Best Credit Card for Hotel Booking in 2026

Other Options to Consider

‍

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "510", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "$300 Annual Travel Credit"} ]]

‍

‍

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

‍

[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "438", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "High Travel Rewards" } ]]

‍

‍

How to Choose a Credit Card for Hotel Booking

‍

Whether you're a loyalist to a specific hotel chain or a free agent seeking the best deal, the right credit card can significantly enhance your travel experience.

‍

When searching for the perfect hotel credit card, it's easy to be swayed by massive welcome offers, but this can be a costly mistake. Be wary of high annual fees that you can't offset with benefits and inflexible rewards programs that don't align with your travel habits. A card's long-term value often lies in its earning rates and practical perks, not just the initial bonus.

‍

Key Factors

‍

• Annual Fee: Assess whether the card's annual cost is offset by the value you'll get from its benefits, like statement credits or free night awards.
• Rewards Program: Look at the earning rates for hotel stays and everyday spending, along with the flexibility and value of redeeming your points or miles.
• Welcome Offer: A strong welcome offer can provide a substantial boost of points, but ensure you can comfortably meet the spending requirement to earn it.
• Elite Status: Many hotel credit cards grant automatic elite status with a hotel chain, offering valuable perks like room upgrades, late checkout, and complimentary breakfast.
• Annual Free Nights: Some cards provide a free night certificate each year upon renewal, which can easily be worth more than the annual fee.
• Statement Credits: Annual credits for travel or specific hotel brand purchases can directly reduce your out-of-pocket costs and help justify a card's fee.
• Travel Protections: Features like trip cancellation insurance, delayed baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage can offer significant financial protection and peace of mind.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: For international travel, a card with no foreign transaction fees is essential to avoid extra charges on your purchases abroad.

‍

What to Watch Out For

‍

One of the biggest mistakes is getting lured in by a massive welcome offer on a card that doesn't actually fit your travel patterns, leaving you with points you can't easily use. Similarly, be wary of co-branded hotel cards that lock you into a single chain if you prefer the flexibility to book boutique hotels or shop for the best rate. A card's long-term value is measured by how well it rewards your actual spending and travel habits, not just its initial bonus.

‍

Decision Flow

‍

• If you are loyal to one hotel chain (like Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt): A co-branded hotel credit card is almost always your best option. These cards are designed to reward loyalty with benefits like automatic elite status, annual free night certificates, and the highest earning rates for stays within that brand.
• If you prefer flexibility and book with various hotels: A general travel rewards card is a better fit. Look for cards that earn transferable points (like American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards) which can be moved to multiple hotel partners or used to book travel directly through the card's portal, giving you the freedom to choose the best deal.
• If you prioritize premium travel perks: Consider a premium travel card with a higher annual fee. These cards often provide benefits that can outweigh the cost, such as annual travel credits, complimentary airport lounge access, and elite-like perks (such as those offered through programs like Fine Hotels + Resorts) regardless of where you book.
• If you are a budget-conscious traveler who wants to avoid annual fees: Focus on no-annual-fee travel cards. While they may lack the high-end perks of premium cards, many offer solid rewards on travel and dining purchases without the yearly cost, making them a great entry point into earning rewards on your hotel stays.

‍

Maximize Your Return with Hotel Booking

‍

Getting the most value from your credit card rewards when booking hotels is an art. Here are a few tips to help you maximize your return:

• Stack your rewards: Don't just rely on your card's earning rate; use a shopping portal to earn additional points, miles, or cash back on top of what your card offers for the same booking.
• Leverage transfer partners: Instead of redeeming points for cash, consider transferring them to a hotel loyalty program where they could be worth significantly more, especially for luxury stays.
• Activate card-linked offers: Check your credit card account for special offers that provide extra rewards or statement credits for spending at specific hotel brands.
• Consider paying with points: Some card issuers offer an elevated redemption value when you use points to book travel directly through their portal, giving you more bang for your buck.
• Utilize elite status benefits: If your credit card grants you automatic hotel elite status, make sure you're taking advantage of perks like room upgrades, free breakfast, or late checkout.

‍

Supercharge your Rewards with Kudos

‍

Let Kudos automatically select the best card for every purchase to maximize your rewards and unlock hidden benefits. Get started for free.

‍

Other Things to Consider

‍

If your travel plans consistently revolve around a single hotel brand, a co-branded card might offer superior perks and accelerated rewards for your loyalty. However, no matter which card you choose, the most important factor is responsible financial management. Earning rewards is only beneficial if you pay your balance in full each month, as high interest rates on unpaid debt can quickly erase the value of any points you've accumulated. It's also wise to consider how your credit card use fits with your overall budget, including your cash savings and any Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) plans, which also require careful tracking. Ultimately, a credit card is a financial tool that delivers the best results when used strategically and paid off promptly.

‍

Our Methodology

‍

We evaluate nearly 3,000 credit cards across the U.S. market — far more than the ~150 cards commonly featured on sites that focus only on products tied to affiliate commissions. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive, unbiased view of the credit card landscape so you can make confident, data-driven decisions.

‍

Our editorial team combines deep industry experience with rigorous verification standards. While our experts surface the most relevant recommendations in our guides, you can also explore the full dataset yourself through our card explorer tool, which includes thousands of cards — more than 95% of which do not provide us with commissions.

Frequently Asked Questions

‍

Should I get a hotel-branded credit card or a general travel card?

‍

This depends on your travel habits. If you're loyal to a specific hotel chain, a co-branded card offers targeted perks like elite status, but a general travel card provides more flexibility to book with any hotel you choose.

‍

Can I earn hotel points and credit card points on the same booking?

‍

Generally, you cannot earn hotel loyalty points when booking through a third-party portal, such as your credit card's travel site. To earn hotel-specific points and use elite status benefits, you typically must book directly with the hotel.

‍

Are the annual fees on premium travel cards worth it for booking hotels?

‍

High annual fees often come with valuable perks like annual free night certificates, statement credits, and automatic hotel elite status. These benefits can easily outweigh the fee if you travel enough to use them.

‍

‍

‍

‍