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Originally Published: Feb 26, 2025
Originally Published: Feb 26, 2025 Last Updated: Mar 14, 2025 10 min read

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No Foreign Transaction FeesEarn up to 26X points at IHG Hotels & ResortsBest for Luxury Hotel Stays and Dining Benefits7% discount on eligible bookings
Hilton Honors American Express Credit Card Logo
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card Logo
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant<sup>&trade;</sup> American Express<sup>&reg;</sup> Card Logo
Mariott Bonvoy Logo
Hilton Honors American Express CardIHG One Rewards Premier Credit CardMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® CardMarriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Our PartnerOur PartnerOur PartnerOur Partner
Rewards rate

7x on eligible Hilton purchases

10x points on eligible IHG purchases

6x points on eligible Marriott purchases

6x points on eligible Marriott purchases

Annual free night

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Annual feeannual_fees (Click here for rates and fees.)annual_fees (Click here for pricing and terms.)annual_fees (Click here for rates and fees.) annual_fees (Click here for rates and fees.)
No Foreign Transaction Fees
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Our Partner
Learn More
Rewards rate

7x on eligible Hilton purchases

Annual free night

No

Annual fee
annual_fees (Click here for rates and fees.)
Earn up to 26X points at IHG Hotels & Resorts
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Our Partner
Learn More
Rewards rate

10x points on eligible IHG purchases

Annual free night

Yes

Annual fee
annual_fees (Click here for pricing and terms.)
Best for Luxury Hotel Stays and Dining Benefits
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Our Partner
Learn More
Rewards rate

6x points on eligible Marriott purchases

Annual free night

Yes

Annual fee
annual_fees (Click here for rates and fees.)
7% discount on eligible bookings
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Our Partner
Learn More
Rewards rate

6x points on eligible Marriott purchases

Annual free night

Yes

Annual fee
annual_fees (Click here for rates and fees.)

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Whether on vacation or business, hotels can make or break your travel experience — and your budget.

Hotel credit card reward programs can help lower some of that cost and, thanks to the many benefits and perks, make your stay more comfortable and enjoyable.

Here are our picks for the best hotel credit cards from a variety of hotel chains that reward frequent travelers.

Our Top Picks for Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2025

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Best Hotel Credit Cards Reviews

Pros
  • Earn 14x points on Hilton hotel stays
  • Earn 7x points on flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex Travel, car rentals, and U.S. restaurants
  • Earn 3x points on all other eligible purchases
  • Complimentary Hilton Diamond Status
Cons
  • $550 annual fee
  • Points are primarily valuable for Hilton-related redemptions

Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.

HIGHLIGHTS
Insurance and Protection
Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Car rental loss and damage insurance

Extended warranty protection
Annual Fee
$550

Why we chose it: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is ranked as the top hotel card because of its unmatched value for travelers. The card provides complimentary Hilton Diamond Status, the highest tier in the Hilton Honors program, which includes exclusive perks like room upgrades, free breakfast and executive lounge access.

This card delivers significant value through its rewards program and travel credits:

  • $400 Resort Credits
  • $250 Hilton Resort Statement Credit annually
  • $200 Flight Credit
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit
  • $100 on-property credit at select Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels
  • Annual Free Night Award

Frequent travelers will find the Priority Pass™ Select Membership, which offers access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, to be a valuable addition.

While the $550 annual fee may seem high, the card's extensive travel benefits more than make up for it. Travelers who frequently stay at Hilton properties will find this card essential for saving on hotel stays and maximizing travel.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Money.com

Pros
  • Up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide
  • Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit every four or four and half years
  • Airport lounge access with Priority Pass™ Select (enrollment is required)
Cons
  • High $650 annual fee

Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.

HIGHLIGHTS
Annual fee
$650
Welcome offer:
Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy(R) bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Why we chose it: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers an array of insurance coverage*, along with hundreds of dollars worth of statement credits and perks that could make up for its high annual fee.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card offers 6x points for each dollar spent at Marriott hotels, 3x Marriott Bonvoy® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, plus 1x point per dollar spent everywhere else.

Cardholders who spend $60,000 in a calendar year on the card, get a Brilliant Earned Choice Award (only one per year). This can be in the form of five suite-night awards, each of which can be redeemed for a room upgrade, a free night valued up to 85,000 points or a $1,000 credit when purchasing a Marriott Boutique Bed for your home.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card also offers a free night per year at participating Marriott Bonvoy® hotels and a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at luxury hotels The Ritz Carlton or St. Regis (terms apply).

Pros
  • High points-earning potential on Choice Hotel stays
  • Platinum Elite Status
  • No foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Limited redemption options outside of Choice Hotels
HIGHLIGHTS
Annual Fee
$95
New Cardmember Offer
Earn 60,000 Choice Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months

Why we chose it: The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard —a relative newcomer in the hotel credit card landscape— ranks high for its earning potential and relatively low annual fee.

Cardholders earn 10x points on stays at Choice Hotels and 5x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plans. Most branded travel rewards cards only award bonus points or miles for purchases made at the particular brand. The Choice Privileges card not only awards everyday purchase, but does so at a high rate of 5x points per dollar.

The card also includes Platinum Elite Status within the Choice Privileges program, offering perks like room upgrades and late checkout. You’ll also get a credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees. Choice Privileges also offers a 30,000 bonus point anniversary bonus, which can be used for up to three reward nights.

Learn more
Pros
  • Free night award every year
  • 5 qualifying nights toward status annually
  • 4x points on Hyatt stays
Cons
  • Limited earning rates outside of Hyatt purchases
HIGHLIGHTS
Annual Fee
$95
New Cardmember Offer
Earn Up to 65,000 Bonus Points

Why we chose it: The World of Hyatt Credit Card is a strong option for loyal Hyatt guests, offering 4x points on Hyatt stays and an annual free night award. With qualifying nights toward elite status and a $95 annual fee, it's a great way to maximize rewards for frequent Hyatt stays.

World of Hyatt is offering a two-part welcome bonus of up to 65,000 points. You’ll earn 35,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. They’re also offering up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points 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. Offer ends 3/6/25.

World of Hyatt offers a free night every year at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort. You can earn another free night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel if you spend $15,000 with your card in a calendar year.

Other benefits include lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation and baggage delay insurance, often limited with other travel credit cards with low annual fees.

Pros
  • 20 points per $1 spent at Best Western properties
  • Complimentary Platinum Elite Status
  • No foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Limited redemption options outside of Best Western properties
HIGHLIGHTS
Annual Fee
$89
New Cardmember Offer
Earn 80,000 Best Western Points after spending $3,000 in the first 3 billing cycles

Why we chose it: The Best Western Rewards® Premium Visa Signature® Card is another new card on the block for loyal Best Western customers and travelers. It awards 20 points per $1 spent at Best Western properties, 4X points on gas station and grocery store purchases and 2X points on other purchases.

The Best Western Rewards Premium card also includes complimentary Platinum Elite Status and a free night award on your account anniversary. You can add another free night award if you spend at least $10,000 in purchases. Extra benefits like cell phone protection, trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation are also included for a lower annual fee than many hotel credit cards.

The newly released Best Western Rewards Premium Visa has a sister card with no annual fee. The Best Western Rewards Visa Signature awards a lower rate of 4X points at Best Western hotels and 2X points on other purchases.

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Best Hotel Credit Cards FAQs

What rewards and perks can you expect with a hotel credit card?

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As a baseline, cardholders should expect a high reward rate for booking rooms or making eligible purchases inside the hotel. Other standard rewards and perks include status upgrades, free night awards and travel-related perks such as trip cancellation insurance and secondary rental coverage. Depending on how premium the card is and the brand, these benefits will change, but are standard in quality hotel credit cards.

Can you use a hotel credit card for everyday purchases?

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Most hotel credit cards are regular credit cards inside the network of Visa, Mastercard or American Express (there are no co-branded hotel credit cards with Discover at the time of this writing) and can be used anywhere these payment methods are accepted. Some hotel credit cards even reward everyday spending at gas stations and grocery stores.

Are there any fees associated with using a hotel credit card?

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Fees on hotel credit cards are regular credit card fees, which include annual fees, balance transfer fees and cash advance fees. Most hotel credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees to help avoid paying extra when you’re outside of the U.S. There are no fees specific to hotel credit cards, although when using points to purchase free nights, some hotels waive service fees.

How much is a hotel point worth?

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Hotel points vary significantly depending on the card issuer and hotel brand, as well as how, when and where you redeem them. While you can redeem points for a variety of things, such as gift cards, room upgrades or even retail deals through a hotel’s loyalty program, one of the most common and sought-after perks are free or discounted nights.

How We Chose the Best Hotel Credit Cards

The best hotel credit cards provide exceptional value through high points earnings, free nights and status upgrades, alongside low fees and appealing sign-up bonuses. Finding the best hotel credit cards meant looking not just into the cards themselves, but into the different hotel chains that co-branded them, among other factors listed below.

Hotel Rewards Sign-Up Bonus Fees Other Perks
40% 30% 20% 10%
  • Hotel Rewards: Points earning rates for hotel stays, flexibility in redemptions and partner hotel networks.
  • Sign-Up Bonus: Value of bonus points or free nights and ease of achieving spending thresholds.
  • Fees: Low or no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees and ongoing costs.
  • Other Perks: Benefits like elite status upgrades, free nights and travel protections.

Read our full methodology here.

Summary of Money’s Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2025

To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.

* Insurance disclosures for American Express Cards on this page:

Trip Delay Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

Global Assist Hotline: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Baggage Insurance Plan: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.