It is advantageous to pick the top hotel credit cards as they offer better rewards and perks on hotel stays, unlike normal hotel credit cards. You also get rewards if you stay at the same brand of hotels for every travel or if you are a frequent traveler. Hotel credit cards also help in cutting the costs for annual family vacations.
Here are some tips that can help you choose from the top hotel credit cards:
Earn rewards on every spending
Even if you don’t have a hotel credit card, you can earn rewards through other credit cards through expenditures that will allow you to work toward upgrades and free hotel stays. For instance, it is much better to earn more rewards on dining and gas purchases than earning a point per dollar on other purchases.
Look for co-branded hotel credit cards
There are many hotel credit cards that are affiliated with specific hotel brands that help users earn rewards on their credit cards. If you prefer staying at a particular brand of hotel, choose that brand’s credit card as it will help you to maximize your rewards. At the same time, if you use a variety of hotel brands, then it is better to choose travel credit cards. Travel credit cards pay points on other purchases, allowing the user to redeem points toward hotel stays.
Compare signup bonuses
The top hotel credit cards pay a signup bonus when a user spends a certain amount on purchases within the first few months of having the credit card. The minimum amount for signup bonus varies anywhere between $1,000 to $3,000, depending on the credit card company. The signup bonus can itself pay for at least one night’s hotel stay. They also help narrowing your choices.
Value of each point matters
Hotel credit cards are tougher to value when compared with other rewards-based credit cards. This is because users earn points at different rates and the cost per night stay varies by the hotel and city. The points can be calculated by dividing the cost of a hotel stay by the number of points earned for that stay. Hence, users need a reasonable amount of time to earn enough points for a hotel stay.
Hotel perks can help
While “free nights” are one of the most important types of rewards, it is not the only factor that makes a hotel credit card the best. Top hotel credit cards offer room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, late checkout, and the ability to earn elite status in the hotel’s loyalty program. Even if these perks don’t have a specific dollar amount associated with them, they make your stay much more convenient, encouraging you to stay loyal to the hotel brand.
Based on these factors, here are the top 10 hotel credit cards you should consider enrolling for:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card
This hotel credit card offers one of the best sign-up bonuses. It has $0 annual fees for the first year and $95 for the consecutive years. It has a variable APR ranging from 17.49% – 24.49%. - Marriot Rewards® Premier Plus Credit Card
With an annual fee of $95, it offers the same aforementioned APR range. The user earns six points per $1 spent at Marriot rewards and SPG hotels and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. - The Hyatt Credit Card
It is one of the top 10 hotel credit cards. The Hyatt Credit Card by Chase has an annual fee of $75 and lets you earn 40,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases made with Hyatt credit card within the first three months of enrolling. - Starwood Preferred Guest® credit card from American Express
With $0 of an annual fee for the first year and $95 for the consecutive years, this credit card offers an APR in the range of 16.74% – 20.74%. The APR range is based on the creditworthiness of the user. - IGH® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card
Issued by Chase, it is one of the top 10 hotel credit cards that have an annual fee of $84. Additional benefits include earning 80,000 bonus points on spending $2,000 on purchases made within first three months of enrolling. - Barclays Choice Privileges Visa Signature Card
It is one of those top 10 hotel credit cards that incurs a $0 annual fee and has an APR ranging from 16.74% – 26.49% based on the user’s creditworthiness. - The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card
It charges an annual fee of $45 and has an APR of 17.49% – 24.49%. It offers a $300 of annual travel credit. - Hiltons Honors American Express® Ascend card
With an annual fee of $95, it offers an APR of 17.24% – 26.24%. It also offers its users weekend night reward on spending $15,000 using the credit card. - Capital One® Venture® rewards credit cards
Users can enjoy 50,000 miles once they spend $3,000 on purchases within three months of opening the account. The annual fee is $0 for the first year and $95 for the consecutive years. - The Wyndham Rewards® Visa Signature® Card
At 0$ annual fees, it is one of the top 10 hotel credit cards that lets you enjoy free wi-fi, late check-out, and dedicated member service at select Wyndham brands with its gold status.
