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Hotel credit cards—especially premium hotel credit cards—come loaded with credits, benefits, automatic elite status and, often, hefty welcome bonuses that together can make your stays a lot less expensive and a lot more comfortable. But one of the most valuable benefits any hotel credit card can offer—and a good reason to keep paying a card’s annual fee—is the promise of a free night each year.
As with anything related to credit cards, annual free night rewards are subject to specific terms and conditions. Some require cardholders to hit a certain spending threshold each year, while others award these nights to cardholders automatically after their account anniversary rolls around and they pay their annual fee. And some free nights offered by credit cards can only be redeemed at lower-end properties in their portfolio. That said, even a one-night stay with restrictions can be worth hundreds of dollars, more than offsetting a credit card’s annual fee.
Keep reading for the best hotel credit card for free nights. Each of the seven cards below guarantee one night every year on your card anniversary without having to jump through too many hoops. And, if you already have one or more of these, we'll explain how to make sure you’re getting the most value from your free nights.
IHG® Rewards Club Premier card
Free night benefit:
IHG Rewards Club is the loyalty program of hotel brands like Intercontinental, Hotel Indigo, Kimpton, and Holiday Inn, among many others. Each year you renew and pay the annual fee for this card, you'll be issued a free night award worth up to 40,000 points to use at IHG hotels. This should cover a night at many mid-range options like the Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown. However, there’s also an option to raise that redemption ceiling by adding on points from your IHG Rewards account to redeem for hotels above the 40,000-point mark. These properties include higher-end options, such as many Kimpton locations, and flagship Intercontinental properties like the Intercontinental London Park Lane and Intercontinental Maldives Maamunagau.
Welcome offer:
Currently, you can earn 140,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 within three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $99
Why we love it:
This card's affordable annual fee and perks package make it worthwhile for frequent IHG guests to carry. It earns 10 points per dollar on IHG stays; five points per dollar at gas stations, at restaurants and on travel; and three points per dollar everywhere else. If you spend $20,000 or more on it per account anniversary year, you receive an additional 10,000 bonus points and a $100 statement credit. It confers automatic Platinum elite status, which means perks like room upgrades and late check-out. As for travel benefits, cardholders receive up to $100 statement credit once every four years for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee paid for using their card.
IHG® Rewards Premier Business card
Free night benefit:
Like its sister card, IHG Rewards Club’s business card comes with a free night award worth up to 40,000 points for each year you renew the card and pay the annual fee. For redemptions charging more than 40,000 points, you can top up the certificate with points from your account.
Welcome offer:
Currently, you can earn 140,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 within three months of account opening.
Annual fee: $99
Why we love it:
This card features the same standout perks as its counterpart on the personal side—the chance to earn yearly bonus points, Platinum elite status, a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit and more. But in addition to earning bonus points on IHG stays, at gas stations, at restaurants and on travel, it also allows cardholders to rack up five points per dollar on select business purchases, such as search engine advertising and office supply stores.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
Free night benefit:
Each year after their account anniversary and paying the annual fee, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardholders receive one free night award worth up to 85,000 points. That will get you a stay at many of Marriott's luxury hotels, like the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong. Many lower-point but still fabulous accommodations are also within reach, such as the stately The Westin Palace, Madrid, and the historic La Posada de Santa Fe, a Tribute Portfolio Resort & Spa in New Mexico.
Welcome offer:
New applicants can currently earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when they spend $6,000 in the first six months of card membership.
Annual fee: $650 (see rates and fees)
Why we love it:
In addition to the reward night, cardholders receive up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. They can also receive a $100 credit for on-property charges each time they book a two-night-minimum stay at Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis properties using a special cardholder rate. Cardmembers can receive 25 elite night credits towards the next level of Marriot Bonvoy Elite status each calendar year (terms apply), can enroll in the Priority Pass Select airport lounge network (enrollment required, terms apply), and are eligible for an application fee statement credit either for Global Entry once every four years, or TSA PreCheck once every four and a half years (enrollment required, terms apply). This card earns six points per dollar on Marriott purchases, three points at worldwide restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines, and two points on all other eligible purchases.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire card
Free night benefit:
Every year you renew this high-end Hilton card, you can expect one free night reward good at Hilton hotels and resorts around the world, including stunners like the tropical Conrad Bora Bora Nui, where room rates regularly top $1,000 per night. Cardholders can earn an additional award night by making $60,000 in purchases in a year.
Welcome offer:
Earn 150,000 bonus points once you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.
Annual fee: $550 (see rates and fees)
Why we love it:
Among the other perks that account for this card’s expensive annual fee are $200 worth of annual statement credits flight purchases, and $400 back on eligible purchases at Hilton resorts each year. Cardholders who book a two-night minimum stay at luxurious Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels are eligible for $100 in statement credits toward on-property charges like spa treatments, golf tee times, and restaurant bills. Cardholders also receive Hilton’s top-tier Diamond elite status automatically (with perks like room upgrades and free breakfast). The card earns a whopping 14 points per dollar on Hilton purchases; seven points per dollar on flights booked through AmEx Travel or directly through airlines, on car rentals, and at U.S. restaurants; and three points per dollar on everything else. If this card’s annual fee is too high for you, you might consider the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card, which only costs $150 per year. It does not come with a free weekend night automatically, but if you spend $15,000 or more on it in a calendar year, you can score one.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
Free night benefit:
Bonvoy Boundless cardholders enjoy a free night award worth up to 35,000 points every year after their account anniversary. Though it's not as valuable as the Brilliant’s free night benefit, you'll still be able to score a room at places like the The Blackstone, Autograph Collection, in Chicago, where starting rates can top $400 per night.
Welcome offer:
New applicants can earn five free nights, valued up to 50,000 points each, after using their card to make $5,000 in purchases in the first three months.
Annual fee: $95
Why we love it:
If the sticker shock of Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant’s $650 annual fee is too much, you might want to try this Chase counterpart instead. Cardholders are endowed with automatic Silver elite status (Marriott’s lowest tier), though they can hit Gold by spending $35,000 or more on purchases per account year. Plus, they'll get Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 spent, which counts towards a status upgrade. This card earns six points per dollar on Marriott purchases and two points per dollar on everything else, so you can rack up points to put toward more free stays quickly.
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
Free night benefit:
Like the Boundless, this AmEx card’s anniversary free night is only good for redemptions at hotels costing up to 35,000 points—but you can earn an additional free night after you spend $60,000 with your card in a calendar year.
Welcome offer:
Now until March 20, 2024, earn three free night awards after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months (total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy(R) (terms apply).
Annual fee: $125 (see rates and fees)
Why we love it:
This card is a great option for folks looking for a business travel rewards card rather than another personal one. While it’s geared toward small business owners, you can still qualify as a sole proprietor, or even a freelancer—you don’t need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to apply and can use your Social Security Number instead. Among the reasons you might want to do so are its earning rates of six points per dollar at Marriott properties; four points per dollar at restaurants across the globe and gas stations in the U.S., on wireless telephone services purchased directly from US service providers, and on US purchases for shipping; and two points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.
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World of Hyatt Credit Card
Free night benefit:
Folks with this card receive a certificate every year after their account anniversary that can be redeemed against a free night at any Category 1 to 4 Hyatt hotel or resort. That category cap puts many top-tier hotels like the Park Hyatt New York out of reach. However, there are still some excellent options like the Andaz Savannah and the Lindner Hotel Mallorca Portals Nous in Spain. Cardholders can earn an additional Category 1 to 4 free night after spending $15,000 or more on purchases each account year.
Welcome offer:
Earn up to 65,000 bonus points: 35,000 after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening, plus up to 30,000 more by earning two bonus points per dollar within the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn one point per dollar (up to $15,000 spent).
Annual fee: $95
Why we love it:
Other than the anniversary free night, which easily outweighs the annual fee, this card has several additional benefits. Cardmembers enjoy automatic Discoverist elite status, which includes perks like bonus points and room upgrades. The card earns four points per dollar at Hyatt properties,; two points per dollar on local transit and commuting, at restaurants, on airline tickets, and on fitness club memberships; and one point per dollar everywhere else. That preponderance of bonus categories means you can really accrue points toward award nights quickly.
Honorable mention: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® card
Free night benefit:
While the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® card doesn't guarantee a free night, it offers a free night after you spend $15,000 on the card in a calendar year.
Welcome offer:
Earn 155,000 bonus points once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening.
Annual fee: $150
Why we love it:
You won't score a free night outright with the Surpass card, but that doesn't mean it's not worth your attention. By spending $15,000 in a calendar year, you can earn a free night certificate that's good at nearly any Hilton property in the world—including ultra-luxurious properties like the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal. Despite an annual fee that's a full $400 less than that of its pricier sister card, the Aspire, the Surpass still earns an impressive 12 points per dollar on Hilton purchases; six points per dollar at US restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations; four points per dollar at US online retailers; and three points per dollar on all other purchases. The card also comes with automatic Hilton Honors Gold status and $200 in annual statement credit for Hilton purchases, both of which can enhance future stays.
Condé Nast Traveler has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Condé Nast Traveler and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
See rates and fees for the American Express cards listed: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant; Marriott Bonvoy Business; Hilton Honors Aspire; Hilton Honors Surpass
All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Condé Nast Traveler. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through Condé Nast Traveler.