The best hotel credit cards
Of the 9 hotel cards in the catalogue — points in one hotel group's program — Chase IHG One Rewards Premier earns the most in a year once its fee is paid: about $456.
Ranked by what each card earns in a year once its annual fee is paid — every rate converted to dollars with a dated point valuation, spending caps honoured, and rotating categories not credited. Priced on an illustrative household spending $2,205 a month on a card — the assumption, in full. Credits and perks are not priced: they are worth their face value only if you would have spent that money anyway.
| # | Card | Annual fee | A year, after the fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Chase · most from Restaurants & Bars |
$99 a year | $456 |
| 2 |
Chase · most from Restaurants & Bars |
$95 a year | $427 |
| 3 |
American Express · most from Groceries |
none | $409 |
| 4 |
Chase · most from Groceries |
none | $364 |
| 5 |
Chase · most from Groceries |
$95 a year | $335 |
| 6 |
American Express · most from Groceries |
$150 a year | $312 |
| 7 |
Chase · most from Groceries |
none | $254 |
| 8 |
American Express · most from Restaurants & Bars |
$550 a year | −$156 |
| 9 |
American Express · most from Groceries |
$650 a year | −$229 |
The best of them for each kind of spending
- groceries: Hilton Honors Surpass — $2.40 per $100
- dining out: World of Hyatt — $3.30 per $100
- gas: IHG One Rewards Premier — $3.00 per $100
- flights: World of Hyatt — $3.30 per $100
- streaming services: IHG One Rewards Traveler — $1.80 per $100
- food delivery: World of Hyatt — $3.30 per $100
- Uber and Lyft: World of Hyatt — $3.30 per $100
- public transit: World of Hyatt — $3.30 per $100
- car rentals: IHG One Rewards Premier — $3.00 per $100
- Airbnb and vacation rentals: IHG One Rewards Premier — $3.00 per $100
- gym memberships: World of Hyatt — $3.30 per $100
- utility bills: IHG One Rewards Traveler — $1.80 per $100
The best card is the one for this purchase.
Cardful picks between the cards you carry at every checkout.