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Hotel credit cards are an easy way to accumulate loyalty points to book free nights. They also allow you to enjoy the same benefits as travelers who earn the same status by booking at least 40 nights a year. If you’re a casual traveler or simply want the elite benefits ASAP, these credit cards give you automatic hotel elite status.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Best Credit Cards for Hotel Elite Status
Hilton Honors
The information for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
American Express offers three co-brand Hilton Honors credit cards. Their premium option is the Hilton Honors Aspire American Express Card which gives you Diamond status which is the highest Hilton Honors membership tier.
Select Hilton Honors Diamond status benefits include executive lounge access, complimentary breakfast at all hotels, and a 48-hour room guarantee.
By owning the Aspire Card, you can enjoy these additional Hilton Honors benefits:
- Hilton Resort statement credit
- One annual free hotel night certificate
- Second free hotel nighter certificate after $60,000 in annual card purchases
- Priority Pass Select lounge membership (Enrollment required)
- Terms apply
New cardholders can also earn 150,000 bonus points (worth up to 30 free nights!) by spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
The annual fee is $450 (See Rates & Fees).
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
The Marriott Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest rewards programs have been combined into a new rewards program now called Marriott Bonvoy. American Express offers a premium card and Chase carries the consumer credit card. Both are valuable in different ways.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant from American Express
The premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is one of the best Marriott credit cards.
Each card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
Other featured benefits include 1 Free Night Award (redemption level at or under 85,000 points) annually after your card renewal month at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties (some hotels have resort fees), up to $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card, and complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge access.
Additionally, cardholders can enjoy a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, up to $800 in cellphone protection, and 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status (terms apply).
Cardholders earn:
- 6x points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 3x points at restaurants worldwide
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at participating hotels for each U.S. dollar (or the currency equivalent) that is incurred and paid for by the member.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. Benefit options include Five (5) Suite Night Awards, an 85K Free Night Award, and a mattress and box spring $1,000 discount from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. Certain hotels have resort fees.
New Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card cardholders can earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using their new Card to make $5,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 3 months.
Although this card has a $650 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees), it has plenty of benefits that are worth a lot more.
Learn more: Hotel Rewards Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
If you don’t need a premium travel credit card, the Chase-issued Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card only costs $95 annually. It comes with Silver Elite status and 15 Elite Night credits. Silver status lets you enjoy a 10% point bonus and late checkout.
Owning the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card also means you get a hotel night good at any property that costs 35,000 points or less at each card renewal. Plus, cardholders can earn up to 17x total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
Additionally, earn 3x Bonvoy points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
Additionally, earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
There’s an exciting limited-time bonus offer! New Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card cardholders can earn 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card
The IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card gives you automatic Platinum Elite status. This is the second-highest status in the IHG Rewards Club program and lets you enjoy space-available room upgrades, a 50% point bonus, and elite rollover nights.
For frequent IHG travelers, the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card is a nice option. Cardholders can earn up to 26 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel. Also, earn 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3x points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
As an IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card cardholder, you’ll also get to enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide.
Additionally, you can enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 3 or more nights.
As long as you remain a Premier cardmember, you can enjoy Platinum Elite status. Platinum Elite Status allows for room upgrades (when available), late check-out, welcome amenity at check-in, and more. Additionally, enjoy a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.
New IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card cardholders can earn 175,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. This is the best points offer ever for this card!
The annual fee is $99.
Related: IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card Review
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
It’s hard to ignore The World of Hyatt Credit Card which helps you maximize one of the most robust hotel loyalty programs. You instantly get Discoverist hotel elite status that gives you premium internet and a free bottle of water daily. Discoverist members also earn 10% bonus points on stays, waived resort fees on bonus nights, space-available room upgrades, and free breakfast.
World of Hyatt cardmembers can upgrade their elite status faster as they receive 5 qualifying elite night credits each year. You earn an additional 2 elite night credits for every $5,000 spent.
Besides the elite status benefits, you also get a free night credit valid at any category 1-4 property each card anniversary. You earn a second free night award by making $15,000 in annual card purchases.
You also have the opportunity to earn up to 60,000 bonus points as a signup bonus with The World of Hyatt Credit Card. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent on purchases that earn 1 Bonus Point, up to $15,000, in the first 6 months of account opening.
Summary
As expected, premium hotel credit cards offer the best hotel elite status. But even settling for the lower-priced “mass consumer” cards still give you a jumpstart each year. You would need to spend at least 10 to 40 nights before you qualify for the same status level without the card.
What’s your go-to hotel loyalty program? Which hotel elite status level is your goal this year?
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please click here.
And for rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please click here.
