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Introduction: Unlock Free Nights and Travel Perks with Hotel Credit Cards
If you are a frequent traveler like me, you know the value of a comfortable hotel stay. That is why I am always looking for ways to maximize my travel rewards. One of the most rewarding perks offered by hotel credit cards is the annual free night certificate. These certificates can often offset a card’s annual fee and provide incredible value. In fact, I typically jump at the chance to open a hotel credit card that offers an annual award night, and I have never closed one that does. The value I derive from these free nights and other perks always exceeds the annual fee. Let’s dive into some of the best hotel credit cards that offer cardholders an annual free night.
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Best Hotel Credit Cards Offering Annual Free Nights
Here is a quick overview of my favorite hotel credit cards that provide an annual free night.
* For Hyatt Enthusiasts: World of Hyatt Credit Card * For Hilton Devotees: Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card * For Marriott Advocates: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card * For Marriott Enthusiasts Seeking Premium Perks: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card * For Business Travelers Who Love Marriott: Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card * For IHG Fans: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card * For Business Travelers Who Favor IHG: IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
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Comparing Hotel Credit Cards with Free Annual Nights
To help you make an informed decision, let’s compare these hotel credit cards based on their annual free night benefits, annual fees, and target audiences.
| Hotel Credit Card | Best For | Annual Free Night Details | Annual Fee | | :—————————————————————
| World of Hyatt Credit Card | Hyatt loyalists | One free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardmember anniversary. Earn one extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year. | \$95 | | Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Hilton loyalists | One free night reward with your new card, and again every year after renewal. One additional free night reward after you make $30,000 in card purchases in a calendar year, and another free night reward after $60,000 in purchases in a calendar year. | \$550 | | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card | Marriott loyalists | One free night award every year after your account anniversary, valid for a one-night stay at a property with a redemption value of up to 35,000 points. | \$95 | | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card | Marriott loyalists who want extra perks | One free night award every year after your card renewal month. You can use the free night award for one night (up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. | \$650 | | Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card | Business travelers who are Marriott loyalists | One free night award every year after your card account anniversary, valid for a one-night hotel stay with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points. Earn one additional free night award, valid for a one-night hotel stay with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points, after spending $60,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year. | \$125 | | IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | IHG loyalists | One free night valid at IHG hotels with a point redemption level of 40,000 points or less after your account anniversary each year. | \$99 | | IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card | Business travelers who are IHG loyalists | One free night valid at IHG hotels with a point redemption level of 40,000 points or less after your account anniversary each year. | \$99 |
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Diving Deeper: Hotel Credit Card Analysis
Let’s take a closer look at each of these cards to understand their unique benefits and earning potential. Keep in mind that welcome offer valuations are always subject to change.
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World of Hyatt Credit Card: A Must-Have for Hyatt Fans
If you are a frequent Hyatt guest, the World of Hyatt Credit Card is a fantastic option. This card is perfect for anyone who stays with Hyatt a few times per year.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points: 30,000 bonus points after you spend \$3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 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. * Annual Fee: \$95 * Rewards Rate: You earn 4 points per dollar spent on Hyatt purchases. Additionally, you’ll get 2 points per dollar on local transit, commuting, at restaurants, airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, and fitness club and gym memberships. Earn 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. * Annual Free Night Benefit: Each year after your cardmember anniversary, you’ll receive one free night at a Category 1-4 hotel. A perk I value is that you can also earn a second free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each year you spend \$15,000 on the card.
Why This Benefit Is Valuable: I find the list of Category 1-4 properties in the Hyatt portfolio attractive. This includes many Hyatt Places and Hyatt Houses, along with higher-tier brands like Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Centric, Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, and Andaz. What I especially appreciate is not paying resort fees at Hyatt when you redeem a free night award.
Other Card Details: As a cardholder, I also enjoy World of Hyatt Discoverist status, 5 qualifying night credits toward my next tier status every year, and 2 additional qualifying night credits every time I spend \$5,000 on my card. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees, which I find incredibly useful when traveling abroad.
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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: The Ultimate for Hilton Loyalists
If you are a Hilton enthusiast, you will love the perks of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. This card offers exceptional value for those who frequently stay at Hilton properties.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn 175,000 bonus points after spending \$6,000 on eligible purchases with the card in the first six months of card membership. * Annual Fee: \$550 * Rewards Rate: This card has a great rewards rate. For example, you can earn 14 Hilton points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels or resorts in the Hilton portfolio. You can also get 7 points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or American Express Travel, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants. Earn 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases. * Annual Free Night Benefit: You’ll receive one free night award with your new card and every year after renewal. What I like is that you can earn an additional night after spending \$30,000 on purchases on your card in a calendar year, then another after spending \$60,000 on your card in the same calendar year.
Why This Benefit Is Valuable: With this card, the sky’s the limit when redeeming Hilton free night awards! There’s no category cap, so you can redeem your free night at the most exceptional Hilton properties. Just be sure to check for excluded properties before booking.
Other Card Details: As a cardholder, I receive Hilton Diamond elite status, up to \$400 Hilton Resort credit per calendar year, up to \$200 annual airline fee credit, and up to \$100 in credits for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking a two-night minimum stay. Enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply.
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Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: An Excellent Value for Marriott Fans
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card offers a reasonable annual fee. Therefore, it is an attractive choice for Marriott fans who do not want to pay a triple-digit annual fee.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn five free nights (each night valued at up to 50,000 points) after spending \$5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. * Annual Fee: \$95 * Rewards Rate: You can earn up to 17 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent at Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points per dollar on the first \$6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on gas stations, grocery stores and dining, and 2 points per dollar on all other purchases. * Annual Free Night Benefit: You’ll receive one free night award every year after your account anniversary, which is valid for a one-night stay at a property with a redemption value of up to 35,000 points.
Why This Benefit Is Valuable: The Marriott portfolio includes many desirable 35,000-point hotels that qualify for the certificate.
Other Card Details: You’ll receive Marriott Silver elite status each year as a cardholder. You also have the path to Gold elite status after spending \$35,000 on purchases each calendar year. You also get 15 elite night credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status each calendar year, plus one credit toward elite status for every \$5,000 you spend. Furthermore, there are no foreign transaction fees.
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Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card: For Marriott Loyalists Who Want Extra Perks
If you stay at Marriott Bonvoy properties multiple times a year, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is a great choice. This is despite its high annual fee.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus points after making \$6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership and an extra 50,000 bonus points after making an additional \$2,000 in purchases within the first six months. * Annual Fee: \$650 * Rewards Rate: You’ll earn 6 Marriott points per dollar at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 3 points per dollar on dining at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases. * Annual Free Night Benefit: You’ll receive one free night award every year after your card renewal month, and you can use the free night award for one night (up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel.
Why This Benefit Is Valuable: Many excellent Marriott properties are bookable for 85,000 points or less.
Other Card Details: As a cardholder, you’ll receive a \$300 dining statement credit per calendar year, complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, 25 elite night credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status each calendar year, a Priority Pass Select membership, and a credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees. Enrollment is required for select benefits, and terms apply.
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Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card: For Business Travelers Who Love Marriott
Even if you don’t own a traditional business, you may still qualify for a business hotel card like the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn three free night awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after making \$6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. * Annual Fee: \$125 * Rewards Rate: You earn 6 points per dollar spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program, 4 points per dollar on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping. Get 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases. * Annual Free Night Benefit: You’ll receive one free night award every year after your card renewal month. Plus, you can earn an additional free night award after spending \$60,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year.
Why This Benefit Is Valuable: Impressive Marriott properties costing 35,000 points or less per night qualify for this reward.
Other Card Details: You’ll get Marriott Gold Elite status as long as you are a cardmember, 15 elite night credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, and no foreign transaction fees. Enrollment required for select benefits, and terms apply.
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IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: A Premier Choice for IHG Fans
IHG fans will appreciate the IHG One Premier’s reasonable annual fee and solid benefits.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn five free nights (each night valued up to 60,000 points for a total of up to 300,000 points) after spending \$5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. * Annual Fee: \$99 * Rewards Rate: You’ll earn up to 26 points per dollar on purchases at IHG Hotels & Resorts worldwide, 5 points per dollar on travel, hotels, gas stations and restaurants, and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases. * Annual Free Night Benefit: You’ll receive an anniversary free night every year at one of IHG’s eligible properties worldwide. You can use this anniversary night at IHG Hotels with a current point redemption level of 40,000 points or less.
Why This Benefit Is Valuable: Thanks to IHG’s dynamic pricing, you can book many IHG hotels using the IHG One Premier Card’s anniversary reward night.
Other Card Details: You’ll get automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, a Global Entry, Nexus, or TSA PreCheck fee credit, a fourth night free when you redeem IHG points for any stay of three or more nights, and up to \$50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year.
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IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: For Business Travelers Who Are IHG Loyalists
If you’re a business owner and an IHG fan, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card is an ideal option.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending \$4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. * Annual Fee: \$99 * Rewards Rate: You’ll earn up to 26 points per dollar on purchases at IHG Hotels & Resorts worldwide, 5 points per dollar on travel, hotels, gas stations, restaurants, social media, search engine advertising, and office supply stores, and 3 points per dollar on all other purchases. * Annual Free Night Benefit: You’ll receive an anniversary free night every year at one of IHG’s eligible properties worldwide. The award is valid for hotels with a redemption level of 40,000 points or less.
Why This Benefit Is Valuable: Having the IHG One Premier Business card can help you snag some of the best IHG hotels in the world for a fraction of the cost.
Other Card Details: Automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status, a Global Entry, Nexus, or TSA PreCheck fee credit, fourth night free when you redeem IHG points for any stay of three or more nights, and up to \$50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year.
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Maximizing Your Hotel Credit Card Free Nights
When using your hotel credit card free nights, consider these strategies for maximizing their value. I like to use my free nights to extend a vacation or enjoy a weekend getaway.
* Combine with Existing Stays: I sometimes tack a free night onto a more extended stay booked with points or cash. * Check Category Restrictions: Be aware of any category restrictions on your free night certificate. * Consider Transfer Fees: If traveling to destinations like French Polynesia or the Maldives, be prepared to pay transfer fees.
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Conclusion: Select the Best Hotel Credit Card and Enhance Your Travels!
Hotel credit cards with annual free night awards provide a great way to offset expenses. Plus, they offer valuable perks and welcome bonuses to cardholders. You can enhance your travel experience with a hotel credit card that suits your needs.
