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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to,
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Madison Hoehn is a Certified Financial Education Instructor℠ and editor on Bankrate's credit cards team. She brings over five years of editorial expertise to the table and is passionate about making readers feel seen and meeting them where they are in their credit journey.
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The best hotel credit cards offer perks for frequent travelers, such as automatic elite status, points for hotel stays and other spending and the potential to earn free hotel nights and elite status. Some hotel credit cards offer a free night as either an annual membership benefit or through spending milestones, which helps make those cards more valuable and offset a card’s annual fee.
In this guide, we cover the best hotel credit cards that offer a free night award, plus other important details you should know about each one.
Comparing the best hotel credit cards for free nights
Hotel credit cards offer free night incentives in different ways, some more valuable than others. Here are our top picks for hotel credit cards offering free night perks.
Get a free night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year on your cardmember anniversary. Earn an extra free night at a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year
Get an annual free night reward for any Hilton property every year upon card renewal. Earn an additional free night reward if you spend $30,000 in a calendar year. Earn an additional free night reward if you spend $60,000 in a calendar year
*The information about the The World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected
independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not
been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Cardholder rating
4.3
This rating reflects the average overall score given by real cardholders in response to questions about this card's benefits, rewards, customer service, and data security.
Bankrate score
4.8
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. If you'd like to learn more about how we rank our cards, explore our ranking methodology here.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Intro offer
Earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points. Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
Up to 60,000 Bonus Points
Rewards Rate
Earn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member, Earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
2X - 9X
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.49% Variable
Reward Details
9XEarn up to 9 points total for Hyatt stays – 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels & up to 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
2XEarn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships
Bankrate’s view
The World of Hyatt Credit Card is an excellent choice for Hyatt enthusiasts. You can earn a free night at any Category 1–4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardmember anniversary and an additional free night if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. For a $95 annual fee, you’ll also get automatic World of Hyatt Discoverist status, five elite qualifying night credits, and an extra two elite night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card. World of Hyatt points are significantly more valuable than other hotel programs, worth around 2.3 each.
Pros
The potential to earn two free nights annually for a $95 fee offers outstanding value.
You can earn up to 9X World of Hyatt points on Hyatt stays, which is over a 20 percent return.
Cons
Free nights earned with this card won’t work at Hyatt’s top properties.
If you use a free night certificate, you can’t use other awards like suite upgrades on the same reservation.
*The information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected
independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not
been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Bankrate score
4.7
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. If you'd like to learn more about how we rank our cards, explore our ranking methodology here.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Intro offer
Earn 3 Free Nights (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months of account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees. Plus, earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on eligible purchases within 6 months of account opening with your Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
Earn 3 Free Night Awards + 50,000 Bonus Points
Rewards Rate
Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card. Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining. 2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
2X - 17X
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
20.49% - 27.49% Variable
Reward Details
17XEarn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card.
3XEarn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
2X2X points for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
Bankrate’s view
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card provides solid mid-tier value with a free night award worth up to 35,000 points each year on their cardmember anniversary. You can also top-up this award by 15,000 points, meaning you can book a room worth up to 50,000 points. Other cardholder benefits include earning up to 17X points on paid Marriott stays, automatic Silver Elite status, 15 elite night credits each year and an additional elite night for every $5,000 spent on the card.
Pros
The ability to top-up the free night certificate allows for more booking flexibility.
The card earns bonuses in many everyday spending categories.
Cons
Marriott Bonvoy points aren’t as valuable as other currencies, worth around .7 cents each.
The lower value of the free night certificate excludes many Marriott properties from consideration.
*The information about the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card has been collected
independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not
been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Cardholder rating
4.4
This rating reflects the average overall score given by real cardholders in response to questions about this card's benefits, rewards, customer service, and data security.
Bankrate score
4.6
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. If you'd like to learn more about how we rank our cards, explore our ranking methodology here.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Intro offer
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Earn 140,000 Bonus Points
Rewards Rate
Earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts. Earn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
3X - 26X
Annual fee
$99
Regular APR
19.99% - 28.49% Variable
Reward Details
26XEarn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when you stay at IHG Hotels & Resorts.
5XEarn 5 points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, at gas stations, and restaurants.
3XEarn 3 points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Bankrate’s view
The best use of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card free night award is at international properties, which tend to have lower point rates. The award is worth up to 40,000 points, but you can top it up for as many additional points as needed for any property. You’ll also get Platinum Elite status, your fourth night free when redeeming points and a $100 credit if you spend $20,000 in a calendar year.
Pros
Stacking the fourth-night-free benefit with the free night certificate can provide substantial savings.
You can earn up to 26X points on IHG stays, a return of over 18 percent.
Cons
Free night certificates aren’t as valuable domestically due to higher point rates.
*The information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected
independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not
been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Cardholder rating
4.4
This rating reflects the average overall score given by real cardholders in response to questions about this card's benefits, rewards, customer service, and data security.
Bankrate score
4.2
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. If you'd like to learn more about how we rank our cards, explore our ranking methodology here.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Intro offer
Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 150,000 points
Rewards Rate
14X points on hotels and resorts For eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio. 7X points on select travel Including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies. 7X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery. 3X points for each dollar spent on other eligible purchases.
3X - 14X
Annual fee
$550
APR
20.24% - 29.24% Variable
Reward Details
14X14X points on hotels and resorts For eligible purchases at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio.
7X7X points on select travel Including flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and car rentals booked directly with select car rental companies.
7X7X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
3X3X points for each dollar spent on other eligible purchases.
Bankrate’s view
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is Hilton’s premium hotel credit card, offering significant value in exchange for a $550 annual fee. You’ll get a free night certificate each year, with the potential to spend your way to an additional two free nights. Hilton is the only program that offers unrestricted free night certificates that you can use at the most expensive properties. You’ll also get automatic Hilton Diamond status, $400 in Hilton Resort statement credits, $200 in airline credits and more.
Pros
You can get substantial value if you use free night certificates at Hilton’s luxury resorts, especially when combined with Hilton resort credits.
Airline credits work on a broader range of purchases than the credits on other American Express cards.
Cons
The high annual fee can be difficult to justify if you don’t maximize your credits and free night certificate.
You can earn better rates on everyday spending with lower-fee Hilton co-branded cards.
Best for anniversary points
Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard®
*The information about the Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® has been collected
independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not
been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Recommended credit score:670 - 850
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Intro offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - enough to redeem for up to 7 reward nights at select Choice Hotels® properties. Additional fees may apply.
60,000 bonus points
Rewards Rate
Earn 10X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties. Earn 5X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services. Earn 1X points on other purchases.
1X points - 10X points
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
19.99%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR
Reward Details
10X pointsEarn 10X points on stays at participating Choice Hotels® properties.
5X pointsEarn 5X points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plan services.
1X pointsEarn 1X points on other purchases.
Bankrate’s view
While the Choice Privileges Select Mastercard doesn’t earn a free night award, you get the flexibility of earning 30,000 bonus points each year on your account anniversary. With point rates starting at 8,000 points, this can be worth up to three free nights. You also won’t have to deal with an expiration date like other free night certificates. The card also gives you automatic Platinum elite status and a statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck of up to $120 every four years.
Pros
The anniversary bonus points can easily offset the card’s annual fee.
Getting points instead of a free night certificate offers more flexibility.
Cons
Choice properties don’t offer as many top-tier brands.
Additional benefits on this card are lacking compared to other hotel cards.
How to choose the best hotel credit cards for free nights
The best hotel credit card for free nights is subjective based on your needs. Consider the following factors when deciding which hotel credit card is best for you.
Choose your favorite hotel brand
If you frequently stay with the same hotel brand or prefer specific luxury resorts, picking up one of their co-branded credit cards makes sense. If multiple cards are available, decide which offers you the best value for your money and spending needs.
Evaluate the annual fee
While many hotel credit cards charge annual fees, some charge as little as $75, while others charge as high as $650. These premium hotel credit cards can be worth the fee if you use all their perks, but it still helps to decide what kind of annual fee you’re willing to pay and whether it’s worth it. Weigh the value of the perks and the free night certificate to ensure you’re coming out ahead.
Decide on additional perks
You’ll also want to consider which benefits will give you proper value. Must-have perks for frequent travelers might include automatic elite status, property credits, airport lounge access or statement credits for expedited security screening. When evaluating the value of free night certificates, you could shop around to see the cash rates at properties where you might consider using them. If you choose a card with a high annual fee, you’ll want to make sure the perks you get help offset the cost.
Maximize welcome offers
The initial welcome offer you can earn can significantly boost your point balance, which can work well with the new features your card offers. Just make sure you can meet the minimum spending requirement. Since hotel points are worth different amounts, look over hotel redemption options to see how you might use the points you earn and what they are logistically worth.
You might think that free night certificates have too many restrictions, such as an expiration date or limitations on which properties they can be used for. You might also not want to be tied down or loyal to a specific brand and prefer added flexibility. If so, consider flexible travel cards, particularly those that offer hotel programs as transfer partners. Here are the hotel partners that each major issuer allows you to transfer points to:
The number of points you need for a free hotel stay varies dramatically based on the program. For example, free nights with the World of Hyatt program start as low as 3,500 points over off-peak dates. On the other end of the spectrum, booking a top-tier luxury resort with Hilton can easily set you back 100,000 points or more per night.
Free hotel night certificates typically let you book a free night up to a certain amount of points with a specific hotel brand. Depending on the program and card, you can also top up the value by a certain amount. For example, Marriott allows you to pay up to 15,000 additional points for a room exceeding the value of your certificate, meaning you can use a 35,000-point certificate to book a night worth 50,000 points if you have the additional points available.
Free hotel night certificates can be well worth it if you use them. If the cash value of the night you use your certificate exceeds what you paid for the annual fee, you come out ahead.
What’s next?
Check out the resources below to find a card that matches your travel needs and can help you budget for your next trip.
The best hotel credit cards for free nights offer incentives for free night awards, whether on your cardmember anniversary or through spending incentives, as well as perks like automatic elite status and elevated on-property earnings.
Most cards that offer this perk set a limit on the number of points a free night can be redeemed for. Make sure to read the fine print regarding how you can use your free night award to help you stay at the properties you aspire towards or will get the best use from.
*The information about the World of Hyatt Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
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APA:
Flanigan, R. (2024, December 21). Best hotel credit cards for free nights. Bankrate. Retrieved May 05, 2025, from https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/travel/hotel-credit-cards-for-free-nights/
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Flanigan, Ryan. "Best hotel credit cards for free nights." Bankrate. 21 December 2024, https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/travel/hotel-credit-cards-for-free-nights/.
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Chicago:
Flanigan, Ryan. "Best hotel credit cards for free nights." Bankrate. December 21, 2024. https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/travel/hotel-credit-cards-for-free-nights/.
We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our
goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you
with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original
and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare
information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with
confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to,
American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and
Discover.
The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one
you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly,
people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit
card industry year-round to:
Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options.
Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions.
Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you.
At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience.
Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way,
we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next.
Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first.
Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right
financial decisions.
Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have
editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial
content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and
our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers.
Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you
make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced
by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked
to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and
dependable information.
How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master
your money for over four decades.
We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to
succeed throughout life’s financial journey.
Bankrate follows a strict
editorial policy,
so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and
reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial
decisions. The content created by our editorial
staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.
We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and
useful tools to you by explaining how we make money.
Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison
service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and
services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore,
this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within
listing categories, except where prohibited by law for our mortgage, home equity
and other home lending products. Other factors, such as our own proprietary
website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your
self-selected credit score range, can also impact how and where products appear
on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, Bankrate does not
include information about every financial or credit product or service.
Quick citation guide
Select a citation to automatically copy to clipboard.
APA:
Flanigan, R. (2024, December 21). Best hotel credit cards for free nights. Bankrate. Retrieved May 05, 2025, from https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/travel/hotel-credit-cards-for-free-nights/
Copied to clipboard!
MLA:
Flanigan, Ryan. "Best hotel credit cards for free nights." Bankrate. 21 December 2024, https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/travel/hotel-credit-cards-for-free-nights/.
Copied to clipboard!
Chicago:
Flanigan, Ryan. "Best hotel credit cards for free nights." Bankrate. December 21, 2024. https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/travel/hotel-credit-cards-for-free-nights/.
