possible 50,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within the first three months of card membership, the Marriot Bonvoy Bold offers nice perks without the cost. Cardmembers earn one point for every dollar spent outside of travel and two points on travel expenses. When staying at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties, card users can earn up to 14 points for every dollar spent at participating hotels.
Make the most of your everyday and travel purchases by choosing the best hotel credit card for you. Consider your favorite properties, research future trips you may want to take and where you'd like to stay and compare the perks that each card brings to the table.