If you want to maximize your travel rewards, I recommend using cards earning transferable points currencies, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (review), Citi Strata Premier Card (review), and American Express Gold Card (review). Not only do these cards give you the most flexibility, but they also often have valuable bonus categories on spending.
Continue reading: Are Hotel Credit Cards Worth It If You’re Not Loyal?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Depends on the program/card. For the major 4 US brands... Hilton's Aspire mostly-uncapped FNC, still winning. Marriott's Brilliant 85K certificate + 25K points, not so much (especially when aspirational properties know to start award rates at 111K to avoid those attempting to redeem there.) WOH needs to actually do a premium card, finally (Cat 1-4 has been so devalued that most worthy properties start at Cat 5, think Grand Hyatt at SFO, etc.) IHG recent updates to cards are mostly increased AF + coupon credits (not great, not terrible), but at least the 50K free night (previously 40K) 'discount' is uncapped (can add as much as you want), so it's basically a $250 discount (at 0.5 cpp).
I don't know about the US hotel market, but Accor is the only global chain which is competitively priced in most places most of the time. No point chasing a 'free' night at the Marriott by the obelisc in BsAs where a basic room retails at $544 (!) when the NH across the road will sell you a junior suite for $200.
I generally agree with this article. I think it also draws attention to what is valuable: if you're signing up for a credit card, you're doing it for a purpose and desired benefit set.
What I loathe about premium cards of late is that they pre-select what value looks like on things motivated by subsidies. Walmart+, Peloton credits, Lyft credits you only get after 3 monthly rides, Blade/Uber credits for a small percentage of any ride, travel-portal-only credits with substantially higher cancellation fees and no loyalty benefits, etc. It's like... if you have to chase 47 pennies in the couch to tell yourself that you're getting value from something, the thing you don't clearly value is your time.
Which is my new perspective on many "elite" credit cards. They don't impress anyone, they are extracting value away from you via direct and indirect methods, and it's a suckers game to hold onto them for any period of time > 1 year.
i have never been able to use the free night for either marriott or ihg over the last 3 years. could not be used at any of the hotels i have booked in any of the cities i have vacationed in. heck, my third trip to nyc this weekend just past, and once again couldn't be used over the weekend at any property. pretty useless for me.
ihg has upgraded me to corner room on high floor every time i have stayed at one of their intercontinentals or kimptons, even when booked via AA hotels. conversely, I have received nothing from marriot except to be told i will get nothing since i have booked thru a 3rd party. and so said-so done.
Having one of these cards also usually gives you some level of elite status (even the lowest tier) which keeps your points from expiring due to inactivity.
I travel full-time and split my time (and spending) between IHG and Hyatt cards. My total spend is about $3,000, and I probably would earn more using AmEx or Sapphire, but would it be worth the trouble at my low utilization rate?
While I understand the benefits such as a free night can outweigh the annual fee, I think that one of the big differences is that you are doing this for your business and many/most readers will have a simplier credit card and points strategy. It is also becoming difficult to use the free night certificates given the value of them or the participating hotels, etc and whether or not you should charge to there if you are not frequent at the particular hotel brand is another question.