topic Re: Hotel cards in Credit Cards

Hotel cards

Random_idiot — Thu, 03 May 2018 12:24:02 GMT

As you can tell from my sig, I currently have the IHG. as of today, any anniversary certificte that we get, is limited based on where we can book.

That being said, it almost makes this card useless to me. So considering IHG has now lowered themselves to the middle of the pool of hotel cards, which hotel card, in your opinion, is the best option out there?

You can name more than one based on a couple of requirements.

Best no annual fee hotel card?

Best hotel card with an anniversary free night?

Best points system for a hotel card?

Best overall hotel card?

type away!

Re: Hotel cards

Noctilum — Thu, 03 May 2018 12:44:07 GMT

Despite it's changes I would say the IHG card is still relatively good, however, if you can't use it where you stay then obviously it's no good for you.

It's far too early recommend the Marriott/Ritz/SPG cards until all details on the program changes are revealed.

Hyatt, in my opinion, has been one of the better reward programs for hotels, but makes me wonder how much time is left before it gets overhauled with all these other hotel card changes in the last couple months.

So with all this in mind, my recommendation would be to get a travel rewards card, such as a Chase Sapphire Preferred (which it appears you have), versus a dedicated hotel card. It can be more versatile in benefits and is close to being hotel agnostic for using it's rewards.

Re: Hotel cards

Anonymous — Thu, 03 May 2018 12:54:59 GMT

Hilton CC would be a no brainer. Had it since 2015 and love it. They do not have a free night, unless you get the AF one.

I would probably be best if you get the CSP. You can collect URs easily and redeem for Hotels...as well as Cars, Activities, Cruises and Flights. Love this card as well!!

Re: Hotel cards

Random_idiot — Thu, 03 May 2018 13:39:58 GMT

I was on AMeX's website and saw their hotel cards. was impressed at the Hilton card

Re: Hotel cards

redpat — Thu, 03 May 2018 13:46:05 GMT

Unless you travel a lot and have many stays at that brand it is probally not worth having a Hotel CC. Once you use up the SUB the card becomes worthless to some unless all your spend goes on it.

OP, Google is a great tool.

Re: Hotel cards

iced — Thu, 03 May 2018 13:52:46 GMT

@Random_idiot wrote:
As you can tell from my sig, I currently have the IHG. as of today, any anniversary certificte that we get, is limited based on where we can book.

That being said, it almost makes this card useless to me. So considering IHG has now lowered themselves to the middle of the pool of hotel cards, which hotel card, in your opinion, is the best option out there?

You can name more than one based on a couple of requirements.

Best no annual fee hotel card?
Best hotel card with an anniversary free night?
Best points system for a hotel card?
Best overall hotel card?

type away!

My two cents:

Hotel card, free or otherwise: I personally find none of them great. Earning hotel points via CC spend rather than stays is a poor use of CC spend, so it would really come down to which benefits a person is looking for and at which properties. I do not recommend someone pick a hotel chain based on which card is best, but the other way around. If someone likes IHG hotels, get an IHG card. If they like Hilton, get a Hilton card. It's a similar story with perks - some people will love Gold status or 15 elite credits, while for others they're worthless (either because they still won't result in a benefit or because they already have status without needing a CC).

Best card w/ anniversary night: see above. I would repeat what you stated and reiterate these certs usually have limitations on them, no matter which chain you go with in the end. I earn several certs through promotions or stays a year with Marriott, and every year now I've had to manufacture a weekend stay somewhere in order to use them. While that's not necessarily a bad thing, it does point to the limited value they can have.

Overall: see above.

Best hotel system: I would argue for Marriott, but this is personal preference. I was a Hilton Diamond in the past before switching to Marriott in 2014, and was even a regular at IHG and Choice many years ago, and of the 4 Marriott has been the best program for me. My deciding factors are:

- Footprint: They have something in just almost every major city around the world. Rural Oklahoma or Mississippi? Check. Amsterdam, Brisbane, Cairo, and so on all the way to Zurich? Check. Even Petra?! Check. Strasbourg and Helsinki? Well, I did say *almost* every major city. This factor alone reduces the playing field to Marriott vs Hilton for me.

- Cost: Domestically, they all cost about the same so it's 6 of one, half-dozen of the other. Internationally. I have found Marriott tends to beat Hilton at pricing. There's exceptions to this (in Hong Kong, the two brands tend to be competitive with each other), but more often than not Marriott comes in as the lower-priced option. I've made trips to Tel Aviv where the Hilton priced out double what the Renaissance did, and the two hotels are in line of sight to each other!

- Point value: Hilton HHonors points are garbage. They hand them out like candy and value them like dirt. Marriotts are less garbage-y and I know I can stay anywhere for under 100k points and stay 3+ night at many nice places for under 200k points. Doing the same thing with HHonors points takes luck and/or a travel pattern that is limited to Hilton's key resort markets (Hilton Hawaiian Village comes to mind here).

- Autograph Collection: I like history and architecture, so I like staying in hotels with history and architecture at their center. Many of my favorite hotel stays have been at Autographs.

As an aside, IHG can't lower themselves to the middle of the hotel pool when they never left the middle to begin with. They've been a mid-tier domestic brand that sits about a notch above Choice Hotels in the pecking order. Crown Plaza has a mediocre footprint and offering, and Holiday Inn is passable in the UK, but they're otherwise a non-factor internationally.

Re: Hotel cards

Anonymous — Thu, 03 May 2018 14:04:57 GMT

@redpat wrote:
Unless you travel a lot and have many stays at that brand it is probally not worth having a Hotel CC. Once you use up the SUB the card becomes worthless to some unless all your spend goes on it.

OP, Google is a great tool.

This is true!

My wife has the $95 AF Hilton, but she puts every single penny on it and she's averaging about 55k points a year.

Re: Hotel cards

Random_idiot — Thu, 03 May 2018 17:06:59 GMT

As most of you have said, it makes zero sense for me to sacrifice swipes for the hotel card, rather than leaving it on the CFU/CF depending on bonus category.

The deciding factor has been the same for me when I chose the IHG. the best value. While most of their hotels are crap, some IHGs are amazing. I stayed at the Manhattan ihg with a free upgrade for free. And also in Toronto with a view of the CN tower.

With them reducing the anniversary certificate, I feel no use to getting it, as others have said Marriott or Hyatt are better options. For me, I have to see what’s a better value between the two.

I liked the above posters detailed explanation of the Marriott. I’ll continue doing research and googling, but google doesn’t offer feedback like on here. After all, there’s a reason why it’s a forum.

Re: Hotel cards

digitek — Thu, 03 May 2018 18:10:18 GMT

I wanted to ask the same question as OP recently with all the new hotel cards/programs coming out. I don't think I'm going to go with any hotel loyaltly program or CC. I find it all very confusing and don't really want to limit myself to one brand, also not really sure it is worth it and I don't really like point systems with flexible redemption method.

Thanks for the thread and above posters experience, really appreciate it.

Re: Hotel cards

Anonymous — Thu, 03 May 2018 20:16:17 GMT

I live in hotels during the week (because my actual residence is two hours from my job, but free) and don't like the idea of being married to a particular brand. Those that offer branded cards are also higher end than where I generally stay (since I'm staying 3 nights per week on my own dime.)

I use Hotels.com for every 11th night free and pay with my Pathfinder Amex for 4x points (which I can redeem for more free nights via their portal.)

Flexible for when I'm going with a budget chain OR if something higher end is running a great special OR if I just want to splurge sometimes.

Re: Hotel cards

Caught750 — Thu, 03 May 2018 20:47:27 GMT

With this in mind, what are everyone's thoughts on avoiding a hotel card and replacing it with something along the lines of BoA (travel or premier) or Venture or Venture One. Ventures primarily for 10 point/dollar hotels.com and BoA with the point for the hotel purchase?

Re: Hotel cards

Anonymous — Thu, 03 May 2018 20:50:44 GMT

@redpat wrote:
Unless you travel a lot and have many stays at that brand it is probally not worth having a Hotel CC. Once you use up the SUB the card becomes worthless to some unless all your spend goes on it.

OP, Google is a great tool.

This is so true!

My co-workers have Marriott credit cards all around; we travel at least 7 times per year, and stay approximately 2 weeks for each travel. With the Marriott credit card, it is so easy to achieve their gold or platinum status.

Re: Hotel cards

Anonymous — Tue, 15 May 2018 09:07:54 GMT

Isn't the new SPG business card the best? Minimum 2% points on everything, good 4% categories, and a further 25% bonus on transfers to airlines, with additional seasonal discounts that airlines give on hotel point transfers. Combine that with the CSP/CSR and Freedom, transfer the UR's you earn on the 5x categories and you're golden