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Hotel rewards programs can offer a lot of value to loyal customers, but each loyalty program from different hotels comes with its own set of benefits, as well as requirements to earn elite status.
While it can make sense to focus only on one hotel card to maximize your free nights and other benefits, hotel credit cards can also make it easy to take advantage of the perks offered by multiple programs. Many of the top options offer limited or no blackout dates, discounted members-only rates, free internet and other perks when you stay.
Here are some of the top hotel loyalty rewards programs and why you should consider joining them.
World of Hyatt: Most Value for Your Points
Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana/Hyatt
Among all of the top hotel rewards programs, World of Hyatt offers the most valuable rewards. According to our points and miles valuation guide, Hyatt points are worth 1.8 cents apiece on average. That's even higher than most airline frequent flyer programs.
The rewards program also offers a range of properties, including all-inclusive resorts. That said, Hyatt has the smallest footprint of any hotel chain on our list, with roughly 1,000 properties in 68 countries.
With the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you'll get some impressive rewards, including a sign-up bonus worth up to 60,000 bonus points — that's 30,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months and up to 30,000 more points by earning 2 bonus points total per dollar spent on purchases that earn 1 Bonus Point, up to $15,000 spent in the first six months of account opening.
With a value of 1.8 cents per point, that bonus is worth up to $1,080.
The card also offers a free night every year, as well as automatic Discoverist status, which is the program's lowest status level. However, there is a path to earn up to Globalist status, depending on how much you spend on the card.
Marriott Bonvoy: Most Flexible Points
Marriott
Marriott International has more than 7,000 properties in 131 countries and territories, making it so you can enjoy earning and redeeming rewards just about anywhere you go.
What sets the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program apart, however, is that it offers flexible redemptions beyond free hotel stays. For example, you can transfer your points to more than 30 airline partners, albeit at a rate of 3:1 in most cases.
What's more, you can redeem points for a travel package that may include a certain number of miles with a partner airline and a certain number of nights at a Marriott hotel.
It's important to note that the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program also includes Starwood Preferred Guest and Ritz-Carlton Rewards, which were incorporated into Marriott's program after it acquired Starwood Hotels.
There are three consumer credit cards that allow you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, including the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card from Chase, as well as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Credit Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
- Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work Read the review
- APR20.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
-
60,000
60,000Marriott Bonvoy Points
Limited Time Offer! Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $240 (60,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points * 0.004 base)
This is a good choice if you’re interested in getting into the travel rewards game but don’t want to commit to an annual fee. This credit card offers a solid welcome bonus and can be a great place to start, especially if you’re loyal to Marriott—as with other hotel cards, this one offers outsized rewards on purchases made with the hotel brand.
Overview
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is a solid choice if you’re interested in getting into the travel rewards game, but don’t want to commit to an annual fee. This credit card offers a solid welcome bonus and can be a great place to start, especially if you’re loyal to Marriott.
Pros
- No annual fee to worry about
- Great for beginners in the world of hotel loyalty
- Robust travel, lost luggage, and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Low-level Marriott status that comes with the card doesn't get you very much
- Only makes sense for those that stay in Marriott hotels
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
- Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work Read the review
- APR20.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$95
-
100,000
100,000Marriott Bonvoy Points
Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $400 (100,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points * 0.004 base)
This is a good choice for people who are getting into travel rewards and plan to stay at Marriott properties several times a year. A lot of this card's value comes through its rewards program. Benefits include free elite night credits, a free annual anniversary night, a welcome bonus and more. Cardholders can also earn high points per dollar on eligible purchases at Marriott properties.
Overview
The Boundless credit card offers some solid benefits, including the free elite night credits, a free anniversary night every card membership year, a welcome bonus, Silver Elite Status and 2x points per dollar spent on travel and all other purchases.
Pros
- Earn a free night certificate after each year you have the card
- Redeem points for Marriott hotels
- Generous rewards rates for Marriott hotel stays
- Earn elite nights by spending on the card
Cons
- $95 annual fee
- Marriott points aren't as rewarding as some other hotel points
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
- Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
- APR19.99%-28.99%
- Annual Fee$650
-
95,000
95,000Marriott Bonvoy Points
Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first 3 months Dollar Equivalent: $380 (95,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points * 0.004 base)
This card’s valuable perks can help offset its hefty annual fee: Cardholders receive Platinum Elite status with Marriott and an annual application fee credit worth up to $100 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. You’ll also get a dining credit and Elite night credits plus a Free Night Award when you renew your membership. If you prefer to stay at Marriott properties, you’ll likely find it easy to make the most of this card.
Overview
Having a Marriott cobranded credit card can make it easier to stay at the brand’s hotels and resorts on the cheap or even for free. And if you regularly travel, the mix of rewards and luxury perks that you’ll get with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is tough to beat.
Pros
- Wide array of statement credits and premium benefits
- Earn a free night certificate after each year you have the card
- Automatic elite status with the card
- Ideal for Marriott loyalists
Cons
- High annual fee
- Dining credit doesn't roll over month to month
- Marriott points aren't as rewarding as some other hotel points
Each card has its own set of benefits, with the Bonvoy Bold card offering no annual fee and few perks and the Bonvoy Brilliant charging a $650 annual fee and offering several high-end perks. The Bonvoy Boundless is a mid-tier card with a modest fee but solid benefits. Bonvoy points are worth 0.4 cents apiece, on average.
IHG Rewards: Best Deals with Dynamic Pricing
Kimpton Angler's Hotel South Beach/IHG
Most hotel loyalty programs have an award chart that tells you how many points you need for certain property categories. With IHG, though, the pricing is dynamic and can change depending on a variety of factors. While this makes for less certainty, it can also make it possible for you to snag an incredible deal on an expensive hotel stay with points.
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card
- Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work Read the review
- APR20.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$99
-
140,000
140,000IHG Rewards Points
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Dollar Equivalent: $700 (140,000 IHG Rewards Points * 0.005 base)
Aside from its astounding sign-up bonus, this card offers tons of value, especially for loyal IHG customers, like a free Reward Night on your account anniversary and Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member. Plus, it offers a Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® fee credit every four years, and IHG Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at a variety of hotels.
Overview
Frequent customers of IHG hotels and other people who enjoy earning rewards nights for hotel stays and premium hotel status should consider picking up this card.
Pros
- Generous rewards rate on IHG Hotels and Resorts purchases
- Automatic IHG Rewards Platinum Elite status which gets you perks like upgrades
- Free reward night every account anniversary, with the potential to be worth hundreds of dollars
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Only makes sense if you plan to stay at IHG properties
IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card
- Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work Read the review
- APR20.74% - 27.74% (Variable)
- Annual Fee$0
-
80,000
80,000IHG Rewards Points
Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening Dollar Equivalent: $400 (80,000 IHG Rewards Points * 0.005 base)
Whether your family is looking for some free hotel nights for a road trip or you’re a loyal customer of the IHG hotel brand, this card offers you a chance to earn decent rewards. Aside from its generous sign-up bonus, it offers tons of value, including the option to redeem points at all IHG properties.
Overview
Whether you’re a family looking for some free hotel nights while making your annual road trip or you’re a loyal customer of the IHG hotel brand, the IHG Rewards Traveler Credit Card — which has no annual fee, by the way — offers you a chance to earn some decent rewards.
Perks
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- Silver Elite Status included with the card
Pros
- One of the top picks for a no-annual-fee hotel credit card
- Book three nights with points, get your fourth free
- Entry-level Silver Elite status, with the chance to upgrade to Gold with $20,000 or more in annual spend
Cons
- No free night account anniversary reward
According to our points valuation, IHG points are worth 0.5 cents apiece on average, though, and free nights start at 10,000 points.
You can earn IHG rewards points with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase. The card offers an ample sign-up bonus, decent rewards, a free night every year and you earn a free Reward night when you book a consecutive four-night stay with points — that's a unique benefit that no other major hotel credit card offers.
IHG has nearly 6,000 properties in more than 100 countries.
Wyndham Rewards: Most Properties
TRS Yucatan Hotel/Wyndham
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is the largest hotel chain in the world, with more than 9,000 properties in more than 80 countries. The chain offers properties across the spectrum, ranging from Super 8 to The Registry Collection Hotels.
Wyndham Rewards points are worth 1.1 cents apiece, on average, and you can redeem a free night for 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 points — that's relatively cheap compared to other top hotel programs.
There are two Wyndham co-branded credit cards, including the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card and the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card. Each one offers free nights, but the Earner Plus card also offers a bigger welcome bonus, easy bonus points, better elite status and more.
Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card
- Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work Read the review
- APR19.49%, 23.74% or 28.74%
- Annual Fee$0
-
30,000
30,000Points
Earn 30,000 bonus points, enough for up to 4 free nights at participating properties after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Dollar Equivalent: $300 (30,000 Points * 0.01 base)
In addition to the attractive sign-up bonus, this card offers a decent bonus point award annually after meeting spending requirements. This is an interesting take on the free night award offered by many hotel cards and could potentially help you reach a larger points goal.
Overview
For budget-conscious travelers, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card makes racking up hotel points for free nights a breeze, thanks to a straightforward award chart and a 10% redemption discount.
Perks
- Earn 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year if you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases—that’s enough for up to one free night at participating properties.
- Wyndham Rewards Earner Cardmembers can save even more on our Best Available Rate at participating Hotels by Wyndham.
- Automatically receive a Wyndham Rewards GOLD member level and enjoy perks like free WiFi, preferred room selection, late checkout, and more.
- $0 Fraud Liability protection
- No foreign transaction fees
Pros
- Automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold elite status, offering late checkout, preferred room selection and more perks
- 10% award discount when redeeming your Wyndham Rewards points
- 5x points on Wyndham stays and gas purchases
- No annual fee
Cons
- Everyday earning rate could be better compared to other rewards cards
Hilton Honors: Best Chance for Elite Status
Hilton
Hilton Honors points aren't worth a lot at just 0.5 cents apiece. But they're easy to earn, and it's the only hotel rewards program that offers its top elite status tier to credit card holders.
With the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you'll pay an annual fee but get a free weekend night award you can use at most Hilton properties — most cards restrict your free night to lower-category properties — and Diamond status, among other things. With Hilton, Diamond status is as good as it gets.
That said, you can also apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Card. But you have to hit a spending requirement to get a free night with the Surpass card and the basic Hilton credit card doesn't offer much at all in the way of perks. Hilton has more than 6,500 properties in 119 countries and territories.
Picking the Right Hotel Rewards Program for You
It can be difficult to choose the right hotel loyalty program for you. For many, the answer is more than one. If you prefer to get the cheapest hotel every time, it doesn't make sense to stay with just one hotel brand every time you travel if it means paying more.
In addition to these programs, you may also consider Radisson Rewards, Best Western Rewards, AccorHotels Live Limitless, Sonesta Travel Pass and more. As you compare options, look at various perks and features they might offer, such as early check-in, late check-out, a travel credit and even top-tier perks like free breakfast and executive lounge access. Get the absolute best deals on your trips with Travelocity Promo Codes and status-based discounts. Booking.com also offers loyalty programs that can help you save more. Booking.com promo codes can help you earn points and miles for your next trip.
And if you're okay with having multiple credit cards, getting more than one hotel credit card can make it so you can enjoy the benefits from multiple programs at once.
Related Article
6 Ways to Make Your Points Go Farther When Redeeming for Travel
Ben Luthi
Ben Luthi is a personal finance and travel writer and credit card expert. He has a degree in finance from Brigham Young University and worked in financial planning, banking and auto finance before writing full-time for NerdWallet and Student Loan Hero. Ben is now a full-time freelance writer and enjoys traveling and spending time with his two kids. His work has appeared in several publications, including U.S. News & World Report, USA Today, Money, Success and Slickdeals.
