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The Best Hotel Rewards Program for Every Type of Traveler [Complete Guide]

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Jarrod West
Updated: 
Edited by: Jessica Merritt
& Jestan Mendame
The Best Hotel Rewards Program for Every Type of Traveler [Complete Guide]
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Hotel loyalty programs are free to join and allow you to earn points during your stays that you can redeem for free stays. Members typically receive additional benefits like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, and late checkout as they work their way up the program’s elite status tiers.

How should you determine which hotel rewards program is best for you? The majority of hotel rewards programs are free to join, so you can easily participate in multiple. That said, there are undoubtedly programs that are better for you based on whether you prefer luxury or no-frills hotels, the destinations you travel to, and the credit cards you have.

In this guide, we provide a full breakdown of the top hotel rewards programs to help you determine which is best for you.

ALL – Accor Live Limitless

  • Properties: Around 5,600
  • Countries and Territories: 110
  • Brands: 57
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort pool
Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Margaret River Region. Image Credit: Keri Stooksbury

U.S.-based travelers might not be very familiar with Accor, but it’s the largest hospitality company in Europe and the sixth-largest hospitality company worldwide.

You might be more familiar with its brands, such as Banyan Tree, Fairmont, and Raffles, or even some of its midscale and economy brands, like Novotel and Ibis.

Despite a rather large global footprint, over 55% of its properties are in Europe, a further 30% in Asia, and less than 3% in North America.

Given that, the program can be helpful for leisure or business travelers who frequently travel to Europe and Asia, but it is unlikely to meet the needs of those who travel more domestically.

Best credit cards for Accor hotel stays:

The ALL – Accor Live Limitless program doesn’t function like U.S.-based loyalty programs such as Hilton and Marriott. There are no award charts and no hotel categories.

Instead, every 1,000 Reward points you redeem gets you €20 off your stay (equivalent to about $23 at the time of writing), making 1 Reward point worth about 2.27 cents toward a stay at any property in the Accor portfolio. It effectively functions as a rebate program where you’ll always receive the same redemption value from your points.

While the program does not offer any direct co-branded credit cards for U.S. customers, it is a transfer partner of Bilt Rewards and Mesa Points at a 3:2 and 1.5:1 rate, respectively, and a partner of Capital One Miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards at a 2:1 rate. Transferring from Bilt and Mesa offers the best value.

That said, a new entrant into the points and miles world, Rove Miles, which you can earn when you download the Rove Shopping Chrome Extension, is similar to programs like Rakuten and Capital One Shopping. It offers 1:1 transfers to ALL, making it the most valuable option for booking Accor award stays.

The ALL – Accor Live Limitless program is an excellent option for these travelers:

  • European-based travelers
  • U.S.-based travelers who predominantly travel to Europe and Asia
  • Those who prefer a simpler, rebate-style rewards program
  • Travelers who earn rewards in the Bilt, Capital One, Citi, Mesa, and Rove programs

Best Western Rewards

  • Properties: Around 4,700
  • Countries and Territories: 100
  • Brands: 19
Squire Resort at the Grand Canyon, Best Western Signature Collection exterior
Squire Resort at the Grand Canyon, Best Western Signature Collection. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

Best Western primarily offers a collection of family-friendly brands, such as its own Best Western chain, Best Western Plus, and its various SureStay brands. However, Best Western has been working to add more premium properties via its WorldHotels brands, such as WorldHotels Luxury and WorldHotels Elite.

Most Best Western properties are throughout the U.S. and North America, with a limited but growing footprint in other major tourist destinations worldwide.

Best credit cards for Best Western hotel stays:

Best Western Rewards isn’t a transfer program of any transferable point currencies, but it offers 2 co-branded credit cards that travelers can use to earn more Best Western Rewards points and receive more benefits during their stays.

For those who prefer a card with no annual fee, the Best Western Rewards Visa card offers you 4x points on Best Western stays, 10,000 anniversary bonus points, and automatic Gold Elite status.

If you want to take your rewards and benefits up a notch, the Best Western Rewards Premium Visa card offers 10x points on Best Western stays, up to 2 Free Night Awards each anniversary, and automatic Platinum Elite status, which offers 15% bonus points, early check-in, late checkout, and more.

The Best Western Rewards program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Budget-focused travelers
  • Family travelers
  • Those who primarily travel within the U.S.

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Choice Privileges

  • Properties: Around 7,500
  • Countries and Territories: 45
  • Brands: 22
Choice Clarion Collection Hotel With Tromso Norway
Clarion Collection Hotel With. Image Credit: Christine Krzyszton

Choice is one of the largest hotel chains in the world. Most of its properties fall within the budget/midscale range across brands like Comfort Inn and Suites, Quality Inn, Econo Lodge, and Roadway Inn. Many of its properties are found in small towns throughout the U.S. and Scandinavia.

That said, Choice has made some recent acquisitions that have added more premium brands to its portfolio, like Park Plaza and Radisson Blu.

Best credit cards for Choice Privileges hotel stays:

Choice offers 2 co-branded credit cards for those looking to enhance and earn more Choice Privileges points during their stays.

While the Choice Privileges card is a good option for those who prefer a card with a $0 annual fee, the Choice Privileges Select card is the one to opt for if you want to maximize your stays. It offers 10x points on Choice stays and Choice Privileges point purchases, 30,000 bonus points every account anniversary, a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and automatic Platinum Elite status.

Alternatively, you can transfer points to the Choice Privileges program from Amex Membership Rewards and Capital One Miles at a 1:1 rate. Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards transfer at a 1:2 rate, so cardholders of the Citi Strata Premier card and Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card can get oversized value.

The Choice Privileges program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Budget-conscious travelers
  • Those who like taking road trips throughout the U.S. or frequently travel to Scandinavia
  • Travelers who earn Citi ThankYou Rewards or Wells Fargo Rewards
  • Family travelers

Hilton Honors

  • Properties: Around 8,600
  • Countries and Territories: 139
  • Brands: 24
Zemi Beach House Hilton LXR Hotels and Resorts
Zemi Beach House. Image Credit: Stella Shon

Hilton Honors is easily one of the more popular hotel loyalty programs, partly due to its extensive global footprint and excellent credit card options that help travelers earn points faster and receive complimentary Hilton Honors elite status.

It offers great brand coverage, with Hilton brands ranging from Hampton by Hilton to Curio Collection and even luxury properties like Waldorf Astoria and Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Further, the chain extends extra value to award travelers by offering the fifth night free on all award bookings.

» Related: Stay 3 or 4 Nights, Get 1 Free: The Ultimate Guide To Getting a Hotel Night at No Extra Cost

Best credit cards for Hilton hotel stays:

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

No matter what type of traveler you are, there is likely a Hilton card that will fit your needs. If you prefer a $0-annual-fee card (rates & fees) that helps you earn more points during your Hilton stays and daily purchases while still offering complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, then the Hilton Honors card is the one for you.

Opt for the Hilton Surpass card if you want to earn even more points and receive perks, including complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, quarterly statement credits, and a Free Night Reward after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year.

If you’re a dedicated Hilton loyalist, the Hilton Aspire card is perfect for you. It offers a bevy of credits that help offset its annual fee, automatic top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond status, and an anniversary free night certificate redeemable at nearly any Hilton property worldwide.

The Hilton Honors program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Those who earn Amex Membership Rewards points, as the program is a 1:2 transfer partner
  • Travelers who want a large global footprint
  • Those who frequently stay in 5-night increments
  • Travelers who want an extensive collection of brands to choose from
» Related: The 23 Best Credit Cards for Complimentary Hotel Elite Status [2025]

IHG One Rewards

  • Properties: Over 6,600
  • Countries and Territories: Over 100
  • Brands: 19
Girl looking out InterContinental IHG Hotel Window in Times Square New York
View from the InterContinental Times Square. Image Credit: Chris Hassan

The IHG One Rewards program is another popular option for award travelers thanks to its large footprint. It offers your fourth night free on all award bookings (if you hold one of the credit cards mentioned below), which is industry-leading.

For the most part, properties under the IHG umbrella are no-frills brands like Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties, but IHG has made efforts to increase its luxury footprint via additions like Kimpton, Regent, and Six Senses.

IHG offers 3 co-branded credit cards to help you get more value from your IHG stays. This includes the $0-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card with automatic Silver Elite status and a discount on purchased points.

Best credit cards for IHG hotel stays:

The IHG Premier card and IHG Premier Business card offer perks like automatic Platinum Elite status, a free anniversary night certificate (redeemable at properties costing up to 40,000 points), a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit, and more.

Further, all 3 cards allow you to get your fourth night free on IHG award bookings using points. So if you frequently stay with IHG in 4-night increments or more, adding one of these cards to your wallet is a no-brainer.

The IHG One Rewards program is also a transfer partner at a 1:1 rate of Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, but we don’t advise transferring these points to IHG, as you can often get better redemptions via other partners.

The IHG One Rewards program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Budget-focused or family travelers
  • Travelers who frequently stay in 4-night increments
  • Those who want a large global footprint but aren’t focused on luxury stays

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Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club

  • Properties: Over 400
  • Countries and Territories: Over 80
  • Brands: N/A

If you love luxury and boutique hotels but can live with a rather small global footprint, the Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club might be a good choice for you.

This independent luxury hotel collection offers outstanding properties, including castles, mountain hideaways, safari camps, and private islands. Its loyalty program not only allows you to earn points to redeem for free nights, but also offers benefits including prearrival room upgrades, daily continental breakfast for 2, early check-in, and late checkout.

Best credit cards for Leaders Club hotel stays:

The Leaders Club program doesn’t offer a co-branded card but is a transfer partner of the Citi ThankYou Rewards program at a 5:1 rate. That might seem like pretty poor value, but remember that you can usually get around 8 cents per point in value out of Leader Club points, giving you a value of 1.6 cents out of each Citi ThankYou Point.

Using any Citi ThankYou Rewards-earning card is a great way to build up your stash of points to transfer to the Leaders Club. This includes the $0-annual-fee Citi Strata card, which earns 5x points on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on Citi Travel, 3x points at supermarkets, select transit and at gas and EV charging stations, and an eligible self-select category of your choice, and 2x points at restaurants.

You could opt for the Citi Strata Premier card, which earns 10x points on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through Citi Travel, along with 3x points on air travel, other hotel purchases, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, and EV charging stations.

The Leaders Club program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Travelers who like to stay at luxury and boutique properties
  • Those who aren’t loyal to a particular hotel chain
  • Cardholders who earn Citi ThankYou Points
  • Travelers who don’t need a program with a large global footprint

Marriott Bonvoy

  • Properties: Over 9,400
  • Countries and Territories: 144
  • Brands: 38
JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes Back of Hotel View
JW Marriott Orlando. Image Credit: Nick Ellis

Marriott is easily one of the most popular hotel chains in the world. With an impressive number of properties worldwide, there will almost always be a Marriott hotel available wherever you need to travel.

The diverse Marriott brands range from lower-end properties like Courtyard by Marriott to full-service properties like Sheraton to luxury properties like EDITION, St. Regis, and The Ritz-Carlton.

Plus, the Marriott Bonvoy program offers your fifth night free on award stays and is a transfer partner of Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Bilt Rewards. Marriott Bonvoy points can also be transferred to over 40 airline transfer partners.

Best credit cards for Marriott hotel stays:

You can choose from 6 co-branded Marriott Bonvoy credit cards, so depending on how frequently you stay at Marriott hotels, there’s a card option that might work for you.

This ranges from the $0-annual-fee Marriott Bold card, which will help you earn points on daily purchases and offer automatic Marriott Silver Elite status, all the way up to the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card, which offers automatic Marriott Platinum Elite status, an anniversary Free Night Award (redeemable at properties costing up to 85,000 points per night), an up to $300 annual dining credit, a Priority Pass lounge membership upon enrollment, and more.

The Marriott Bonvoy program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Road warriors or frequent business travelers
  • Travelers who want a large global footprint with multiple properties to choose from in each city
  • Those who want the option to redeem points for Marriott stays or transfer them to airline partners
  • Travelers who frequently stay in 5-night increments

One Key

  • Properties: Over 3,500,000
  • Countries and Territories: 200
  • Brands: 3

If you’re not loyal to a particular hotel chain but still want to earn rewards during your hotel stays, booking through One Key might be the best option.

One Key offers added rewards and benefits when you book through its 3 core brands: Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo.

Through the One Key program, not only can you earn OneKeyCash toward future stays, as you work your way through the One Key elite status levels, you can also earn elite perks like room upgrades, discounts, and VIP access at select properties.

Best credit cards for One Key hotel stays:

If you want to maximize your stays at One Key properties with a credit card, your only 2 options are the One Key card and the One Key+ card.

For those who prefer a $0-annual-fee card, the One Key card earns 3% OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo stays, along with gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and food delivery, and 1.5% OneKeyCash on all other purchases. Plus, you’ll receive automatic Silver status.

If you want to take those rewards and perks a step further, the One Key+ card earns 3% OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo stays, along with gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and food delivery, and 2% OneKeyCash on all other purchases. You’ll also receive automatic OneKey Gold status, $100 in OneKeyCash each year on your account anniversary, and a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit.

The One Key program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Not loyal to a particular hotel chain
  • Prefer to book whatever hotel or vacation rental works best for them
  • Value having more booking options over more premium elite perks that they could receive with other chains

Preferred Hotels and Resorts iPrefer

  • Properties: Over 650
  • Countries and Territories: 80
  • Brands: N/A

Preferred Hotels and Resorts is a collection of independent boutique hotels, resorts, and residences. While it doesn’t have as large of a footprint as many other hotel chains listed, the average quality of properties within the program will be much higher.

Plus, you’ll enjoy iPrefer member benefits, including enhanced room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and exclusive member rates.

Best credit cards for iPrefer hotel stays:

  • Citi Strata Premier card
  • Citi Strata card

Preferred Hotels and Resorts doesn’t offer co-branded credit cards, but the program is a transfer partner of the Citi ThankYou Rewards program at a 1:4 rate.

You can expect to receive around 0.5 cents per point from your iPrefer points, and since your Citi ThankYou Points transfer at a 1:4 rate, you’ll receive 2 cents per point from your Citi ThankYou Rewards.

The iPrefer program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Travelers who prefer boutique and independent hotels
  • Those who don’t need a large global footprint
  • Cardholders who earn Citi ThankYou Points

World of Hyatt

  • Properties: Over 1,350
  • Countries and Territories: 80
  • Brands: 34
Hyatt Regency DFW logo entry area
Hyatt DFW. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

The World of Hyatt program is easily one of the most popular hotel rewards programs among points and miles enthusiasts, thanks to it being one of the last programs to still operate an award chart, and at rates that can be more reasonable than competitors.

While its global footprint lags behind other top chains like Hilton and Marriott, Hyatt still offers an impressive collection of brands that award travelers love visiting, like Park Hyatt, Alila, and Andaz. Plus, Hyatt offers one of the largest collections of all-inclusive properties.

World of Hyatt also receives high marks from frequent travelers who rave about the value they receive from top-tier Hyatt Globalist status, which is often touted as the most valuable hotel elite status.

Best credit cards for Hyatt hotel stays:

As far as dedicated credit card options go, Hyatt offers both a personal and a business card. The personal card offers an annual free night certificate (redeemable at up to a Category 4 hotel), automatic Hyatt Discoverist status, and the ability to spend your way toward higher levels of Hyatt elite status.

Similarly, the World of Hyatt Business card helps you earn more points on all of your Hyatt stays, and offers perks like an annual Hyatt credit, access to Hyatt Leverage, complimentary Discoverist status, and the ability to earn additional Elite Night Credits through card spend to reach higher levels of elite status faster.

Using a Hyatt credit card and Hyatt stays aren’t the only way to earn more Hyatt points, though, as the program is also a 1:1 transfer partner of the Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt Rewards programs.

The World of Hyatt program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Travelers who prefer high-end hotels but not exclusively
  • Those who can deal with a limited footprint relative to other large chains
  • Frequent travelers to all-inclusive properties
  • Those who want to earn Hyatt Globalist status

Wyndham Rewards

  • Properties: Over 9,200
  • Countries and Territories: 95
  • Brands: 24
Wyndham Southbury exterior building
Wyndham Southbury. Image Credit: Jessica Merritt

Wyndham is one of the largest hotel chains available, but its Wyndham Rewards program isn’t quite as popular among award travelers due to its high concentration of lower-end hotels across Wyndham brands like Days Inn, Super 8, and Travelodge.

That said, if you’re a budget-focused traveler or don’t need your hotel stays to come with all the bells and whistles, you can still get plenty of great value from the Wyndham Rewards program.

Best credit cards for Wyndham hotel stays:

Adding one of the 3 Wyndham co-branded cards to your wallet is an excellent choice if you frequently visit Wyndham hotels.

From the Wyndham Rewards Earner card, which gives you automatic Wyndham Rewards Gold status with a $0 annual fee, to the Wyndham Rewards Earner+ card with automatic Wyndham Rewards Platinum status, to the Wyndham Rewards Earner Business card and its automatic top-tier Wyndham Rewards Diamond status, there is bound to be a fit for you.

Wyndham Rewards is a transfer partner of Capital One Miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards.

The Wyndham Rewards program is a great option for these travelers:

  • Budget-focused travelers or those who seldom stay at luxury properties
  • Travelers who want a program with a large footprint
  • Cardholders who earn Capital One miles and/or Citi ThankYou Points

Final Thoughts

There isn’t a definitive best hotel rewards program, but there are programs that may offer a better fit for you based on your travel habits and preferences.

Not only are these programs free to join, but you’ll earn points toward future free stays, and even receive elite perks, such as room upgrades, late checkout, and free breakfast — a win-win.

You can easily join multiple programs in this post, or even all of them, as you test them out to determine which program is best for you.

Featured Image Credit: Katie Corrigan Seemann

Frequently Asked Questions

Which hotel rewards program is best?

There isn’t an overall best hotel rewards program, but there are hotel rewards programs that are best for you based on your travel goals and habits. You should consider where you frequently travel, how often you travel, what type of accommodations you prefer, and what rewards you earn to help you narrow down which program is best suited for you.

Are hotel rewards programs worth it?

Yes, hotel rewards programs are worth it. Not only are hotel rewards programs free to join, but the points you earn during each stay can add up to earn you free stays in the future. Plus, as you work your way up the elite status tiers or use a credit card that offers automatic elite status, you can receive perks like room upgrades, complimentary breakfast, and late checkout during your stays.

Are hotel rewards programs free?

Yes, the majority of hotel rewards programs are entirely free to join. There is no downside to joining multiple programs and trying them out to help you narrow down which program is best for you.

What credit card is best for hotel rewards?

The best credit card for hotel rewards depends mainly on which hotel chain you visit most frequently. For instance, if you mostly stay at Hilton hotels, adding one of the many Hilton co-branded credit cards makes a lot of sense. Alternatively, if you aren’t loyal to a particular hotel chain or constantly looking for the best deal, then choosing a card that earns transferable rewards to multiple hotel programs might be the better choice.

What is the largest hotel rewards program?

It’ss reported that Marriott Bonvoy is the largest hotel rewards program with over 200 million members worldwide.

Jarrod West's image

About Jarrod West

Boasting a portfolio of over 20 cards, Jarrod has been an expert in the points and miles space for over 8 years. He earns and redeems over 1 million points per year, and his work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times.

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