Hotel loyalty credit cards from IHG Priority Club Rewards, Hilton HHonors, Hyatt Gold Passport and Marriott Rewards give even the infrequent hotel guest with low annual spend good value benefits when staying at brand hotels. Two of the four hotel loyalty credit cards are new for 2012 compared to my InsideFlyer August 2011 list of the four best hotel credit cards for low spenders.
Hotel loyalty credit card members with average spend less than $600 per month or $7,200 annually are unlikely to earn hotel points worth more than one or two free nights in upper category hotels with any hotel loyalty credit card. For low spenders the other card member hotel benefits like annual free nights and complimentary elite status may offer more value than sign-up and spend category bonus points for dining, gas, groceries and travel.
Four hotel loyalty credit cards offer good global value for U.S. travelers, even if you rarely use the card for purchases. Annual free nights and loyalty program benefits exceed the annual membership fee for these credit cards.
#1 Priority Club Rewards Visa Signature (Chase)
- Platinum elite as card member.
- Annual free night at any IHG hotel globally.
- 10 percent rebate on points redeemed, up to 100,000 rebated points annually.
- Card earns five points/$1 IHG hotels (hotel stays earn 50 percent base points rate).
- Two points/$1 gas, grocery, restaurant.
- One point/$1 all other purchases.
- 60,000 bonus points after first use.
- No foreign purchase transaction fees.
- $49 annual fee, waived first year.
Priority Club Visa card member benefits include one free night every year at any of IHG’s 4,500 hotels globally for the $49 annual fee. Platinum elite status gives 50 percent bonus points and preferred view rooms, but no free Internet or breakfast.
#2 Hilton HHonors Reserve Visa (Citi)
- HHonors Gold elite as card member.
- Two free weekend nights (Fri-Sun) valid at more than 3,800 Hilton brand hotels globally after $2,500 spend within four months of card membership.
- Earn 10 points/$1 Hilton brands (hotel stays earn 100 percent base points rate).
- Earn five points/$1 airline and car rental.
- Earn three points/$1 all other purchases.
- Annual free weekend night after $10,000 in annual spend.
- Complimentary HHonors Diamond elite with $40,000 annual card spend.
- No foreign purchase transaction fees.
- $95 annual fee.
HHonors Gold members receive complimentary breakfast and Internet and these benefits save cash every night at Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Doubletree and Conrad hotels. Gold elite status is a high value benefit of the HHonors Reserve Visa even if annual spend is too low to earn anniversary free night.
#3 Hyatt Visa Card (Chase)
- Platinum elite as card member.
- Annual free night at category 1-4 hotels.
- Two free nights at any Hyatt globally after first card use.
- Three points/$1 Hyatt Hotels (hotel stays earn 60 percent base points rate).
- One point/$1 all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $75 annual fee.
Hyatt’s two free hotel nights at any Hyatt globally is a high value enrollment bonus. Current Platinum members get two free nights and two suite upgrades. Current Diamond members get two free nights in a suite. Annual free night certificate excludes category 5 and 6 hotels. Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum elites receive 15 percent bonus points on stays and free Internet worldwide.
#4 Marriott Rewards Premier Visa (Chase)
- Silver elite as card member.
- Annual free night certificate (expires six months from date of issue). First year category 1-4 hotels. Anniversary certificate category 1-5 hotels.
- 50,000 bonus points after first purchase.
- Five points/$1 Marriott brands (hotel stays earn 50 percent base points rate).
- Two points/$1 airline, dining, rental car.
- One point/$1 all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- $85 annual fee, waived first year.
First year free night certificate is valid at more than 3,000 hotels globally at any Marriott Rewards category 1 to 4 hotels. The anniversary free night certificate is valid for category 5 hotels adding 350 more upscale and resort hotels. Marriott Rewards Premier Visa members are Silver elite with 15 elite nights annual credit. Silver elite earns 20 percent bonus points for Marriott spend, but no free Internet.
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express does not grant complimentary elite status, the common feature of other hotel cards. SPG American Express card members receive two stays and five nights annual elite credit and Gold elite requires 10 stays or 25 nights.
Annual free nights and complimentary elite status offered through these four hotel loyalty Visa credit cards from IHG Priority Club Rewards, Hilton HHonors, Hyatt Gold Passport and Marriott Rewards provide good hotel value for U.S. travelers staying at these hotel brands worldwide.
