Best Credit Cards for Hotels: Maximize Your Stays with Points
Whether you’re booking a luxury resort or a quick weekend getaway, using the right credit card for hotel stays can unlock free nights, elite perks, and great value for your points.
If you want to earn flexible rewards and maximize redemptions, these are the best credit cards for hotel travel—whether you prefer transferable points or brand-specific benefits.
Best Overall Card for Hotels: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®
For travelers who want maximum value and flexibility, Chase Sapphire Preferred (CSP) and Chase Sapphire Reserve® (CSR) are the top picks.
Why? Because Chase Ultimate Rewards® points are the only major points that transfer 1:1 to World of Hyatt—widely regarded as the best hotel loyalty program for award travel.
Hyatt: Best Hotel Chain for Award Value
For Hilton, IHG, or Marriott, transfers from Chase aren’t possible, and while Amex or Capital One do transfer to them, redemptions rarely provide great value.
That’s why Ultimate Rewards + Hyatt is the best combo for hotel points.
What if you want to book other hotel chains?
You can still book any hotel through Chase Travel℠ using points at:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred – Redeem up to 1.50 cents per point (CPP) for economy flights and some hotels, and up to 1.75 cents per point for premium (business/first‑class) flights with Points Boost
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® – Redeem at up to 2 cents per point (CPP) with Points Boost
If you find a good cash rate at Marriott, IHG, or Hilton, this can offer better value than transferring to those programs, especially since Chase doesn’t partner with them directly.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
 Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | $95 | Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | Learn more |
 Chase Sapphire Reserve® | $795 | Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening | Learn more |
Best Hotel Credit Cards for Brand Loyalists
If you’re loyal to a specific chain—or just want easy free nights and elite perks—a hotel-branded card can still be a great addition.
Here are the top hotel cards worth considering:
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
Earn 2 Free Nights after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $12,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening.
If you stay at Hyatt even a couple of times a year, this card easily pays for itself with the free night and elite benefits.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
Good for those who frequently stay at Marriott brands (e.g., Westin, Sheraton, St. Regis) and want elite perks and free nights.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
IHG has a huge global footprint, and this card is great for maximizing longer reward stays with the 4th night free benefit.
Final Thoughts: Best Strategy for Hotel Points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve + Hyatt = Best value for hotel redemptions
- Chase Travel Portal = Great for booking any hotel with Ultimate Rewards at fixed value
- Hotel-branded cards = Useful for free nights, elite perks, and topping off your balance
For most travelers, flexibility and high value make Chase Sapphire + World of Hyatt the winning hotel combo. But if you frequently stay with a specific chain, having a co-branded card alongside your flexible points can help you earn and redeem smarter.
