Cardful

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.

#CardAnnual feeA 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