The 23 Best Credit Cards for Free Hotel Elite Status [2023]

The comfort and convenience of having hotel elite status is truly a pleasure when traveling.

What’s not to love about getting upgraded to a suite, enjoying complimentary Sunday brunch in the hotel restaurant, or occasionally being provided with your own personal butler?

There are also the more subtle pleasantries of a fresh fruit plate waiting for you when you arrive or being able to check out late.

Elite benefits would be expensive if you had to put a price tag on each one. The cost of a room upgrade, paying for premium Wi-Fi, or breakfast in the hotel restaurant would add up quickly.

However, if you play your cards right, you can score hotel elite status, and a large number a points thanks to the credit card welcome bonus, without staying the 50 or so nights each year it normally takes to earn it.

Here’s a collection of credit cards that come with hotel elite status or offer an alternative faster path to achieving it, rather than earning it through the normal hotel loyalty program process. But that’s not all these credit cards offer — you’re going to find some rather unique benefits that every traveler can appreciate.

Table of contents

The 23 Best Cards for Complimentary Hotel Elite Status — Overview
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Amex Platinum Card’s Hotel Elite Status Benefits
- Additional Reasons To Have the Amex Platinum Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Hilton Honors Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
World of Hyatt Credit Cards
IHG One Rewards Credit Cards
Wyndham Rewards Credit Cards
Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card
Best Western Rewards Credit Cards
Hotel Elite Program Status Matches and Challenges
Final Thoughts

Table of Contents

The 23 Best Cards for Complimentary Hotel Elite Status — Overview
The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Amex Platinum Card’s Hotel Elite Status Benefits
- Additional Reasons To Have the Amex Platinum Card
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Hilton Honors Credit Cards
Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards
World of Hyatt Credit Cards
IHG One Rewards Credit Cards
Wyndham Rewards Credit Cards
Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card
Best Western Rewards Credit Cards
Hotel Elite Program Status Matches and Challenges
Final Thoughts

The 23 Best Cards for Complimentary Hotel Elite Status — Overview

Card	Welcome Bonus and Annual Fee	Hotel Elite Status Benefits and Earnings
The Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 80,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)	Hilton Honors Gold Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite 5x points on prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express	Earn 120,000 points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)
HILTON HONORS
Hilton Honors American Express Card	Earn 70,000 points and a Free Night Reward after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0 (rates and fees)	Hilton Honors Silver; spend your way to Gold after spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year 7x points on Hilton purchases
The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card	Limited Time Offer: Earn 130,000 bonus points plus a Free Night Reward after spending $2,000 in purchases within your first 3 months. Offer ends 7/19/23. Annual fee of $95	Hilton Honors Gold; spend your way to Diamond after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year 12x points at Hilton purchases
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card	Limited Time Offer: Earn 150,000 points plus a Free Night Reward after spending $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Offer ends 7/19/23. Annual fee of $95 (rates and fees)
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card	Earn 150,000 points after spending $4,000 in eligible purchases within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $450	Hilton Honors Diamond 14x points on Hilton purchases
MARRIOTT BONVOY
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card	Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months. Annual fee of $95	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite; spend your way to Gold Elite after spending $35,000 in a calendar year Up to 17x total points on Marriott purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card	Earn 30,000 points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $0	Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite 3x points on Marriott purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card	Earn 85,000 points after spending $4,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $250 (rates and fees)	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite 6x points on Marriott purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card	Earn 125,000 Bonus Points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening. Annual fee of $250	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Up to 18.5x total points on Marriott purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card	Earn 75,000 points after spending $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $125 (rates and fees)	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite 6x points on Marriott purchases
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card	Earn 95,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 in purchases within the first 3 months. Annual fee of $650 (rates and fees)	Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite 6x points on Marriott purchases
WORLD OF HYATT
The World of Hyatt Credit Card	Earn 30,000 points when you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, up to 30,000 additional points by earning 2x in the first 6 months on purchases that normally earn 1x, on up to $15,000 spent. Annual fee of $95	World of Hyatt Discoverist Up to 9x points on Hyatt purchases
World of Hyatt Business Credit Card	Earn 60,000 Bonus Points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months. Annual fee of $199
IHG ONE REWARDS
IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card	Earn 80,000 points after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months Annual fee of $0	IHG One Rewards Silver Elite; spend your way to Gold Elite after spending $10,000 in a calendar year Up to 17x points on IHG purchases
IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card	Earn 140,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months Annual fee of $99	IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status Up to 26x points on IHG purchases
IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card	Earn 165,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. Annual fee of $99
WYNDHAM REWARDS
Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Card	Earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Annual fee of $0	Wyndham Rewards Gold 3x points on Wyndham purchases
Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Plus Card	Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Annual fee of $75	Wyndham Rewards Platinum 5x points on Wyndham purchases
Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Business Card	Earn 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Annual fee of $95	Wyndham Rewards Diamond 8x points on Wyndham purchases
CHOICE PRIVILEGES
Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card	32,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days. Annual fee of $0	Choice Privileges Gold 5x points on Choice purchases
BEST WESTERN REWARDS
Best Western Rewards® Mastercard®	40,000 points when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened. Annual fee of $0	Best Western Rewards Gold 13x points on Best Western purchases
Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard®	80,000 points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 billing cycles after the account is opened. Annual fee of $89	Best Western Rewards Platinum 20x points on Best Western purchases

Update: Due to COVID-19, many hotel loyalty programs have extended points and status expiration. However, many of those extensions will end this year or early in 2023, including reduced elite qualifications, adjusted free night awards, and incentivized credit card bonuses. For a summary of each program and when these adjustments will be ending, visit our article: Coronavirus (COVID-19): Hotel Elite Status Extensions, Changes, and Updates.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 150,000 points with the Amex Platinum card! The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

It may seem unusual to receive complimentary hotel elite status from a card that is not affiliated with a hotel chain.

However, the Amex Platinum card not only provides hotel elite status with 2 major hotel chains but is also loaded with a long list of luxury travel benefits.

Amex Platinum Card’s Hotel Elite Status Benefits

The Amex Platinum card stands out as the only credit card that offers you elite status at 2 mid-level hotel brands. Just for enrolling your card via your Benefits page, you’ll receive Gold-level elite status with both Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy hotel rewards programs.

The benefits of these statuses include, but are not limited to:

Hilton Honors Gold — Room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, fifth consecutive award night free, late checkout, free internet, 80% bonus points on hotel stays
Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite — Room upgrades, fifth consecutive reward night free, late checkout, free internet, 25% bonus points on hotel stays, welcome amenity points

Additional Reasons To Have the Amex Platinum Card

The Amex Platinum card is a premium travel rewards credit card that includes many luxury perks and benefits. Note that some benefits require enrollment so be sure to check your American Express account to get the most out of your card.

Complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges in the American Express Global Lounge Collection
Up to $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck statement credit
Up to $200 per year in Uber Cash; statement credit is monthly at $15 per month from January through November and $35 in December. Uber cash is good for Uber rides and Uber Eats in the U.S. Adding your card to your Uber account is required.
Up to $200 per year in airline fee credits
Up to $20 per month select entertainment and media statement credit
Up to $189 CLEAR statement credit each year
5x points on flights directly purchased from airlines or with Amex Travel and prepaid hotels booked with Amex Travel
Authorized users (add up to 3 for a total of $175) receive lounge access, rental car program elite status/benefits, and hotel benefits (see rates and fees)
On-site benefits at The Hotel Collection or Fine Hotel & Resorts, such as room upgrades, breakfast for 2, late checkout, and complimentary Wi-FI, plus up to $200 statement credit per year
Up to $300 statement credit for select Equinox memberships
Car rental program status and benefits with Hertz, National, and Avis

This is just a sampling of the benefits that come with the card. Read more about the value of Amex Platinum card benefits here.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

The Amex Business Platinum card also comes with the same Hilton Honors Gold and Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status upon enrollment. It, too, is loaded with luxury travel benefits specifically designed for the frequent business traveler.

Hot Tip: Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 150,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum card! The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Hilton Honors Credit Cards

Receive complimentary elite status with Hilton-branded credit cards. Hilton Bali Resort. Image Credit: Hilton

All Hilton Honors credit cards issued by American Express include complimentary elite status in the Hilton Honors loyalty program, with 3 of 4 cards including a spending path to a higher status level.

Hilton Honors Elite Status Benefits

The perks of having Hilton Honors hotel elite status are many. Here’s a snapshot of what each level of Hilton Honors elite status offers:

Silver — Standard free Wi-Fi, late checkout, fifth consecutive reward night free, 20% bonus points on hotel stays, and no resort fees on award stays
Gold — All preceding benefits, plus room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and 80% bonus points on hotel stays
Diamond — All preceding benefits, plus premium free Wi-Fi, upgraded rooms (including suites), 100% bonus points on hotel stays, executive lounge access, and the ability to gift elite status

Here are the annual stay requirements in order to earn each status level:

Elite Status Level	Annual Stay Requirements
Silver	10 nights, 4 stays, or 25,000 base points
Gold	40 nights, 20 stays, or 75,000 base points
Diamond	60 nights, 30 stays, or 120,000 base points

Hilton Honors Credit Cards and Their Elite Status Benefits

You have the option to meet spending level requirements on your card to reach an elevated level of elite status.

Here’s a summary of the elite status that comes with each card and how to reach the next level:

Hilton Honors Credit Card	Comes With	Spend Your Way To
Hilton Honors card	Silver	Gold after spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year
Hilton Business Amex card Hilton Surpass card	Gold	Diamond after spending $40,000 on the card in a calendar year
Hilton Aspire card	Diamond	N/A

Reasons To Select the Hilton Aspire Card

Unlike credit cards that come with only mid-tier hotel program elite status, the Hilton Aspire card is the only credit card that comes with top-tier hotel elite status. You’ll receive Hilton Honors Diamond status just for having the card.

To qualify for Diamond status you would normally need to have 30 stays, 60 nights, or earn 120,000 Hilton Honors base points in a calendar year. No need to worry about meeting those qualifications as Diamond elite status comes complimentary with the card and is valid as long as you have the card.

The Hilton Aspire card also comes with these other great benefits:

Annual free hotel night
$250 Hilton Resort statement credit
$100 property credit for a 2-night stay at Waldorf Astoria and Conrad properties
Priority Pass Select lounge membership
$250 airline incidental fee statement credit
14x points at Hilton properties worldwide
7x points on flights booked directly with airlines or Amex Travel, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies, and at U.S. restaurants
3x points on every other purchase

Bottom Line: All Hilton Honors-branded credit cards come with elite status in the Hilton Honors program. You’ll also have the fast-path option to spend your way to higher status without staying the required number of hotel nights or stays annually.

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards

Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards issued by Amex and Chase come with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy elite status. Four Points by Sheraton Cocoa Beach. Image Credit: Marriott

Both American Express and Chase issue Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards that come with complimentary elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty program.

Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status Benefits

The Marriott Bonvoy Rewards program has several elite tiers. Here’s a general overview of what you can expect at each elite level:

Silver Elite — Special member hotel rates, free internet, dedicated phone line, 2 p.m. late checkout, and 10% bonus points on hotel stays/qualifying purchases
Gold Elite — All preceding benefits, plus room upgrades, welcome points, free premium internet, and 25% bonus points for hotel stays/qualifying purchases
Platinum Elite — All preceding benefits, plus lounge access, 4 p.m. late checkout, welcome gift choice, annual special gift choice, 50% bonus points for hotel/qualifying purchases, and room upgrades (including suites)
Titanium Elite — All preceding benefits, plus 75% bonus points for hotel/qualifying purchases
Ambassador Elite — All preceding benefits plus a dedicated concierge ambassador representative

All elite members have the ability to combine cash and points to book rooms and have access to purchase PointSavers discounted award nights.

To qualify for any elite status level with Marriott Bonvoy, you would normally need to meet the following requirements each calendar year:

Elite Status Level	Nights Required
Silver Elite	10
Gold Elite	25
Platinum Elite	50
Titanium Elite	75
Ambassador Elite	100 +$14,000 spent with Marriott

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Cards With Elite Status Benefits

Here’s a look at the level of elite status that comes complimentary with each Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card:

Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card	Comes With	Spend Your Way To
Marriott Bold card	Silver Elite	N/A
Marriott Boundless card	Silver Elite	Gold Elite after spending $35,000 in a calendar year
Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card	Gold Elite	N/A
Marriott Bonvoy Business card	Gold Elite	N/A
Marriott Bountiful card	Gold Elite	N/A
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card	Platinum Elite	N/A

Additional Reasons To Have a Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card

Marriott Bonvoy-branded cards that charge an annual fee can come with benefits like these:

Free hotel night certificate at each card anniversary renewal
Earn bonus points when staying at Marriott properties
A faster path to elite status with 15 to 25 elite qualifying night credits per year (maximum 40 Elite Night Credits)
Some cards allow you to qualify for higher elite status by meeting spending thresholds on the card
American Express or Visa Signature travel and shopping benefits

Bottom Line: Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit cards listed above each come with complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Elite status — all come with at least 15 qualifying elite night credits each year. If you have both a personal consumer Marriott Bonvoy-branded card and a business card, you can receive qualifying elite night credits on 2 total cards for up to a maximum of 40 elite night credits towards status each year.

World of Hyatt Credit Cards

Enjoy complimentary elite status with a credit card from Hyatt. Park Hyatt Saigon Park Suite. Image Credit: Hyatt

World of Hyatt Elite Status Benefits

The World of Hyatt card and World of Hyatt Business card both come with entry-level Discoverist status. Let’s review what each elite level includes:

Discoverist — Premium complimentary internet, free breakfast at participating Hyatt Place properties, resort fee waived on award nights, basic room upgrade, early 12 p.m. check-in, and 2 p.m. late checkout
Explorist — All preceding benefits, plus upgrades to the best room available (excluding suites)
Globalist — All preceding benefits, plus complimentary lounge access, upgrades to suites when available, Guest of Honor privileges to gift award nights to family and friends, 4 p.m. late checkout, and free parking at resorts when booking award nights

All elite-level members receive a dedicated reservation line, a special check-in area at the hotel, member-discounted hotel rates, a free bottle of water each day, and corresponding MGM Rewards elite status.

Here’s what it takes to achieve World of Hyatt elite status in a calendar year for each level of the program:

Status Tier	Qualifying Nights	Qualifying Points
Discoverist	10	25,000
Explorist	30	50,000
Globalist	60	100,000

World of Hyatt Credit Cards With Elite Status Benefits

You would normally be required to stay 10 nights or earn 25,000 earned base points to earn the Discoverist elite status that comes complimentary with the World of Hyatt card and World of Hyatt Business card.

In addition, the World of Hyatt card also grants 5 qualifying night credits toward the next elite level, Explorist status, which typically requires 30 elite qualifying nights or 50,000 base points. You can also spend your way to elevated status as you receive 2 additional qualifying elite night credits for each $5,000 spent on the World of Hyatt card.

By comparison, the World of Hyatt Business card grants 5 elite qualifying night credits towards higher elite status for each $10,000 spent on the card.

Additional Reasons To Have the World of Hyatt Card

Free night certificate at card renewal anniversary
Spend your way to a higher status with 2 elite qualifying night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card
Up to 9x points at Hyatt — 4 Bonus Points per $1 spent at Hyatt hotels and 5 Base Points per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member
2x points on flights booked directly with airlines, local transit, fitness/gym memberships, and restaurants
1x point for all other purchases

Bottom Line: The World of Hyatt card and World of Hyatt Business card each come with entry-level Discoverist elite status. The World of Hyatt card also offers 5 qualifying night credits to accelerate your progress toward mid-level status. You can earn additional elite qualifying nights by spending on your World of Hyatt card at the rate of 2 elite night credits for every $5,000 spent on the card, or 5 elite night credits for every $10,000 spent on the World of Hyatt Business card.

IHG One Rewards Credit Cards

Receive elevated earnings when using your card at IHG Hotels & Resorts properties. InterContinental Hotels Pattaya Resort. Image Credit: IHG

IHG One Rewards Elite Status Benefits

Here’s a summary of what each level of IHG One Rewards elite status offers:

Silver Elite — No points expiration date, late checkout, 20% bonus point earnings
Gold Elite — Complimentary Wi-Fi, reward nights count toward elite status, and 40% bonus point earnings on qualifying hotel purchases
Platinum Elite — All preceding benefits plus 60% bonus points on hotel purchases, complimentary room upgrades, and room availability guarantee
Diamond Elite — All preceding benefits plus 100% bonus points on hotel purchases, free breakfast

Status Tier	Qualifying Nights	Qualifying Points
Silver Elite	10	0
Gold Elite	20	40,000
Platinum Elite	40	60,000
Diamond Elite	70	120,000

IHG also has an Ambassador status that can be purchased for $200 per year ($150 renewal) and includes a buy 1, get 1 reward weekend night, InterContinental benefits, and a 10% rebate on award night purchases.

For more information, refer to our guide to the IHG One Rewards loyalty program.

IHG One Rewards Credit Cards and Elite Status

The IHG Traveler card has no annual fee and comes with Silver Elite status. Plus, you can qualify for Gold Elite status after spending $10,000 in a calendar year.

The IHG Premier card and IHG Premier Business card both come with complimentary Platinum Elite status that would normally require staying 40 nights each year or earning 60,000 qualifying points.

Additional Reasons To Have the IHG Premier Card

Up to 26x points when spending at IHG
5x points on travel, dining, and gas purchases
3x points on everything else
Free hotel night certificate at card anniversary
Fourth consecutive award night is free
Up to $100 Global Entry/NEXUS/TSA PreCheck credit
Spend $20,000 each anniversary year and receive 10,000 bonus points

Bottom Line: With complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status for as long as you have the card, a low annual fee of $99, and an annual reward night certificate, the IHG Premier card offers great value.

Wyndham Rewards Credit Cards

Each of Wyndham Rewards’ credit cards comes with elite status. Dolce by Wyndham Hanoi Golden Lake. Image Credit: Wyndham

Wyndham Rewards offers 3 branded credit cards and all come with complimentary elite status in the Wyndham Rewards program.

Let’s look at how the cards compare in the status provided and earnings at Wyndham properties.

Wyndham Rewards Elite Status Benefits

Here’s what you can expect from each Wyndham Rewards elite status level:

Gold — Discounted member rates, free internet, dedicated phone line, preferred room upgrades, late checkout, and discounts on local experiences
Platinum — All preceding benefits, plus early check-in, rental car partners upgrade benefit, and bonus points for hotel stays
Diamond — All preceding benefits, plus suite upgrades, the ability to gift Gold status, and a welcome amenity

Elite Status Level	Annual Stay Requirements
Gold	5 nights
Platinum	15 nights
Diamond	40 nights

Wyndham Rewards Credit Cards and Their Elite Status Benefits

Wyndham Rewards Card	Annual Fee	Elite Status	Earning Power at Wyndham
Wyndham Rewards Earner card	$0	Gold	3x points
Wyndham Rewards Earner+ card	$75	Platinum	5x points
Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card	$95	Diamond	8x points

Additional Reasons To Have a Wyndham Rewards Card

Generous welcome bonuses
You’ll earn free nights quickly with 3x to 8x points at Wyndham properties
Wyndham Rewards Earner+ card and Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card offer additional bonus-earning categories
Bonus points at card renewal

Learn about all the ways you can earn lots of Wyndham Rewards and the best way to maximize redeeming those rewards in these helpful guides.

Hot Tip: Wyndham hotel properties include budget hotel chains such as Super 8 and Days Inn, but you’ll also find plenty of luxury properties. Reward nights range from 7,500 to 30,000 points per night.

Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card

Enjoy a wide variety of unique properties or familiar budget accommodations with Choice Privileges. Federal Pointe Inn, Ascend Hotel Collection. Image Credit: Choice Hotels

Choice Hotels offers a simple loyalty rewards program in the Choice Privileges loyalty program that is enhanced by having a Choice Privileges-branded card.

Let’s look at what you can expect from elite status membership with Choice.

Choice Privileges Elite Status Benefits

Gold — Receive exclusive member rates, 10% bonus points, early check-in, late checkout, reserved parking, an elite customer hotline, elite welcome gift, Your Extras, and elite gift cards. Gold members may also roll over up to 9 elite qualifying nights each year to jumpstart earning elite membership the following year.
Platinum — Receive all preceding benefits plus 25% bonus points, roll over up to 19 elite qualifying nights each year, and Avis Preferred Plus membership.
Diamond — Receive all preceding benefits plus 50% bonus points and roll over up to 39 elite nights each year.

Now let’s look at what it takes to achieve elite status membership.

Elite Status Level	Annual Stay Requirements
Gold	10 nights
Platinum	20 nights
Diamond	40 nights

Choice Privileges Card Elite Status Benefits

The Choice Privileges card comes with a generous welcome bonus worth up to several free hotel nights, complimentary Gold elite status, and the benefit of earning 5x points when using the card to pay at Choice properties. These earnings are in addition to the bonus points that are earned on your stay with Gold status.

Additionally, if you spend $10,000 in a year on the card, you’ll receive 8,000 bonus points.

Additional Reasons To Have a Choice Privileges Card

$0 annual fee
5x points when purchasing points or gift cards
2x points on all other purchases
Introductory 0% APR on balance transfers (terms and fees apply)

To learn more about how to earn Choice Rewards points and redeem Choice Privileges Rewards points for excellent value, you’ll want to access our informative articles.

Hot Tip: Choice Hotels is acquiring Radisson Hotels Americas. Watch for possible changes in loyalty programs, benefits, and perhaps credit card options.

Best Western Rewards Credit Cards

Best Western Hotel, Massena, Nice, France, Europe — Your Best Western status can get you benefits all over the world. Best Western Plus Hôtel Masséna in Nice, France. Image Credit: Edinburghcitymom via Shutterstock

While the Best Western Rewards loyalty program wouldn’t be described as the most dynamic rewards program, having a Best Western-branded card enhances elite status and makes earning rewards easier. Earning rewards at a faster rate also means you’ll earn free nights faster.

We’ll look first at the benefits of elite status, then see how a Best Western-branded card works to accelerate your earnings.

Best Western Rewards Elite Status Benefits

Gold — 10% bonus points on stays, special member rates, early check-in/late checkout, a welcome gift or choice of points, room upgrades, bottled water
Platinum — all Gold benefits, plus 15% bonus points on stays
Diamond — all Gold benefits, plus 30% bonus points on stays
Diamond Select— all Gold benefits, plus 50% bonus points on stays

You’ll need to reach 1 of the options listed in each section to earn elite status:

Elite Status Level	Annual Stay Requirements
Gold	10 nights, 7 stays, or 10,000 points
Platinum	15 nights, 10 stays, or 15,000 points
Diamond	30 nights, 20 stays, or 30,000 points
Diamond Select	50 nights, 40 stays, or 50,000 points

Best Western Credit Cards Elite Status Benefits

With generous welcome offers worth several free hotel nights, elevated earnings at Best Western properties, and complimentary elite status, a Best Western-branded card could deliver value if you’re a Best Western loyalist.

Here’s how the 2 Best Western cards compare:

Best Western Card	Annual Fee	Elite Status	Earnings
Best Western Rewards card	$0	Gold	13x points at Best Western (10x for when staying at Best Western, additional 3x points earned when using the card) Earn 16,000 points after your first stay (after card approval)
Best Western Rewards Premium card	$89	Platinum	20x points at Best Western (10x points per dollar when staying at Best Western, additional 10x points earned when using the card) Earn 20,000 points after spending $5,000 each 12 billing cycles

Additional Reasons To Have a Best Western Credit Card

Both cards offer a generous welcome bonus — check for the latest offer before applying
2x points on all other purchases
No foreign transaction fees
Special member rates (10% discount)

Bottom Line: Although the complimentary elite status that comes with having a Best Western-branded credit card doesn’t deliver a lot of benefits, a branded card does make earning rewards a faster process which in turn makes it easier to earn free hotel nights. For great ideas on the best Best Western Plus properties to book with your rewards, check out our recommendations.

Hotel Elite Program Status Matches and Challenges

There is another option for achieving elite status with a hotel loyalty program, and that is to leverage your current elite status to gain corresponding elite status with another program.

Hotel status matches (a literal match of your current status with another hotel loyalty program) and status challenges (involving a required number of stays) are fleeting and may only be available during a short window of time. If you want to learn more, check out our comprehensive guide on how to status match with hotel loyalty programs.

Hot Tip: Some hotel loyalty programs have been known to grant a status match, or challenge, to members who have received granted status via their hotel-branded credit card. If you have your eye on a specific elite program it doesn’t hurt to request a status match using your credit card-granted elite status.

Final Thoughts

Hotel elite status can add tremendous value during your travels. If you can secure elite status just by having the hotel-branded credit card or another travel rewards credit card, it’s a logical choice.

Hotel elite status is not the only benefit you’ll receive, no matter which card you select. Just be sure, especially if you’re paying a significant annual fee, that you’re getting benefits you can actually use and that deliver significant value. For example, if a card has a $75 annual fee but offers a free hotel night at renewal, you’ll only maximize the value if you use that hotel night or earn a sufficient amount of points to offset that expense.

All of the cards featured today have generous welcome offers that can be redeemed for several free hotel nights. You’ll need to pay close attention to the spending requirements to make sure you qualify for the bonus. Some cards require just 1 transaction to receive the bonus while others have spending requirements that need to be completed in the first 90 days after card approval.

A hotel-branded or a travel rewards credit card that offers complimentary hotel elite status is definitely worth it if you frequent the associated brand and can use the additional benefits offered by the card.

The information regarding The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Plus Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Wyndham Rewards® Earner℠ Business Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Choice Privileges® Visa Signature® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Best Western Rewards® Premium Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.
The information regarding the Best Western Rewards® Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here.
For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Marriott

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best hotel credit card?

The best hotel credit card for you will depend on your level of spending, the brands you prefer, and whether the elite status/benefits that come with the card are valuable to you.

The best hotel card will also depend on your tolerance for paying an annual fee. While premium rewards credit cards have higher annual fees, the benefits (if you use them) can offset those fees.

Cards with lower annual fees tend to have fewer benefits.

Another factor in selecting a hotel credit card would be earnings. If you stay predominately at 1 brand, you will generally fare better with that hotel's branded credit card.

If you stay at a variety of brands and travel frequently, a premium travel rewards credit card could be a better fit.

Is hotel elite status worth it?

If you frequently stay at a specific hotel chain, elite status can make your stay more comfortable and allow you to earn free nights faster by earning bonus points for each stay.

Even entry-level elite status can bring benefits such as late checkout, free internet access, and discounted rates.

Receiving hotel elite status just for having the hotel-branded credit card is a plus. You'll have no requirement to stay a specific number of nights each year but will still be able to enjoy the benefits of hotel elite status.

How does the free night certificate work?

Each credit card will vary as to how you earn or redeem your free night certificate.

Most credit cards award the free night certificate after your first card anniversary renewal. Once you've paid your annual fee, you'll usually receive an email informing you that your free night is available for use.

Free night certificates are generally valid for just 1 year. Some credit cards require that you actually book and stay the free night prior to expiration. Others require that you just book the free night.

Additionally, your card may come with an extra free hotel night when you book nights with points. These are usually described as "fifth consecutive award night free" or similar language.

This is a great offer because if you book 5 nights, you will only pay for 4. For example, if an award night is 25,000 points, you would pay only 100,000 points for 5 nights versus 125,000 points.

What are the best hotel rewards programs?

The best hotel rewards program for you will be the one that rewards you for your hotel purchases, aligns with your hotel brand of choice, and offers benefits you can actually use.

The great news is that joining hotel loyalty programs is free. This means that you can always join a hotel's loyalty reward program prior to staying at that hotel brand.

Just being a member can yield benefits such as late checkout or free Wi-Fi.

Hotel rewards programs also allow you to earn points to use towards free nights, and if you stay frequently enough, you can earn elite status which offers even more benefits.

When you find a hotel reward program you like, having the hotel-branded credit card can serve to enhance that relationship with more benefits, elevated rewards earning, and even complimentary elite status.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine was born in Northern Michigan but spent most of her career operating her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services offices throughout the state. Her previous experience involved building and writing business plans in the mergers and acquisitions sector in New York, as well as staffing in the insurance and financial technology software field. Her successful insurance and financial services career has been an excellent foundation from which to source her knowledge for many of Upgraded Points’ travel insurance articles.