The 5 Best Hotel Loyalty Rewards Programs

Most products on this page are from partners who may compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how they appear on the page. However, opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain. This page may include information about American Express products currently unavailable on Slickdeals. American Express is not a partner of Slickdeals.

Hotel rewards programs can offer a lot of value to loyal customers, but each loyalty program comes with its own set of benefits, as well as requirements to earn elite status.

While it can make sense to focus only on one hotel card to maximize your free nights and other benefits, hotel credit cards can also make it easy to take advantage of the perks offered by multiple programs. Many of the top options offer limited or no blackout dates, discounted members-only rates, free internet and other perks when you stay.

Here are some of the best hotel loyalty rewards programs and why you should consider joining them:

• Best for high points value: World of Hyatt
• Best for flexibility and airline partners: Marriott Bonvoy
• Best for dynamic pricing deals: IHG One Rewards
• Best for lots of property choices: Wyndham Rewards
• Best for longer stays: Hilton Honors

World of Hyatt: Most Value for Your Points

Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana/Hyatt

Overview

The World of Hyatt program offers a range of properties, including all-inclusive resorts. Plus, World of Hyatt offers the most valuable rewards of all the loyalty programs. That said, Hyatt has the smallest footprint of any hotel chain on our list, with roughly 1,000 properties in 68 countries.

Program Highlights

• According to our points and miles valuation guide, Hyatt points are worth 1.8 cents apiece on average. That's even higher than most airline frequent flyer programs. 
• You can earn points on hotel stays, dining, spas and more.
• You can also earn points toward free nights with no blackout dates, starting at 5,000 points.

Membership Perks

Rewards depend on your membership tier, but here are a few benefits available through the World of Hyatt loyalty program:

• Member discounts
• Free water and Wi-Fi
• Free night after staying with five different brands
• Room upgrades
• Late checkout

Best for

Those who don’t mind Hyatt’s relatively small footprint and are looking to get the most bang for their buck—thanks to World of Hyatt points’ high valuation.

World of Hyatt Credit Cards

With the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you'll get some impressive rewards:

• With a value of 1.8 cents per point, that bonus is worth up to $1,080. 
• Free night every year.
• Automatic Discoverist status, which is the program's lowest status level.
• There's a path to earn up to Globalist status, depending on how much you spend on the card.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Annual Fee$95
• Sign Up Bonus 60,000World of Hyatt Points More Info

  Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent Dollar Equivalent: $1,080 (60,000 World of Hyatt Points * 0.018 base)

World of Hyatt offers extremely valuable rewards, and this credit card puts you on the fast track to enjoying some of the program’s preferred benefits. The card also offers a free night every year, as well as automatic Discoverist status, which is the program’s lowest status level. However, there is a path to earn up to Globalist status, depending on how much you spend on the card.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

Among all of the top hotel rewards programs, World of Hyatt offers the most valuable rewards, and the World of Hyatt credit card puts you on the fast track to enjoying some of the program’s preferred benefits.

Pros

• Hyatt has one of the most rewarding hotel loyalty programs around
• Free night certificate at any Hyatt Category 1-4 property, awarded every year on your cardmember anniversary
• Automatic Discoverist status, with an expedited path to higher tiers in the World of Hyatt loyalty program

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No high-end perks

Marriott Bonvoy: Most Flexible Points

Marriott

Overview

Marriott International has more than 7,000 properties in 131 countries and territories, making it so you can enjoy earning and redeeming rewards just about anywhere you go.

Program Highlights

• Can transfer points to nearly 40 airlines plus use them for car rentals, cruises and more.
• Airline points transfer at a rate of 3:1 in most cases.
• Can earn points at eligible restaurants, golf, spas and more.

Membership Perks

Rewards depend on your membership tier, but here are a few perks available through the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program:

• Free Wi-Fi
• Discounted rates for members
• Can redeem points during same stay as when you earn them (for things like drinks)
• Priority late checkout
• Room upgrades
• Earn extra points with higher tiers
• Welcome gift

Best for

Travelers looking for flexibility or who want the option to redeem their points for more than hotels, like with airline partners.

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

Three consumer credit cards allow you to earn Marriott Bonvoy points:

• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card 
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Credit Card

Each card has its own set of benefits, with the Bonvoy Bold card offering no annual fee and few perks and the Bonvoy Brilliant charging a $650 annual fee and offering several high-end perks. The Bonvoy Boundless is a mid-tier card with a modest fee but solid benefits. Bonvoy points are worth 0.4 cents apiece, on average.

The Marriott Bonvoy rewards program also includes Starwood Preferred Guest and Ritz-Carlton Rewards, which were incorporated into Marriott's program after it acquired Starwood Hotels. 

Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign Up Bonus 60,000Marriott Bonvoy Points More Info

  Limited Time Offer! Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $240 (60,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points * 0.004 base)

This is a good choice if you’re interested in getting into the travel rewards game but don’t want to commit to an annual fee. This credit card offers a solid welcome bonus and can be a great place to start, especially if you’re loyal to Marriott—as with other hotel cards, this one offers outsized rewards on purchases made with the hotel brand.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is a solid choice if you’re interested in getting into the travel rewards game, but don’t want to commit to an annual fee. This credit card offers a solid welcome bonus and can be a great place to start, especially if you’re loyal to Marriott.

Pros

• No annual fee to worry about
• Great for beginners in the world of hotel loyalty
• Robust travel, lost luggage, and purchase protections
• No foreign transaction fees

Cons

• Low-level Marriott status that comes with the card doesn't get you very much
• Only makes sense for those that stay in Marriott hotels

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

This product is currently not available via Slickdeals. All information about this product was collected by Slickdeals and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$95
• Sign Up Bonus 100,000Marriott Bonvoy Points More Info

  Limited Time Offer! Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $400 (100,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points * 0.004 base)

This is a good choice for people who are getting into travel rewards and plan to stay at Marriott properties several times a year. A lot of this card's value comes through its rewards program. Benefits include free elite night credits, a free annual anniversary night, a welcome bonus and more. Cardholders can also earn high points per dollar on eligible purchases at Marriott properties.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

The Boundless credit card offers some solid benefits, including the free elite night credits, a free anniversary night every card membership year, a welcome bonus, Silver Elite Status and 2x points per dollar spent on travel and all other purchases.

Pros

• Earn a free night certificate after each year you have the card
• Redeem points for Marriott hotels
• Generous rewards rates for Marriott hotel stays
• Earn elite nights by spending on the card

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Marriott points aren't as rewarding as some other hotel points

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

Learn More

Secure application on issuer’s website

Rates & Fees

• Our Rating 4.0/5 How our ratings work
• APR19.99%-28.99%
• Annual Fee$650
• Welcome Bonus 95,000Marriott Bonvoy Points More Info

  Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first 3 months Dollar Equivalent: $380 (95,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points * 0.004 base)

This card’s valuable perks can help offset its hefty annual fee: Cardholders receive Platinum Elite status with Marriott and an annual application fee credit worth up to $100 toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck. You’ll also get a dining credit and Elite night credits plus a Free Night Award when you renew your membership. If you prefer to stay at Marriott properties, you’ll likely find it easy to make the most of this card.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

Having a Marriott cobranded credit card can make it easier to stay at the brand’s hotels and resorts on the cheap or even for free. And if you regularly travel, the mix of rewards and luxury perks that you’ll get with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card is tough to beat.

Pros

• Wide array of statement credits and premium benefits
• Earn a free night certificate after each year you have the card
• Automatic elite status with the card
• Ideal for Marriott loyalists

Cons

• High annual fee
• Dining credit doesn't roll over month to month
• Marriott points aren't as rewarding as some other hotel points

Each card has its own set of benefits, with the Bonvoy Bold card offering no annual fee and few perks and the Bonvoy Brilliant charging a $650 annual fee and offering several high-end perks. The Bonvoy Boundless is a mid-tier card with a modest fee but solid benefits. Bonvoy points are worth 0.4 cents apiece, on average.

IHG One Rewards: Best Deals with Dynamic Pricing

Kimpton Angler's Hotel South Beach/IHG

Overview

Most hotel loyalty programs have an award chart that tells you how many points you need for certain property categories. With IHG, though, the pricing is dynamic and can change depending on a variety of factors. While this makes for less certainty, it's also sometimes possible to snag an incredible deal on an expensive hotel stay with points. IHG has nearly 6,000 properties in more than 100 countries. 

Program Highlights

• Slickdeals estimates that IHG points are worth 0.5 cents apiece on average and free nights start at 10,000 points. 
• Points don’t expire.
• No blackout dates for reward nights.

Membership Perks

Rewards depend on your membership tier, but here are a few perks available through the IHG loyalty program:

• Member discounts
• Free internet
• Can earn bonus points 
• Can earn points toward reward stays
• No blackout dates for reward stays
• Late checkout

Best for

Savvy travel-bookers who don’t mind the risk of dynamic pricing to score great deals and can qualify for the program’s higher tiers, which have notably better rewards.

IHG Credit Cards

You can earn IHG One rewards points with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card from Chase. The card offers an ample sign-up bonus, decent rewards and a free night every year—plus you earn a free Reward night when you book a consecutive four-night stay with points. This is a unique benefit that no other major hotel credit card offers.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4.5/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$99
• Sign Up Bonus 140,000IHG One Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening Dollar Equivalent: $700 (140,000 IHG One Rewards Points * 0.005 base)

Aside from its astounding sign-up bonus, this card offers tons of value, especially for loyal IHG customers, like a free Reward Night on your account anniversary and Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member. Plus, it offers a Global Entry, NEXUS or TSA Pre✓® fee credit every four years, and IHG One Rewards Bonus points are redeemable at a variety of hotels.

• Overview
• Pros & Cons

Overview

Frequent customers of IHG hotels and other people who enjoy earning rewards nights for hotel stays and premium hotel status should consider picking up this card.

Pros

• Generous rewards rate on IHG Hotels and Resorts purchases
• Automatic IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status which gets you perks like upgrades
• Free reward night every account anniversary, with the potential to be worth hundreds of dollars

Cons

• Has an annual fee
• Only makes sense if you plan to stay at IHG properties

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work
• APR20.99% - 27.99% (Variable)
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus 100,000IHG One Rewards Points More Info

  Earn 100,000 Bonus Points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Dollar Equivalent: $500 (100,000 IHG One Rewards Points * 0.005 base)

Whether your family is looking for some free hotel nights for a road trip or you’re a loyal customer of the IHG hotel brand, this card offers you a chance to earn decent rewards. Aside from its generous sign-up bonus, it offers tons of value, including the option to redeem points at all IHG properties.

• Overview
• Perks
• Pros & Cons

Overview

Whether you’re a family looking for some free hotel nights while making your annual road trip or you’re a loyal customer of the IHG hotel brand, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card — which has no annual fee, by the way — offers you a chance to earn some decent rewards.

Perks

• No annual fee
• No foreign transaction fees
• Silver Elite Status included with the card

Pros

• One of the top picks for a no-annual-fee hotel credit card
• Book three nights with points, get your fourth free
• Entry-level Silver Elite status, with the chance to upgrade to Gold with $20,000 or more in annual spend

Cons

• No free night account anniversary reward

Wyndham Rewards: Most Properties

TRS Yucatan Hotel/Wyndham

Overview

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts is the largest hotel chain in the world, with more than 9,000 properties in more than 80 countries. The chain offers properties across the spectrum, ranging from Super 8 to The Registry Collection Hotels.

There are two Wyndham co-branded credit cards, including the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card and the Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card. Both offer free nights, but the Earner Plus card also offers a bigger welcome bonus, easy bonus points, better elite status and more.

Program Highlights

• Points are worth 1.1 cents apiece, on average.
• You can redeem a free night for 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 points—relatively cheap compared to other top hotel programs.
• Rollover nights don't expire.

Membership Perks

Rewards depend on your membership tier, but here are a few perks available through the Wyndham loyalty program:

• Member discounts
• Preferred room choice
• Accelerated earning at higher tiers
• Free Wi-Fi
• Late checkout and early check-in at some tiers

Best for

Travelers looking for more variety in their hotels, as points can be redeemed at cottages, Vacasa rentals, European bungalows and more.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card

Apply Now

Secure application on issuer’s website

• Our Rating 4/5 How our ratings work
• APR19.49%, 23.74% or 28.74%
• Annual Fee$0
• Sign-Up Bonus 30,000Points More Info

  Earn 30,000 bonus points, enough for up to 4 free nights at participating properties after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Dollar Equivalent: $300 (30,000 Points * 0.01 base)

In addition to the attractive sign-up bonus, this card offers a decent bonus point award annually after meeting spending requirements. This is an interesting take on the free night award offered by many hotel cards and could potentially help you reach a larger points goal.

• Overview
• Perks
• Pros & Cons

Overview

For budget-conscious travelers, the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card makes racking up hotel points for free nights a breeze, thanks to a straightforward award chart and a 10% redemption discount.

Perks

• Earn 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year if you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases—that’s enough for up to one free night at participating properties.
• Wyndham Rewards Earner Cardmembers can save even more on our Best Available Rate at participating Hotels by Wyndham.
• Automatically receive a Wyndham Rewards GOLD member level and enjoy perks like free WiFi, preferred room selection, late checkout, and more.
• $0 Fraud Liability protection
• No foreign transaction fees

Pros

• Automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold elite status, offering late checkout, preferred room selection and more perks
• 10% award discount when redeeming your Wyndham Rewards points
• 5x points on Wyndham stays and gas purchases
• No annual fee

Cons

• Everyday earning rate could be better compared to other rewards cards

Hilton Honors: Best Chance for Elite Status

Hilton

Overview

Well-known brand Hilton has more than 6,500 properties in 119 countries and territories. That said, Hilton Honors points aren't worth a lot at just 0.5 cents apiece. But they're easy to earn, and it's the only hotel rewards program that offers its top elite status tier to credit card holders, which is a perk for many.

Program Highlights

• Guaranteed lowest price when you book through hilton.com.
• Can redeem points for concerts, dining, online shopping, rental cars and more.
• Can transfer points to airline miles.
• No resort fees on reward stays.

Membership Perks

Rewards depend on your membership tier, but here are a few perks available through the Hilton Honors loyalty program:

• Member discounts
• Points toward free nights
• No resort fees on 
• Food credits and free bottled water
• Digital check-in and checkout
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free fifth night on reward stays

Best for

Travelers who like longer hotel stays and aspire to elite membership status—and who plan to redeem points for more stays as you’ll probably get the most value that way.

Hilton Credit Cards

With the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, you'll pay an annual fee but get a free weekend night award you can use at most Hilton properties—most cards restrict your free night to lower-category properties—and Diamond status, among other things. With Hilton, Diamond status is as good as it gets.

That said, you can also apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card or the Hilton Honors American Express Card. But you have to hit a spending requirement to get a free night with the Surpass card and the basic Hilton credit card doesn't offer much at all in the way of perks.

Benefits of Joining Hotel Loyalty Programs

A hotel loyalty program can help you save money and take advantage of a wealth of perks. Here’s a look at some of the top benefits of joining hotel loyalty programs:

• Get discounts on hotel stays: Most loyalty programs offer members a discount on their bookings, and in some cases, that discount goes up as with higher program tiers.
• Access to special perks: Depending on the program and tier, you could get anything from free bottled water and Wi-Fi to access to suites and other room upgrades, late checkout, free nights and more.
• Earn points: You’ll typically earn points with your stays and can redeem them toward more bookings, airfare, events, drinks or other benefits.
• Enjoy something familiar away from home: If you love to travel but want a little familiarity along your journey, you might benefit from sticking with a hotel brand you already know you love, and a hotel membership program can help you do that.

Pros and Cons of Hotel Loyalty Programs

How to Choose the Right Hotel Rewards Program

It can be difficult to choose the right hotel loyalty program for you, but here are some factors to think about to make the process easier:

• Consider the hotels you prefer: Think about your favorite hotel brands and check out what they offer. If you tend to stay at one chain more than the rest, that could be a good place to start. If you prefer to get the cheapest hotel every time, it doesn't make sense to stay with one brand every time you travel if it means paying more.
• Look for programs that match your travel plans: If you already have some travel destinations in mind, check which programs match up with locations you expect to visit in the near future. That way, you’ll be in good shape to take advantage of the program when you book your stay.
• Review the perks: Hotel loyalty programs aren’t just about having a place to crash. Look into the perks that come with the program you’re considering to see if they offer ones you value most. This could include early check-in, late checkout, a travel credit and even top-tier perks like free breakfast and executive lounge access. 
• Check how you earn and redeem rewards: Make sure you know how to make the most of the program. You might already have a travel credit card, for example. In that case, it's worth checking if your favorite hotel is on that issuer’s transfer partners list. Make sure the rewards system works for your spending and traveling habits so you’re not leaving money on the table.
• Review other hotel programs: In addition to the programs described above, you might also consider Radisson Rewards, Best Western Rewards, AccorHotels Live Limitless, Sonesta Travel Pass and more. 
• Check for other deals: Get the absolute best deals on your trips with Travelocity Promo Codes and status-based discounts. Booking.com also offers loyalty programs that can help you save more. Booking.com promo codes can help you earn points and miles for your next trip. 
• Examine your credit cards: If you're OK with having multiple credit cards, getting more than one hotel credit card can make it so you can enjoy the benefits from multiple programs at once.

Related Article

6 Ways to Make Your Points Go Further When Redeeming for Travel

Read More

FAQs

• Are hotel memberships worth it?

  Hotel memberships are worth it if you pick one for a hotel brand you love and stay with a lot because you can score discounted rates and other perks like early check-in or free cancellations.

  They typically aren’t worth it if you don’t stay at hotels a lot or can’t find a program with hotel brands you know you will use.

• What is the largest hotel loyalty program?

  Wyndham resorts is the largest hotel chain with the biggest footprint—around 9,000 properties, so its hotel loyalty program is the largest in the sense of giving guests the most options due to the sheer volume of hotels.

• Do hotel points expire?

  Yes, hotel points typically expire somewhere between 12 and 24 months, but it depends on the program. Check the fine print of any program you’re interested in so you can be sure you’re able to use your points before they expire.

• Which is the best hotel chain in the world?

  According to the U.S. News Best Hotel Rankings, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts is the best hotel chain in the world, with IHG and Marrriott right behind. But the best hotel for you depends on your personal interests and needs, so it’s best to check for your favorite perks, whether that’s a late checkout, free breakfast or the flexible cancellations.