The Best Hotel Credit Cards for Free Nights

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by 10xTravel.

In a world where travel often comes with a hefty price tag, hotel credit cards can help unlock the doors to luxurious stays at a fraction of the price. When you look at the best hotel credit cards, you’ll find that they offer not only rewards, but also pave the way for free night stays at some of the finest establishments around the globe. From middle-tier cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless to more high-end options like the Hilton Aspire, we’ll decode the perks and privileges of the top hotel credit cards for earning free nights.

Top Hotel Credit Cards for Free Nights

There’s no shortage of hotel cards to choose from. We’ve narrowed them down to the top eight. Here they are with some key factors listed: the annual fees, the card benefits, and the approximate effective annual fees, in no particular order:

How did we arrive at these numbers, and how can you use the benefits on these cards in practice? Next up, we’ll look at each card in detail to answer these questions.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

Marriott is the largest hotel chain in the world, so it’s only fitting that we start off our list with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card offered by Chase. This is a mid-tier hotel card where you can find some easy value thanks to its annual 35,000 point free night certificate.

How much is this 35,000 point certificate worth? Since Marriott properties do not follow fixed award charts, the value of this free night can vary greatly. Currently, a very nice sweet spot exists with the Residence Inn San Diego Downtown/Gaslamp Quarter, which costs 35,000 points or less on standard and off-peak dates.

As you can see, the retail price for this room is $436 per night. For a $95 annual fee card, that’s a ton of positive value—you come out $341 ahead.

Of course, not every 35,000 point redemption is going to work out as perfectly as this. However, it’s reasonable to expect to get at least around $200 in value from this certificate. That means that the effective annual fee of this card is about $105 in your favor ($200 in value – $95 annual fee).

In addition, with Marriott certificates, you can tack on up to 15,000 additional points to stay at higher-value properties. For the Bonvoy Boundless, you can combine your certificate with 15,000 Marriott points to redeem a free night worth up to 50,000 points total.

Note that there are six total Marriott cards—three offered by American Express and three offered by Chase. There are some pretty complex eligibility requirements for earning welcome offers on Marriott cards, so keep that in mind if you’re considering this card.

Overall, this card makes sense for the occasional, no-frills travelers who plan to stay at a Marriott property at least once a year. It’s easy for cardholders to get good value from the 35,000 point certificate without too much research and effort. In addition, the fee is low enough to not feel like a significant burden, especially if you’re getting positive value year after year.

Pros

• Very affordable annual fee of $95
• Free night certificate worth up to 35,000 Bonvoy points every cardmember anniversary
• Certificate is relatively easy to use, as Marriott has a large footprint
• 15 elite night credits toward Marriott status

Cons

• Must be mindful of welcome bonus eligibility requirements
• 35,000 point certificate is for low to mid-tier Marriott properties only
• Weak earning multipliers

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant offered by American Express is a higher-end hotel card compared to the Bonvoy Boundless, a fact reflected in its much higher annual fee of $650.

For such a high fee, you can expect to get a good amount of travel value. Let’s start with the free night certificate: The Bonvoy Brilliant card rewards cardholders with an 85,000 point certificate every cardmember anniversary.

This certificate is enough to land a stay at some of the more unique and luxurious properties in Marriott’s portfolio. A classic choice is the St. Regis New York, which typically costs below 85,000 points or less during non-peak travel dates:

The retail price for this room is $701 per night (on the low end). Considering the annual fee is $650, you’d get $51 in positive value by redeeming your certificate here.

A lot of Marriott properties at this range can vary greatly in price. For the sake of calculating the effective annual fee of this card, let’s assume that you break even on the $650 fee with the hotel certificate alone. Another fixed-value factor is the $300 in dining credits (structured as $25 monthly credits). Taking this into account, the effective annual fee of this card is about $300 in your favor ($650 free night + $300 dining credit – $650 annual fee).

That’s without considering the fact that you can combine your certificate with 15,000 additional points. For the Bonvoy Brilliant, that means you could redeem your certificate for a night worth up to 100,000 points, which could help you unlock even more value.

Overall, this card is best suited for those who frequent Marriott properties, since it also automatically grants cardholders Marriott Platinum status. However, you should come out ahead if you plan to stay at higher-end Marriott properties at least once a year. The 85,000 point certificate can be very valuable, but you’ll need to do some homework to get maximum value from it.

Pros

• Free night certificate worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points every cardmember anniversary
• Certificate can be used at higher-end Marriott properties
• $300 dining credit each year
• Complimentary Marriott Platinum status
• 25 elite night credits toward Marriott status

Cons

• Must be mindful of welcome bonus eligibility requirements
• High fee of $650 must be justified by the free night and other card benefits

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

Hyatt does sometimes get knocked for its small footprint compared to other big hotel chains like Marriott and Hilton. However, travel enthusiasts still frequently consider Hyatt a fan favorite for its rewarding loyalty program and the excellent value you can get from the World of Hyatt credit card.

Chase’s World of Hyatt card is another mid-tier hotel card that offers great perks for a relatively low annual fee of $95. Cardholders get a free night certificate for any Hyatt category 1 through 4 property every year.

How much value can you expect to get from this certificate? For best results, you’ll definitely want to look at category 4 hotels. One interesting redemption option is the Hyatt Regency JFK Airport at Resorts World New York. It’s great for travelers coming from the west coast, since the time difference often means you’ll get into New York late, so spending the night at a category 4 close to the airport is often more worth it than an extra full hotel night.

Rates here typically range from $200 to $300 a night, with an average of $250. With the $95 annual fee, one night at this property would put you $155 ahead for the year.

It’s pretty easy for cardholders to get at least $200 in value from the category 1 through 4 certificate. That means that the effective annual fee of this card is about $105 in your favor ($200 in value – $95 annual fee), which is the same as that of the Bonvoy Boundless card.

It’s also worth noting that you can get an additional category 1 through 4 certificate each year after spending $15,000 on the card. This makes the card an interesting choice as a catch-all card for your spending.

Overall, this is an excellent card for Hyatt loyalists. However, it also makes sense for anyone planning to stay at least once at a category 1 through 4 Hyatt property each year, though it can be difficult to use the certificate in major cities in the United States where the only properties are category 5 and above (i.e. San Francisco, Manhattan).

Pros

• Very affordable annual fee of $95
• Free night certificate for a category 1 through 4 stay, every cardmember anniversary
• Five elite night credits toward Hyatt status
• Earn an additional free category 1 through 4 certificate after spending $15,000

Cons

• Certificate can be difficult to use in certain cities due to Hyatt’s smaller footprint

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Having looked at Marriott and Hyatt, let’s turn to the last of the “big three” hotel chains: Hilton. The Hilton Honors Aspire card is frequently cited as one of the best hotel credit cards for free nights. It’s a higher-tier hotel card that clocks in at a $550 annual fee.

Despite the high cost, the Hilton Aspire card arguably has the best set of benefits among cards of a similar tier. For one, it offers the best free night certificate we’ve seen so far, in that you can redeem it at just about any Hilton property worldwide.

That means you could earn a free night at properties like the Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, if you’re willing to pay cash or points for the other nights of your stay (because who stays for just one night?). On paper, this makes the certificate worth the annual fee many times over:

You don’t have to go that far to get great value from this certificate, though. For instance, take the Conrad New York Midtown, which features large rooms that have a separate living room and bedroom area:

A night at this room during peak travel dates (i.e. June through August) was $587, which is itself more than enough to break even with the card’s annual fee.

On average, by doing a little bit of homework, cardholders should be able to get at least $400 in value from this certificate. Other fixed-value factors include the $400 in Hilton credits ($200 biannually) and $200 in airfare credits, bringing the effective annual fee of this card to about $450 in your favor ($400 free night + $400 Hilton credits + $200 airfare credits – $550 annual fee ).

If you’re able to put $30,000 in spending on the card each year, you’ll get a second free night. If you hit $60,000 in spending, you’ll get a third free night. Both of these nights are also valid at almost any Hilton property worldwide.

Overall, don’t be scared of the annual fee on this card. Given the abundance of credits and the flexibility of the free night certificate, the Hilton Aspire card is a prudent choice for many semi-frequent travelers, even if you’re not a Hilton loyalist. If you plan on staying at Hilton properties at least three to four times per year, this card is an excellent addition to your wallet.

Pros

• Free night certificate valid at almost any Hilton property
• Second free night after $30,000 in spending
• Third free night after $60,000 in spending
• $400 in Hilton credits ($200 biannually)
• $200 in airfare credits ($50 each calendar quarter)
• Complimentary Hilton Diamond status

Cons

• High fee of $550 must be justified by the free night and other card benefits

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

IHG owns 19 hotel brands worldwide, most notably Holiday Inn and InterContinental. The IHG One Rewards Premier card is a $99 annual fee mid-tier card, with perks similar to the Bonvoy Boundless and World of Hyatt cards.

Cardholders get a free night certificate each cardmember anniversary worth 40,000 IHG points. Points rates for IHG properties are dynamic (like Marriott), rather than based on a fixed chart (like Hyatt). This isn’t really a problem, since there are still plenty of intriguing options to get value out of this free night.

Unsurprisingly, many of these are choices at InterContinental hotels. Most of InterContinental’s portfolio is at international destinations, but one good domestic option is the InterContinental San Diego:

The cash rate for this same room is $264. Given the fee of $99, you’d get $165 in positive value by spending your certificate on this redemption alone.

In general, it’s reasonable to expect a value of $200 from a 40,000 point certificate. This means that the effective annual fee of this card is about $101 in your favor ($200 in value – $99 annual fee). IHG also allows you to “top off” your certificate with points if you want to redeem it at a more expensive hotel.

Overall, the IHG One Rewards Premier card is very similar to the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card. It’s perfect for occasional travelers who can make use of the certificate, which isn’t too difficult to use, but your options can be limited compared to other chains with larger footprints. The free night alone easily makes up for the low annual fee, so this is also a potential keeper card in your wallet.

Pros

• Very affordable annual fee of $99
• Free night certificate worth up to 40,000 IHG points every cardmember anniversary
• Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status

Cons

• May have limited redemption options compared to larger hotel chains
• Outside of IHG, the card has weak earning multipliers

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card

Let’s not forget about business cards in this discussion. We’ll start off with the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card.

This card is nearly a carbon copy of the personal IHG One Rewards Premier card. All major aspects of the card are the same, including the $99 annual fee and the 40,000 point certificate. Using the same expected value of $200 for the certificate, the effective annual fee of this card is also $101 in your favor.

Besides just being able to separate your personal expenses from your business expenses, one reason to consider this card over the personal version is that getting this card won’t affect your Chase 5/24 status. This is very important if you’re at 4/24 and don’t want to push yourself over that limit. Otherwise, the list of pros and cons on this card is identical to that of the personal card.

Pros

• Very affordable annual fee of $99
• Free night certificate worth up to 40,000 IHG points every cardmember anniversary
• Complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status
• No effect on Chase 5/24 status

Cons

• May have limited redemption options compared to larger hotel chains
• Outside of IHG, the card has weak earning multipliers

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card

The Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card by Barclays doesn’t seem to get as much chatter among travel enthusiasts, but it has great potential for free nights and more.

You’ve probably heard of brands like La Quinta, Travelodge and Days Inn—these brands are owned by Wyndham. It’s true that these are more budget-friendly hotels, but don’t worry—you can get free nights at much better places if you know where to look.

Unlike the other hotel cards we’ve seen so far, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business doesn’t actually offer an annual free night. Instead, you get 15,000 bonus points each year. This is key, since Wyndham and Vacasa have a unique partnership where 15,000 Wyndham points gets you one night at a 1-bedroom Vacasa vacation rental. And to further spice up the deal, Wyndham Rewards Earner cardholders get an additional 10% discount on award stays, lowering the price to 13,500 Wyndham points per night.

Of course, we’re immediately looking at places like Hawaii to get maximum value from these anniversary points. This listing in Kihei at Maui goes for $212 a night, and can be completely covered by 13,500 Wyndham points:

This is a steal. Just about every hotel in Hawaii has high resort fees to go with already expensive rates. Note to all Hawaii travelers: this hack actually makes the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card integral in making those beach getaways more affordable.

By spending some time to do a little research, you should be able to land at least $200 in value from the annual 15,000 points. This means the effective annual fee of the card is $105 in your favor ($200 free night – $95 annual fee).

In conclusion, don’t redeem your Wyndham anniversary points at Wyndham properties. More value lies in Wyndham’s partnership with Vacasa, to the point where this card makes sense for anyone planning to stay at a Vacasa rental at least once per year.

Pros

• Very affordable annual fee of $95
• 15,000 bonus points every cardmember anniversary
• Can utilize partnership with Vacasa to get great reward rates on vacation rentals
• Complimentary Wyndham Rewards Diamond status
• Business cards don’t affect Chase 5/24 status

Cons

• Weaker portfolio of hotels (don’t redeem with Wyndham—go with Vacasa instead!)
• Weak earning categories (apart from gas, which earns 8X)

Bonus: The Ritz-Carlton™ Credit Card

There’s actually another card we must mention when it comes to free hotel nights, and that’s the Ritz-Carlton card. We consider this a bonus card since you can’t actually apply for this card directly, as it’s a grandfathered product. However, you can still obtain this card through a product change from one of Chase’s other Marriott cards, such as the Bonvoy Boundless.

This card is a bit of a hassle to get, but the perks are absolutely worth it. First and foremost, the Ritz-Carlton card comes with an 85,000 point free night certificate, similar to the Bonvoy Brilliant. As we’ve seen, this benefit alone is typically worth at least $650, meaning this already puts you ahead of the $450 annual fee.

The Ritz-Carlton card also offers $300 in annual travel credits. It is a little tricky to use, since you’ll have to call Chase and have an agent manually apply the credit to your travel purchases (it doesn’t get applied automatically like the $300 travel credit on the Chase Sapphire Reserve, for instance). Because a human is the one applying the credit, there is generally some leeway in what types of travel expenses qualify—even if you’re not sure, it doesn’t hurt to call in.

Assuming you’re able to take advantage of all the tangible credits, the effective annual fee of this card is $500 in your favor ($650 free night + $300 travel credits – $450 annual fee).

As with the other Marriott cards on this list, you can combine your certificate with up to 15,000 additional points. For the Ritz-Carlton, this means your certificate can be worth up to 100,000 points.

Overall, if you were ever thinking of going for a card like the Bonvoy Brilliant, you could consider setting up a longer-term play to get the Ritz-Carlton card instead. You’ll get the same certificate, but factors such as additional benefits on Ritz-Carlton properties and a $300 travel credit can be extremely valuable. On paper, the card is definitely worth its fee and potentially a lot more.

Pros

• Free night certificate worth up to 85,000 Bonvoy points every cardmember anniversary
• Certificate can be used at higher-end Marriott properties
• $300 travel credit each year
• Complimentary Marriott Gold status
• 15 elite night credits toward Marriott status
• Three upgrades to the Ritz-Carlton Club each year

Cons

• High fee of $450, but can be easily justified by the free night and other card benefits
• Requires a product change to obtain

How Do Hotel Credit Cards with Free Nights Work?

The best hotel credit cards operate on two main principles: hotel card free night certificates and bonus points towards additional complimentary nights. In our detailed discussion of each card, we focused on the first principle. If you play your cards right, the free night alone is often enough to offset the annual fee.

The second principle focuses on rewards and bonus points. Many hotel credit cards offer special multipliers for purchases made within the hotel’s network, leading to more bonus points and more free stays. For instance, for the cards in our list, here are the earning multipliers for spending at each of their respective hotel chains:

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 6X at Marriott
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant: 6X at Marriott
• World of Hyatt: 4X at Hyatt
• Hilton Aspire: 14X at Hilton
• IHG One Rewards Premier: 10X at IHG
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business: 10X at IHG
• Wyndham Rewards Earner Business: 8X at Wyndham
• Ritz-Carlton: 6X at Marriott

The welcome bonus is also one of the main factors. Many of these cards offer a welcome bonus that can score you a couple of free nights, either in the form of points or additional certificates.

Why Consider a Hotel Credit Card?

Hotels are one of the largest expenses for any vacation. One of the most alluring benefits to getting a hotel credit card is how it can lead to substantial savings on accommodations for your next trip. We’ve already seen how hotel credit cards can offer free nights, but the perks don’t stop at the room key.

These credit cards also offer special benefits to cardholders, such as status with the hotel chain. The Hilton Aspire card, for example, gives cardholders Hilton Diamond status, which may lead to complimentary room upgrades and additional amenities.

Some of the higher-tier credit cards also offer broader travel benefits. This is again where the Hilton Aspire card shines, as it comes with travel insurance benefits, a $189 CLEAR® Plus credit to help you get through airports faster and additional airfare credits.

Finally, don’t discount the fact that you’re constantly building your credit by responsibly using your hotel credit card. As you spend, you’re not just earning points for free nights. You’re also building a healthy credit history that can open doors to bigger financial opportunities down the road.

How to Choose the Best Hotel Credit Card With Free Night Certificates

You can’t go wrong with any of the eight hotel credit cards on our list. If you’re looking to narrow down your options further, here are a few additional factors to consider:

Current Loyalty Statuses

If you’re already loyal to a particular chain, get one of their co-branded credit cards if you don’t already have one. In most cases, this will help you earn free nights and bonus points much faster.

Geographic Footprint

Consider where you want to travel to. Does the hotel chain have a robust presence in your preferred destinations? The answer factors into which cards to target or avoid.

Annual Fees

As always, you should scrutinize the annual fee of a credit card against its potential benefits. We’ve done a basic cost-versus-benefit analysis for each card in this list, but that may look different for you depending on what factors into your travel preferences. We recommend running the numbers for yourself to determine if the perks and free night certificates can fully offset the cost.

Points to Free Night Conversion Rate

Each hotel chain has its own system of determining the points rate for various stays. For instance, points redemptions at Marriott properties can change wildly depending on demand, whereas points redemptions at Hyatt properties are deterministic. While it is more of a secondary concern, a more generous points system could expedite your journey to complimentary stays.

Additional Perks

Lastly, don’t overlook the value of additional perks. From room upgrades to lounge access and special travel credits, these extras can be the difference between a good card and a great card for your wallet.

Tips for Maximizing Hotel Credit Card Rewards

How do you make the most out of your hotel credit card? Then, once you’ve accumulated a bunch of free nights and loyalty points, how do you ensure those rewards shine to their fullest potential? Here are a few general tips for maximizing your hotel credit card perks.

Strategize Spending

Every hotel card offers bonus points for specific categories, be it hotel bookings, dining, gas or other travel-related expenses. Align your spending with the right credit card to fast track your points accumulation.

Promotions and Special Offers

Stay vigilant on promotions and special offers. Hotel loyalty programs often roll out limited-time deals that include bonus points for stays completed at specific properties. This can help further catapult your points balance.

Timing is Everything

In the world of points and miles, timing can be one of the biggest factors in how much a redemption costs. A hotel stay during peak seasons can sometimes run you twice the amount of points compared to off-peak times. If you can, be flexible and strategic about when you redeem your hard-earned points.

Geography is Key

As you delve deeper into hotel rewards programs, you’ll also find discrepancies in the prices of properties depending on their physical locations. As an example, hotels in New York City are typically going to have higher redemption rates, even if the quality of the hotel may not live up to its price tag. In contrast, you may find that your points take you much further at all-inclusive resorts in places like Mexico and the Caribbean.

Time to Travel: Unlocking Your Free Nights

Choosing the right credit card for hotel rewards can be a gamechanger when it comes to scoring free nights for your next vacation. In this article, we’ve explored eight of the best hotel credit cards that come with generous free night certificates and a wealth of other benefits to complement your next journey.

The overarching lesson is that you don’t have to run your savings account to the ground for your next vacation. In fact, you’re just one hotel credit card away from free nights at properties like The St. Regis New York and the Waldorf Astoria Maldives. So grab your hotel credit card, pack your bags, and let the travel adventures begin!