What's the Best Hotel Chain Travel Credit Card?

Both frequent and in frequent travelers can take advantage of the perks and free travel options offered by hotel chain travel credit cards. These cards are co-branded with a hotel chain's loyalty program, allowing you to earn points as well as program tier levels as you make every day purchases. The very best credit cards that are associated with hotel chains can make it possible for you to earn free accommodations even if you seldom travel.

Hotel Chain Loyalty Programs

Most hotel chains have loyalty programs that reward guests with free accommodations, discounted accommodations, and perks and privileges while staying at the brand's hotels. Each program is a bit different, but guests can typically earn points for the amount of money they spend at hotels for both accomodations and additional charges, such as food, drink, or spa services.

Some programs also offer tier levels within their loyalty programs, which can be earned by the amount that a person spends within the hotel chain or, in some programs, by how many nights the member stays in the brand's hotels. Tier levels provide additional perks, such as free Wi-Fi, complimentary snacks or other amenities, as well as bonus points on standard points earnings.

Many hotel chains offer ways to earn loyalty points that do not require staying or dining at a hotel. These include making purchases through retail partners or making donations to charity. However, the most common way to earn hotel loyalty points without actually staying at a hotel is to use a co-branded credit card that allows you to earn points on every day purchases.

What to Look for in a Hotel Chain Credit Card

When choosing a hotel chain credit card, there are several things that you should take into consideration. Typically, your primary concern should be the terms of the credit card: there is no real savings on hotel accommodation if you are paying astronomical interest rates or annual fees. Other things to think about include:

Level guarantee: Some hotel chain credit cards automatically elevate your tier level, regardless of how many nights you stay at a hotel or how many points you earn. You'll be able to maintain that tier level, and receive all of its perks and benefits, as long as you hold your hotel chain credit card.

Accelerated point earnings: Hotel chain credit cards allow you to accelerate points earnings when you use your card insert in purchasing categories. For example, while the card may allow you to earn one point for every dollar spent on groceries, you may be able to earn five times the points if you spend money on airline tickets, and up to 12 points when you use your card to pay for accommodations at the hotel chain that has partnered with your credit card.

Airline partnerships: Some of these cards allow you to use your points for airline tickets.

Other travel perks: Credit cards that are branded with a hotel chain or airline often include additional travel perks, which may include passes to airport lounges, credits for signing up for airport services such as CLEAR or TSA Pre-Check, traveler assistance hotlines, travel insurance, or rental car coverage.

One thing to keep in mind is that hotel chain credit cards are often best for brand loyalists. This is because if you use your card to stay at hotels outside of the brand network, you may not receive significant benefits. If you are not a brand loyalist, and don't intend to become one, you may be better off with a travel credit card that is not connected to a specific chain or brand.

Best Hotel Chain Credit Cards

Determining the best hotel chain credit card for you depends on your priorities and, of course, your preferences in hotel brands. Here are a few options that you might want to consider:

Hilton Honors Surpass Card: This American Express card offer is an excellent perk to anyone who has the card: Automatic Gold tier status. What this means is that you will get a free breakfast when you stay at Hilton properties, room upgrades when there is available space, and bonuses on point earnings at the hotel. In addition, you can also accelerate point earnings by using the card in specific point categories. Introductory offers can change on these cards, but may include significant point bonuses and even a free night at Hilton properties when you use the card to make a specific dollar level of purchases within the first three months of membership.

The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card: This a Chase Mastercard that offers some unique perks, such as a free one night stay every year, along with a fourth night free bonus (if you use points for a stay at an IHG property, no points are deducted for the fourth night of your stay). You will also receive platinum elite status, which provides you with multiple perks, including accelerated earnings, priority check-in, late check-out, welcome amenities, and room upgrades. The card offers generous introductory promotions, as well as a full range of travel benefits, including travel insurance, collision waivers for rental cards, reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Pre-Check, and baggage loss coverage.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: This Visa card, also offered by Chase, can be a good option for those who stay at Marriott properties. In addition to the standard bonus offers and ability to accelerate points earnings, you also receive one free night a year on the anniversary of your card membership, earn elite status credits with every $5000 spent on the card, automatic Silver Elite Status for as long as you hold the card and accelerated earnings toward Gold Elite Status. These status tiers can greatly enhance your travel experience.

World of Hyatt Credit Card: while some consumer advocates feel that the rewards structure for this card can be overly complex, it can still represent a good value to those who patronize Hyatt hotels. For starters, you'll hold Discoverist status in Hyatt's rewards program. This entitles you to room upgrades, complimentary bottled water, premium Internet service, the ability to earn points with American Airlines, and also provides you with Pearl status in the MGM resorts loyalty program. You'll also receive anniversary free nights, bonus free nights depending on spending levels, as well as accelerated earnings options when you use your card to make purchases in specific categories.

Final Word

It's a good idea to routinely monitor the offers from various hotel chain credit cards so that you can select the best terms and perks for you. Keep in mind that many credit card companies routinely change their introductory offers, so it often pays to wait for an offer rather than applying immediately. You should also learn whether a credit card allows you to transfer balances so that you can take advantage of points or earnings while avoiding high interest rates that can kick in after an introductory period.

Another thing to keep in mind is that hotel chains frequently change their loyalty programs, which can impact the value of a hotel chain credit card. Monitor the loyalty programs that you participate in and make decisions about credit card offers accordingly.