Best Hotel Credit Cards | Free Nights & Elite Perks

Updated August 20, 2025

At Pointalize, we believe the right credit card can unlock smarter spending and bigger rewards.

That’s why we provide clear, independent guides and comparisons to help you make informed decisions.

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At Pointalize, we simplify the process by highlighting cards that deliver the strongest rewards, biggest bonuses, and best value for everyday spending. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to maximize premium benefits, our curated picks are designed to help you find the perfect fit for your wallet.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Best For

Pointalize: ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.8

Rewards Rate - Points

8x Travel booked through Chase Travel℠
4x Flights and hotels booked directly
3x Dining worldwide
1x All other purchases

Intro offer: 100,000 points + $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit after $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months

Annual fee: $795

Regular APR: 20.24% – 28.74% Variable APR

Recommended credit: 700–850 (Good to Excellent)

Travel Perks: Cell Phone Protection, Hotel Status, Lounge Access, Rental Car Insurance, Travel Insurance, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry

Visit issuer’s site directly See Rates & Fees

Pros

Generous sign‑up bonus of 100K points plus $500 Chase Travel℠ credit
High earning rates: 8X on travel booked through Chase, 4X on direct flights and hotels, and 3X on dining
Extensive travel perks including Priority Pass lounge access, travel insurance and primary rental car coverage
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

$795 annual fee is steep and recently increased
Most elevated earning rates require booking through Chase Travel℠
Sign‑up bonus has a high spending requirement

Pointalize Final Thoughts

The Chase Sapphire Reserve remains a top-tier travel card thanks to its generous welcome bonus, rich earning rates and comprehensive travel perks. Frequent travelers who can leverage the annual Chase Travel℠ credit and lounge access can easily justify the high annual fee. However, casual users may find it hard to maximize the portal‑based rewards, and the fee increase makes cost–benefit analysis essential.

Read the full review (Coming Soon)

Capital One Venture X® Rewards

Best For

Pointalize: ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.8

Rewards Rate - Miles

10x Hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One® Travel
5x Flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One® Travel
2x All other purchases

Intro offer: 75,000 miles after $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months

Annual fee: $395

Regular APR: 21.24% – 29.24% Variable APR

Recommended credit: 740–850 (Excellent)

Travel Perks: Hotel Status, Lounge Access, Rental Car Insurance, Travel Insurance, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry

Visit issuer’s site directly See Rates & Fees

Pros

Robust earning rates: 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights booked via Capital One® Travel
Includes a $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles
Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access plus TSA PreCheck/Global Entry credit
No foreign transaction fees

Cons

$395 annual fee, although partially offset by travel credits
Highest earning rates require booking through the Capital One® Travel portal
Approval often requires excellent credit and relatively clean credit history

Pointalize Final Thoughts

The Venture X is a premium travel card that combines high earning rates with valuable perks like lounge access, a $300 travel credit and 10K anniversary bonus miles. It offers simplicity on everyday purchases with 2X miles and no foreign transaction fees. While the $395 annual fee is substantial, savvy travelers who use the travel portal and perks can come out far ahead.

Read the full review (Coming Soon)

The Platinum Card® from Amex

Best For

Pointalize: ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.8

Rewards Rate - Points

5x Flights booked directly with airlines or through Amex® Travel
5x Prepaid hotels booked through Amex® Travel
1x All other purchases

Intro offer: Up to 175,000 points after $8,000 in purchases within the first 6 months

Annual fee: $695

Regular APR: 21.24% – 29.24% Variable APR

Recommended credit: 740–850 (Excellent)

Travel Perks: Hotel Status, Lounge Access, Rental Car Insurance, Travel Insurance, TSA PreCheck/Global Entry

Visit issuer’s site directly See Rates & Fees

Pros

Earns 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex® Travel and on prepaid hotels through Amex® Travel
Includes annual statement credits for airlines, hotels and other perks that can offset the fee
Complimentary lounge access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta) and Priority Pass lounges
Comes with comprehensive travel protections and elite status with Hilton and Marriott

Cons

$695 annual fee is among the highest of any consumer card
Many credits require enrolment and careful use to maximize value
Amex cards are not as widely accepted internationally as Visa or Mastercard

Pointalize Final Thoughts

The Platinum Card from Amex is packed with premium perks that frequent travelers can leverage for lounge access, elite hotel status and hundreds of dollars in travel credits each year. Its 5X earnings on flights and hotels booked through Amex® Travel make it one of the most rewarding cards for airfare and lodging. However, you need to maximize these benefits to justify the high annual fee, and Amex acceptance abroad can be limited compared with Visa or Mastercard.

Read the full review (Coming Soon)

World of Hyatt® Credit Card

Best For

Pointalize: ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.8

Rewards Rate - Points

Up to 9X Total points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels
4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualifying purchases at Hyatt Hotels
2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships
1 Bonus Point per $1 spent on all other purchases

Intro offer: 2 Free nights + 25K Bonus Points

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 19.99% – 28.49% Variable APR

Recommended credit: 700–850 (Good to Excellent)

Travel Perks: Hotel Status, Rental Car Insurance, Travel Insurance

Visit issuer’s site directly See Rates & Fees

Pros

Annual free night certificate at a Category 1–4 Hyatt, easily worth more than the $95 fee.
Strong earning rates: up to 9X total points on Hyatt stays plus bonus categories like dining and flights.

Cons

Limited hotel footprint compared to larger chains (Marriott, Hilton).
Best value requires frequent Hyatt stays — casual travelers may not benefit.

Pointalize Final Thoughts

The World of Hyatt® Credit Card is one of the best hotel co-branded cards for loyal Hyatt guests. The combination of a valuable free night, strong earning rates at Hyatt properties, and elite night credits makes it especially powerful if you’re aiming for Hyatt status or regularly stay at their hotels. However, its value is tightly tied to the Hyatt ecosystem. For travelers who prioritize flexibility or don’t often stay with Hyatt, a general travel rewards card may provide more options. But if Hyatt is your brand of choice, this card is a must-have anchor in your wallet.

Read the full review (Coming Soon)

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card

Best For

Pointalize: ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.8

Rewards Rate - Points

Up to 17X total points at Marriott
Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases annually on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Earn 2X points per $1 on all other purchases
Annual Free Night Award, valid for a one night hotel stay at a property with a redemption level up to 35,000 points.
Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend. Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year. Restrictions apply. You will automatically receive Silver Elite Status each calendar year as a cardmember. Path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.

Intro offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after spending $3,000 in first 3 months.

Annual fee: $95

Regular APR: 19.99 – 29.99 Variable APR

Recommended credit: 700–850 (Good to Excellent)

Travel Perks: Hotel Status, Rental Car Insurance, Travel Insurance

Visit issuer’s site directly See Rates & Fees

Pros

Generous welcome bonus often worth several free nights at Marriott properties.
Annual free night certificate (Category 1–5, up to 35,000 points) easily offsets the $95 annual fee.
15 Elite Night Credits each year toward higher Marriott status.

Cons

Best value tied to Marriott stays — limited flexibility compared to general travel cards.
Marriott award pricing can fluctuate, reducing predictability of redemptions.

Pointalize Final Thoughts

The Boundless® Card is a strong choice for frequent Marriott guests: the annual free night and elite night credits deliver solid long-term value. For those who don’t stay with Marriott often, however, flexible travel cards may offer better overall rewards.

Read the full review (Coming Soon)

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass®

Best For

Pointalize: ★★★★★ ★★★★★ 4.8

Rewards Rate - Points

12x Hilton purchases
6x U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations
4x U.S. online retail purchases
3x all other purchases

Intro offer: 130,000 points after $3,000 spend in 6 months

Annual fee: $150

Regular APR: 20.99 – 29.99 Variable APR

Recommended credit: 700–850 (Good to Excellent)

Travel Perks: Hotel Status, Rental Car Insurance, Travel Insurance

Visit issuer’s site directly See Rates & Fees

Pros

High earning rates: 12X points at Hilton, 6X at U.S. dining, groceries, and gas, 3X everywhere else.
Automatic Hilton Gold Status, including free breakfast or daily food & beverage credit at most hotels.
Free Weekend Night Reward after $15,000 spend per year.

Cons

$150 annual fee, which only makes sense if you stay at Hilton regularly.
Points have lower cent value compared to flexible travel currencies.

Pointalize Final Thoughts

The Hilton Surpass® Card is a strong mid-tier hotel card: Gold status and high earning rates make it a clear win for frequent Hilton guests. For occasional travelers, though, the annual fee and Hilton-specific rewards may be less compelling.