13 Best hotel cards to help you stay in style

Amidst all this choice and competition, which card is right for you? 

To help you choose, the Fortune Recommends^TM team evaluated more than a dozen of the top hotel rewards credit cards available today, as well as a selection of travel cards not tied to one specific hotel brand. We’ve ranked them based on factors including rewards, welcome bonuses, annual fees, free nights and elite status. See our full methodology here.

Best hotel credit cards in July 2024

• Best overall: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
• Best for Hyatt: World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Best for Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Best for Hilton: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Best premier hotel card: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
• Best for road trips: Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card
• Best no-annual-fee hotel card: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
• Best hotel card for status: The Platinum Card® from American Express
• Best flexible points card for hotels: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card
• Best $0 annual fee flexible points card for hotels: Bilt Mastercard®
• Best for independent or boutique hotels: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best overall business hotel card: IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
• Best flexible points business card for hotels: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best overall: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

In the heated contest for best hotel rewards card, the IHG One Rewards Premier card comes out swinging with a generous welcome bonus that you can use at 6,000+ IHG properties worldwide. You’ll also get automatic Platinum Elite status – which unlocks complimentary upgrades and more – plus 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants and earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. To top it all off, the card offers a certificate for a rewards night each year on your card anniversary worth up to 40,000 points. 

All told, it’s a free-night machine that easily justifies its $99 annual fee.

Why we like this card

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card feels like an elite-tier card that simply forgot to charge us more than its very reasonable annual fee of $99 a year. Right out of the gate it offers a welcome bonus of 5 Free Nights after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. 

This card also offers a credit of up to $100 toward Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS and rewards to earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts (10X for being a member, 10X for using the card, 6X for having Platinum Elite status). You’ll earn 5X points on purchases on travel, dining and gas stations, and 3X points on all other purchases. 

Plus, it anoints you with Platinum Elite status just for being a cardholder so you’ll score free upgrades and early check-in when available, reward night discounts, and more. Toss in a certificate for a rewards night each year on your card anniversary, and you have a hotel rewards card offering what we think most travelers will find to be well over $1,000 in value your first year as a cardholder. That’s a staggering bargain even the most steadfast Marriott and Hyatt loyalists can’t ignore.

For more info see our full review of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.

IHG One Rewards

IHG One Rewards—the expansive hotel brand’s loyalty rewards program—has five loyalty tiers, which are listed out below. Even as a basic Club Member you’ll instantly unlock member rates, member promotions, free Wi-Fi and 2pm check-out (subject to availability, of course). 

10 Qualifying Nights later, you’ll unlock Silver Elite status which grants a 20% extra Bonus Points on IHG stays. Gold Elite (20 nights or 40,000 points) unlocks a 40% multiplier, but not much else. Then, once you reach Platinum Elite status (40 nights or 60,000 points), the levee breaks and all of the best benefits come pouring out at once; you’ll get complimentary upgrades, welcome amenities (points or snacks), early check-in, 72-hour guaranteed room availability and more. 

In other words, Silver Elite and Gold Elite only seem to exist to help you earn points and get to Platinum Elite faster. But as mentioned above, you can always skip the line and score automatic Platinum Elite by applying for the IHG One Rewards Premier card. 

For more info, check out our complete feature on IHG One Rewards: Everything You Need to Know.

IHG One Rewards program tiers

Here’s a quick summary of each IHG One Rewards loyalty tier, including its unlock criteria and most notable perks:

• Club Member (0-9 nights) unlocks a base earnings rate of 10X, 2pm check-out, free Wi-Fi and more. 
• Silver Elite (10 nights) unlocks 20% bonus points (12X) and non-expiring points. 
• Gold Elite (20 nights or 40k points) unlocks 40% bonus points (14X) and rollover nights. 
• Platinum Elite (40 nights or 60k points) unlocks 60% bonus points (16X), complimentary upgrades, welcome amenities, early check-in and more.
• Diamond Elite (70 nights or 120k points) unlocks 100% bonus points (20X), dedicated support, complimentary breakfast at more properties and more.

IHG Premier Card benefits

• 5 Free Nights after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• Potential to earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts (16X for being Platinum Elite, 10X for using the card)
• Rewards: 5X points on travel, gas stations, and restaurants
• Earn a certificate for a rewards night each year on your card anniversary, worth up to 40,000 IHG One Rewards points
• Automatic Platinum Elite status
• Redeem three nights, get the fourth free
• Earn $100 statement credit plus 10,000 points after spending $20,000 within a calendar year
• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry/TSA Precheck every 4 years
• Up to $50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash annually
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Purchase Protection
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Foreign transaction fee: None

Best for Hyatt: World of Hyatt Credit Card

The simply-named World of Hyatt card comes with a 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months, 2X on up to $15,000 worth of spending within the first six months, 4X bonus points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 base points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member and automatic Discoverist status, which unlocks preferred room upgrades at check-in. 

The card also offers a few ways to accelerate your path to Explorist status, such as five qualifying night credits each year plus two more for each $5,000 you spend on the card. Finally, an annual free night at category 1-4 hotel (worth up to 15,000 points) that helps to justify the card’s $95 annual fee. As the sole personal rewards card for the Hyatt brand, the World of Hyatt card is pretty much no-brainer for existing Hyatt loyalists.

Why we like this card

The World of Hyatt Credit Card might be Hyatt’s only personal credit card at the time of this writing, but that one card comes ready to compete with the best. This card offers a welcome bonus of . That could be worth up to four free nights at a Category 2 property like Hyatt Place. 

You can also earn up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent. The card also provides a free night every year after your account anniversary, redeemable at Category 1-4 properties.

Plus, cardholders enjoy instant Discoverist status and ongoing rewards of up to 9X points per dollar spent on Hyatt purchases (4X bonus points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 base points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member). You’ll earn 2X points on restaurants, directly purchased airfare, local transit, commuting and gym and fitness club memberships, and 1X point on other purchases. 

While 9X may sound tame compared to the double-digit rates you’ll see elsewhere on this page, keep in mind Hyatt points are among the most valuable hotel points in the business, often worth upward of 1.5 cents each and sometimes even 3 cents or more per point. So a 9X rate goes a long way toward booking your next award night, and even if you only stay at Hyatt properties a handful of times a year, you’ll keep receiving the free night each account anniversary — which instantly justifies the $95 annual fee. 

For more info, see our World of Hyatt Card review.

World of Hyatt

Hyatt’s loyalty rewards program—World of Hyatt—offers both loyalty tier rewards and milestone rewards. 

For starters, there are four loyalty tiers: Member (aka basic), Discoverist, Explorist and Globalist. Aside from sounding like they should all come with their own Hyatt-branded pith helmet, each tier has its own compelling set of perks and rewards to offer. Discoverist unlocks preferred room upgrades and late checkout, Explorist unlocks “true” room upgrades (e.g. Standard > Club) and guaranteed availability and Globalist unlocks free Club Access, Priority Access and more. 

As for milestone rewards, World of Hyatt offers a one-time bonus roughly every 10 Qualifying Nights or 15,000 Base Points starting at 20 nights or 35,000 points. Sample milestone rewards include a pair of Club Access tickets, a Category 1-4 Free Night Award, suite upgrades and more. All things considered, World of Hyatt wins points for offering truly valuable perks at each status tier and handy milestone rewards in between. 
For more info, check out our World of Hyatt rewards program guide.

World of Hyatt program tiers

Here’s a quick summary of each World of Hyatt loyalty tier: 

• Member (0-9 nights) unlocks a base earnings rate of 5X, member rates and more. 
• Discoverist (10 nights or 25,000 points) unlocks 10% bonus points (6X), premium Wi-Fi, bottled water, preferred room upgrades at check-in and more. 
• Explorist (30 nights or 50,000 points) unlocks 20% bonus points (7X), complimentary room upgrades (excluding suites), 72-hour guaranteed room availability and more. 
• Globalist (60 nights or 100,000 points) unlocks 30% bonus points (8X), Club Access or breakfast, free parking on award nights, 48-hour guaranteed room availability and more.

World of Hyatt status match

For a time, World of Hyatt would award you with Tier-Qualifying Nights and other benefits if you stayed at an MGM Resort. The benefit worked both ways, so MGM Resort members could receive points and status perks when staying at Hyatt properties, too. 

Unfortunately, Hyatt and MGM ended the partnership and discontinued the status match program back in September of 2023. 

However, a partnership of sorts still exists between World of Hyatt and American Airlines AAdvantage. Once you link your two accounts, you’ll start earning 1X World of Hyatt Bonus Points and 1X AAdvantage Miles for every $1 USD spent with either company. In addition, AAdvantage miles you earn on qualifying Hyatt stays actually count towards your next AAdvantage elite status. 
Learn more in AAdvantage: Everything you need to know.

World of Hyatt Card benefits

• 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months 
• 2X on all purchases for the first six months (on up to $15,000 spent)
• Up to 9X on all Hyatt purchases (4X bonus points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 base points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member)
• Earn an annual free night at category 1-4 hotel (worth up to 15,000 points)
• Automatic Discoverist status
• Earn an additional free night at category 1-4 hotel each year you spend $15,000
• 5 Qualifying Nights towards your next status each year
• Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption Insurance
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• Travel Accident Insurance
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Best for Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card offers a decent welcome bonus of 3 free nights (valued up to 150,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening (certain hotels have resort fees), a free night stay in a hotel up to 35,000 points (every year after account anniversary), automatic Silver Elite status and up to 17X total on Marriott purchases (10X for being a member, 1X for Silver Elite status and 6X for using the card). 

You’ll also get 3X points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining, which means you can easily rack up 18,000 additional points annually on essential purchases. It’s a bummer that Silver Elite status doesn’t include free upgrades, but at least your free anniversary night is worth up to 35,000 points (~$315).

Why we like this card

Unlike the competition, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card doesn’t mess around with a point-based welcome bonus. It simply gives you 3 free nights (valued up to 150,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening (certain hotels have resort fees). These free nights could potentially get you into a solid room worth around $450 a night. 

Like its rivals, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers a free night every account anniversary to help justify its $95 annual fee and you’ll earn 17X total on Marriott-related purchases (10X for being a base member, 6X for using the card and 1X for having instant Silver Elite status). You’ll also earn 3X points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining, 2X points per dollar on other purchases on the card.

At first, Marriott fans may be disappointed that the card only offers instant Silver status, which isn’t too exciting compared with higher elite status tiers. Thankfully, however, the card also offers 15 Elite Night Credits per year so you start each year just 10 nights away from Gold (which unlocks Enhanced Room Upgrades). 

If the card offered instant Gold status it might be a contender for our Best Overall, but as it stands, it’s certainly on the podium and is a must-have for Marriott fans. 

For more info, check out our Bonvoy Boundless review.

All information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected independently by Fortune Recommends™.

Marriott Bonvoy 

The first thing to know about Marriott Bonvoy is that the hotel chain often refers to itself as both Marriott and Marriott Bonvoy. So to prevent confusion, Marriott fans often refer to the rewards program as Marriott Bonvoy Rewards. 

Anyways, the second thing to know is that the program has five tiers: Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite. It doesn’t have a name for its basic free tier, so we’ll just call it “member.” As a member you’ll get free Wi-Fi and other minor goodies, and at Silver Elite (10 nights) you’ll unlock late checkout and earn 10% more points. 

But things don’t really get interesting until you hit Gold Elite (25 nights) and unlock Enhanced Room Upgrades. Platinum Elite unlocks full lounge access and one Annual Choice Benefit (e.g. five upgrade tickets, gift of Silver Elite status) and the perks/rewards escalate from there. 

Marriott also has a partnership with United Airlines. Titanium and Ambassador elites can match status with United Silver for enhanced benefits. 

For more info, check out Marriott Bonvoy Rewards: Everything you need to know in 2024. 

Marriott Boundless free nights

Before we move on, here’s a quick note about how Marriott’s Free Night Awards work. 

For starters, they’re not all the same. To illustrate, the three Free Night Awards you get as your welcome bonus with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card are worth up to 50,000 points each (~$400), meaning they can open the door to some truly swanky places. The anniversary Free Night Award, on the other hand, is limited to “just” 35,000 points or ~$300 in value.

Thankfully, you are allowed to combine the value of your Free Night Award with up to 15,000 points, meaning you can book a 45,000-point property with your anniversary bonus by spending just 10,000 points. 

Bonvoy Boundless Card benefits

• 3 free nights (valued up to 150,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months from account opening (certain hotels have resort fees)
• 3X points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
• Up to 17X on Marriott purchases (10X for being a base member, 1X for having Silver Elite status, 6X for using the card)
• A free night stay in a hotel up to 35,000 points (every year after account anniversary)
• Automatic Silver Elite status
• Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend
• Purchase Protection
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Trip Delay Reimbursement

Best for Hilton: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

The confidently-named Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card may charge an above average annual fee ($150), but offers plenty of perks and rewards to compensate. You’ll get 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership (Offer Ends 7/31/2024), 12X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio, 6X points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations, automatic Hilton Honors Gold (which unlocks room upgrades and a food and beverage credit) and much more. Needless to say, Hilton fans have found a card that amply rewards their loyalty.

Why we like this card

In our program guide to Hilton Honors in 2024, we discuss how Hilton makes earning points and status relatively slow and unrewarding for members without Hilton-branded credit cards. Virtually every significant loyalty benefit (upgrades, breakfast etc.) is locked behind Gold status or higher, and you won’t reach Gold until you stay 40 nights (which, for comparison, is when IHG One Rewards gives you Platinum Elite status). 

But if you get a Hilton-branded credit card, you’re essentially getting Hilton’s equivalent to a Disney FastPass, letting you skip the line and get to the good stuff quicker. Heck, the best of the bunch is literally called the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, and it offers a welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership (Offer Ends 7/31/2024). Plus, cardholders get instant Gold status and up to $200 per year ($50 per quarter) in Hilton statement credits. All of this helps justify the card’s $150 annual fee. 

The card also helps to make up for the relatively low value of a Hilton Honors point by offering 12X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio, 6X points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations, 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases and 3X points for all other eligible purchases on your card. So if you’re planning on staying at a Hilton property more than twice this year, you’ll definitely want this “FastPass” to skip the line and get to the benefits quicker. 

For more information check out our full Hilton Surpass review.

To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see rates and fees.

Hilton Honors

Our assessment of the Hilton Honors rewards program is that it seems designed to encourage you to apply for a Hilton Honors card. 

Basic members get free Wi-Fi and Silver members get free water, but not until you reach Gold do you unlock the good stuff: an 80% points bonus, room upgrades, daily food and beverage credits, milestone bonuses and more. Diamond is even more juicy, with executive lounge access, faster Wi-Fi and a 48-hour room guarantee. 

But Gold will be out of reach for most members, requiring 40 nights a year (points don’t count towards Hilton Honors status). Alternatively, you could apply for a Hilton Honors Amex Surpass or Aspire card, and score Gold or Diamond status instantly. So it’s a bit “pay to win” compared to the other programs, but if you do choose to skip the line and open a Hilton Honors Amex, you’ll win really big. 
For more info, check out Hilton Honors: Everything you need to know in 2024.

Hilton Honors program tiers

Here’s a quick summary of the Hilton Honors loyalty tiers: 

• Member (0-9 nights) unlocks discounted rates, free Wi-Fi, digital check-in/check-out and more. 
• Silver (10 nights) unlocks 20% bonus points (12X), free water, a fifth free night on reward stays and more. 
• Gold (40 nights) unlocks 80% bonus points (18X), space-available room upgrades, daily food and beverage credits, your first milestone reward and more. 
• Diamond (60 nights) unlocks 100% bonus points (20X), executive lounge access, elite status gifting, additional milestone rewards and more. 

Hilton Surpass benefits

• Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points plus a free night reward after you spend $3,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership (Offer Ends 7/31/2024)
• Earn 12X Hilton Honors bonus points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio
• Hilton Honors Gold status
• $200 Hilton credit ($50 each quarter)
• Get a free night reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year.
• Foreign transaction fee: None
• Purchase protection
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance

Best premier hotel card: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card may charge an eye-watering fee ($550), but like its little brother the Surpass card, it heaps on benefits to compensate. 

You’ll get 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first 6 months of card membership (Offer ends 7/31/2024), 14X points per dollar on Hilton stays, 7X points per dollar on airfare, car rentals and restaurants, automatic Diamond status (which unlocks double points, upgrades, club access and more), dual $200 Hilton Resort credits, a $200 flight credit, a $189 CLEAR Plus credit, a one free night reward and more. 

Why we like this card

When it comes to hotel rewards cards charging a $500+ annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card easily takes the cake from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. The Hilton card offers a welcome bonus of 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first 6 months of card membership (Offer ends 7/31/2024). Plus, earn 14X points per dollar on Hilton stays, 7X points per dollar on airfare, car rentals and restaurants, and 3X points per dollar on other purchases. 

And, cardholders can enjoy up to $400 Hilton Resorts credit ($200 semi-annually), a $200 annual flight credit ($50 per quarter), a $189 CLEAR Plus credit, a $100 on-property credit for qualifying stays, one free night reward annually, and more. 

You’ll also get instant Diamond status with Hilton — which brings upgrades, lounge access and a Gold status gift for someone else — and Emerald Club Executive status with National Car Rental, which sends you to the Executive Aisle where SUVs and convertible Mustangs await. 

With potentially more than $1,600 in first-year value, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card quickly justifies its $550 annual fee and sets a high bar for other premier-level hotel rewards cards to match. 

To learn more check out our full review of the Hilton Aspire Card.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Fortune Recommends™.

Hilton Aspire free night

Before we move on, a quick note about how Hilton handles Free Night Awards. 

Unlike some other brands in this list, Hilton doesn’t limit the value of its Free Night Awards (e.g. 35,000 points). Instead, all Free Night Awards can be redeemed for one standard accommodation, double occupancy room at virtually any property within the Hilton portfolio, subject to availability. 

In fact, out of 7,600+ total properties, Hilton only lists a few dozen that don’t accept Free Night Awards. You can see the complete list here. 

Hilton Aspire Card benefits

• 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first 6 months of card membership (Offer ends 7/31/2024)
• 14X points per dollar on Hilton stays, 7X points per dollar on airfare, car rentals and restaurants, 3X points per dollar on other purchases
• Anniversary Free Night Award
• Automatic Diamond Status 
• $400 Hilton Resorts credit
• $200 flight credit
• $189 CLEAR Plus credit
• Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance
• Baggage Insurance Plan
• Trip Delay Insurance
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance

Best for road trips: Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus card offers a hefty 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, enough for up to six free night stays, 6X points per dollar on Hotels By Wyndham and qualifying gas purchases, 4X points per dollar on eligible dining and grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), automatic Platinum status (which unlocks complimentary upgrades with Wyndham, Avis and Budget) and more. With perks that subsidize gas, groceries and budget-minded rooms, it’s equally as handy to have on a road trip as Google Maps and caffeine.

Why we like this card

If you’re hitting the road to visit the stunning Pacific coast, rustic Route 66, Vermont in the fall or all of the above, you’ll probably want a hotel rewards card that’s better for road trips than plane rides. Ideally, you’ll find one that offers early check-in, late checkout and preferred room choices at some of the more budget-friendly properties scattered across the continental U.S. 

That precisely describes the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card. For a $75 annual fee it offers all of the above plus a welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months, complimentary Avis and Budget Car Rental upgrades and cardmember booking discounts. 

Toss in rewards rates of 6X points per dollar on Hotels By Wyndham and qualifying gas purchases plus 4X points per dollar on eligible dining and grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), with 1X point per dollar on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments), and you have the ideal road trip companion for your wallet. 

For more info, check out our review of the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card.

Wyndham Rewards

The first thing you’ll notice about Wyndham Rewards is that it’s surprisingly easy to attain status – even without a Wyndham-branded credit card. Base-level Blue members will receive free Wi-Fi, member discounts and at least 1,000 points per qualified stay. Gold is just five nights away, and unlocks late checkout, preferred room choices and more. 

You’ll reach Platinum status after just 15 nights, which nets you early check-in, Caesars Rewards Status Matching and Avis/Budget car rental upgrades. Finally Diamond status at 40 nights unlocks suite upgrades, a welcome amenity and the ability to gift gold status. 

Free nights are never too far out of reach, either: Wyndham Rewards gives you either 10X or 1,000 points per stay, whichever is greater, and free nights start at just 7,500 points. 

Wyndham Earner Plus Card benefits 

• 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months
• 6X points per dollar on Hotels By Wyndham and qualifying gas purchases, 4X points per dollar on eligible dining and grocery purchases (excluding Target and Walmart), 1X point per dollar on all other purchases (excluding Wyndham Timeshare resort down payments)
• 7,500 bonus points on your anniversary every year
• Automatic Platinum status
• Avis and Budget Car Rental upgrades
• 10% go free discount on reward nights

Best no-annual-fee hotel card: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

The IHG One Rewards Traveler card is like the “Premier card lite,” dialing back the benefits but also waiving the annual fee. You’ll get 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 3X points on dining, utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, select streaming services, and at gas stations, automatic Silver Elite status (which unlocks 20% bonus points) and a bonus fourth night if you redeem three in a row. It’s an ideal choice if you’re not quite committed enough to the IHG brand to justify the $99 Premier card.

Why we like this card

No-annual-fee cards are an interesting test of a hotel brand’s benevolence. They answer the question: How much are you willing to offer folks who haven’t really demonstrated a whole lot of brand loyalty yet? 

IHG’s answer appears to be “quite a lot,” because the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers a welcome bonus of 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, a fourth night free when you redeem points for a consecutive three-night stay and instant Silver Elite status. 

Plus, you can earn up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts, 3X points on dining, utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, select streaming services, and at gas stations, 2X points on all other purchases—so your monthly bills can help fund your next escape to Hotel Indigo. 

Veteran hotel-hoppers may notice that the no-annual-fee The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card comes with a roughly comparable welcome bonus, but note that IHG One Rewards points are typically worth more. 

For more info check out our IHG One Traveler review.

IHG One Rewards 

You can see a longer breakdown of the IHG One Rewards program in our IHG One Rewards Premier card mini-review listed above, but here’s the skinny: the Silver Elite and Gold Elite statuses have very little to offer aside from a 20% and 40% Bonus Points multiplier, respectively. You won’t unlock complimentary upgrades, welcome amenities or guaranteed room availability until you reach Platinum Elite at 40 nights or 60,000 points. 

That’s a tall order, which further amplifies the value of having Platinum Elite automatically unlocked by the IHG One Rewards Premier card. 

To learn more, check out IHG One Rewards: Everything you need to know in 2024. 

IHG One Rewards Traveler Card benefits 

• 100,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
• Earn up to 17X points when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts (10X base, 2X for having Silver Elite status, 4X for using the card) plus 3X points on dining, utilities, internet, cable, and phone services, select streaming services, and at gas stations and 2X points on all other purchases
• Automatic Silver Elite status
• Redeem three nights, get the fourth free (in the same stay)
• Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 within a calendar year
• Purchase Protection
• Baggage Delay Insurance
• Lost Luggage Reimbursement
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance

Best hotel card for status: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Beyond its comically long list of perks, rewards and statement credits, the legendary Amex Platinum offers automatic status with multiple travel vendors. Once you receive your “Plat” and register for each program, you’ll instantly ascend Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Hilton Honors Gold and enjoy complimentary upgrades and other benefits with Avis, Hertz and National Car Rental. Toss in access to the American Express Global Lounge Collection and you have a bonafide panacea for travel stress.

Why we like this card

If you like the idea of having instant status with multiple hotels and car rental agencies — but you’re less keen on tracking multiple cards and annual fees — you’ll probably be very happy with The Platinum Card® from American Express. 

Let’s start by ripping off the Band-Aid. Yes, the Platinum Card charges a $695 annual fee. But it also offers a welcome bonus of 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of card membership and more than $1,500 worth of statement credits including a $200 hotel credit, $200 in Uber Cash, a $200 airline incidental fees credit, a $100 Hotel Collection experience credit and $189 toward CLEAR Plus. 

Further enhancing the airport experience, you’ll get access to the largest network of airline lounges a major card offers, including Centurion Clubs, Delta Sky Lounges, Plaza Premium lounges, and Priority Pass clubs.

The card also offers instant Gold Elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, Gold status with Hilton Honors and similarly-heightened status with car rental companies Avis, Hertz and National, so you’ll be well-pampered as soon as you land. 

Outside of those two hotel brands, you’ll also receive status-like benefits at over 1,500 properties that are part of Amex’s Fine Hotels + Resorts Program (FHR). These are generally unique/high-end properties like The Hermitage in Nashville, Tennessee and Hotel Barriere Fouquet’s New York in New York City and your Platinum Card grants you a $100 amenity credit, plus upgrades (when available), late checkout, free daily breakfast for two and more. 

It certainly isn’t cheap, but if you’re looking for a Swiss Army Knife of travel, status and convenience, you should know that the Platinum Card is legendary for a reason. 

For more info, check out our Amex Platinum Card review.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see rates and fees.

Amex Membership Rewards 

When you make purchases with an eligible American Express card (including the Platinum Card), you’ll generate Membership Rewards points that you can redeem for statement credit, gift cards, flights, hotels and more. You can also transfer them to one of Amex’s 21 loyalty program partners, including Delta SkyMiles and Marriott Bonvoy.

Amex is also very transparent about the redemption value of your Membership Rewards points. You’ll get 0.6 cents per point when redeeming for statement credit (aka cash), up to 1 cent per point through Amex Travel and a 1:1 ratio with most transfer partners. 

Needless to say, if you want to maximize the value of your Membership Rewards points, you should first look at which Amex transfer partners have points valued at above 1 cent per point. To learn more, check out American Express Membership Rewards: Everything you need to know in 2024.

Amex transfer partners

To potentially save you a click, here’s a bit more info on Amex’s current slate of transfer partners. At the time of this writing you’ll find 18 airline partners (which include Delta, Hawaiian and JetBlue on the domestic side) and a trio of hotel partners: Choice, Hilton and Marriott. 

As for which transfer partners are the best “deal,” swapping 1,000 Membership Rewards Points for 1,000 Delta SkyMiles isn’t a bad option since SkyMiles are worth around 1 to 1.2 cents apiece. That would, in effect, double the value of your Membership Rewards points as compared to statement credit. As for hotel options, Hilton Honors points may only be worth about 0.5 cents apiece – but Membership Rewards points transfer at a 1,000:2,000 ratio. 

For more info and travel ideas, check out 3 dream trips you can take with 100,000 Amex Membership Rewards Points. 

Amex Platinum Lounge Access 

Weary travelers will be keen to learn more about the Platinum Card’s complimentary lounge access, so here goes. 

With the Platinum Card, you’ll gain access to a global network of 1,400+ airport lounges in 140+ countries. That includes lounges from Amex Centurion, Escape Lounges, Delta SkyClub (10 visits per year after 2/1/2025), Lufthansa, Plaza Premium Lounge, Priority Pass and more. As for your travel companions, Escape Lounges, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Select lounges allow complimentary guest access at select locations while the rest charge a fee. Amex will waive the guest fee for Centurion Lounge access if you spend $75,000 annually on your Platinum card. 

Amex Platinum Card benefits 

• 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of card membership
• 5x Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• 5x Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel
• Access to the Global Lounge Collection
• Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card® (minimum 2-night stay required)
• Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal (enrollment required)
• $155 Walmart+ Credit
• $200 Uber Cash
• Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your card
• Get up to $189 back per year on a CLEAR® Plus membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®
• $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®
• $100 Saks Fifth Avenue credit
• Earn 10,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 within a calendar year
• Amex Car Rental Insurance
• Amex Purchase Protection
• Amex Return Protection

Learn more: If free nights are your focus, check out our list of best hotel cards for free nights.

Best flexible points card for hotels: Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey offers 5X points on hotels and 4X points on airlines without having to book through a travel portal (e.g. Chase Travel). That means you can book directly with the airline or hotel – earning points, nights, segments and tier-based benefits – while still earning up to 5X from your card, which is the best of both worlds.

Why we like this card

When it comes to booking hotels, the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card lets you have your cake and eat it too. 

For starters, the card offers 5X points on hotels and 4X points on airlines. That’s not unheard of in the travel rewards space, but the kicker here is that the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey doesn’t require you to book through a travel portal (e.g. Chase Travel, Citi Travel) to earn maximum rewards. 

That’s a bigger deal than it sounds, because booking through a portal typically disqualifies you for hotel points, tier-qualifying nights and status benefits on the hotel side. So the Autograph Journey lets you earn maximum credit card rewards and hotel rewards in the same transaction. 

The card also offers a 60,000 bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months (worth $600 in statement credit), an easily-attainable $50 annual statement credit for airfare purchases and plenty of complimentary travel insurance for added peace of mind. It may not provide automatic status with any hotels, but the straightforward rewards and solid welcome bonus make it an excellent choice for travelers who aren’t especially loyal to any particular hotel or airline. 

For more info, check out our Autograph Journey Card review.

Wells Fargo Rewards

As credit card rewards become more and more complex, Wells Fargo keeps it blessedly simple. Points are worth a penny each when redeemed for statement credit, but you may be able to squeeze more than a penny out of them if you search for deals with select Wells Fargo merchants. 

Per usual, a transfer to one of Wells Fargo’s travel partners may also be a hidden way to extract more value. So let’s talk about those next. 

Wells Fargo transfer partners

For context, Wells Fargo launched its new travel rewards program in April 2024, so it’s still relatively new. At launch, it had just six travel partners: Aer Lingus, Air France/KLM, Avianca, British Airways, Iberia Plus and Choice Hotels.

Veteran travelers will instantly notice the lack of any U.S. domestic airlines, but keep in mind that each of the airlines listed above – with the exception of Aer Lingus – has a domestic partner airline that you can spend your points with. That means you can use Flying Blue Miles to book flights on Delta, or LifeMiles to book flights on United and more. 

To learn more about how it works, check out our Transfer Partner Guide for Flying Blue. 

Autograph Journey Card benefits

• 60,000 bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months
• 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and dining 
• $50 annual statement credit for airfare purchases
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• Travel Accident Insurance
• Lost Baggage Reimbursement
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection

Best no annual fee flexible points card for hotels: Bilt Mastercard®

The Bilt card rewards 1X Bilt Points on rent paid through the Bilt App with your card account up to a maximum of 100,000 points each calendar year, meaning if you pay $1,800 monthly you could earn 21,600 points each year. Those points also transfer 1:1 to a dozen airlines plus Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt and IHG – and when you consider that World of Hyatt points are worth up to 2.3 cents each, that means you could earn up to $648 in hotel credit annually—just for paying rent.

Why we like this card

The Bilt Mastercard® is rather special because it rewards you with points for paying rent, and lets you avoid the convenience fee many properties would typically charge for paying rent by credit card. Even if your landlord isn’t part of the “Bilt Rewards Alliance” network, Bilt will set you up with an account number and routing number so you can pay through your online portal or will even cut them a physical check. 

Cardholders earn and 3X Bilt Points on dining. You must make at least five transactions on your card per statement period to earn points.

On top of that, Bilt Rewards points consistently rank as some of the most valuable credit card rewards points in the business. They transfer at a 1:1 rate to 13 airline partners as well as Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and IHG Rewards.

Consider that you may be able to get 1.5 cents each or perhaps even 3 cents or more per point for World of Hyatt redemptions, and let’s estimate a $1,800 monthly rent payment — that’s 21,600 points earned on rent, worth between $324 and $648 in Hyatt stays per year. Not bad for a card with no annual fee. 

Credit where credit’s due, Chase Ultimate Rewards points also transfer to all three hotel chains at a 1:1 value if you have a premium chase travel card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred — but we felt compelled to give the accolade to the Bilt Card for giving such a helpful and clever way to earn said points in the first place. 

To learn more, check out our Bilt Mastercard review.

To view rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard®, see this page.

Bilt Rewards

Bilt Rewards is the first loyalty program that awards you points simply for paying rent. Plus, you don’t actually need a Bilt Mastercard to join – you can create a Bilt Rewards account for free, link your bank via the app, and as long as your landlord is part of the 4M+ Bilt Alliance, you’ll start earning 250 Bilt Rewards Points after each successful rent payment. 

However, if you have the Bilt Mastercard, your earnings rate rises to 3X Bilt Points on dining, 2X Bilt Points on flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises when booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies and 1X Bilt Points on purchases. Just make sure to use your card five times per month to earn rewards. You’ll also be able to transfer your Bilt Rewards points 1:1 to 16 transfer partners including Delta, Marriott and more. Bilt also runs “Rent Day” bonuses which may include transfer bonuses, interactive games and more (discussed below). 

To learn more, visit Bilt Rewards: Everything you need to know. 

Bilt transfer partners

At the time of this writing, Bilt has 16 total transfer partners including a dozen airlines: 

• Alaska Airlines
• Avianca Lifemiles 
• United MileagePlus
• Air France/KLM Flying Blue
• Virgin Red
• Emirates Skywards
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Aer Lingus AerClub
• Iberia Plus
• Air Canada Aeroplan

And four hotels: 

• Hilton Honors
• Marriott Bonvoy
• World of Hyatt
• IHG One Rewards

Bilt Rewards Points transfer 1:1 to each partner, meaning it’s worth considering which partner has the most valuable points (hint: it’s probably World of Hyatt). 

Bilt Rent Day

Finally, Bilt also runs “Rent Day” bonuses on the first of every month that are worth marking your calendar for. Past Rent Day bonuses have included a 25% to 100% transfer bonus to Alaska Airlines, complimentary SoulCycle rides, trivia contests for bonus Bilt Rewards points and more. 

To learn more, visit Bilt Rent Day bonus details.  

Bilt Card benefits 

• 1X Bilt Points on rent paid through the Bilt App with your card account up to a maximum of 100,000 points each calendar year, 2X Bilt Points on flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises when booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies and 3X Bilt Points on dining
• Double the points on the 1st of each month on all eligible purchases that aren’t rent (i.e. 6X on dining, 4X on travel, 2X on everything else)
• “Rent Day” bonuses that may include transfer multipliers or trivia games
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Protection
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Best for independent or boutique hotels: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture offers a hearty 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year - that's equal to $1,000 in travel plus unlimited 2x miles on every purchase. You’ll also get 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, a $50 dining credit on every booking, space-available room upgrades and other high-end perks at unique and distinctive properties within Capital One’s Lifestyle Collection, making it the perfect card for travelers who prefer the boutique hotel experience.

Why we like this card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a compelling enough travel companion as is, offering a welcome bonus of 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year - that's equal to $1,000 in travel. Plus, earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase (5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel) and enjoy Hertz Five Star status upon enrollment, all for a reasonable $95 annual fee. 

But the Venture is especially great for fans of boutique hotels due to its Lifestyle Collection perk. Lifestyle Collection is Capital One’s handpicked list of “urban retreats,” “local gems” and “weekend getaways” that offer a bit more variety than the average chain. And if you book one of these hotels through Capital One Travel using your Capital One Venture Rewards card (phew), you’ll get 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, a $50 experience credit to use during your stay, room upgrades when available, early check-in, late checkout and free Wi-Fi.

In essence, the Capital One Venture Rewards card gives you perks that one might say feel like Gold status to a massive collection of special properties, making it the ideal card for booking unique, memorable experiences. 

For more info check out our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.

Capital One Rewards

Before you apply for the Capital One Venture card, you should know that as a rewards program, Capital One Miles doesn’t offer nearly the same versatility as Chase Ultimate Rewards or even Citi ThankYou Rewards. 

For starters, miles are only worth 0.5 cents each when redeemed for cash – so it’s definitely not the program to rely upon if you occasionally need points to pay for bills. The second major drawback is that Capital One lacks a single U.S. domestic airline in its list of transfer partners. Sure, you can still book select flights on United using Avianca LifeMiles – but airlines often limit the number of seats you can book through partners. 

But if you are willing to book through Capital One Travel, you can redeem miles at one cent each toward airline purchases. That means you can earn airline miles on a ticket you used Capital One Miles to purchase. 

That all being said, Capital One Miles is still a solid program for international travelers due to its long list of global airline partners including British Airways, Air France/KLM and more. 

For more info, check out Capital One Miles: Everything you need to know in 2024. 

Capital One transfer partners

At the time of this writing, Capital One has 18 total transfer partners. Each has a transfer ratio of 1:1 unless otherwise stated: 

• ALL (Accor Live Limitless) – (1,000 Capital One miles : 500 ALL points)
• Aeromexico Club Premier
• Air Canada – Aeroplan
• Avianca LifeMiles
• British Airways Executive Club
• Cathay Pacific – Asia Miles
• Choice Privileges
• Emirates Skywards
• Etihad Guest
• EVA Air – (1,000 Capital One miles : 750 Infinity MileageLands miles)
• Finnair Plus
• Flying Blue
• Qantas Frequent Flyer
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
• TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles
• Virgin Red
• Wyndham Rewards

Capital One Venture Card benefits

• 75,000 Miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year - that's equal to $1,000 in travel
• 5x miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2x miles on every purchase
• 5X on properties within the Capital One Lifestyle Collection, plus a $50 experience credit with every booking, space-available room upgrades, free Wi-Fi and other status-like benefits
• Automatic Hertz Five Star status
• $100 TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• Travel Accident Insurance
• Extended Warranty protection

Best overall business hotel card: IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

The IHG One Rewards Premier Business card is essentially the regular Premier card with one additional 5X rewards category for select business expenses (social media, search engine advertising and office supply stores). That may sound lazy, but keep in mind that the Premier card’s benefits were already extremely well-tuned for both business and personal travel, featuring 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants, automatic Platinum Elite status and more.

Why we like this card

As the name implies, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card is basically just the regular Premier card with a tie on over its t-shirt. In other words, virtually everything you read about the Premier card will apply to the Premier Business card – it features the same 140,000-point welcome bonus, 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants, anniversary free night, automatic Platinum Elite status, redeem-three-get-one night bonus, $100 Global Entry credit, up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts and more. 

In fact, the only measurable differences between the Premier and Premier Biz are twofold. First, the Business version of the card features one additional 5X rewards category for “select business purchases,” which include social media, search engine advertising and purchases at office supply stores (e.g. Staples). Second, since it’s a business rewards card, you technically need a legitimate business to qualify. 

That being said, getting a business credit card is easier than you think. Here’s how. 

All told, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card is a superb business rewards card for anyone who frequently books hotel stays for work. Between piles of points and ample ways to score free nights, it’s poised to create a massive boon to your bottom line. 

For more info, check out our IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card review.

IHG One Rewards 

To quickly recap IHG One Rewards, the program features five loyalty tiers in total: Club Member, Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite. For the most part, Silver Elite and Gold Elite just unlock bonus points multipliers (20% and 40% respectively) so the status you really want is Platinum Elite. That’s when you’ll start scoring free room upgrades, special rates, early check-in, welcome amenities and more. 

But to reach Platinum Elite the old fashioned way, you’ll need to accumulate 40 nights or 60,000 points in a single calendar year—which may be a stretch for many freelancers or small business owners. Thankfully, both the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card and the regular Premier card offer Platinum Elite status automatically. 

To learn more, check out IHG One Rewards: Everything you need to know in 2024. 

IHG Business Premier Card benefits 

• 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
• Up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels and Resorts (16X for being Platinum Elite, 10X for using the card)
• 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, select advertising, and restaurants 
• Anniversary free night worth up to 40,000 IHG One Rewards points
• Automatic Platinum Elite status
• Redeem three nights, get the fourth free
• Earn $100 statement credit plus 10,000 points after spending $20,000 within a calendar year
• Up to $100 credit towards TSA Precheck, Global Entry or NEXUS application fee
• Up to $50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash annually
• Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
• Purchase Protection
• No foreign transaction fees

Best flexible points business card for hotels: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

If you like the idea of earning hotel points without having to spend them with one specific brand (e.g. Marriott, IHG), the Chase Ink Preferred may offer the flexibility you’re looking for. You’ll get a 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠, 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and various business expenses and a 25% redemption bonus on any points redeemed through Chase Travel. Alternatively, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to your IHG One, Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt accounts so you can book using points and retain status-based benefits like complimentary Wi-Fi and upgrades.

Why we like this card

While brand-specific hotel rewards cards like the IHG One Rewards Premier and the World of Hyatt Card offer instant status and elevated earnings, they all have one major drawback in common; they essentially shackle you to one specific brand. And if your next business conference is at a Hilton but you have a Marriott Bonvoy card, the rewards FOMO can be palpable. 

That’s why many business travelers may prefer the flexibility of the Chase Ink Business Preferred card. The fancy oxford blue card features a 120,000 welcome bonus (worth $1,250 in travel, thanks to a 25% bonus on points redeemed through Chase Travel), 3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 combined) spent on shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone, and advertising with social media sites and search engines at no extra cost. 

Chase Ultimate Rewards also features Marriott, Hyatt and IHG as transfer partners so you’ll always have the option to skip Chase Travel and book directly with the hotel using points. The chief benefit of doing so is that you’ll retain tier-based benefits like free Wi-Fi and upgrades if you happen to have status with that particular hotel brand (booking through an online portal typically disqualifies you from status benefits). 

As for drawbacks, the Chase Ink Business Preferred card requires you to spend an eye-popping $8,000 within three months to trigger the 120,000-point welcome bonus, so you may want to time your application accordingly. Plus, the card doesn’t come with automatic status with any particular hotel brand. But if you value flexibility—and the option to redeem points for cash back in a pinch—it’s an excellent choice. 

For more info, check out our Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review.

Chase Ultimate Rewards 

Chase Ultimate Rewards makes a compelling case as the single most lucrative, flexible and feature-rich credit card rewards program on the market. Even Chase’s no-fee cards have high earnings potential (e.g. the Chase Freedom Flex℠’s 5X), and Chase Ultimate Rewards points are always worth at least a penny each in statement credit, meaning you can fall back on cash redemption if you need to. 

If you don’t, Chase offers up to 10 redemption options and a handy chart showing how much your points could be worth for each. If you have a premium Chase card (e.g. Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Ink Business Preferred) you’ll unlock a 25% to 50% bonus on all points redeemed through Chase Travel, as well as the option to transfer points to Chase’s 14 transfer partners (discussed below). Plus, points you earn from a non-premium Chase card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® can be combined with your premium card account where the 25% to 50% bonus applies (here’s how it works). 

Finally, Chase often runs temporary promos that help you stretch your Chase Ultimate Rewards points even further, such as an 80% transfer bonus to IHG or a $25 AirBnB gift card for 2,250 points. All told, it’s an excellent rewards program buttressed by a series of equally superb rewards cards. 

To learn more, check out Chase Ultimate Rewards: Everything you need to know in 2024. 

Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners

As of this writing, Chase Ultimate Rewards has 14 total transfer partners. All transfer ratios are 1:1 by default, and you’ll often see temporary transfer bonuses of up to 80% (though 20% is more common). 

But even if you account for the transfer bonus du jour, the best transfer partner on this list – in terms of pure value – may be Hyatt, since a single World of Hyatt point can be worth two cents or more. 

• Air Canada
• Air France/KLM
• Aer Lingus
• British Airways
• Emirates
• Hyatt
• Iberia
• IHG Hotels & Resorts
• JetBlue
• Marriott Bonvoy
• Singapore Airlines
• Southwest
• United Airlines
• Virgin Atlantic

Chase Ink Preferred Card benefits

• 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel
• 3x points per $1 (up to $150,000 combined) spent on shipping purchases, internet, cable, phone, and advertising with social media sites and search engines
• 25% additional value on any points redeemed through Chase Travel
• Trip Cancellation/Trip Interruption Insurance
• Cell Phone Protection (up to $1,000 per claim with a $100 deductible)
• Purchase Protection
• Extended Warranty Protection
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver

Frequently asked questions

Which credit card is best for hotel travel? 

The best overall hotel rewards card in 2024, according to our analysis, is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card since it offers a max rewards rate of 26X on IHG purchases, a hefty welcome bonus, and what we estimate to be over $1,000 in total first-year value for an annual fee of just $99.

What hotel cards give you free nights?

The best overall card for generating free nights may be the IHG One Rewards Premier card since it offers a 140,000-point welcome bonus good for up to four free nights, up to 26X on IHG bookings and a free anniversary night. Other cards that offer free nights include – but aren’t limited to – the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card, World of Hyatt Card, Amex Platinum Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Card, and for a no-fee option, the IHG One Rewards Traveler card. 

For more, check out 6 hotel credit cards that offer a free night to extend your vacation.

What’s the best no-annual-fee hotel credit card? 

In a similar vein, the best no-annual-fee hotel rewards card on our list is the Premier card’s little brother, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card. It has a generous welcome bonus and higher rewards rate on qualifying hotel purchases than the rival no-annual-fee cards Marriott Bonvoy Bold and Hilton Honors Card. 

Which credit cards give you Marriott Gold status?

As of February 2024, the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful and the Platinum Card by American Express grant instant Marriott Gold Elite status. 

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card grants instant Marriott Platinum Elite status.

Is it better to book with a hotel credit card?

Yes. Generally speaking, your hotel stay will be far more rewarding if you book it using a brand-specific rewards card. You’ll typically earn points toward future stays and may receive special discounts or status perks. Your booking may even be mostly or completely free if you use your card’s welcome bonus to redeem an award stay.

While general travel rewards cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Capital One Venture X may offer elevated rates of 2X to 10X on qualifying hotel bookings, you should know that booking through a credit card travel dashboard like Chase Ultimate Rewards may disqualify you from taking advantage of any elite status you may have through the hotel’s loyalty program.

Methodology

To bring you our top picks for the best hotel credit cards, the Fortune Recommends^TM team compared approximately 30 cards available from major issuers. To learn more about how we rate credit cards, see our credit cards methodology.

We ranked each account in these core categories: 

• Annual fee (20%): Some credit cards charge an annual fee, which can range from $50 to several hundred dollars. Usually, the more valuable the rewards and perks associated with a card, the higher the annual fee. However, some cards do not charge a fee at all. 
• Hotel rewards rate (25%): This is the maximum rewards rate awarded on hotel purchases. Status bonuses were only considered if the status comes free with the card
• Free night certificate (20%): We examined whether the card offered a free night upon renewal or on card anniversary. A points benefit equivalent to a night was counted as a night. Only nights that did not require credit card spending were considered.
• Welcome bonus (15%): It’s common for airline cards to offer new cardholders a miles or points bonus after they spend a certain amount within a specific timeframe after opening an account. 
• Status benefits (20%): Cards were awarded points based on what level status comes with the card without additional spending.

Keep in mind that the rewards, interest rates, and fee structures for the cards mentioned are available for limited periods and subject to change, which could impact how many miles or points you earn. 

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Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.

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