Best Hotel Credit Cards

Free nights at 4 and 5 star hotels can be achieved by using hotel credit cards for everyday expenses. Points are earned for every purchase, but using the credit cards at the hotel often earns bonus points. Most hotels have expanded their rewards program, which means the accumulated points can also be redeemed for airline tickets and merchandise. Compare hotel credit cards and find the hotels where you like to stay.

Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card

Starpoints(R) Bonus: 10K with your first purchase and another 15K when you spend $5k within 6 months - enough for up to 6 free nights at a category 1 or 2 hotel.
Free nights, free flights: Redeem Starpoints with over 350 airlines through SPG Flights and more than 1,000 hotels and resorts worldwide. No blackout dates.
2011 SmarterTravel(R) Award for "Best Travel Rewards Card"
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65.

Introrate (purchases)

N/A *

APR (purchases, variable*)

15.24% - 19.24% *

Annual fee

See Terms *

Flexible Reward Options with Hotel Credit Cards

Credit cards with hotel rewards are a great option for both the frequent traveler and the occasional traveler. Most travelers focus on the airline rewards, but they also need a place to stay when they get to their destination and the free hotel stays can be just as beneficial.

When you choose a hotel chain there are a few things to consider. You should not base your choice on the rewards you can earn, but rather select a chain where you would feel comfortable and be able to enjoy the stay. Locations and the number of participating hotels are also of great importance. Earning points only become valuable if you can reach enough points for a free night. However if your travel plans forces you to find other options on a regular basis, you may never achieve much from their hotel reward program.

Once you have reached enough points for free nights, it is best to use them strategically rather than at first opportunity. Travel around the holidays is the most expensive, and you have probably experienced the miles required for a free airline ticket being doubled. The point system for free nights is much simpler, and frequently the redemption requirements stay fixed all year. Room rates are always changing and much higher during holidays, so using a fixed point redemption system can be of much higher value than expected.

The hotel reward options are becoming increasingly flexible and a perfect example is the Starwood Hotel Preferred Guest program. You can redeem anywhere from a complete vacation package with 5 free nights and flight, to a combination of points and cash for a night. They have over 1,000 hotels worldwide to choose from and the selection is anywhere from a mid-priced hotel or resort, to luxury hotels at the world´s most spectacular destinations. The available hotels look amazing and it is hard to imagine using the Starwood points for anything else, but they also have a great offer for miles. You can transfer to most major airlines at a 1:1 basis, furthermore there is a 5,000 bonus if you transfer 20,000 miles. The only problem will be deciding how to use the points that you have earned.

* Please see the online credit card application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button, you can review the terms and conditions on the credit card issuer´s official website.