Hotel credit cards are among the most valuable rewards credit cards in existence. You’ll often find benefits like free night certificates, hotel credits and even automatic top-tier elite status. Some even provide non-hotel benefits—such as airport lounge access and reimbursements for dining expenses.
All to say, they can quite literally revolutionize your travels. But are they worth it for your unique situation? Let’s find out.
Are the hotel credit card’s benefits worth more than the annual fee?
Do you recoil at the idea of paying an annual fee just for the privilege of holding a credit card? Many do—but with annual fees come high-octane benefits that can easily justify the price point.
The key is to do the math. Weigh all the benefits of your prospective card against the annual fee to estimate the yearly value you’ll get. If you’re organically saving more than you’re paying in fees, the hotel credit card is worth it.
For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with a $650 annual fee (see rates and fees). But its benefits include:
Up to $300 in annual dining credit: You’ll get $25 per month in credit when spending at restaurants worldwide.
An annual free night award worth up to 85,000 Marriott points: You can book a standard room at nearly any Marriott hotel in the world (depending on the date) with this free night certificate. That includes rooms at glitzy five-star resorts costing $800+ per night (certain hotels have resort fees).
Airport lounge access: Instead of dropping $60 per person for an unmemorable meal at an airport restaurant, the card’s Priority Pass Select airport lounge access allows you and two guests to enter more than 1,400 airport lounges where you’ll often find self-serve alcohol and food (or at least substantial snacks).
Platinum elite status: You’ll get automatic Marriott Platinum status just for holding the card. This comes with perks like bonus points, room upgrades (when available), breakfast privileges, and much more.
With even a small effort, you could squeeze more than $1,000 in value from these benefits — making the annual fee a no-brainer.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
CNBC Select Rating
4.5
On the American Express site
CNBC Select Rating
4.5
On the American Express site
Spotlight
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card grants you unlimited visits to 1,200+ Priority Pass™ lounges (Enrollment required).
Credit score
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
19.99%-28.99% Variable
Annual fee
$650
Welcome bonus
Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points
See rates and fees, terms apply.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium hotel card that gives you high-level elite status, dining credits and a Free Night Award every year.
Up to $300 in dining credit every year
Free Night Award every year worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points
Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status
High annual fee
Marriott doesn’t publish an award chart and the rewards are typically less valuable compared to the top travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
$300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
A Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite member will earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy for each U.S. dollar or the currency equivalent that is incurred and paid for by the member.
Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
$100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
$650 Annual Fee.
Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Terms Apply.
See Rates & Fees
However, if those benefits are not worth more than the $650 fee, you may select a less premium credit card like the no annual fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. It still comes with a few helpful Marriott-specific perks, and it doesn’t require a large upfront investment.
CNBC Select Rating
4.3
Credit score
Good to Excellent670–850
Regular APR
19.99%–28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points
Information about the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has basic benefits and no annual fee, which makes it ideal if you occasionally stay with Marriott and don’t need premium perks.
Valuable insurance benefits such as trip delay reimbursement and purchase protection
No annual fee
Automatic Silver elite status
Complicated application restrictions
No free night award or statement credit benefits
Rewards
Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Card.
Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
Earn 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Hotel credit card rewards
Hotel credit cards are a quick and easy way to earn valuable points for cheap (even free) stays during your travels. They often come with generous welcome bonuses and high return rates for everyday purchases.
When choosing the best hotel credit card for your situation, take a quick survey of your spending habits. Many hotel credit cards offer bonus points for common expenses like groceries, dining, travel, streaming services, etc. If your spending is a bit more unique, you may opt for a credit card that earns a flat return rate on all purchases.
While hotel points aren’t difficult to earn, they’re typically not worth as much as other types of rewards. For example, hotel points are generally worth very little when used for anything other than hotel stays. But bank-issued points like Chase Ultimate Rewards® points or American Express Membership Rewards® points can be extremely valuable for hotel stays, airfare, rental cars, and more. You can even trade them for cash—a feature that’s not available with hotel points.
Redeeming hotel rewards
The exact value you’ll get from hotel rewards tends to vary based on the specific hotel and the dates you choose. That’s because hotel points prices aren’t (usually) tied to the cash value of a paid night. Instead, hotels typically implement one of the following strategies:
Award charts: Hotel programs like World of Hyatt and Wyndham Rewards categorize each property into a specific category with a narrow points price range. No matter the cash price of a standard room, you can count on the points price remaining within the confines of its category.
Dynamic pricing: Hotel programs like Marriott Bonvoy and IHG One use a more mysterious method for pricing awards. While not directly proportional to fluctuating cash prices, they may rise and fall according to season and demand. For example, a hotel night may cost 70,000 points one day and 105,000 points the next day.
When deciding whether a hotel credit card is worth it, ask yourself the following questions.
Are your travel dates flexible?
Most hotel programs charge sky-high prices for awards if there are no entry-level rooms available — and some offer no availability at all. If you have rigid vacation dates each year, your points-eligible hotel options may be limited. If you’re flexible with your travel dates, it’s much easier to find great deals with points.
Are the rewards you earn valuable for your travel style?
Hotel chains have their own personalities. You should open a credit card with the hotel that best suits the kind of places you like to go.
For example, Hyatt hotels offer top-notch properties that are generally found in big cities and popular destinations, but they conspicuously lack a presence in Middle America’s smaller towns. Meanwhile, Wyndham hotels don’t offer the same high standard and collection of glitzy properties as Hyatt, but you can find them just about everywhere.
Whether you like the off-the-beaten-path or prominent tourist spots will influence which hotel credit card is right for you.
Are you loyal to a specific hotel brand?
Of course, if you’re already a frequent patron of a specific hotel brand, you’re likely leaving tons of value on the table if you don’t open one of its cobranded credit cards. You’ll often get benefits like fast-tracked elite status, late checkout and a welcome amenity just from holding the card.
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Alternatives to hotel credit cards
Hotel credit cards are absolutely worth it if you can save more than you’re paying for the annual fee. They typically come with perks like hotel credits, elite status, annual free nights, and more. That said, if you’re interested in free hotel stays but you don’t want to commit to one hotel chain, other rewards credit cards may be an even better fit.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card ($95 annual fee; see rates and fees) earns points that are worth up to 1.5 cents each for select hotels (and airlines) booked through Chase Travel℠. It also comes with up to $50 in annual credit toward prepaid hotels booked through Chase Travel℠. The card’s points even transfer to hotel chains like Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
CNBC Select Rating
5.0
On Chase’s site
CNBC Select Rating
5.0
On Chase’s site
Spotlight
With Points Boost, your rewards will be worth up to 1.5x on thousands of top-booked hotels and flights from select airlines through Chase Travel.
Credit score
Good to Excellent670–850
Regular APR
19.99% – 28.24% variable
Annual fee
$95
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus points
See rates and fees. Terms apply. Member FDIC.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
You can transfer rewards to all of Chase’s travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
Long list of travel and shopping protections
$50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
Has an annual fee
Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
10% anniversary points boost – each account anniversary you’ll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Or, The Platinum Card® from American Express ($895 annual fee; see rates and fees) comes with up to $600 in hotel credits each year, doled out in biannual $300 credits on prepaid Fine Hotels and Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings made through American Express Travel (enrollment required; The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay). Amex points also transfer to Hilton, Marriott, and Choice. Plus, you can enroll to receive complimentary gold status with Marriott and Hilton and Leaders Club Sterling Status from The Leading Hotels of the World®.
The Platinum Card® from American Express
CNBC Select Rating
5.0
On the American Express site
CNBC Select Rating
5.0
On the American Express site
Spotlight
The Amex Platinum Card provides access to Amex Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs® , Lufthansa Lounges, Escape Lounges and more. (Enrollment required)
Credit score
Good to Excellent
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Annual fee
$895
Welcome bonus
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points
Seerates and fees, terms apply. Read our Amex Platinum Card review. The Platinum Card® from American Express Welcome Offer: To view your personalized offer, you must first submit an application. If approved, you will: (1) receive your Welcome Offer details, (2) have the option to accept the Card with that offer, (3) be required to spend $8,000 on eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership, and (4) earn Membership Rewards® points. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. If you’re approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score. Terms apply.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
High annual fee
Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges – more than any other credit card company on the market* – enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
More Value! $209 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®. *Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
$100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
Whenever you need us, we’re here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
$895 annual fee.
Terms Apply.
See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
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For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here.
Information about the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.