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Two people can book the same exact hotel room for the same exact price but have totally different experiences. One person may end up in an upgraded room on a high floor in a corner, with extra space and a couch, all while enjoying free breakfast and premium internet, earning a ton of extra points, checking in early, and checking out late.
The other person might get a fine standard room, maybe on a lower floor next to the elevator. Basic internet might be included, but if that person plans to use it heavily for work or streaming, they may want to pay a few dollars a day to upgrade to premium. The breakfast buffet is $20 per person, and late checkout isn’t available, even for a fee — although the hotel is happy to hold their bags until their late flight.
These two people booked the same exact room using identical booking methods (directly with the hotel). So what gets the first person here such better treatment?
Hotel elite status can come with perks like early check-in, late checkout, upgrades, free breakfast, bonus points, welcome gifts, and more.
The answer: elite status. And you don’t need to spend dozens of nights on the road each year to earn it; some credit cards will grant you status just for having an account in good standing. Read on to see which of the best hotel credit cards offer these free benefits, as well as what you can get when you hold one. And make sure to check out our guide to the best credit cards for more top picks.
We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.
Compare the Best Credit Cards With Hotel Elite Status
Best Credit Cards With Hotel Elite Status of 2023
The Platinum Card® from American Express – Product Name Only: Best card for both Marriott and Hilton elite statusMarriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Marriott Silver statusMarriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card – Product Name Only: Best small business credit card for Marriott Gold statusMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Marriott Platinum statusMarriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card – Product Name Only: Best personal American Express credit card for Marriott Gold statusMarriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card – Product Name Only: Best personal Chase credit card for Marriott Gold statusHilton Honors American Express Card – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Hilton Silver statusHilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card – Product Name Only: Best personal credit card for Hilton Gold statusThe Hilton Honors American Express Business Card – Product Name Only: Best small business credit card for Hilton Gold statusHilton Honors American Express Aspire Card – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Hilton Diamond statusThe World Of Hyatt Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best personal credit card for Hyatt Discoverist statusWorld of Hyatt Business Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best small business credit card for Hyatt Discoverist statusIHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best personal credit card for IHG Platinum statusIHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best small business credit card for IHG Platinum statusChoice Privileges® Select Mastercard® – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Choice Platinum statusChoice Privileges® Mastercard® – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Choice Gold statusWyndham Rewards® Earner Card – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Wyndham Gold statusWyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Wyndham Platinum statusWyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card – Product Name Only: Best credit card for Wyndham Diamond status
Methodology: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards for Hotel Elite Status
Insider’s cards team examined all hotel credit cards that provided automatic free nights annually and weighed their benefits against each other. Also evaluated were each card’s benefits, annual fee, and other factors such as:
Ease of use — Does the card have a straightforward rewards program, and are rewards easy to earn and redeem? Are there any restrictions?Rewards earning potential — How valuable is each card’s welcome bonus? Is each card’s earning rates competitive with similar cards? Are there any spending limits?Options for different types of customers — We chose credit cards that are targeted to a variety of demographics, such as small-business owners and those with less-than-perfect credit.
Here’s a deep dive into how we rate credit cards at Insider that explains our full methodology.
Credit Cards With Hotel Elite Status Frequently Asked Questions
Are credit cards with hotel elite status worth it?
Opening a credit card that offers automatic hotel elite status is worth it because it can immediately elevate the comfort level of your stay. If you stay at a specific hotel chain regularly — or even if you don’t — the fact that you can acquire its status simply by holding a credit card can be a steal.
What value can I get from credit card hotel elite status?
Elite status can be incredibly valuable, offering benefits such as free breakfast, upgrades to suites (when available), early check-in, late checkout, a welcome gift, scads of bonus points, and even free nights. That means even the casual traveler could quite easily receive hundreds of dollars in value each year from elite status.
How do I activate hotel elite status from a credit card?
With hotel credit cards, you’ll receive elite status automatically once you apply and are approved. However, with non-hotel cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express – Product Name Only, you’ll have to manually enroll to get your status.
Does the hotel elite status expire?
Hotel elite status does expire each year unless you re-earn it. But if a credit card offers elite status, you’ll maintain that status as long as you keep the card open.
Best Card for Marriott and Hilton Elite Status
The Platinum Card® from American Express – Product Name Only
If you’re not too particular about which hotel brand you stay at, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the perfect option. That’s because it offers complimentary elite status at two major chains** — Hilton and Marriott — that together offer more properties than any other brand.
At Hilton, Platinum Card cardholders who enroll their accounts get complimentary Gold level status. This mid-tier status is particularly valuable at Hilton, including free breakfast or a food and beverage credit at most hotels, room upgrades and late checkout subject to availability, a fifth reward night for free any time you stay for four nights using points, an 80% bonus on points earned during paid stays, free water bottles in-room, and more.
Platinum Card members also get Gold status at Marriott when they enroll, although Gold perks at this brand are slightly different. You’ll get a room upgrade at check-in when it’s available, as well as check-out time as late as 2 p.m., complimentary premium internet, a 25% bonus on earned points, and a small welcome gift of bonus points.
Finally, for independent hotels, Platinum cardholders can book through the Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program to get perks at a ton of different properties. In addition, cardholders receive up to $200 per calendar year in credits toward prepaid hotels that are part of Fine Hotels and Resorts or The Hotel Collection (with a minimum of a two-night stay).
The Platinum Card comes with plenty of other perks too, including access to airport lounges, up to $200 a year in Uber Cash credits**, up to an annual $200 airline fee credit**, up to $100 annually in Saks Fifth Avenue credits**, concierge services, access to exclusive events, and more.
The small-business version of this card, The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, also comes with Marriott and Hilton Gold elite status (enrollment required). Here’s our Amex Business Platinum card review with all the details.
Review: American Express Platinum card review
Best Credit Card for Marriott Silver Status
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card currently offers an elevated welcome bonus of 75,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. The card has a Marriott Bonvoy Boundless™ Credit Card annual fee.
This card also gives you Silver elite status with Marriott.
While Silver status doesn’t get you much, it’s still something — you’ll get a 10% bonus on Marriott Bonvoy points earned, priority late checkout, access to a dedicated customer service line, free Wi-Fi, and more. While it’s not a published benefit, you may also be given preferential rooms. When you spend $35,000 on the card in a given year, you’ll earn Gold status instead.
The card offers 6 points on every dollar spent at Marriott hotels (in addition to the points you’d normally earn for the stay), 3x points at grocery stores, gas stations, and on dining (on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year), and 2x points on everything else. After your first year, you’ll get a free night certificate every year on your account anniversary, good for any property that costs 35,000 nights or fewer.
Review: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card review
Best Small Business Credit Card for Marriott Gold Status
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
If you can qualify for a small-business card, the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card is a great value. Cardholders receive automatic Marriott Gold elite status, a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points after each card anniversary, and a 7% discount on standard room rates.
The card currently offers a welcome bonus of Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. You’ll earn 6x points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy® program, 4x points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. shipping purchases, and 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
Review: Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex card review
Best Credit Card for Marriott Platinum Status
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card comes with automatic Marriott Platinum elite status, and cardholders receive up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, an annual free night certificate after your card renewal month good for hotels that cost up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, access to Priority Pass airport lounges**, and plenty more to make up for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card annual fee, which isn’t waived the first year.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card is also offering a limited-time increased welcome bonus: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card. Cardholders earn 6x points on purchases at hotels in the Marriott Bonvoy® program (on top of what they’d normally earn for a stay), 3x points at US restaurants and flights booked directly with the airline, and 2x points on everything else.
Review: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex card review
Best Personal Credit Cards for Marriott Gold Status
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card are Marriott’s newest credit cards, and both charge a Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card annual fee. These cards come with automatic Marriott Gold elite status.
With the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card there’s an elevated welcome bonus offer of Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card. Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card cardholders earn 6x points on hotel purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy locations, 4x points at restaurants globally and at U.S. supermarkets on the first $15,000 in combined purchases per year (then 2x), and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases.
The Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card comes with a welcome bonus of Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card and has similar earning rates and caps, except it earns 4x points on dining and groceries (worldwide) on up to $15,000 in combined annual spending (then 2x).
One unique feature of these cards is the ability to earn 1,000 bonus points for every stay booked directly with Marriott when you pay with your card. If you stay with Marriott frequently, this could translate into a substantial number of points.
Reviews: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy credit card review and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful credit card review
Best Credit Card for Hilton Silver Status
Hilton Honors American Express Card
The entry-level Amex Hilton Honors Card comes with a welcome bonus offer of 80,000 points after you spend at least $1,000 in your first 3 months of account opening. For a no-annual-fee travel credit card, this is a great deal, but you can do better with other Hilton options.
This card has a decent set of benefits for a no-annual-fee card, including Silver elite status in the Hilton Honors program.
At Hilton, holding Silver status doesn’t get you a ton, but you’ll still be eligible for things like late checkout, free water bottles in your room during stays, a free fifth night on award stays, and bonus points. When you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on the card in a calendar year, you’ll get upgraded to Gold status, which includes the same perks as Silver, plus free breakfast, room upgrades, and more bonus points.
The card offers 7 points per dollar spent on eligible Hilton purchases, 5 points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at US restaurants, US gas stations, and US supermarkets, and 3x points on every other eligible purchase.
Review: Hilton Honors American Express card review
Best Personal Credit Card for Hilton Gold Status
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
With a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card annual fee, the Hilton Honors Surpass® Card is the best mid-range option in Hilton’s line-up. This card also comes with a bonus of 130,000 points after you spend at least $2,000 in your first 3 months of account opening.
The Hilton Honors Surpass® Card offers complimentary Gold status, which is potentially an incredible deal. The free breakfast or food and beverage credit alone can make up for the annual fee in just a few stays.
If you spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors Surpass® Card within a calendar year, you’ll be upgraded to Diamond status. In addition to the same benefits you’d get from Gold status, Diamond gets you a higher priority for room upgrades, executive lounge access, and more. The card also comes with 10 free day passes to Priority Pass airport lounges.
You’ll also get a free reward night certificate if you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on the card within a calendar year.
The card has a better-earning rate than the regular Hilton card. It earns 12x points on eligible Hilton purchases, 6x points on eligible purchases at US restaurants, US gas stations, and US supermarkets, and 3x points on every other eligible purchase.
Review: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass card review
Best Small Business Credit Card for Hilton Gold Status
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a great deal if you’re a small-business owner who stays with Hilton frequently. Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Gold status, which opens the door to perks like free breakfast (food and beverage credit at US hotels), bonus points, and room upgrades.
The card has an impressive welcome bonus: The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card. You’ll also earn 12x points on purchases made directly with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio, 6x points on select business purchases (U.S. gas stations, wireless telephone services purchases directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S purchases for shipping), 6x points on select travel purchases (U.S. restaurants, flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel and car rentals booked with select car rental companies), and 3x points on all other eligible purchases.
Cardholders can also receive a free reward night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year, and another if they spend a total of $60,000 with their card in a calendar year. The card comes with 10 free Priority Pass visits annually as well. There’s a The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card annual fee.
Review: Amex Hilton Honors Business card review
Best Credit Card for Hilton Diamond Status
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card is the premium Hilton card, and even though it has a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card annual fee, it offers an absurd amount of potential value to blow that away.
Along with a welcome bonus offer of Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, the card comes with complimentary top-tier Diamond status without any spending requirement, getting you those room upgrades, executive lounge access, and more, in addition to all the benefits of lower tiers such as free breakfast.
It features up to a $250 airline fee credit per calendar year, and up to a $250 Hilton resort statement credit each card member year — right away that’s $500 in value. The Hilton Honors Aspire Card also offers a $100 Hilton on-property credit every time you book a stay of two nights or longer at a participating Waldorf Astoria or Conrad property — you just need to book through a specific website for cardholders.
Cardholders also get a free night reward each year — regardless of how much they spend — and a second if they spend $60,000 on the card in a calendar year.
The Hilton Honors Aspire Card, naturally, has the highest rewards earning rate of the Hilton cards: 14 points per eligible dollar spent with Hilton, 7x points on eligible flights booked with the airline, car rentals, and at U.S. restaurants, and 3x points on every other eligible purchase.
Review: Hilton Honors Aspire card review
Best Personal Credit Card for Hyatt Discoverist Status
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card offers complimentary Discoverist status — Discoverist is the first of three Hyatt elite tiers, followed by Explorist and Globalist. Discoverists are entitled to bonus points during stays, complimentary premium internet, free water bottles, late checkout on request, preferred rooms (though not upgrades), and more.
You’ll also receive five qualifying night credits each year toward the next elite tier, and you’ll earn additional two-night credit every time you spend $5,000, making it easier to earn enough stays for Explorist or Globalist.
The World Of Hyatt Credit Card earns 4 Hyatt points per dollar spent on Hyatt purchases, 2x points at restaurants, on flights purchased directly from the airline, local transit, and gyms, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
The card offers an intro bonus of The World Of Hyatt Credit Card. It has an annual fee of The World Of Hyatt Credit Card.
Review: World of Hyatt credit card review
Best Small Business Credit Card for Hyatt Discoverist Status
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card comes with automatic Discoverist status for you and up to five employees (includes additional cards).
You’ll earn five annual qualifying night credits for every $10,000 spent in a calendar year towards reaching the next tier elite status. Plus, you can get 10% of your redeemed points back (up to 200,000 points) when you spend $50,000 in a calendar year.
The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card earns 9 points per dollar spent for Hyatt stays and experiences, and 2x points in your top three spending categories (dining, airlines tickets, car rental agencies, local transit and commuting, gas stations, internet/cable/phone services, social media/search engine advertising, or shipping). After December 31, 2023, this will change to your top two categories. You’ll also earn 2x points with fitness clubs and gym memberships (1x on everything else).
New cardholders can earn World of Hyatt Business Credit Card.
Review: World of Hyatt Business credit card review
Best Personal Credit Card for IHG Platinum Status
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card offers free Platinum elite status to cardholders for as long as they keep the account open. Platinum elites are entitled to room upgrades (where available), late checkout, complimentary internet, a welcome gift, bonus points, free drinks in some hotels, and more.
The card comes with plenty of other benefits, including a free night certificate — good for any property that costs up to 40,000 points — on your card anniversary, a fourth award night for free on award stays of three or more consecutive nights, and up to a $100 credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS.
The IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card earns 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels (on top of what you’d normally earn for a stay), 5 points per dollar spent at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants, and 3 points per dollar on everything else.
The card is currently offering an elevated welcome bonus of 125,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. It has an annual fee of $89, waived the first year.
Review: IHG One Rewards Premier credit card review
Best Small Business Credit Card for IHG Platinum Status
IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
The IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card automatically gets you IHG Platinum elite status, which includes benefits like room upgrades, late checkout, complimentary internet, and 60% bonus points on paid bookings. Other benefits that come with the card are free anniversary nights, a fourth reward night free on IHG points stays, and application fee credit for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, and NEXUS up to $100 every four years.
The IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card can earn you 10,000 bonus points and $100 statement credit after you spend $20,000 on purchases and make one additional purchase each calendar year, up to $50 per year in United TravelBank Cash, and a 20% discount when you purchase points with your card (you can’t use this benefit with other IHG point promotions).
You’ll earn 10 points per dollar at IHG Hotels and Resorts, 5x points on travel, 5x at gas stations, dining, social media, search engine advertising, and office supply stores (3x on all other eligible purchases).
The IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card is currently offering a welcome bonus of IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, for a IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card annual fee.
Review: IHG One Rewards Premier Business credit card review
Best Credit Card for Choice Platinum Status
Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® – Product Name Only
The Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® – Product Name Only comes with 20 elite night credits per year which automatically qualifies you for Platinum elite status. Platinum status gets you early check-in and late checkout, an elite welcome gift, 25% bonus points on Choice stays, Avis elite status, and more.
The card charges an annual fee of Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® – Annual Fee. But with perks such as 30,000 bonus points after each account anniversary (worth an average of $210, per Insider’s points and miles valuations), cell phone protection, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit, the card pays for itself.
You’ll earn 10 points per dollar on stays at participating Choice hotels, 5 points per dollar at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and on phone plans, and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Additionally, you’ll receive a welcome bonus of Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® – Intro Bonus. That’s enough for potentially more than 10 free nights at Choice hotels.
Review: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard review
Best Credit Card for Choice Gold Status
Choice Privileges® Mastercard® – Product Name Only
The Choice Privileges® Mastercard® – Product Name Only offers 10 elite nights per year, qualifying you for Choice Gold status. This comes with 10% bonus points on Choice stays, elite reserved parking, an elite welcome gift, and more.
This card charges a Choice Privileges® Mastercard® – Annual Fee annual fee, but its benefits aren’t as robust as its more expensive sibling outlined above. You can expect basic perks such as cell phone protection and no foreign transaction fees, but you won’t get things like anniversary bonus points.
The card’s earning rates are also not as impressive. You’ll earn 5 points per dollar for Choice hotel stays, 3 points per dollar at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores, and phone plans, and 1 point per dollar on everything else. The card’s welcome bonus is Choice Privileges® Mastercard® – Intro Bonus.
Review: Choice Privileges Mastercard review
Best Credit Card for Wyndham Gold Status
Wyndham Rewards® Earner Card
The no-annual-fee Wyndham Rewards® Earner Card comes with entry-level Wyndham Gold elite status. With Gold status, you’ll get perks like a 10% points bonus on paid stays, late checkout when available, and access to preferred rooms.
The Wyndham Rewards® Earner Card has a welcome bonus offer of Wyndham Rewards® Earner Card.
Cardholders also earn 7,500 bonus points each year on their cardmember anniversary if they spend $15,000 throughout the year, and get access to discounts on award and paid stays.
Best Credit Card for Wyndham Platinum Status
Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card
The Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card charges a Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card annual fee and comes with a higher level of elite status — Wyndham Rewards Platinum. Platinum members get all the same perks Gold elites do, plus a 15% points bonus on paid stays, early check-in, Avis and Budget rental car upgrades, and the opportunity to status match with the Caesars Rewards loyalty program.
You can earn Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card. Plus, the card offers a Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card (then a Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card APR).
Review: Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus credit card review
Best Credit Card for Wyndham Diamond Status
Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card
The Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card has a Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card annual fee and comes with automatic Diamond member status (the highest tier level), which includes perks like preferred room choice, late checkout, early check-in, Caesars Rewards status match, Avis and Budget car rental upgrades, suite upgrades, and more.
Additional card benefits include no foreign transaction fees, cell phone protection, complimentary employee cards, and a card member booking discount.
The Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card earns 8x points on eligible Hotels by Wyndham and qualifying gas purchases. It also earns 5x points on marketing, advertising, and utility purchases (1x on all other eligible purchases). Plus, you can earn Wyndham Rewards® Earner Business Card.
Review: Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card review
Which Hotel Card With Elite Status Is Right for You?
Ultimately, the best card for you depends on which hotel brand you tend to stay with, how often you stay, and which elite perks you value. If you’re a Hyatt or IHG fan, there are only a couple of cards — if you stay with Hilton or Marriott, there are more choices.
Unless you’re an absolute loyalist, the Platinum Card may be the best pick. It comes with mid-level status at two of the biggest chains, includes free breakfast or a food and beverage credit at Hilton properties, and offers excellent non-hotel perks, like airline lounge access.