Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
If you're loyal to a hotel chain, such as Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt or IHG, it's worth considering a co-branded hotel credit card. These cards can grant you instant elite status, credit to help you earn the next tier of status, opportunities to earn free nights and other perks.
A general travel credit card offers more flexibility in redeeming rewards, but you'll miss out on brand-specific perks. So a hotel credit card can perfectly complement your other rewards credit cards. Here are our picks for the top hotel credit cards.
Best hotel credit cards
- Best for no annual fee: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
- Best for Hilton: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Best low-cost card for Hilton: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Best Hilton card for business owners: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
- Best for Choice Hotels: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Best for frequent Marriott guests: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Best low-cost card for Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
- Best Marriott card for business owners: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
- Best for Hyatt: The World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best Hyatt card for business owners: World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for IHG: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Best for earning flexible travel rewards: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Best for no annual fee
Who's this for: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great choice to earn a competitive rewards rate on hotel purchases without paying an annual fee.
Standout hotel benefits: You'll earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. All other purchases earn 1.25X miles per dollar spent, which is a decent value considering the card has no annual fee.
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns transferrable miles, which is a stand-out benefit for a no-annual-fee card.
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No annual fee
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
- No travel credits and limited travel protections
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% - 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for Hilton
Who's this for? The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers an extensive suite of perks for loyal Hilton guests, whether you stay at the Waldorf Astoria, Homewood Suites or any other property in Hilton's portfolio.
Standout hotel benefits: The Aspire Card offers up to $400 in annual statement credits at Hilton Resorts, with $200 available from January through June and another $200 from July through December, when charged to your room at participating resorts. It also grants an Annual Free Night Reward redeemable at nearly any Hilton hotel (excluding properties listed on Hilton's exclusions page), regardless of how much the room normally costs.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card grants you complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status and a Free Night Reward every year.
- Earn up to $889 in statement credits every year
- Complimentary Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status
- Free Night Reward every year
- High annual fee
- Additional Free Night Rewards have high spending requirements
- Some credits are only earned quarterly or semi-annually, which makes them more complicated to fully maximize
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26.
- Enjoy an Annual Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors in your first year of Card Membership and every year upon Card renewal.
- Card Members can earn 14X Points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Card Members can earn 7X Points on purchases of Flights booked directly with airlines or flights booked through American Express Travel, Car rentals purchased directly from select car rental companies, and purchases at U.S. Restaurants.
- Card Members can earn 3X Points on all other eligible purchases.
- $400 Hilton Resort Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually for eligible purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts on your Hilton Honors Aspire Card. That's up to $400 back annually.
- $200 Flight Credit: Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with airlines or via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ using your Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $209 per calendar year in statement credits, when you pay for a CLEAR+ Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend $30,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you can earn an additional Free Night Reward from Hilton after you spend an additional $30,000 (for a total of $60,000) in purchases on your Card in the same calendar year.
- $100 Property Credit: Receive up to a $100 credit for qualifying charges at Waldorf Astoria® Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts properties when you book a 2 night minimum stay with your Card at HiltonHonorsAspireCard.com and select the Aspire Card Benefit rate option on the booking page, or call Hilton Honors at 855-292-5757 with the proper booking reference.
- Hilton Honors Aspire Card Members can enjoy complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status, including perks like Executive Area Access (for full-size reservations and above) in the USA and Canada. Card Members must enroll in the National Car Rental Emerald Club Executive status through their American Express online account using their Card. Terms apply.
- Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Premium Global Assist® Hotline§ is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical, legal, and financial referrals. Emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost only if approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline. Card Members may be responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
- Points don't expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Card is active and in good standing.
- $550 annual fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best low-cost card for Hilton
Who's this for? The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card may be for you if you're a more occasional Hilton guest and don't want to pay a high annual fee.
Standout hotel benefits: You can earn up to $200 back annually on eligible Hilton purchases (up to $50 in statement credits each quarter). Plus, enjoy complimentary Hilton Gold™ status, granting you upgrades to preferred rooms, complimentary breakfast or daily food and beverage credit.
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is a solid mid-tier hotel card that offers with statement credits that can easily offset its annual fee.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Enjoy a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 and earn 130,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold status with your Card. Plus, spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the next calendar year.
- Get up to $50 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card. That's up to $200 in statement credits annually.
- Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
- 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.
- Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
- Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
- As a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you're enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- Whenever you travel more than 100 miles from home, Global Assist® Hotline is available for 24/7 emergency assistance and coordination services, including medical and legal referrals, emergency cash wires, and missing luggage assistance. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers. Other terms and conditions apply.
- Points don't expire while your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is active and in good standing.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best Hilton card for business owners
Who's this for? Small business owners who travel regularly will appreciate the Hilton perks that come with the Hilton Honors Business Card.
Standout hotel benefits: Every year, you can earn up to $240 back for eligible purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio (up to $60 in statement credits per quarter). You'll also receive complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card's generous rewards and benefits can help business owners save money on hotel expenses.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/2026.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $195.
- Get up to $60 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. With Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, you can enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, earn an 80% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay.
- Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible purchases made directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
- Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X Points thereafter.
- You may receive an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year if the total eligible purchases that you spend on your Card Account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best for Choice Hotels
Who's this for: The points you earn with the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card can be transferred to Choice Hotels at a favorable ratio.
Standout hotel benefits: The Wells Fargo Autograph Card isn't a hotel card, but it earns 3X points on travel (among other useful categories), and you can easily redeem rewards for statement credits to offset lodging costs or transfer points to Choice Hotels at a 1:2 ratio.
The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card offers generous bonus spending categories and lets you transfer points to airline and hotel partners, which is rare for a credit card with no annual fee.
- Access to all of the Wells Fargo transfer partners including Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) and Virgin Red
- No annual fee
- Excellent bonus spending categories
- Intro-APR for purchases
- No travel credits or other valuable travel perks
- Lacks key travel protections such as trip delay reimbursement and trip cancellation/interruption coverage
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
Balance transfer fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for frequent Marriott guests
Who's this for? You should consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card if you want premium travel perks at Marriott properties and competitive rewards.
Standout hotel benefits: You'll receive one complimentary Free Night Award each year after your card renewal month — no spending required. This Free Night Award can be redeemed for hotels worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points (certain hotels have resort fees). To top it off, you also receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, granting perks like free breakfast at some brands and upgrades to suites. Those chasing a higher tier of status get 25 Elite Night Credits each year toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. (Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account.)
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium hotel card that gives you high-level elite status, dining credits and a Free Night Award every year.
- Up to $300 in dining credit every year
- Free Night Award every year worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status
- High annual fee
- Marriott doesn't publish an award chart and the rewards are typically less valuable compared to the top travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get 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.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Best low-cost card for Marriott
Who's this for? The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is ideal for occasional Marriott guests who do not want to commit to a high annual fee.
Standout hotel benefits: You'll also receive complimentary Silver Elite status and the opportunity to earn Gold Elite status after spending $35,000 each year. Plus, get 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year toward the next level of elite status and an additional Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 you spend with the card.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is useful if you're working toward higher levels of Marriott status because of its bonus elite night credits and the elite credit you can earn from spending with the card.
- Annual free night award every year after your account anniversary
- 15 elite night credits each calendar year and you can earn additional elite night credits through spending
- Valuable welcome bonus
- Complicated application restrictions
- Bonus rewards on grocery, dining and gas purchases have an annual limit
Rewards
- Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 spent
- Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card
Balance transfer fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best Marriott card for business owners
Who's this for? Business owners who frequently stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties should consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
Standout hotel benefits: You'll get a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member and a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate. You'll also receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status and one Free Night Award every year after your card renewal month.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card gives business owners the opportunity to earn up to two free night awards every year and bonus points on common business expenses.
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points and a $125 statement credit after you use your new Card to make $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/15/26.
- Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
- 6x points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program.
- 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
- Terms apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for Hyatt
Who's this for? The World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth considering if you frequent Hyatt hotels, such as the Grand Hyatt, Hyatt House or Andaz, and want to benefit from enhanced loyalty perks.
Standout hotel benefits: You can earn up to two free-night awards per year. One free-night award is given annually on your account anniversary, and the other award is earned after spending $15,000 during a calendar year — which is lower than some other hotel cards on this list that require $60,000 to $75,000 in spending. These awards are valid at Category 1 to 4 hotels, which cost up to 18,000 points per night.
Best Hyatt card for business owners
Who's this for? The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card is ideal for small business owners who are Hyatt enthusiasts and whose spending habits may shift throughout the year.
Standout hotel benefits: This card can earn you up to $100 in annual Hyatt statement credits: spend $50 or more at any Hyatt property on the card and earn $50 in statement credits, up to two times per anniversary year. It also offers 15% off standard rates at Hyatt hotels through the Hyatt Leverage program.
Best for IHG
Who's this for? Loyal guests of InterContinental Hotels Group may want to consider the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card due to its welcome offer, free Anniversary Night and IHG Platinum elite status.
Standout hotel benefits: This card comes with IHG Platinum status, which provides complimentary room upgrades upon availability, late checkout and a welcome amenity at check-in, among other perks. Every account anniversary year, you receive a free Anniversary Night that can be redeemed at IHG hotels with a current point redemption level of 40,000 points or less.
Best for luxury perks
Who's this for? If you enjoy staying at luxury hotels and want to get the VIP treatment, look no further than the American Express Platinum Card®, which offers hotel elite status with Marriott and Hilton and elite-like benefits (enrollment required) at other hotels and resorts through the Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection programs.
Standout hotel benefits: Since this card is not tied to a particular hotel chain, you have flexibility in how you can redeem your rewards. You'll get up to $600 in hotel credits (split into $300 in statement credits semi-annually) when booking through Amex's Fine Hotels and Resorts® or Hotel Collection programs.
*The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay. Perks of these programs may include room upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast and property credits. You'll also earn 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Best for earning flexible travel rewards
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card earns flexible travel rewards at a generous pace, regardless of what type of lodging or other eligible travel you're paying for with the card.
Standout hotel benefits: This card offers some of the most competitive returns for hotel and other common travel expenses: Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through the portal. Plus, you'll earn 2X miles on all other purchases.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Hotel credit card comparison
| Rewards on hotel spending | Annual fee | Annual free night | Complimentary hotel status level | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | 5X miles on hotels booking through Capital One Travel; 1.25X miles on all other purchases | $0 | No | None |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | 14X points at Hilton | *$550 | Yes | Hilton Honors™ Diamond status |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | 12X points at Hilton | *$150 | Yes, after spending $15,000 in eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year | Hilton Honors™ Gold status |
| The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | 12X points at Hilton | *$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $195 | No | Hilton Honors™ Gold status |
| Wells Fargo Autograph® Card | 3X points on travel, including hotels | $0 | No | None |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card | 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels | *$650 | Yes | Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum elite status |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card | 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels | $95 | Yes | Marriott Bonvoy® Silver elite status |
| Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card | 6X points at Marriott Bonvoy hotels | *$125 | Yes | Marriott Bonvoy® Gold elite status |
| The World of Hyatt Credit Card | 4X points at Hyatt Hotels | $95 | Yes | Hyatt Discoverist |
| World of Hyatt Business Credit Card | 4X points at Hyatt Hotels | $99 | Yes | Hyatt Discoverist |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | 10X points at IHG properties | $99 | Yes | IHG One Platinum |
| American Express Platinum Card® | 5X points on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel® | *$895 | No | Gold status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, Leading Hotels of the World Sterling Status (enrollment required) |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | 10X miles on hotels booking through Capital One Travel; 2X miles on all other purchases | $395 | No | None |
*See rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card; See rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card; See rates and fees for the Hilton Honor Surpass Card; See rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card; See rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®; See rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
How to choose a hotel credit card
Choosing a hotel credit card may be as simple as applying for the co-branded credit card for the hotel chain you're most loyal to. But even in that scenario, you're likely to have more than one card to choose from, so here are a few important considerations.
Rewards rate
How many points the card earns per dollar can be a big part of the value you receive. However, you don't want to get stuck on the total number. If the card comes with elite status, that will indirectly boost your return on spending with that brand.
For travel credit cards with flexible rewards, pay attention to the transfer ratio to hotel partners. For example, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card earns 3X points on travel, including hotels, but Wells Fargo points transfer to Choice Privileges at a 1:2 ratio. So the Autograph Card is essentially earning 6X Choice points on travel.
Annual fee vs. benefits
The top hotel cards also have the highest annual fees, which may or may not be worth paying. A several-hundred-dollar annual fee can be justifiable if you maximize the card's elite status, statement credits or free night rewards. Just be sure to consider what benefits you'll use and whether they are worth paying an upfront annual fee to access.
General vs. specific perks
Co-branded hotel credit cards can unlock complimentary elite status, extra opportunities to earn elite credit, statement credits, free nights and more. The caveat is that those benefits often only apply when you're staying with that specific hotel chain. If your favorite brand doesn't have rooms available when and where you want to travel, you could be forced into staying in bland, benefit-less lodging.
Anyone who prefers to price shop or keep their hotel options open is likely to be better off with a general travel credit card. You could earn elevated rewards on travel (including hotels) and take advantage of travel insurance. However, you'll be missing out on elite status, free night certificates and similar perks.
FAQs
What's the best card for earning hotel points?
The best card for earning hotel points will depend on whether you're loyal to a single hotel chain or prefer the flexibility of booking whatever lodging is best for a specific trip. Co-branded hotel cards tend to have valuable perks that are only useful with that specific brand, whereas a general travel card can provide value for any hotel booking, but lacks elite status benefits.
What credit score do you need for a hotel credit card?
Most of the best hotel credit cards require good to excellent credit. However, there are some cards with dining, gas and travel rewards that are rewarding for hotel stays and are available if you have average credit.
Which Amex card is best for hotels?
The best American Express card for hotels is likely the Platinum Card® for most people because it earns valuable rewards and offers automatic gold status with Hilton and Marriott.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best hotel credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value for hotels, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
When choosing the best hotel credit cards, we focused on cards that offer hotel-specific benefits or provide additional return on spending for hotels and other types of lodging.
Catch up on Select's in-depth coverage of personal finance, tech and tools, wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to date.
Read more
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honor Surpass Card, click here.
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.
*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.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
