I’ll admit something up front: I used to think hotel rewards credit cards were just another gimmick. A shiny way for banks and big hotel chains to get me to spend more money on rooms I didn’t really need. But a few years ago, after spending five nights at a Marriott in Chicago almost entirely on points, I started to realize there’s more to these cards than the brochures make them seem.
Still, not all hotel cards are created equal. Some can genuinely save you hundreds, even thousands, if you travel often. Others might sound good on paper but end up collecting dust in your wallet. The tricky part is figuring out which is which—and more importantly, which one actually fits the way you travel.
So let’s compare some of the most popular hotel rewards credit cards in the U.S., not just by the perks they advertise but also by the sneaky fine print and the way real travelers actually use them.
Why Hotel Rewards Cards Can Be Worth It (Sometimes)
Hotel cards operate on a simple promise: stay with us, spend with us, and we’ll give you free nights, upgrades, or bonus points for future trips. On the surface, that sounds great. Who doesn’t want free nights?
But here’s where things get interesting. The value of those “free nights” varies dramatically depending on where you redeem them. A single free night in downtown New York could easily cost 60,000 points, while a night in a suburban Holiday Inn might only set you back 15,000. Same card, same “reward,” wildly different value.
And then there’s the issue of loyalty. These cards are most rewarding if you stick to one hotel group religiously. If you’re the type of traveler who picks whatever is cheapest on Expedia, a hotel card may not be the best fit. On the other hand, if you already have a favorite brand—Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG—then their co-branded card could actually make sense.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
Let’s start with Marriott, since it’s one of the biggest chains in the world. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card, offered by Chase, comes with a fairly standard sign-up bonus (often 75,000 points after spending a few thousand dollars in the first three months).
Here’s the part people love: every year you keep the card, you get a free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points. Depending on how you use it, that could mean a $300+ hotel room essentially for free.
I once used mine at a Courtyard in Boston during graduation season, when prices had shot up to $350 a night. That certificate suddenly felt like pure gold. But I’ve also had years where I burned it on a random Fairfield Inn along the highway, saving maybe $120. The value swings a lot.
Pros:
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Massive hotel footprint (over 7,000 properties worldwide).
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Automatic Silver Elite status (late checkout, priority reservations).
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Annual free night certificate can outweigh the $95 annual fee if used strategically.
Cons:
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Award chart can be unpredictable. Marriott’s move to “dynamic pricing” means sometimes that “free night” doesn’t stretch very far.
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If you don’t stay at Marriott properties regularly, the points accumulate slowly.
Who it’s best for: Travelers who already gravitate toward Marriott hotels or who can reliably use that free night in high-demand cities.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
Hilton fans will tell you their chain is the most “generous” with free breakfast perks, and I have to agree. The Hilton Surpass card is one of the few that gives you automatic Gold status just for having the card. Gold means you almost always get complimentary breakfast for two and, in some places, room upgrades.
Now, here’s the thing: Hilton points are notoriously inflated. A free night at a mid-tier Hilton might cost 40,000 points, while a luxury Waldorf Astoria could set you back 95,000 or more. That sounds outrageous compared to Marriott, but Hilton also gives out points like candy. The Surpass earns 12x points at Hilton hotels, and the sign-up bonus often hovers around 130,000 points.
I used Hilton points once for a four-night stay in Hawaii. Because of their “fifth night free” benefit, I only needed enough points for four nights and got the fifth night comped. That’s when Hilton’s system really shines—longer stays in one place.
Pros:
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Automatic Gold status (free breakfast and upgrades).
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Strong points-earning categories (6x at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations).
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Fifth night free on award stays.
Cons:
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Points don’t stretch as far as you’d hope, unless you’re savvy about redemption.
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$150 annual fee (recently raised), which means you really have to use the benefits.
Who it’s best for: People who stay at Hiltons often, especially for longer vacations, and those who value free breakfast more than anything.
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Hyatt is a smaller chain, but its loyalists are practically fanatical—and for good reason. Hyatt’s award chart is still relatively generous compared to Marriott and Hilton. For example, you might snag a free night at a luxury Park Hyatt for 25,000 points, while a similar property in the Marriott ecosystem could be double that.
The World of Hyatt card, offered by Chase, doesn’t just give you points. It also comes with automatic Discoverist status, which isn’t earth-shattering but still includes late checkout and preferred rooms. The kicker is the free night certificate at a Category 1–4 hotel each year.
Here’s where Hyatt cards shine: the value of their points. Most experts agree Hyatt points are worth about twice as much as Hilton’s or Marriott’s. I can vouch for this. A couple of years ago, I used 12,000 Hyatt points for a night in Austin where cash rates were north of $300. That’s an incredible redemption rate.
Pros:
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Points carry strong value, even at luxury properties.
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Annual free night certificate offsets the $95 fee with ease.
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Easier path to elite status with extra nights credited toward qualification.
Cons:
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Smaller footprint (around 1,300 properties worldwide). If you travel off the beaten path, you might not find a Hyatt nearby.
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Discoverist status isn’t as rewarding as Hilton Gold.
Who it’s best for: Travelers who care about quality redemptions over sheer quantity of hotels. Perfect for people who are picky about value.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
IHG—think Holiday Inn, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza—flies under the radar for many people. But their Premier card has a sneaky good benefit: the annual free night certificate worth up to 40,000 points.
That’s enough for some genuinely nice hotels, especially outside the U.S. I once used mine at an InterContinental in Lisbon that would’ve cost about $280 cash. Not bad for a card with a $99 annual fee.
The card also gives you automatic Platinum Elite status, which sometimes means upgrades but more often just means bonus points. Still, the “fourth night free” on award bookings is where the magic happens. Book three nights with points, get the fourth free. For anyone planning extended trips, this can add up fast.
Pros:
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Fourth night free on award stays is extremely valuable.
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Wide range of properties, from budget to luxury.
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Annual free night worth more than the fee.
Cons:
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Points aren’t as valuable as Hyatt’s, sometimes requiring 70,000+ for high-end hotels.
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Perks like Platinum status don’t feel as tangible as Hilton’s breakfast benefit.
Who it’s best for: People who mix business and leisure travel, or anyone who books longer stays.
So… Which Card Actually Saves You the Most?
If you’re hoping for a one-size-fits-all answer, here’s the bad news: there isn’t one. The “best” hotel card really depends on your travel style.
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If you want the best value per point, Hyatt wins hands down.
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If you want elite perks without much effort, Hilton’s Surpass card gives you Gold status instantly.
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If you want the biggest hotel footprint, Marriott is hard to beat.
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If you want longer stays on points, IHG’s “fourth night free” benefit is a game-changer.
What matters most is how you travel. Do you hop around cities for quick work trips? Marriott’s widespread coverage might save you the hassle of searching. Do you prefer week-long vacations in one spot? Hilton or IHG may stretch further.
I personally keep two: Hyatt for the high-value redemptions, and Marriott for the free night certificate. Between those two, I’ve saved thousands over the years—though I’ll admit, there are still times I just pay cash at a random boutique hotel because points and perks aren’t always worth chasing.
Final Thoughts: The Danger of Chasing Points
One thing I’ll caution: it’s easy to let the promise of free nights push you into spending more than you normally would. I’ve been guilty of it myself. A few years back, I put a pricey furniture purchase on my Marriott card just to hit the sign-up bonus. The “free” hotel nights were great, but paying off that couch wasn’t exactly fun.
At the end of the day, hotel cards can absolutely save you money—but only if you’d be traveling anyway. If you’re forcing trips just to burn points, the math doesn’t work in your favor.
So if you’re considering one of these cards, ask yourself: where do I already stay, and how often? The best card isn’t the one with the flashiest sign-up bonus or the fanciest hotel photos. It’s the one that quietly fits into your real travel habits and saves you money where you’d already be spending it.
And that, at least in my experience, is where the true value lies.