Introduction: Why Annual Free Night Hotel Credit Cards are a Must-Have
As a seasoned travel credit card enthusiast, I can tell you that annual free night awards are one of the most valuable perks a hotel credit card can offer. Many hotel loyalty programs partner with credit card issuers to offer co-branded credit cards. These cards often come with an annual fee, but the value you receive from the annual free night and other benefits can easily outweigh the cost. Personally, I never hesitate to open a new hotel credit card that offers an annual award night. In fact, I’ve never even considered closing a card that provides one! I consistently get more value from the annual free night and other perks than the annual fee I pay. Of course, travel credit cards offer more flexibility, but with fall and holiday travel on the horizon, it’s a great time to consider adding one or more hotel credit cards with an annual free night to your wallet. So, let’s dive into some of the best hotel credit cards that offer cardholders an annual free night.
Top Hotel Credit Cards with an Annual Free Night: A Quick Overview
Here’s a brief rundown of my favorite hotel credit cards that offer an annual free night:
* World of Hyatt Credit Card: Ideal for Hyatt loyalists who enjoy predictable award charts and valuable perks. * Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Perfect for Hilton enthusiasts seeking luxury and premium benefits. * Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: A great choice for Marriott loyalists seeking a balance between value and affordability. * Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card: Suited for Marriott loyalists who want to indulge in extra perks and elevated experiences. * Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card: Tailored for business travelers who are Marriott loyalists and want to maximize their spending. * IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: A solid option for IHG loyalists who appreciate a wide range of hotel choices and valuable benefits. * IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Designed for business travelers who are IHG loyalists and want to earn rewards on their business expenses.
In-Depth Comparison: Hotel Credit Cards with Annual Free Night Benefits
| Hotel Credit Card | Best For | Annual Free Night Details | Annual Fee | | :——————————————————
| [World of Hyatt Credit Card](#world-of-hyatt) | 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-aspire) | 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-boundless) | 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-brilliant) | 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](#marriott-business) | 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-premier) | 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](#ihg-business) | Best for 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 |
Diving Deeper: Detailed Reviews of My Favorite Hotel Credit Cards with Annual Free Night Awards
Let’s take a closer look at each of these cards, focusing on their benefits, earning rates, and why they might be the perfect fit for your travel style. Keep in mind, that the welcome offer valuations I’ll be using are based on valuations as of June 2025.
World of Hyatt Credit Card: The Sweet Spot for Hyatt Enthusiasts
If you are a Hyatt loyalist, then this card might be for you. I find the World of Hyatt Credit Card is fantastic for anyone who stays with Hyatt at least a couple of times each year.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points: 30,000 bonus points after spending \$3,000 on purchases in the first three months, plus up to an additional 30,000 bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per \$1 spent in the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to \$15,000 spent. * Welcome Offer Value: Up to \$1,020 * Annual Fee: \$95 * Rewards Rate: * 4 points per dollar spent on purchases at Hyatt properties * 2 points per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, and on fitness club and gym memberships * 1 point per dollar on everything else * Annual Free Night Benefit: One free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each year after your cardmember anniversary. You can also receive a second free night at a Category 1-4 hotel each year when you spend \$15,000 on the card in a calendar year. * Why This Benefit is Valuable: Hyatt has a wonderful list of Category 1-4 properties. You’ll find plenty of Hyatt Places and Hyatt Houses on the Category 1-4 list. However, higher-tier Hyatt brands are also available, including Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Centric, Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt, and Andaz. There are even some solid Hyatt Category 1-4 properties in the U.S. that would be good for a family vacation. Plus, you don’t pay resort fees at Hyatt when staying on a free night award. With an average nightly rate at a Hyatt property of around \$250, it should be easy to get at least \$95 of value from your certificate.
Other card details:
* World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your World of Hyatt Card is open * Five qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year. Plus, earn two additional qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every time you spend \$5,000 on your card * No foreign transaction fees
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Luxury and Perks for Hilton Devotees
If you’re a Hilton loyalist, the Hilton Amex Aspire is the card you need. Hilton fans will appreciate all of the benefits that the Hilton Amex Aspire card offers.
* 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. * Welcome Offer Value: \$750 * Annual Fee: \$550 * Rewards Rate: * 14 Hilton points per dollar spent on eligible purchases at hotels or resorts in the Hilton portfolio * 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 * 3 points per dollar on other eligible purchases * Annual Free Night Benefit: The Hilton Aspire Amex provides one free night award with your new card and every year after renewal. 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: The sky is the limit when redeeming Hilton free night award certificates. There is no category cap, so you can redeem your free night at some genuinely exceptional Hilton properties. However, there are several excluded properties, so check before planning your redemption.
Other card details:
* Hilton Diamond elite status for as long as your card is open * Up to \$400 Hilton Resort credit per calendar year of card membership (up to \$200 bi-annually) * Up to \$200 annual airline fee credit for incidental charges charged by a qualifying airline of your choice to your card per calendar year (up to \$50 each quarter) * Call Hilton Honors to book a two-night minimum stay and receive up to \$100 in credits for qualifying charges at participating Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts. * No foreign transaction fees
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: A Balance of Value and Rewards
If you are on a tighter budget, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card is an outstanding choice for Marriott fans who can’t justify paying triple digits for a hotel card each year.
* 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. Certain hotels have resort fees. * Welcome Offer Value: Up to \$1,750 * Annual Fee: \$95 * Rewards Rate: 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: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless offers 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. * Why This Benefit is Valuable: Marriott’s portfolio contains many desirable 35,000-point-or-less hotels that qualify for this certificate. So, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a property that fits the bill, even if you’re traveling as a family. As such, getting at least \$95 of value from your 35,000-point certificate should be easy.
Other card details:
* Marriott Silver elite status each account anniversary year as a cardholder * Path to Gold elite status after spend \$35,000 on purchases each calendar year * 15 elite night credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status each calendar year * Earn one credit toward elite status for every \$5,000 you spend * No foreign transaction fees
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card: Indulge in Luxury and Extra Perks
If you stay with Marriott Bonvoy multiple times a year, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant may be a good choice 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. * Welcome Offer Value: Earn up to \$1,050 * Annual Fee: \$650 * Rewards Rate: * 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 * 2 points per dollar on other eligible purchases * Annual Free Night Benefit: The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant offers 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. * Why This Benefit is Valuable: The value of 85,000 Marriott points is \$595. Many excellent Marriott properties are bookable for 85,000 points or less.
Other card details:
* Up to \$300 dining statement credit per calendar year (up to \$25 per month for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide) * Receive complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status * 25 elite night credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status each calendar year * Priority Pass Select membership * \$120 statement credit for Global Entry every four years or up to \$85 credit for TSA PreCheck every 4½ years * Up to \$100 Marriott Bonvoy property credit every calendar year when you use your card to book directly using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay at The Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis * No foreign transaction fees
Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card: Maximize Rewards for Business Travelers
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. Certain hotels have resort fees. * Annual Fee: \$125 * Rewards Rate: * 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 * 2 points per dollar on all other eligible purchases * Annual Free Night Benefit: The Marriott Bonvoy Business offers 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. You can use your free night award for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at a participating hotel. * Why This Benefit is Valuable: The value of 35,000 Marriott points is \$245. Some impressive Marriott properties costing 35,000 points or less per night qualify for this reward.
Other card details:
* Marriott Gold Elite status as long as you’re a cardmember * 15 elite night credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status * No foreign transaction fees
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: A Wide Range of Options for IHG Enthusiasts
If you love the IHG hotel, then this card is for you. 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. * Welcome Offer Value: Up to \$1,500 * Annual Fee: \$99 * Rewards Rate: * 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 * 3 points per dollar on all other purchases * Annual Free Night Benefit: The IHG One Rewards Premier offers an anniversary free night every year at one of IHG’s eligible properties worldwide. You’ll get this anniversary free night on your account anniversary date each year and have 12 months to book and complete your stay. 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. So, it’s worth checking whether you can use your anniversary night to snag some of IHG’s top hotels. For example, I booked the amazing InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort using two of the IHG Premier’s anniversary night certificates.
Other card details:
* Automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a cardholder * Global Entry, Nexus, or TSA PreCheck fee credit of up to \$120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card * Fourth night free when you redeem IHG points for any stay of three or more nights * Up to \$50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year (up to \$25 biannually)
IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Solid Rewards for Business Travel
If you’re a business owner and an IHG fan, the IHG One Rewards Premier Business card is a reasonably priced option for you to consider.
* Welcome Bonus: Earn 140,000 bonus points after spending \$4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. * Welcome Offer Value: \$700 * Annual Fee: \$99 * Rewards Rate: * 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 * 3 points per dollar on all other purchases * Annual Free Night Benefit: The IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card offers an anniversary free night every year at one of IHG’s eligible properties worldwide. You will receive the award on your card’s anniversary date each year and have 12 months to use your complimentary reservation. 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 as long as you remain a cardholder * Global Entry, Nexus, or TSA PreCheck fee credit of up to \$120 every four years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card * Fourth night free when you redeem IHG points for any stay of three or more nights * Up to \$50 United Airlines TravelBank Cash each year (up to \$25 biannually)
Methodology: How I Choose the Best Hotel Credit Cards
When recommending hotel credit cards that provide an annual free night, I consider several factors. First, I only include cards offering a free night (or enough points for a free night) to all cardholders at least once a year. Second, For cards that offer an annual free night (or enough points to cash in for a free night), I also consider whether cardholders can obtain an additional free night after reaching a spending threshold, other valuable card benefits like elite status and high bonus categories, and the annual fee.
Understanding How Hotel Credit Card Free Nights are Awarded
Each hotel card featured in this guide offers at least one free night every year, either when your statement closes following the anniversary of your account opening or when you pay the annual fee. The free night will typically appear as an award or perk in your account.
Maximizing Your Credit Card Annual Free Nights: My Top Tips
You could use your free night award by itself for a one-night stay. Or, you could tack it onto a more extended stay booked with points or cash. You could even book multiple nights using free night awards if you have multiple yourself or are traveling with others who also have free night awards. However, if you book consecutive reservations, it’s best to let the hotel know so you can remain in the same room. It typically makes sense to redeem awards for the highest category possible and compare the cash rate to the certificate’s value. However, don’t focus on maximizing a free night award so much that it goes to waste. Remember to redeem and stay before its expiration date if your card’s certificate has one.
Final Thoughts: Elevate Your Travel Experiences with Hotel Credit Cards
Although some of the best hotel credit cards only provide an annual free night starting on your first cardmember anniversary, some offer the first annual free night shortly after you become a cardmember.
Plus, all of these cards provide elite perks and valuable welcome bonuses to eligible new cardholders. Adding one or more of these cards to your wallet now could be just what you need for your next trip.
