We have the list for the Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2020 for those who often travel and stay at enough hotels! Start earning perks and rewards!
If you travel and stay in hotels quite often, then you should consider a co-branded hotel credit card. This will enable you to earn rewards and bonuses for amazing perks with certain hotel brands.
Check out out list of best credit card bonuses here.
But, keep in mind that the co-branded credit card will allow you to redeem the rewards with that hotel chain only. If that limitation isn’t what you want, then you should look into a normal travel credit card.
Best Hotel Credit Cards Summary
American Express® Green Card | Best overall card for travel |
The Platinum Card® From American Express | Best card for luxury hotels |
Chase Sapphire Reserve® | Best premium card for earning |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Best mid-tier card for earning |
Marriott Bonvoy BrilliantTM American Express® Card | Best overall Marriott card |
Marriott Bonvoy BoundlessTM Credit Card | Best low-cost Marriott card |
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Best overall Hilton card |
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | Best low-cost Hilton card |
IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card | Best overall IHG card |
![]() The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card offers 100,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. You'll earn: • 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM • 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries • 2x on all other travel purchases • 1x on all other purchases • $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit • Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027. Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase TravelSM This card carries a $95 annual fee. |
Hotel Credit Card Features
Searching for the right hotel credit card can be somewhat difficult. Start by looking at the main factors you will want to take advantage of:
- Welcome bonus
- Earning potential
- Category bonuses
- Spend bonuses
- Elite status features
- Recurring perks
Now, with that in mind, we have composed a list of some of the best hotel credit cards in 2020. Usually, it’s better to get a card that will match your spending habits as well. Some card recommendations for spending are:
- Best Airline Credit Cards For Travel Benefits and Rewards
- The Best Rewards Credit Cards: Cash, Points, Miles & Benefits
- Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
- Best Cash Back Credit Cards: Sign-Up Bonuses, Rewards
- Best Travel Credit Cards: Rewards and Benefits
- Best Dining Credit Cards: Restaurant Points, Rewards & Cash Back
- Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards For Family Vacations
- Best Grocery Credit Cards: Co-Branded, Cashback & Rewards
- Best Rewards Cards By Bonus Category: Points, Miles & Cash
- Best Small Business Credit Cards: Points, Miles & Rewards
- The Best Credit Cards With No Annual Fees
Best Hotel Credit Cards
The America Express® Green Card is on the top of the chart for traveling with 30k welcome bonus points ($600 value). Additionally, it triples the points when you travel worldwide.
Annual Fee | $150 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 30k points for spending $2k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $600 |
Earning Rates | 3x points on travel 3x points on global restaurants 1x points on all other purchases |
Elite Status | N/A |
Other Perks | $100 annual statement credit for CLEAR $100 annual statement credit for LoungeBuddy No foreign transaction fees |
The Platinum Card® from American Express is the best card if you stay with luxurious hotels. It comes with a 60k welcome bonus that’s worth about $1,200 in value. Additionally, it comes with 5x prepaid hotel reservations with Amex Travel. This will lead to an immediate Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold Status.
Annual Fee | $550 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 60k points for spending $5k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $1,200 |
Earning Rates | 5x points on prepaid hotel bookings 5x points on flights* 1x points on all other purchases |
Elite Status | Marriott Bonvoy Gold status Hilton Honors Gold status |
Other Perks | Global Lounge Collection access $100 Global Entry/TSA credit $200 annual airline fee credits $200 annual Uber credit $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit No foreign transaction fees |
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a great premium card to earn more towards hotel purchases with 50k welcome bonus points. These bonus points are worth about $1,000 in value and will triple points when you travel. Plus, you will even receive $300 in travel credit each year.
Annual Fee | $450 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 50k points for spending $4k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $1,000 |
Earning Rates | 3x points on travel & dining 1x points on all other purchases |
Elite Status | N/A |
Other Perks | Get 50% more value for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards Priority Pass lounge access $100 Global Entry/TSA credit $300 annual travel credit Lyft Pink ($199 minimum value) DashPass subscription from DoorDash No foreign transaction fees |
Chase Sapphire Preferred® is a mid-tier card that earnings with hotel transactions and 80k welcome bonus points. This is worth about $1,600 in value and will double on your travels.
Annual Fee | $95 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 80k points for spending $4k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $1,600 |
Earning Rates | 2x points on travel & dining 1x points on all other purchases 5x on Lyft rides through March 2022 |
Elite Status | N/A |
Other Perks | Get 25% more value for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel protections DashPass subscription from DoorDash No foreign transaction fees |
The Marriott Bonvoy BrilliantTM American Express® Card is the best card to use for all Marriott hotels with a 100k welcome bonus. Those points are valued at $900. Additionally, you get 6x points for spending with Marriott, Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status, 15 Elite Night Credits each year, etc.
Annual Fee | $450 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 100k points for spending $5k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $900 |
Earning Rates | 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy 3x points on flights 3x points at U.S. restaurants 2x points on all other purchases |
Elite Status | Marriott Bonvoy Gold status 15 Elite Night Credits every year Fast track to Platinum status |
Other Perks | $300 annual Marriott statement credit 1 Free Night Award every year Priority Pass Select membership $100 Global Entry/TSA credit Premium, in-room internet access No foreign transaction fees |
The Marriott Bonvoy BoundlessTM Credit Card is their best low-priced card with Marriott hotels with 5 Free Nights which will be worth about $1,575 in value. Plus, you get 6x points for spending with Marriott. You’ll also receive the same features as their other card.
Annual Fee | $95 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 5 Free nights when you’ve spent at least $5k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $1,575 |
Earning Rates | 6x points at Marriott Bonvoy 2x points on all other purchases |
Elite Status | Marriott Bonvoy Silver status 15 Elite Night Credits every year Fast track to Gold status |
Other Perks | 1 Free Night Award every year Premium, in-room internet access No foreign transaction fees |
This Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the best for Hilton hotels. It comes with a 150k welcome bonus that’s worth $900 in value. Additionally, you get 14x points for spending at Hilton and an automatic Hilton Honors diamond status. Not to mention, you’ll also receive $250 annual Hilton resort credits as well.
Annual Fee | $450 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 150k points for spending $4k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $900 |
Earning Rates | 14x points at Hilton 7x points on flights & car rentals* 7x points at U.S. restaurants 3x points on all other purchases |
Elite Status | Hilton Honors Diamond status |
Other Perks | $250 annual Hilton Resort credit $100 property credit* One weekend night reward* Unlimited Priority Pass lounge access $250 annual airline fee credit No foreign transaction fees |
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is the better option if you’re looking for something a little cheaper. Furthermore, it comes with 150k welcome bonus points ($900 value) and 12x points for Hilton spending.
Annual Fee | $95 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 130k points for spending $3k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $780 |
Earning Rates | 12x points at Hilton 6x points at U.S gas stations 6x points at U.S. restaurants 6x points at U.S. supermarkets 3x points on all other purchases |
Elite Status | Hilton Honors Gold status |
Other Perks | One weekend night reward* 10 annual Priority Pass lounge visits No foreign transaction fees |
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card is great for IHG hotels and comes with 140k welcome bonus points ($700 value). Additionally, you can get 25x points for spending with IHG. Not to mention you get an automatic IHG Platinum Elite Status, and more.
Annual Fee | $89 |
Welcome Bonus | Receive 140k points for spending $3k in the first 3 months. |
Bonus Value | $700 |
Earning Rates | 25x points at IHG 2x points at gas stations 2x points at restaurants 2x points at grocery stores 1x points on all other purchases |
Elite Status | IHG Platinum Elite status |
Other Perks | 1 anniversary free night 4th reward night free $100 Global Entry/TSA credit No foreign transaction fees |
![]() |
![]() |
Conclusion
Overall, it would make more sense if you get a co-branded hotel credit card if you stay at hotels frequently. There are many perks that each card has to offer that will definitely interest you. However, if you aren’t loyal to one specific chain, consider a card that allows you to transfer points.