At Experian, one of our priorities is consumer credit and finance education. This post may contain links and references to one or more of our partners, but we provide an objective view to help you make the best decisions. For more information, see our Editorial Policy.
In this article:
- Best Card for Business Travelers: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Best Card With No Annual Fee: Hilton Honors American Express Card
- Best Premium Travel Rewards Card for Hotel Stays: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best Card for Earning Reward Points at Any Hotel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Hotel credit cards are an underappreciated type of travel rewards credit card. While airline credit cards promise "free" flights after you earn a certain number of miles, many cardholders find themselves disappointed by the lack of availability of award seats at the lowest mileage levels, and the expensive taxes, fees and fuel surcharges they might have to pay just to redeem their miles.
In contrast, most hotel loyalty programs offer complimentary-stay awards in any unsold standard room. And because hotels are usually taxed on the rate paid, a typical award night might not require any payment at all. Hotel credit cards can also offer you valuable benefits such as room upgrades, late checkouts and even complimentary breakfasts.
Best Card for Business Travelers: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
This card offers you an incredible 12 points per $1 spent on Hilton Hotels, which is perfect for business travelers who can charge their rooms and on-site meals directly to their personal cards. This card can also make sense for other purchases at home and on the road, as you'll earn 6 points per $1 spent at restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations in the U.S. However, you only earn 3 points per dollar on all other purchases.
You can also get a generous intro bonus of 155,000 points, enough for several hotel stay awards, and a free weekend night reward when you use the card to make $3,000 in purchases within 6 months of account opening.
Beyond the reward points offered, this card's perks make it stand out. First, you get complimentary Gold status, which means you'll get room upgrades, extra bonus points and even complimentary breakfast. You can also earn top-tier Diamond status when you use your card to spend $40,000 in a calendar year. And you'll earn a weekend night stay certificate once you've spent at least $15,000 on your card during a calendar year. This card has a $150 annual fee, which is about the same as most competing travel reward cards.
Best Card With No Annual Fee: Hilton Honors American Express Card
If you're looking to earn hotel points and receive valuable travel benefits without paying an annual fee, then this is your card. The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers you 100,000 bonus points when you make just $2,000 in eligible purchases within 6 months of account opening.
You'll also earn 7 points per $1 spent at Hilton Honors properties; 5 points per dollar at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations in the U.S.; and 3 points per dollar elsewhere. Most important, you get complimentary Silver status, which gives you perks like a complimentary fifth night on award stays of five nights or longer and two free bottles of water. Plus, you can earn Gold status when you use your card to spend $20,000 in a calendar year. And there's $0 annual fee for this card.
Best Premium Travel Rewards Card for Hotel Stays: The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Platinum Card® from American Express
on American Express's website
Terms Apply
Recommended FICO® Score*
The Platinum Card® from American Express
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro APR
Rewards
Earn 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
1x Points on Other Purchases
Intro Bonus
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Annual Fee
$695
Card Details
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 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 and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: 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®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: 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: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $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®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
While The Platinum Card® from American Express isn't co-branded with an individual hotel chain, it's still a great choice for receiving hotel benefits and earning rewards that can be redeemed for award nights. For example, it immediately offers you Gold status with both Marriott and Hilton hotels, so you'll always get priority treatment at those two major chains. Also, American Express offers The Hotel Collection and the Fine Hotels and Resorts programs, which can provide valuable discounts, room upgrades, complimentary breakfasts and property credits when you book your reservations through American Express. Furthermore, the American Express points that you earn can be transferred to points with Marriott, Hilton and Choice hotels.
Of course, the The Platinum Card® from American Express also includes many other valuable benefits, such as airline fee credits and airport business lounge access. And for many people, all these perks and rewards are worth paying its steep $695 annual fee.
Best Card for Earning Reward Points at Any Hotel: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro APR
Rewards
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
3x Points on dining, select streaming services and online groceries
2x Points on Other Travel
1x Points on All Other Purchases
Intro Bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual Fee
$95
Card Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
If you're the kind of person who wants to earn bonus points and spend them at any hotel in the world, then this may be the card for you. Whether it's a small bed and breakfast or a large downtown hotel, you'll earn double points on all your hotel charges with Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. You also get double points on all other travel and dining purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent elsewhere.
Your rewards can then be transferred to Hyatt, Marriott and IHG hotels and used for complimentary stays. Alternatively, you can redeem your rewards directly with the Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Center, which is run by Expedia. Here, your points are worth 1.25 cents each towards any travel reservation, including hotels and vacation rentals.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers 60,000 bonus points, worth $750 in travel reservations, after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. There's a $95 annual fee for this card.