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Readers often ask me which credit card to use to maximize points on a hotel stay or if there is a better hotel credit card.
It is common to recommend which credit card is best for certain bonus categories (such as dining, grocery shopping, gas stations, daily spending, etc.). It is simple. However, this is not the case when it comes to recommending which credit cards to use in hotels.
This recommendation is not only for stays in chain hotels, it also requires that you consider which credit cards offer the best travel bonus categories.
This post will look at the best credit cards for hotel spending, regardless of brand. Then I'll compare it to the bonus offers by co-branded hotel credit card cards.
The Best Credit Cards for Hotel Spending
I have excluded co-branded credit cards for hotels. This is because I am looking for the cards that offer the most bonuses on hotel spending overall, not just the best bonuses for one brand.
Which major credit cards offer hotel bonuses?
Hotel spending reward: 5.1% (I value them at 1.7c each, or 3x points)
Annual card fee: $550
Apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve to learn more about the Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Hotel spending reward: 5.1% (I value them at 1.7c each, or 3x points)
Annual card fee: $95
Important information: This card is business-oriented and 3x points are limited to the first $150,000 combined purchase in bonus categories every account anniversary year
Apply for the Ink Business Preferred to learn more about the Ink Business Preferred.
Hotel spending reward: 5.1% (I value them at 1.7c each, or 3x points)
Annual card fee $150 (Rates and Fees).
Find out more about Amex Green and apply for Amex Green.
Hotel spending reward: 5.1% (I value them at 1.7c each, or 3x points)
Annual card fee: $95
Apply for the Citi Premier to learn more about the Citi Premier.
Hotel spending reward: 5.1% (I value them at 1.7c each, or 3x points)
Annual card fee: $495
Find out more about Citi Prestige.
Reward for hotel spend: 3.4% (2x points which I value at 1.7c each)
Annual card fee: $95
Get more information about the Sapphire Preferred and apply for the Sapphire Preferred.
Many credit cards offer 3x points for hotel purchases
The Best Co-Branded Hotel Cards
You can see that five cards have the same return as me, according to my valuation. Each card offers 3x transferable points and each point I value at 1.7c.
This means that you can expect a return of 5.1%, regardless of the card you use. Are you getting a better return if you use a co-branded credit card for hotels?
Let's take a look at co-branded credit cards from Wyndham Rewards, IHG Rewards Club and Hilton Honors. Let me first share my opinion on how valuable each point is in each of these currencies.
Hilton Honors: 0.5 cents per Hilton Honors
IHG Rewards Club 0.5c each
0.5c each Marriott Bonvoy
Radisson Rewards 0.7c each
Each World of Hyatt 1.5c each - 0.3c each
1.5 cents per Wyndham Rewards 0.7c each
Let's keep it simple and look at the cobranded credit card of each hotel group that provides the best return on hotel spend (remember, the main reason you might get hotel credit cards is for the elite status or free night certificates).
Hilton Honors
Review of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. It offers 14x Hilton points for Hilton spending. I rate this card at a return value of 7%. This card offers a better return on your spending than some transferable points cards.
Hilton Aspire Card is what I use for Hilton hotel purchases
IHG Rewards Club
IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card (review), offers 10x points for IHG hotel purchases, which I value at a return rate of 5%. Although this isn't as great as some transferable point cards, others might feel differently depending on how points are valued.
Marriott Bonvoy
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Chase Card (review), and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant America Express Card (review), offer 6x points for Marriott hotel spending. I rate this at 4.2%. It is not as good as some transferable points cards that offer a return on spending.
With the Boundless Card, you can earn bonus points for Marriott purchases
Radisson Rewards
Radisson Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card gives you 10x points for Radisson purchases. I rate this card at a return on investment of 3%. It is not as good as some transferable points cards that offer a return on spending.
World of Hyatt
Review of the World of Hyatt Credit Card. It offers 4x points for Hyatt hotel purchases. This is a return of 6%. This card offers a better return on your spending than some transferable points cards.
For my Hyatt hotel purchases, I use the World of Hyatt Card
Wyndham Rewards
Review of the Wyndham Earner Business Card. It offers 8x Wyndham points on Wyndham hotel purchases. This is a return of 5.6%. This is a great deal and better than the transferable points card's return on hotel spend.
Crunching the Numbers
Each person will value points differently. Those with different points valuations might also draw different conclusions.
Personally, I believe the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Ink Business Preferred Credit Cards, American Express Green Card Card, Citi Premier Card, Citi Premier Card and Citi Prestige Card offer the best return on hotel spend at 5.1%.
Surprisingly, co-branded hotel credit card cards offer less return on stays in their hotels than they do on travel purchases.
Based on my assessment of hotel points
Hilton Aspire Card: Earn 14x points for Hilton stays
Additional Considerations for Hotel Spending
When choosing which hotel credit card you want to use, there are many other factors to consider:
Earning a Hilton Free Night Reward could be worthwhile
Bottom line
A co-branded hotel credit card is not the best option for hotel spending. Hilton and Hyatt offer excellent co-branded credit cards for hotel spending. It can be worthwhile to spend money on these cards at hotels.
You'd be better off using a transferable point card to pay for hotel expenses.
Which card do you use for hotel purchases? Is it worth using the hotel co-brand card or a card that earns transferable points?
These links will take you to the fees and rates for American Express Cards. These are: American Express Green Card (Rates and Fees).
