Many consumers just want a few credit cards. But even if you don’t want a full wallet top travel cardwell worth getting and keeping a co-branded mark hotel credit card with your favorite loyalty program.
In today’s Quick Score, I’ll discuss three reasons you need a credit card with your favorite hotel brand.
The annual fee is often worth it
Have annual free hotel credit cardbut it’s usually worth buying the annual paid version as these offer more perks and sometimes a free night certificate every year.
In most cases, it’s relatively easy to get more value out of a free night certificate than the annual fee you pay to keep the card. For example, the Hyatt World Credit Card has an annual fee of $95 but offers one free night in Tiers 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your card membership anniversary. If you redeem your free night at a Hyatt 4th Class Hotelyou’ll typically get over $95 worth of free nights each year, easily justifying your card’s retention, even if you rarely use the card’s other perks.
Meanwhile, some cards offer enough bonus points on each account anniversary to justify the annual fee. For example, the Wyndham Rewards Earner® business card There is an annual fee of $95, but cardholders receive 15,000 bonus points each anniversary year. Valuation of TPG closing value 15,000 Wyndham Rewards points at $165, more than the card’s annual fee.
Wyndham Award Winners Business Card information has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: 7 best hotel credit cards with free nights every year
You will enjoy extra perks and bonuses
Every hotel credit card is different, but most offer bonus income at hotels in their program.
For example, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® card offers 12 points for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases at hotels and resorts in Hilton Hotel investment portfolio. There are also Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Cardoffers 6 points for every dollar spent on qualifying purchases at participating hotels Marriott Bonvoy. However, some best card to buy travel can provide more valuable income, especially if you’re not loyal to a hotel loyalty program.
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Most hotel credit cards also offer other program-related perks.
take IHG® One Rewards Premier credit card as an example. It provides automatic Platinum Elite status and access to wednesday bonus night free benefits. Monday is an extremely valuable perk that allows you to pay 0 points every Wednesday night when you redeem IHG One reward points for stays of four nights or more.
Related: Best hotel credit cards with annual fees under $100
Easier to maintain elite status
some hotels credit cards that earn you status or offer elite status for free. Even if you don’t stay at hotels often, having elite status when you stay can be helpful.
For example, the Hyatt World Credit Card provide Auto Discoverer status in Hyatt’s Worldand Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card provide top level automatically Diamond status with Hilton.
But some cards also get you a higher level of hotel elite status.
For example, most Marriott Bonvoy credit card offers elite night credits that can earn you higher levels Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status. You can combine these from personal business cards and business cardsIn some cases, you’re only 10 nights away from being eligible for Elite Platinum status.
Meanwhile, the Choice Privileges® Mastercard® (see rates and fees) offers 10 elite night credits for Choice privileges elite status each calendar year.
Related: Compare the best hotel elite status tiers and how to earn them
Information about the Hilton Aspire Card has been independently collected by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
bottom line
If you have a favorite hotel program or brand, you should consider getting a co-branded credit card for your program.
For example, Hyatt loyalists may want to receive Hyatt World Credit Card or World of Hyatt corporate credit card. The entire portfolio of co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards is available for Marriott Loyalists too, although I like pairing Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® credit card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card.
In many cases, an annual certificate of free nights or bonus points will more than justify paying the annual fee on your hotel credit card. Additionally, most hotel credit cards offer bonus income and additional perks when staying at the program’s hotels.
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