Best Hotel Credit Card Offers in 2024

What is a hotel credit card?

Hotel credit cards are credit cards that are linked to loyalty schemes of hotel chains. They often also offer perks such as upgrades and discounts when it comes to other aspects of travel, such as flights, meals, cruises, and more.

How does a hotel credit card work?

A hotel credit card will offer you points for spending money with the card. Some cards offer the same rate of points for all your purchases, while some will offer you more in certain categories of spending. When you earn enough points, you can usually redeem them within your card’s account portal for free stays, discounts, and more.

What kind of rewards do hotel credit cards offer?

What you’ll be offered varies from card to card, so it’s important to decide what matters most to you and compare cards so you get the maximum benefits for your spending. Some of the rewards they offer are:

• Hotel loyalty programs
• Additional points for staying at an associated hotel
• No fees on transactions while traveling internationally
• Anniversary hotel night upgrades
• Room upgrades
• You can often redeem your points against past spending
• Reduced fees on meal delivery services
• Travel insurance

Who should get a hotel credit card?

Anyone who likes to travel often (or has to travel for work) will benefit from hotel credit cards, especially if they like to stay in major chains.

What are the pros and cons of hotel credit cards?

PROS

• Free nights and discounted stays
• Room upgrades
• Automatically be on a higher tier of a hotel’s loyalty program
• You often get discounts on meals, experiences, and flights
• Many come with travel insurance (though make sure you understand what type)
• Additional rewards on what you spend while staying at a hotel

CONS

• Some have high annual fees
• You’re often limited to one or a few hotel chains
• You may be limited in locations you can travel to or where in a city you stay
• Some have limited redemption options

Is it difficult to get approved for a hotel credit card?

Yes and no – any rewards credit card (such as a hotel credit card) comes with much stricter qualification requirements, which can make them more difficult to qualify for. However, if you have good or excellent credit, you likely won’t have a problem getting your hands on one.

What credit score do I need to apply for a hotel credit card?

Generally, you’ll need a credit score of 670 or higher to qualify for a hotel credit card. The better your score, the better your benefits.

Can I get a hotel credit card with bad credit?

No, it’s highly unlikely you’ll find a card offering any hotel benefits for someone with bad credit. Focus on rebuilding your credit now so you can secure a hotel credit card in the future.

Are there hotel credit cards without an annual fee?

Yes, some come with no annual fee for the first year, and some have no annual fee for good. The downside of no annual fee hotel credit cards is you won’t get the same range of benefits as a card with a fee – you may have your choices limited and you also may not be able to use your rewards at peak times.

If you don’t care when you travel and aren’t necessarily interested in luxurious experiences, a no annual fee hotel credit card may make travel extremely affordable for you, but make sure you understand if you’re really saving money by not having an annual fee.

What is the best hotel credit card?

You’ll need to decide what you want from your hotel credit card and compare rewards to decide what hotel credit card is right for you. That said, some of the best hotel credit cards are:

• American Express’s The Platinum Card – get 100,000 points for getting the card, earn 10x points at restaurants and small businesses in the US (up to $25,000 in the first 6 months), 5x points for flights (up to $500,000 in the first year), and 5x regards on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel, annual fee is $695 but if you’re spending big money it’s well worth it
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card – 60,000 points for getting the card, earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3x points at restaurants, 2x points on travel purchases and more, an annual fee of $95
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Card – 100,000 miles for getting the card, 10x miles earned on hotels and rental vehicles, 5x miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 2x miles on all purchases, has an annual fee of $395 and you’ll need a credit score of 740 or better

Tips for Choosing the Right Hotel Credit Card

• Be realistic: It can be tempting to apply for the very best card simply because it’s the best, but if you aren’t going to be making the most of the benefits, an annual fee of $500+ will quickly negate any benefits you could have had.
• Make sure the bonuses apply to what you spend money on: Again, you won’t make the most of the card’s benefits if it gives you high points for restaurants and little else, but you always eat at home.
• Check the individual requirements of each card: The requirements for hotel credit cards differ significantly, so if you don’t have a score over 750, don’t assume you’ll qualify for any card you’ll choose.

How do I qualify for a hotel credit card?

You’ll need a high credit score to qualify – while anything over 650 will be considered by many, some have higher requirements. You’ll also need a good debt utilization percentage and, likely, a good income to prove that you have the disposable income to use the card and it’s benefits.

Are hotel credit cards worth it?

Yes, if you like (or have) to travel frequently, but there is a caveat. Make sure you get a card that is in alignment with how you like to travel and how much you like to spend when you travel. If you love getting those first-class seats when you fly and staying in luxury suites when you travel, one of the top cards like the American Express Platinum Card will make sense.

However, if you prefer to stay in a certain type of hotel or travel on a budget, find a card that aligns with that chain or has lower fees and specific benefits that will allow you to get the best rewards for your spending.

Compare hotel credit card offers

Whether you travel for work, like frequent weekends away, or travel internationally for much of the year, there will be a hotel credit card out there that will help you make the most of your time on the road. Make sure you compare the best hotel credit card offers here to find the one that best aligns with your needs. When you find the right one for you, all you need to do is apply. Once approved, you can start earning rewards you can put toward your next vacation.