Why You Should Have Hotel Cards

I typically recommend focusing on flexible points, like Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards®, before venturing into the world of co-branded hotel or airline cards. Flexible points cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, are great for beginners and give many options for using your points.

However, co-branded cards can be a game changer once you’ve gotten the hang of flexible points. These hotel cards are specifically designed to help you maximize your stays at major hotel brands like Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and IHG. They offer a variety of perks, from earning extra points to upgrading your stay with elite benefits. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or enjoy the occasional weekend getaway, these cards can provide significant value. Keep reading to see what makes these cards worth a 5/24 spot.

Hotel Card Options

First, here are the options for co-branded hotel cards for the four major brands.

Hyatt (my favorite brand!)

• The World of Hyatt Credit Card
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

Hilton

• Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card*

*All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Traveling Hansens. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

IHG

• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Marriott

• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card

Annual Free Night Certificates

A standout feature of many hotel cards is the annual free night certificate. While it’s not the only benefit, it’s definitely one of the most valuable. These certificates can often be redeemed at properties that would otherwise cost hundreds of dollars per night, making them an excellent way to offset the card’s annual fee.

For example, the World of Hyatt Credit Card offers a free night certificate redeemable at Category 1-4 hotels every year after your cardmember anniversary. It’s my top choice for a hotel card!

Similarly, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card provides a free night certificate that can be used at hotels costing up to 35,000 points per night (and can be topped off with up to 15,000 additional points).

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card includes a certificate for stays costing up to 40,000 points (and can be topped off with additional points). I love this card because it has a good-sized welcome offer, and we like to stay at IHG properties – mostly Holiday Inn Express – because they often can fit all of us in one room.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a basic Hilton card that comes with an annual free night. The only card that does – the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card* – has a huge annual fee. So it’s important to assess whether that is worth it for you. It’s great for die-hard Hilton fans.

Earn Points Toward Free Stays

Another useful benefit of hotel cards is the ability to earn additional points on your purchases. For instance, most cards offer higher earning rates for spending at their hotel brand. This elevated return is helpful if you’re paying cash for a room, buying gift cards to give to friends or family, eating at the hotel restaurant, or shopping at any stores within the hotel. In turn, the points earned can then be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, etc.

Additionally, everyday categories like dining, gas, and groceries often have higher return rates on these cards. For example, the Hyatt card offers bonus points not only on Hyatt stays but also on fitness memberships and dining. Similarly, the Hilton Honors Surpass gives bonus points on U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.

Elite Status Perks on Hotel Cards

Many hotel credit cards come with automatic elite status, which gives you exclusive benefits that can elevate your travel experience. Depending on the card, perks might include room upgrades, late checkout, complimentary breakfast, and more. Elite status can also help you earn points faster because you often get an additional bonus on top of the base points earned during your stays.

The following cards come with automatic status:

• The World of Hyatt Credit Card– Discoverist
• World of Hyatt Business Credit Card– Discoverist
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card– Platinum Elite
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card– Platinum Elite
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card– Gold
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card*- Diamond
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card– Silver Elite
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Credit Card– Gold Elite

Travel Protections and No Foreign Transaction Fees

Hotel credit cards may also come with valuable travel protections such as trip delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, purchase protection, and travel accident insurance.

Furthermore, some of these cards have no foreign transaction fees, making them ideal for international travel. You can use your card when traveling overseas without worrying about extra charges, which can add up quickly during a trip.

Is the Annual Fee Worth It for Hotel Cards?

A common question people ask is whether the annual fee is worth it. In most cases, the benefits outweigh the cost. For instance, if your card’s annual fee is $95 and you take advantage of a free night worth $200, you’ve already come out ahead. Add in the additional perks, and these cards provide excellent long-term value.

Final Thoughts

Many hotel co-branded cards are long-term keepers. With benefits like elite status, travel protections, and annual free night certificates, they deliver huge value year after year.