Money.com has partnered with CardRatings.com for our coverage of credit card products. Money and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. Our site does not include all card companies or all available card offers.
The best hotel credit card is One Key+™ Card from Wells Fargo due to its flexibility, sign-up bonus and rewards.
Methodology: We reviewed hundreds credit cards, scoring issuers' APRs, fees, sign-up bonuses and rewards.
Editor’s take: The One Key+™ Card offers a $400 sign-up bonus; 3% back on several booking platforms, gas stations, grocery stores and dining, a low annual fee and perks like cell phone insurance and car rental coverage.
Updated February 2026.
Whether you're on vacation or business, hotels can make or break your travel experience — and your budget. Hotel credit card reward programs can help lower some of that cost and, thanks to their many benefits and perks, make your stay more comfortable and enjoyable.
Here are our picks for the best hotel credit cards from a variety of hotel chains that reward frequent travelers.
Our Top Picks for the Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2026
- Best Overall: One Key+ Card from Wells Fargo
- Best for Low Fees: Choice Privileges Mastercard by Wells Fargo
- Best for Rewards: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard by Wells Fargo
- Best Sign-Up Bonus: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Best for Luxury Hotels: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
All rates and data are current as of Feb. 24, 2026.
Best Hotel Credit Cards Reviews
Why we chose it: The One Key+ Card from Wells Fargo offers core rewards — including on and beyond travel — that appeal to everyday consumers.
The card's 5% balance transfer fee and $99 annual fee are reasonable considering the sign-up bonuses and ongoing rewards it offers. New customers can earn $350 in OneKeyCash after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months. Meanwhile, the card offers 3% back in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo, 3% back at gas stations, grocery stores and on dining, and 2% on all other purchases. One Key+ has variable APRs from 18.49% to 28.49%, and there is no foreign transaction fee.
The One Key+ Card's perks include cell phone insurance, trip interruption and cancellation protection, travel accident protection and car rental coverage. Gold members are able to save 20% or more on over 10,000 hotels worldwide and can unlock Platinum status when they spend $30,000 per calendar year. Additionally, the card provides $100 in OneKeyCash on customers' sign-up anniversaries and $120 off TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose it: The Choice Privileges Mastercard by Wells Fargo doesn't charge an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee, and its balance transfer fee is just 3%.
The card also provides 5x points on stays at participating Choice Hotels properties and on Choice Privileges point purchases, in addition to 3x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plan services. For all other purchases, the Choice Privileges Mastercard provides 1x points. The card has variable APRs ranging from 19.74% to 28.49%.
As a sign-up bonus, the Choice Privileges Mastercard provides 60,000 bonus points when new customers spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months. That's enough to redeem for up to seven reward nights at select Choice Hotels properties. In addition to free nights at hotels, users are also able to redeem points for gift cards. The card provides cell phone insurance, too.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose it: The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard by Wells Fargo provides 10x points on stays at participating Choice Hotels properties and on Choice Privileges point purchases.
Additionally, the card offers 5x points on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, home improvement stores and phone plan services; and 1x points on all other purchases. The card's annual fee is $95 and its variable APRs range from 19.74% to 28.49%, but there is no foreign transaction fee. Balance transfers incur a charge of 5% per each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
The Choice Privileges Select Mastercard's sign-up bonus provides 60,000 bonus points when new customers spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months, and like the Choice Privileges Mastercard, it provides cell phone insurance.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose it: The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers new customers 150,000 points if they spend $6,000 in the first six months.
The card has a steep annual fee of $550, but its rewards are strong. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers 14x points on Hilton hotel and resort stays; 7x points on flights, car rentals, restaurants, takeout and delivery; and 3x points for all other purchases. Additionally, the card offers a free night reward yearly. Variable APRs range from 19.49% to 28.49%. There is no foreign transaction fee and balance transfer incur a charge of either $10 or 5% (whichever is greater).
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card's perks include car rental coverage, baggage delay and baggage loss coverage, trip interruption/cancellation coverage, extended warranty coverage and purchase coverage. It also provides customers with access to resort credits and a CLEAR+ credit of $209.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose it: With the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, members can earn points toward free nights at over 30 hotel brands around the world.
The card also offers 6x points on Marriott stays, 3x points on restaurants and flights (booked directly with airlines), 2x points for all other purchases, one free night annually and a $300 dining credit annually. Its sign-up bonus provides 100,000 bonus points for new customers who spend $6,000 or more in the first six months. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card's annual fee is steep at $650, its variable APRs range from 19.49% to 28.49%, and there is a balance transfer fee of $10 or 5% (whichever is greater). There is no foreign transaction fee.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card's travel and purchase protections include car rental coverage, baggage delay and loss coverage, and trip interruption/cancellation coverage as well as purchase and extended warranty coverage. Additionally, customers are eligible for Platinum Elite status, TSA PreCheck credits and a $100 Bonvoy Property credit.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Ads by Money. We may be compensated if you click this ad.Ad
Best Hotel Credit Cards FAQs
What rewards and perks can you expect with a hotel credit card?
As a baseline, cardholders should expect a high reward rate for booking rooms or making eligible purchases inside the hotel. Other standard rewards and perks include status upgrades, free night awards and travel-related perks such as trip cancellation insurance and secondary rental coverage. Depending on how premium the card is and the brand, these benefits will change, but are standard in quality hotel credit cards.
Can you use a hotel credit card for everyday purchases?
Most hotel credit cards are regular credit cards inside the network of Visa, Mastercard or American Express (there are no co-branded hotel credit cards with Discover at the time of this writing) and can be used anywhere these payment methods are accepted. Some hotel credit cards even reward everyday spending at gas stations and grocery stores.
Are there any fees associated with using a hotel credit card?
Fees on hotel credit cards are regular credit card fees, which include annual fees, balance transfer fees and cash advance fees. Most hotel credit cards don't charge foreign transaction fees to help avoid paying extra when you’re outside of the U.S. There are no fees specific to hotel credit cards, although when using points to purchase free nights, some hotels waive service fees.
How much is a hotel point worth?
Hotel points vary significantly depending on the card issuer and hotel brand, as well as how, when and where you redeem them. While you can redeem points for a variety of things, such as gift cards, room upgrades or even retail deals through a hotel’s loyalty program, one of the most common and sought-after perks are free or discounted nights.
How We Chose the Best Hotel Credit Cards
The best hotel credit cards provide exceptional value through high points earnings, free nights and status upgrades alongside low fees and appealing sign-up bonuses. Finding the best hotel credit cards meant looking not just into the cards themselves but into the different hotel chains that co-branded them, among other factors listed below.
| Hotel Rewards | Sign-Up Bonus | Fees | Other Perks |
| 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
- Hotel Rewards: Points earning rates for hotel stays, flexibility in redemptions and partner hotel networks.
- Sign-Up Bonus: Value of bonus points or free nights and ease of achieving spending thresholds.
- Fees: Low or no annual fees, no foreign transaction fees and ongoing costs.
- Other Perks: Benefits like elite status upgrades, free nights and travel protections.
Read our full methodology here.
Summary of Money’s Best Hotel Credit Cards of 2026
- Best Overall: One Key+ Card from Wells Fargo
- Best for Low Fees: Choice Privileges Mastercard by Wells Fargo
- Best for Rewards: Choice Privileges Select Mastercard by Wells Fargo
- Best Sign-Up Bonus: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Best for Luxury Hotels: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
To see rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.
* Insurance disclosures for American Express Cards on this page:
Trip Delay Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Global Assist Hotline: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Baggage Insurance Plan: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
