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Best credit cards for hotel stays

Cards with hotel credits, free nights or hotel points, ranked by first-year value for someone who stays in hotels several times a year.

Based on $2,730/month spending: dining $400, groceries $400, hotels $500, flights $300, gas $100, streaming $30, everything else $1,000.

Rerun this ranking with your spending
  1. 1
    Chase Sapphire ReserveFrequent travelers who'll use the $300 travel credit
    Fee
    $795
    Bonus
    $1,500
    Year 1
    $2,497
    Yr 2+
    $997
  2. 2
    American Express Platinum CardLounge lovers — the widest airport lounge access
    Fee
    $895
    Bonus
    $1,200
    Year 1
    $1,982
    Yr 2+
    $782
  3. 3
    Citi Strata Premier3x across five everyday categories for $95
    Fee
    $95
    Bonus
    $900
    Year 1
    $1,958
    Yr 2+
    $1,058
  4. 4
    Chase Sapphire PreferredA first travel card that's easy to get value from
    Fee
    $95
    Bonus
    $1,125
    Year 1
    $1,931
    Yr 2+
    $806
  5. 5
    World of HyattHyatt fans — Hyatt points are worth more than most hotel points
    Fee
    $95
    Bonus
    $900
    Year 1
    $1,817
    Yr 2+
    $917
  6. 6
    Hilton Honors SurpassHilton loyalists who want Gold status
    Fee
    $150
    Bonus
    $650
    Year 1
    $1,523
    Yr 2+
    $873
  7. 7
    IHG One Rewards PremierIHG regulars — 4th award night free and Platinum status
    Fee
    $150
    Bonus
    $700
    Year 1
    $1,497
    Yr 2+
    $797
  8. 8
    Marriott Bonvoy BoundlessMarriott regulars — the free night alone beats the $95 fee
    Fee
    $95
    Bonus
    $700
    Year 1
    $1,468
    Yr 2+
    $768
  9. 9
    Delta SkyMiles GoldDelta flyers — a free checked bag saves $70+ per round trip
    Fee
    $150
    Bonus
    $880
    Year 1
    $1,436
    Yr 2+
    $406
  10. 10
    United ExplorerUnited flyers — free first bag for you and a companion
    Fee
    $150
    Bonus
    $720
    Year 1
    $1,336
    Yr 2+
    $466
  11. 11
    Hilton Honors CardHilton points with no annual fee
    Fee
    $0
    Bonus
    $350
    Year 1
    $1,069
    Yr 2+
    $719

How we rank

Ledger adds up each card's sign-up bonus, the rewards it earns on the spending above (respecting caps), and a realistic share of its credits, then subtracts the annual fee. Points are valued at our estimates — in the calculator you can switch to cash-out (≈1¢) or transfer-partner (≈2¢) values, add the cards you already have, and see which new card adds the most.

Updated Oct 30, 2026.