Have Amex Gold-Should I apply for Hilton or SPG or Hyatt Card?

[Anonymous]

I am invested in the Amex MR ecosystem, not Chase UR (yet). I am considering applying for a hotel card. Although overall value of the card and sub is always a consideration that’s really not what I’m asking about here. Basically, does it make more sense for me to focus on Hilton or Marriott/SPG since they are part of the MR ecosystem and I can stack benefits and rewards?  Or is it not totally a bonehead move to apply for Hyatt card?  Again, I prefer not to focus on value of the cards or numbers of properties, etc.  This is more of a “should I stay within MR partners when looking at cards or or is it ok to look at non-partners like Hyatt...maybe to give me more exposure and rewards/sub to properties outside of MR partners”.

Thanks. And of course happy to hear some editorializing about value of hotel cards and rewards programs in addition to my main question. 

[EAJuggalo]

Depends on if you ever plan on transferring MR to the hotel program.  I am invested in the Honors program from Hilton but don't see any reason I would transfer MR into that, even at 1:2.  Much better value to me transferring to airlines, using that to fly places and paying for the hotel with the Hilton card.  SPG might be different, I have no idea how their program works.

[NRB525]

Are there hotels you frequent, or plan to use regularly in the future? That is a first question. Each of the three hotel cards has good benefits with that chain, best used by staying at that chain.

[Anonymous]

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@EAJuggalo wrote:

Depends on if you ever plan on transferring MR to the hotel program.  I am invested in the Honors program from Hilton but don't see any reason I would transfer MR into that, even at 1:2.  Much better value to me transferring to airlines, using that to fly places and paying for the hotel with the Hilton card.  SPG might be different, I have no idea how their program works.

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You can get good value out of MRs by transferring to a hotel program although YMMV. I was able to get 2c a point by transferring 30k MR to Hilton for a room that woulda cost me 600$ a night otherwise. 

I think the sweet spot for hotel redemptions are using MRs during peak times. With that being said, the Hilton probably pairs better with the Gold due to transfer ratio.

[PointsBonus]

I have Hilton Aspire and SPG Luxury, with that being said they both have their own unique advantages, but it all depends on what you are after. I was fortunate enough to be Lifetime Platinum member with Marriott and Diamond with Hilton.

If u do not have ANY status and will not be able to hit any status with either hotels I would either recommend the Hilton Ascend for Gold status or the Aspire for the Diamond status. Marriott card will not give you the automatic Platinum status but will give you Gold with the SPG Luxury.

If your going to spend a $450 Annual Fee I go with the Hilton Aspire for the Diamond status ALL DAY LONG vs the SPG Luxury for Gold.
If you don’t want to spend the $450 go for the Ascend which will give you Hilton Gold status.

Hope this helps.