The 13 Best Hotel Credit Cards for September 2024

Now that fall is in full effect, it’s time for people to plan their last-second getaways and extravagant vacations. With so many places to explore, travelers need a good idea of where they want to stay and how they want to pay for things. Fortunately, a wide array of hotel credit cards give users sizable discounts and bonuses at hotel chains that span the country and the world. Whether you are a routine traveler or someone who just gets away occasionally, these 13 hotel credit cards are great options for anyone trying to make their next trip more luxurious and economical.   

Rewards programs always seem nice, but it’s important to remember that not all cards and sign-on bonuses are made equal. Before you pick a new hotel card, please consider the following factors:

• Annual fees
• Whether you enjoy staying at various hotels or tend to stick to one chain
• Welcome bonus details
• How much you spend on travel and hotels annually 

1. Chase Sapphire Reserve 

The Chase Sapphire card series is a great option for people who like traveling, but the Reserve card is Chase’s premium travel card, and it packs a serious punch. The card has a $550 annual fee, but if you utilize all of the credits and point offerings, the Sapphire Reserve has a lot of value for cardholders. In addition to an annual $300 flexible travel credit that can be used on hotels or any other travel charge, the card gives users 10X points on hotels booked directly through the Chase Travel portal. 

Here are some of the card’s perks:

• Welcome Bonus: 60,000 Chase Travel Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months
• Annual $300 flexible travel credit that can be used on flights and hotels
• 10x points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel
• 10x points on Lyft rides
• 3x points on travel and dining purchases
• Airport lounge access and TSA Precheck credits to make traveling more relaxing
• $550 Annual Fee

Apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve card here.

2. American Express Platinum

Similar to the two key Chase travel cards, the American Express Platinum card is the premier travel option for Amex card holders. Not only does the card reward users who book hotels directly through Amex Travel with five points for every dollar spent, but cardholders also earn $200 in hotel credit each year. To make things even more enticing, Platinum cardholders also get $200 in airline credit, $200 in Uber cash, and $240 worth of digital entertainment credits every year. 

Below are some of the card’s features:

• Welcome Bonus: 80,000 Membership Reward Points after spending $8,000 in the first six months
• Annual $200 Hotel Credit for prepaid trips booked through American Express Travel
• Annual $200 airline fee after cardholder picks a qualifying airline
• $200 worth of Uber Cash spread throughout the calendar year
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit for streaming services in case there’s nothing to watch in the hotel
• 5X Points on hotel bookings placed via Amex Travel
• Access to American Express Global Lounge Collection and a $189 CLEAR Plus Credit
• $695 Annual Fee

Apply for the American Express Platinum card here.

3. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa 

The first chain-specific option on this list, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa is a great card that rewards travelers who frequently find themselves staying or dining at a Marriott. Not only does the card offer handsome rewards for money spent directly at Marriott locations, but it rewards all kinds of travel expenses like flights and gas purchases. For people who travel a lot for work, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card automatically qualifies guests for complimentary premium W-Fi, so there won’t be any connection issues during those important video meetings.  

Check out these key card features:

• Welcome Bonus: Three free Night Awards (Valued up to 150,000 Points) after spending $3,000 in the first three months
• Up to 17X Points for every dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3X points on the first $6,000 worth of gas, grocery and dining expenses
• 2X points on travel purchases
• 15 Free Marriott Elite Night Credits per Calendar Year as well as automatic designation into Marriots’s Silver Elite Status
• Complimentary Premium Wi-Fi while staying at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• $95 Annual Fee

Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Visa here.

4. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express

If Marriott is your hotel of choice but already in the American Express ecosystem, you might want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant over the Boundless card. The card is a bit more expensive than its Visa-backed counterpart, but it includes $300 in dining credit and $100 worth of Marriott property credit for each calendar year. Bonvoy Brilliant cardholders earn one free night each year and automatically qualify for the Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite program. They also have access to room upgrades and enhanced bonus point offerings. 

Here are some of the Marriot Bonvoy Brilliant’s features: 

• Welcome Bonus: 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first six months
• 6X Marriott Bonvoy Points on eligible purchases placed at Marriott Bonvoy Hotels, with the potential to earn up to 21X Bonvoy Points for every stay
• 3X Marriott Bonvoy Points on restaurants and flights booked directly with airlines
• $300 Dining Credit for each calendar year
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit for each calendar year
• Designation as a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite with access to room upgrades
• One Free Night Award every year after the card renewal month
• $650 Annual Fee

Apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express here.

5. Citi Strata Premier Card

For people who really look for the best dollar value from their hotel credit cards, the Citi Strata Premier card is a great option. Not only does the card’s $100 hotel benefit immediately cover the annual fee, but the 10 points for every dollar spent on hotels via CitiTravel rewards people who are trying to accumulate points for future trips. Additionally, the 3X points on gas and EV charging expenses makes this card a great option for people who enjoy road tripping from one hotel to the next. 

Check out these key features:

• Welcome Bonus: 70,000 Citi ThankYou Points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account activation
• 10X Points for hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel
• 3X Points for Air Travel and other hotel purchases
• 3X Points for restaurants  and supermarkets
• 3X points on gas and EV charging station costs
• Annual $100 hotel benefit eligible on a single stay of $500 booked on CitiTravel
• $95 Annual Fee 

Apply for the Citi Strata Premier Card here.

6. IHG One Rewards Premier Mastercard

IHG Hotels & Resorts has locations all around the world. Whether someone wants to visit Nashville or Budapest, IHG has a comfortable room for you and your loved ones to escape to at the end of a long vacation day. Thanks to the IHG One Rewards Premier Mastercard, IHG regulars have the potential to earn up to 26 points for every dollar spent at an IHG location. Even if you don’t plan on staying at an IHG resort, the card still rewards holders with five points for every dollar spent on hotels and other travel expenses. The card has a $99 annual fee, but holders earn one free night at an IHG hotel per year – meaning this card comes close to paying for itself before factoring in any bonus points. 

Here are some IHG One Rewards Card features:

• Welcome Bonus: 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first three months
• Up to 26X points for every dollar spent at IHG Hotels and Resorts
• 5X points on every dollar spent on travel and hotels
• 5X points on gas
• 5X points on restaurants and eligible delivery services
• 3X points on all other purchases
• Free night earned after each account anniversary 
• No foreign transaction fees and $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA Precheck 
• $99 Annual Fee

Apply for the IHG One Rewards Premier Mastercard here.

7. Capital One Venture X Rewards

The Capital One Venture X card, previously labeled one of the best family travel cards by The Frugal Expat, pretty much pays for itself. The card costs $395 every year, but thanks to the $300 in annual travel credit and the annualanniversary bonus points, cardholders are able to extract a lot of value from this card. Not only do the credits and the fees nearly line up, but users earn 10X miles on hotels booked directly through the Capital One Travel platform and 5X miles for any flights booked directly through the Capital One Travel site. Thanks to the fact that the card offers users 2X points on all other purchases, the Capital One Venture X is a great card to use for everyday purchases as well aslarger travel expenses.   

Here are some of the other card features:

• Welcome Bonus: 75,000 Miles after cardholder spends $4,000 in the first three months after account opening
• Annual anniversary bonus worth 10,000 miles (equal to $100 travel credit)
• 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles on all other purchases 
• $300 Annual Travel Credit for bookings placed through Capital One Travel
• Access to Capital One Lounges and $100 Global Entry or TSA Precheck Credit
• $395 Annual Fee

Apply for the Capital One Venture X Rewards card here.

8. Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus 

A budget-friendly travel card that packs a huge punch, the Wyndham Rewards Earner is a great option for people who like stacking points. Not only do cardholders earn six points for every dollar spent at a Wyndham resort, but they also earn 7,500 bonus anniversary points every year after paying the $75 renewal fee. Cardholders automatically become Wyndham Rewards Platinum members and are often eligible for discounts that make it even easier to preserve points while on the road.   

Below are the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus’ perks:

• Welcome Bonus: 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first six months of card ownership 
• Anniversary Bonus of 7,500 Bonus points after paying annual renewal fees
• 6X Points for eligible purchases at Wyndham Hotels
• 4X Points for dining and grocery expenses  
• Automatically receive Wyndham Rewards Platinum membership and receive perks like early check-in and car rental upgrades 
• No foreign transaction fees
• $75 Annual Fee

Apply for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus card here.

9. World of Hyatt Visa Card

One thing I always look for in a new card is how quickly it pays for itself. Luckily, the World of Hyatt Visa Card makes it easy for repeat Hyatt customers to see a lot of value very quickly. Not only do cardholders earn nine points for every dollar spent at a Hyatt resort, but they also receive a free night every calendar year and are eligible to earn another depending on their spending levels. Thanks to the two points for every dollar spent on flights, dining, and gym memberships, the Hyatt Visa Card is a great mixture of travel and everyday card that has a lot of unique perks for cardholders.  

Here are some of the card’s features:

• Welcome Bonus: 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 in the first three months of card ownership with the ability to earn up to 30,000 additional points by earning 2 bonus points on every dollar spent in the first six months of having the card
• Up to 9X points on purchase at Hyatt Hotels
• 2X points on flights and transit expenses 
• 2X points on dining expenses and gym memberships
• One free night every calendar year after the cardholder anniversary with the option to earn a second night if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
• Complimentary Discoverist Status at Hyatt Hotels with Premium in-room internet and 2:00 PM late checkouts 
• $95 Annual Fee

Apply for the World of Hyatt Visa Card here.

10. Caesars Rewards Visa Signature 

If you’re the kind of person who regularly goes to Las Vegas or Atlantic City, it makes sense to look into cards that reward repeat visits to your favorite resort. For fans of the Caesars destinations, the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature is a great option.

Over the last few years, Caesars has become one of the biggest casino operators in the country and has a lot of amazinglodging and dining options for people on all kinds of budgets. While the card doesn’t reward users with traditional points, the rewards credits and earned tier credits are very valuable for anyone who already finds themselves in the Caesars Rewards ecosystem. For every dollar spent at a Caesars resort, users earn 5 Caesars Reward Credits – a hugeboost that makes it easier for users to earn free rooms and comped meals during their visit.   

Check out these key card perks: 

• Welcome Bonus: 10,000 Reward Credits and 2,500 Tier Credits after spending $1,000 outside of Caesars Resorts within the first 90 days of account ownership
• Bonus 5,000 Tier Credits after spending $5,000 in a calendar year
• 15,000 Reward Credits after spending $50,000 in a calendar year 
• 5X Caesar Reward Credits for every dollar spent at Caesars resorts and casinos 
• 2X Reward credits for every dollar spent on restaurants, travel, and entertainment
• 1X reward credits for all other purchases
• No Annual Fee

Apply for the Caesars Rewards Visa Signature card here.

11. Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Hilton is one of the most dominant hotel chains in the country, and the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card makes sure repeat visitors are handsomely rewarded. Members earn up to 12 Hilton Honors points for every dollar spent at a Hilton resort and receive a $200 Hilton Statement credit every year. The card also earns hefty points for dining, gas, and online retail purchases, but one of the nicest perks is that all other purchases automatically qualify for three points for every dollar spent.  

Check out the Surpass Card’s unique features: 

• Welcome Bonus: 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a free night reward after spending $3,000 in the first six months of card ownership 
• 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases at a Hilton resort
• 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible dining, grocery, and gas expenses
• 4X Hilton Honor Bonus Points for online retail purchases
• 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible card purchases
• $200 Hilton Statement Credit each year
• Complimentary Designation as a Hilton Honors Gold Member 
• Earn a free night reward after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.
• No foreign transaction fees
• $150 Annual Fee

Apply for the HIlton Honors American Express Surpass card here.

12. Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

A step above the Surpass Card, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card packs a lot of value for travelers who frequently find themselves staying at a Hilton hotel. While the card is about $400 more than the Surpass card every year, the resort credits, on-property credit and quarterly flight credits make this card a great option for people who travel a lot. To make things even sweeter, cardholders automatically earn a complimentary designation as a Hilton Honors Diamond Member and earn perks like executive lounge access, room upgrades, and a 48-hour room availability guarantee.

Here are some of the card’s features:

• Welcome Bonus: 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $6,000 in the first six months of card ownership 
• 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible purchases at a Hilton resort
• 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for dining expenses and flights booked directly with airlines 
• 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible card purchases
• Semi-annual $200 Hilton resort credit
• $100 On-Property Credit after booking a two-night minimum stay at qualifying hotels 
• $50 in quarterly flight credit 
• Complimentary Designation as a Hilton Honors Diamond Member 
• Free night reward earned at every card anniversary
• No foreign transaction fees
• $550 Annual Fee

Apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card here.

13. Disney Premier Visa Card

Proud “Disney Adults” and families who routinely visit the Disney parks both have a lot to gain by looking into the Disney Premier Visa card. Not only does the Disney Premier card provide a solid amount of points for routine expenses like gas and groceries, but it also has sizable rewards for people who pay for Disney streaming services and discounts for various expenses at the parks. The card has a $49 fee, but since the card comes with complimentary park photo downloads and other discounts, the card will quickly pay for itself if you are the kind of parkgoer who already enjoys purchasing souvenir pictures and splurging on exclusive merchandise. 

Consider these Disney Premier Visa Card features: 

• Welcome Bonus: $300 statement credit after spending $1000 in the first three months of having the card
• 5% Disney Reward Dollars for all purchases made directly on DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or ESPN.com 
• 2% Disney Reward Dollars for purchases made at Disney resorts
• 2% Disney Reward Dollars on gas, groceries, and dining expenses
• 10% off merchandise purchases at Disney parks and resorts
• 10% off dining at Disneyland and the Walt Disney World Resorts
• 10% off purchases at DisneyStore.com
• Access to cardmember limited offers like park savings, exclusive products, and complimentary park photo downloads 
• $49 Annual Fee

Apply for the Disney Premier Visa Card here.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're in multiple hotel membership programs or a once-a-year adventurer, there's a hotel credit card out there that can add a lot of extra value to your travels. 

No matter what type of card you think is best for you, make sure to keep your spending habits, travel style, and desired perks in mind when making your final decision. With bonuses, credits, and hidden rewards, it’s easy to make these cards pay for themselves, but it’s just as easy to accidentally end up in a costly program that doesn’t align with your needs. But if you already know you like traveling and will be traveling a bit this year, consider one of the 13 Best Hotel Credit Cards for June 2024 and start earning those bonus points!