If you’re looking for the best credit card for international travel, the best overall hotel credit cards, and how to get noteworthy travel perks without lifting a finger, you’ve come to the right place.
Ever eavesdropped on the check-in line for VIP guests at your hotel and been left green with envy as you hear someone receive an upgrade, complimentary breakfast, and a couple of free drinks for good measure? While I hate to cause you any ill feelings, I can’t lie—it’s pretty great.
For the uninitiated, hotel elite status seems an impossible goal reserved only for the most ardent of road warriors traveling for work. And while it’s possible that a loyal guest hit the required stays for that particular brand, it’s far more likely they got these perks through a back-door method: via a hotel’s cobranded credit card.
Almost every major hotel chain has a range of co-branded cards that can bestow elite status upon the cardholder, allowing even the occasional traveler to enjoy the benefits. Some even offer some amazing intro bonuses that could translate into multiple free nights. Plus, you’ll earn hotel points every time you make a purchase.
But like airline cards, sometimes the best hotel card is actually a general credit card that earns transferrable points. Many major banks are transfer partners with hotels, offering even more flexibility when searching for your perfect stay.
To help you on your journey, here are the best hotel credit cards currently—so you can score “suite” deals on hotels for business travel, find, find the best credit card for international travel stays, and everything in between.
Best hotel credit cards of 2024:
- Best card for hotel elite status: The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Best card for premium travel: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best credit card for points transfers: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Best credit card for Hilton: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Best card for Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
- Best card for Hyatt: World of Hyatt Credit Card
- Best card for IHG: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Best premium hotel card: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Best card for hotel elite status:
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Who’s this for: Those looking for the best credit card for international travel, and with an eye on top-tier perks like airport lounge access and automatic hotel elite status., will love the Amex Platinum card. It will give you automatic Gold Status with Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, plus the card offers premium perks for luxury hotels through its Fine Hotels and Resorts program.
Details: The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with tons of perks and benefits and is a good card for points earning if you’re spending a lot on airfare and hotels. Amex points are transferrable to 20 different airline and hotel partners giving them incredible flexibility and value.
When spending with the card you’ll earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com, and 1x Membership Rewards® Points on all other purchases.
The card’s biggest benefit is its unprecedented airport lounge access, giving you access to over 1,300 lounges around the world, including Delta Sky Clubs, Amex’s own Centurion lounges, and a Priority Pass membership. This alone makes it the best credit card for international travel.
You’ll also earn a ton of credits by being a cardholder, which helps offset the card’s large annual fee. Every year you’ll enjoy a number of travel credits, including an up to $200 airline fee statement credit to cover things like baggage and seat selection fees, and options to get through airport security faster, like a $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit, and a $100 Global Entry Credit.
You’ll also get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. There is a two-night minimum stay required.
To top it off, several lifestyle credits further help offset the annual fee of this best credit card for international travel, including an up to $240 digital entertainment credit. Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Disney+, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, SiriusXM, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
The Amex Platinum was once the sole dominating force in the luxury credit card space. While it now faces some stiff competition, it still offers unbeatable perks like unprecedented airport lounge access, elite status at Hilton and Marriott, and some outstanding statement credits making the mammoth $695 worth it for some.
PROS
- The Amex Platinum’s typical intro bonus of 80,000 points is massive in itself. It’s worth $800 when spent directly through Amex’s travel portal on flights and hotels, which is already stellar. But when transferred to a partner, it’s very possible to squeeze over $1,600 or more in value.
- The Platinum has a slew of top-tier benefits, like Priority Pass, which gives the cardholder access to thousands of airport lounges and restaurants around the world, as well as Amex’s own Centurion lounges which are known for the high-quality (and free) food and cocktails. Other perks include up to $200 in Uber credits, up to $200 in airline fee credits (given in statement credits), up to $240 in digital streaming credits, up to $200 towards hotel bookings (given in statement credits) with Amex’s Fine Hotels and Resorts (2 night minimum stay required), and more. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
- A number of statement credits spanning multiple industries can build even more value into the card, including free stays when applied strategically.
- The Amex concierge is an underutilized benefit that can transform a trip by helping book hard-to-find dinner reservations or show tickets.
CONS
- The $695 annual fee is brutally high. Too high for many that can’t, or don’t want to take full advantage of its benefits.
- Points-earning rates are low unless spending directly on flights or with the Amex Portal.
- Some of the benefits, like travel credits, are more limited and are harder to use than competing cards’ offerings.
Annual Fee: $695 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best credit card for international travel and overall premium travel:
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Who’s this for? Those who want premium travel perks and the ability to earn lots of miles in a straightforward manner will like this card.
Details: You’ll earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars when you book though Capital One Travel, and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel, plus 2X miles on all other purchases. Plus, you won’t be charged foreign transaction fees when swiping the card abroad, which makes this another best credit card for international travel.
You can easily offset the $395 annual fee with the card’s $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel—including hotels. To top it off, you’ll also get 10,000 bonus miles automatically each account anniversary, which is worth at least $100 in travel, or more when transferred to partners.
The Venture X also has access to Capital One’s Premier Collection, which is a group of luxury hotels around the world that offers premium perks including an experience credit worth up to $100 USD to use on dining, spa, and other activities during your stay, upgraded rooms, daily breakfast for two, and more.
Cardholders get unlimited access to Capital One Lounges and 1,300+ Priority Pass lounges worldwide—and authorized users get the same access! If you’re looking for the best credit card for international travel, definitely add this one to your wallet.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
75,000 Bonus Miles
after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening
The Capital One Venture X is a direct competitor to the Chase Sapphire Reserve, and for many seeking a simpler earning scheme with premium perks, it could be the better option. But the Venture X truly shines with one benefit in particular: four free authorized users. Not only can they all use the card and earn miles, they all receive a Priority Pass membership which allows themselves and two guests access to airport lounges. In a highly improbable situation, that means you could technically bring 15 people into a lounge with you.
PROS
- Its solid intro bonus of 75,000 miles is worth well over $1,000 when transferred to partner airlines and hotels, or a flat rate $750 when redeemed on the Capital One Travel Portal.
- Cardholders get a bonus of 10,000 miles each year after their first account anniversary, which is nothing to shrug off, especially when a little bit short of that business class flight. It’s worth almost $200 depending on how you use it.
- The $300 annual credit for purchases made on the Capital One Travel Portal, combined with the yearly free miles, more than annul the $395 annual fee.
- Four authorized users can be added for free.
- The cardholder is entitled to a Priority Pass membership and entry to Capital One Lounges, even the authorized users.
- A generous offering of travel insurance, protections and reimbursements round out an excellent array of benefits.
CONS
- The $300 credit is a bit less flexible than the Chase Sapphire Reserve’s comparable benefit.
- Miles earning is the same as the Sapphire Reserve on portal-based purchases, but less on general travel spending.
- Capital one transfer partners are solid, but still don’t include any US-based airlines or hotels.
Annual Fee: $395 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for points transfers:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Who’s this for? The traveler who desires flexibility and valuable points should consider this card. Chase points can be transferred to multiple airlines and three hotel loyalty programs: World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG Rewards.
Details: The Chase Sapphire Preferred has quite a few ways to earn points, making it easy to rack up rewards. Plus, the card comes with an annual $50 hotel credit when booking a hotel stay through the Chase Travel℠.
You’ll earn 5X points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 2X points on all other travel purchases. Categories that earn 3X Ultimate Rewards points include restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). Plus, 1X Ultimate Rewards points on all other spending.
To top off your points earning, you’ll also get a 10% Ultimate Rewards point bonus annually based on your card spending, earned after you renew and pay your annual fee.
Chase points offer large value—they can be transferred to over a dozen airline and hotel partners like United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Hyatt, and Marriott. And if you redeem through Chase Travel℠, which allows you to book nearly any type of flight, hotel, or rental car, your points will get a 25% boost in value.
The card also comes with primary rental car insurance and no foreign transaction fees.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 Bonus Points
after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the ultimate all-around travel credit card—it fits perfectly into almost any points-earner’s wallet. Points novices can enjoy a significant intro bonus and easy to grasp spending categories with an approachable annual fee. The more experienced can utilize its high value earning potential as a secondary card and also gain access to Chase’s strong travel booking portal.
PROS
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. The 60,000 points, for example, are worth $750 toward travel.
- The $50 dollar hotel credit for stays purchased on Chase Travel℠ already cuts the already approachable $95 annual fee significantly.
- A 10% annual points bonus is tacked on every year, adding a little more value.
- A free year-long Doordash DashPass membership is also thrown in, which gives you free delivery and some extra discounts. It’s a solid perk if you order food delivery at least semi-frequently (Activate by 12/31/2024).
- Along with all of the above, cardholders also have access to a string of travel protections like rental coverage, cancellation insurance, and purchase protection.
CONS
- Maximizing the value of Chase points can still be complicated for complete novices.
- Competing cards like the Capital One Venture have a better earning rate for non-bonused spend.
- It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So, if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted
Annual Fee: $95 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for Hilton:
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Who’s this for? Regular and even infrequent travelers with a preference for Hilton-branded hotels when on the road will like this credit card.
Details: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first six months of card membership. Plus, earn 4X points for each dollar on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3X points for all other eligible purchases on your card. No foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is an excellent hotel card, with a strong intro bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card in your first six months of card membership. It’s worth having this card even for a couple of stays a year, as the $150 annual fee is already validated by the free breakfast and strong points-earnings. If free Hilton nights is the goal, its earning potential is stellar, with 4X points for each dollar on U.S. online retail purchases, and 3X points for all other eligible purchases on your card.
PROS
- Strong 130,000-point intro bonus, which could translate to multiple free nights or one night in a luxury property in some places
- Up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- Get complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status. This entitles the cardholder to room upgrades if available, free breakfast, 80% bonus points on Hilton spends, and fifth night free on an award stay. It’s more than worth the annual fee.
- Strong spending categories on popular purchases like U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
- Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year
- Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors(TM) Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.
CONS
- No automatic free anniversary nights
- You’ll need a lot of Hilton points to redeem for a free night at a luxury property
- $150 annual fee
Annual Fee: $150 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best card for Marriott:
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Who’s this for? Casual to frequent travelers with a preference for Marriott-branded hotels should consider this card.
Details: Enjoy a limited time intro bonus of 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases. Up to 17X points on Marriott stays. 3X points on all groceries, gas stations, and dining purchases up to $6,000 per year, then 2X points 2X points on all other spending. Receive 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year. Plus earn 1 elite night credit towards elite status for every $5,000 you spend. Receive automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver elite status. There’s also no foreign transaction fees, and a small $95 annual fee.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Limited time offer! Earn 5 Free Night Awards
(each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card provides a strong option for those with a preference for staying at Marriott properties. As with many hotel cards, heavy travelers would do well to upgrade to a more premium card, but for the regular guest, the Boundless makes a compelling case to be in your wallet. Its limited time offer allows you to earn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases—which is enough to make the card a no-brainer, as that comfortably justifies the $95 annual fee.
PROS
- Its limited time intro bonus offers five Free Night Awards worth up to 50,000 points each.
- Cardholders enjoy a free night certificate each cardmember anniversary, worth up to 35,000. If used strategically, the value of this night could well exceed the $95 annual fee
- It’s possible to earn up to 17X spent on Marriott stays
- Automatic Silver Elite status, which offers late checkouts and 10% bonus points on stays
CONS
- You’ll need to shell out for a larger fee card if you want high-tier elite status
- Mediocre points-earning bonus categories
Annual Fee: $95 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best hotel credit card for Hyatt:
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Who’s this for? Casual to frequent travelers with a preference for Hyatt-branded hotels will like this hotel credit card that’s one of the best credit card for international travel options.
Details: There’s a sizable intro bonus of 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening Plus, you’ll get up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2X bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent Up to 9X points on Hyatt purchases 2X points on restaurant, transit, commuting, flights booked directly with airlines, and fitness and gym clubs. Plus, 1X point on all other spending.
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Up to 60,000 Bonus Points
Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is a wonderful card to have in your wallet, not least because Hyatt points are one of, if not the most, valuable hotel points out there. Its intro bonus is worth 30,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months of opening the card, which may seem sultry compared to others, it’s actually worth close to $600. You can also technically earn an extra 30,000 points, but that takes a bit more spending. But with the bonus, a free night certificate doled out each year, and an extra free night certificate after spending $15,000, you’re getting a card that packs a punch.
PROS
- Intro bonus of 60,000 points can be worth over $1,000 towards Hyatt stays
- Cardholders are entitled to a free night certificate each cardmember anniversary, comfortably compensating for the $95 annual fee
- Cardholders get automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist elite status includes bonus points on paid Hyatt stays, premium internet and 2pm late check-out
- You can earn credits towards higher levels of Hyatt elite status as you spend on the card
CONS
- Points-earning potential isn’t too strong, especially beyond the intro period.
- Hyatt has fewer properties than the likes of Marriott and Hilton, so using you may be more limited to where you can redeem your points.
Annual Fee: $95 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
Best Hotel Credit Card for IHG:
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Who’s this for? Casual to frequent travelers with a preference for IHG-branded hotels should consider this card.
Details: There’s a 140,000-point intro bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months of opening the card to take advantage of. Plus, get up to 26X points on IHG purchases, 5X points on gas stations, travel, and at restaurants, and 3X points on all other purchases.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months of account opening
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card should claim a spot in any IHG loyalist’s wallet, thanks to its sizable 140,000-point intro bonus, annual free night award, and some bonus perks that more than compensate for the $99 annual fee. While IHG points may not be as valuable as other hotel points, there are still some hefty savings to be had with this card.
PROS
- Cardholders will earn 140,000 points as a welcome bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening.
- The complimentary anniversary night is more than worth the $99 annual fee.
- Cardholders can also get a bonus reward night after redeeming points for a stay of four nights or more (i.e. book four nights with points for the cost of three nights).
- Complimentary Platinum Elite status comes with the card which gifts 50% bonus points on stays, room upgrades where available, and more.
- It’s possible to earn as much as 26X points when paying for an IHG stay.
- A wide variety of points-earning categories makes it easy to rack up rewards.
CONS
- IHG points aren’t as valuable as some hotel currencies—you’ll need a lot more points to get free stays.
- The high earning rates, in turn, aren’t quite as lucrative as they seem.
Annual Fee: $99 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
The best premium hotel card:
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Who’s this for? The Hilton loyalist with an eye on high-end perks will like this credit card. Although, it’s still worth having even if you only stay at a Hilton once or twice a year.
Details: Score 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 within the first six months of opening the card. Get 14X points on Hilton Purchases, 7X points on flights booked directly with the airline or Amex Travel, 7X points on car rentals, 7X points on U.S. dining, including takeout and delivery, and 3X points on all other purchases.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
150,000 Bonus Points
after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of account opening
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is big ticket hotel card with a hefty $550 annual fee to match. But with complimentary Hilton Diamond elite status, a whopping 150,000-point intro bonus worth around $900, an annual free night certificate, free Priority Pass membership, $250 in resort credits, and a further $250 in airline fee credits, the Aspire has a lot to offer, even if you only stay in Hilton properties a few times a year.
PROS
- The 150,000 point intro bonus is worth around $900 and can score you several nights in some excellent hotels. It’s earned by spending $4,000 within the first three months of opening the card.
- Complimentary Diamond elite status with Hilton Honors is a huge perk as its the hotel’s top-tier status. It offers free breakfast, executive lounge access, room upgrades, and strong bonus points earning opportunities.
- Cardholders get a free night on their anniversary each year which can be used at any Hilton hotel around the world, and big spending customers will get another free night if they spend $60,000 in a year on the card. This is on the top of the points you already earn for spending on the card.
- The $250 resort credit can be used to cover room rates or on-site expenses at almost 250 resorts worldwide, further validating the annual fee.
- The $250 yearly airline fee can be used to offset checked bag fees, among other costs, with your selected airline. This perk makes the card more flexible, as you don’t need an airline card to enjoy free checked bags if you only travel a few times a year.
- The Priority Pass Select membership allows for unlimited visits to 1400+ airport lounges around the world, a major benefit for anyone traveling regularly. You can even bring two guests for free.
CONS
- The $450 yearly fee is high, and while it’s easy to gain the value back, infrequent travelers may want to look at a less expensive Hilton credit card
- The airline and resort credits have rules that make them a little more complicated to use, so gaining maximum value isn’t always easy
- Hilton Honors awards nights can have very high rates
Annual Fee: $450 | Terms Apply | Rates & Fees
*All information about The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Daily Navigator team. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through creditcards.com.
FAQs
Should I open a hotel card?
Hotel credit cards can be extremely useful for a wide range of reasons. Unlike airline cards, which generally offer less flexibility and fewer perks, co-branded hotel cards often provide value above and beyond.
Intro bonuses can often comfortably cover two or three nights in a hotel, and many reward customers with a free night certificate each year, which easily offsets the cost of the cards in many cases. Many of the cards listed in this article come with a free yearly stay and only have an annual fee that’s less than $100. If you stay in a hotel once a year and spend $200 on that hotel, you’ve already got your money back.
What really sets them apart is the perks they come with, like automatic elite status perks. Becoming a high-tier elite member of a hotel brand can mean many things, like free breakfasts, room upgrades, and bonus points on spending. All of these factor together to produce buckets of value from a card.
Is it worth splashing on a premium card?
As with many credit cards, the answer lies in your lifestyle. If you’re an extremely occasional traveler, going for a high-annual fee premium option will usually not be worth the cost. The value in these cards come from regular usage and a personal desire for the luxury perks they offer – like airport lounge access.
The mid-tier cards are far more risk free and offer simple ways to ensure paying an annual fees is validated. So if you’re only spending a few nights in a hotel a year, you probably don’t need to shell out for a premium card.
Should you stick to one hotel brand?
This comes down to personal preference. Some travelers swear by a certain hotel collection and won’t even look elsewhere. Others operate on a case-by-case basis. If you feel confident that you can get use from two hotel brands, make a calculated decisions — it may even be worth having cards for each chain if you travel enough.
Some general travel cards also offer hotel automatic elite status as well, allowing for flexibility but still giving you access to elite perks.
Bottom line
Hotel credit cards can be an amazing tool for saving money on one of your biggest travel expenses, but they prove even more valuable in the form of experience: offering room upgrades, free breakfasts, and other members-only perks.
*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
by travelers, for travelers.
