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Maximize rewards on hotel stays

Best Credit Cards for Hotels (2026)

Hotel stays are one of the biggest travel expenses — and one of the most rewarding categories on credit cards. From chain loyalty programs to flexible booking portals, the right card can earn 5-10x points on every night you stay, plus free night awards and elite status perks.

There are two approaches to hotel rewards: cobranded hotel cards (IHG, Marriott, Hilton) that give massive bonus rates within one chain, and flexible travel cards (Venture X, Sapphire Preferred) that earn well across all brands and include transfer partners.

Here are the best cards for hotel spending, whether you're loyal to one chain or a free agent.

Test your travel spend below or use our full rewards calculator.

Top Cards for Hotel Stays

#1
Capital One Venture X
Flexible Travel
$560/yr
10x hotels
Reward Rate
10x on hotels through Capital One Travel
Annual Fee
$395 (net ~$0 with credits)
Signup Bonus
75,000 miles after $4,000 spend
10x on hotels through Capital One Travel is the highest hotel rate available. The $300 travel credit + 10K anniversary miles cover the annual fee for most travelers.
#2
IHG One Rewards Premier
Cobranded Hotel
$300+/yr
26x IHG stays
Reward Rate
26x at IHG hotels, 3x dining/gas
Annual Fee
$99
Annual Perks
Free night (40K pts) + $100 credit
The free night worth $150-200 alone covers the $99 fee twice over. Best for IHG loyalists who stay at Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, or InterContinental.
#3
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Flexible Travel
$320/yr
5x hotels
Reward Rate
5x on hotels through Chase Travel, 2x other travel
Annual Fee
$95
Signup Bonus
60,000 points ($750 travel value)
5x on Chase Travel hotels plus Hyatt transfer partner (1:1) gives excellent hotel value. The $50 hotel credit partially offsets the annual fee.

Hotel Loyalty Programs: Which Cards Shine

  • IHG (Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, Kimpton): The IHG Premier Card earns 26x on IHG stays and includes a free night award worth $150-200. The 4th night free on award stays is a unique perk.
  • Hyatt (Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency): Use Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve to earn Ultimate Rewards points, then transfer 1:1 to Hyatt. Hyatt points are worth ~1.5-2¢ each, making this one of the highest-value hotel strategies.
  • Marriott Bonvoy (Marriott, Westin, Sheraton, Ritz-Carlton): Marriott Bonvoy cards (not reviewed here) earn up to 6x on Marriott stays. The Bonvoy Boundless includes a 35K free night for $125/year.
  • Hilton (Hampton, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites): Amex Hilton cards earn up to 14x on Hilton stays. Hilton points are worth ~0.5¢ each, so the high earn rate makes up for the low per-point value.
  • Booking sites (Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com): Use a Venture X for 10x or Sapphire Preferred for 5x when booking through their portals.

Cobranded vs. Flexible: Which Strategy Is Right?

Choose cobranded if: You stay at one hotel chain 5+ nights/year and want elite status (late checkout, room upgrades, free breakfast). The free night award alone often pays for the annual fee.

Choose flexible if: You stay at different brands, book through portals, or want transfer flexibility. The Venture X and Sapphire Preferred let you book any hotel while earning strong bonus rates.

The power move: Get one cobranded + one flexible. Earn massive points within your preferred chain, then use the flexible card for everything else.

Compare Other Categories

Want to compare all categories? Try our full rewards calculator.