The best hotel credit cards
Of the 15 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 feeA year of rewards on the illustrative household spending described on the method page, minus the annual fee. Your own spending will give a different number. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Restaurants & Bars |
$200 a year | $371 |
| 5 |
Chase, most from Groceries |
none | $364 |
| 6 |
American Express, most from Restaurants & Bars |
$125 a year | $361 |
| 7 |
Chase, most from Restaurants & Bars |
$199 a year | $350 |
| 8 |
Chase, most from Groceries |
$95 a year | $335 |
| 9 |
American Express, most from Groceries |
$195 a year | $334 |
| 10 |
American Express, most from Groceries |
$150 a year | $312 |
| 11 |
American Express, most from Groceries |
$250 a year | $276 |
| 12 |
Chase, most from Groceries |
$250 a year | $276 |
| 13 |
Chase, most from Groceries |
none | $254 |
| 14 |
American Express, most from Restaurants & Bars |
$550 a year | −$156 |
| 15 |
American Express, most from Groceries |
$650 a year | −$229 |
The best of them for each kind of spending
- groceries: Marriott Bonvoy Bevy — $2.92 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
- hotels: IHG One Rewards Business — $3.00 per $100
- online shopping: Hilton Honors Business Card — $2.00 per $100
- streaming services: Hilton Honors Business Card — $2.00 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
- Target and Walmart: Hilton Honors Business Card — $2.00 per $100
- Costco and Sam's Club: Hilton Honors Business Card — $2.00 per $100