Booking hotels can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not sure which credit card to use. It’s important to do your research and find the best credit card that can give you the most rewards and benefits when booking hotels. It can also be helpful to know what type of rewards you’re looking for in a credit card and how to maximize your rewards when booking hotels. With so many credit cards on the market, it can be hard to decide which one is right for you. This article will provide a breakdown of the best credit cards to use when booking hotels and the important things to consider before making your choice. We’ll discuss rewards, benefits, and other factors that can help you save money and get the most out of your travels.
What Are the Best Credit Cards to Use When Booking Hotels?
The best credit cards for booking hotels are the ones that offer rewards and benefits that best fit your travel needs and spending habits. When choosing a credit card for booking hotels, you should look for one or more of the following rewards: Where you travel – If you travel to a specific city or set of cities often, you may want a credit card that offers extra rewards for stays in those areas. You can also look for hotel credit cards that are affiliated with airline or rail companies, as they may offer special benefits for travel on these services. What you spend – Some credit cards offer rewards that are based on your total annual spending with the card. This can be a good option if you tend to spend a lot each year on hotels and other travel expenses. One thing to keep in mind is that these cards may have higher annual fees than cards that offer a flat-rate reward for specific spending categories. What you spend on individual hotel stays – Some hotel credit cards offer rewards based on the price of each hotel stay. This type of reward generally isn’t as good as a flat-rate system, but it may be helpful if you typically stay at expensive hotels. Where you book your hotels – If you’re looking to earn hotel rewards while booking directly through the hotel’s website, you’ll want to make sure you’re using a credit card with bonus rewards for online booking. What you pay in annual credit card fees – Some credit cards are extremely generous with their rewards, but they also charge annual fees in the hundreds of dollars. If these cards are the best for you, it makes sense to take advantage of them, but be aware that their higher fees can reduce the total value of your rewards over the long run.
Types of Rewards to Consider When Choosing a Credit Card
Rewards are generally based on the type of spending you do with your credit card. The two main types of rewards you can earn with a credit card are travel rewards and cash back. Rewards for travel – If you’re looking for a credit card that rewards you for travel-related spending, you’ll likely come across one of two common reward systems: miles and points. – Miles are usually earned for every dollar you spend, and can be redeemed for free hotel stays or plane tickets. Points are usually earned for every dollar you spend, but can only be redeemed for gift cards, travel certificates, or other merchandise. – Most travel credit cards also offer travel and travel assistance benefits that can be helpful for your next trip, including fee assistance, trip cancellation coverage, and lost baggage coverage.
Benefits of Using Credit Cards to Book Hotels
Credit cards can help you earn more rewards and get more out of your travels, but there are also a few other benefits to using them to book hotels: – You can avoid paying cash advance fees: Some hotels charge a fee to customers who book the room with a credit card because they must pay the credit card company a percentage of the booking amount. – You can earn more rewards: The more you travel, the more you can earn in rewards, but only if you use the right credit card. – You can easily find special deals: Many credit cards offer hotel booking deals or special rates that are unavailable to customers who book directly with the hotel. – You can cancel or change reservations: If you book your hotel stay with a credit card, you have added protection if you need to cancel or change your reservation. – You can earn points for other travel-related expenses: Hotels often have partnerships with other travel-related businesses, such as rental car companies or ride-sharing services. – You can avoid paying booking fees: Many hotel booking services charge extra fees for customers who book directly through their website, but if you use a credit card to book your hotel stay, you can avoid these booking fees.
Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Credit Card
There are a few factors you’ll want to keep in mind when choosing a credit card to book hotels. – Annual fee – Some credit cards charge annual fees, but they can often be worth the cost if they provide valuable rewards. If you need to choose between two credit cards that provide similar rewards, a card with a lower annual fee may be the better choice. – Interest rate – The interest rate you’re charged on your credit card repayments is often determined by your credit score. If you have a lower credit score, you’re more likely to be charged a higher interest rate. – Potential for extra rewards – Many hotel credit cards offer extra rewards for booking and spending on specific hotel brands. If you’re looking to earn more rewards when booking hotels with your credit card, make sure you choose a card that offers extra rewards for the types of hotels you typically stay at. – Sign-up bonus – Many credit cards offer a sign-up bonus when you first join. This can be a great way to get extra value out of your first hotel booking with the card, but it’s important to make sure you meet the requirements for the bonus before you apply.
Tips for Maximizing Your Rewards When Booking Hotels
There are a few things you can do to make sure you get the most out of your rewards when booking hotels with a credit card. – Book directly through the hotel’s website – The easiest way to earn rewards when booking hotels with a credit card is to book through the hotel’s website. You can easily look for hotels that are part of a hotel rewards program and then book your stay with a credit card. – Use your rewards points or miles – After booking your hotels, make sure you use the rewards points or miles associated with your credit card to maximize your rewards. You can also check to see if the hotel offers a discount for customers who pay with points or miles. – Shop for flights – Many hotel credit cards also give you bonus rewards for booking airline flights, so be sure to select the option for flights when booking your hotel stay.
The Best Credit Cards for Hotel Stays
The Best Credit Cards for Hotel Stays – The Hilton Honors credit card – The Hilton Honors credit card offers Hilton and Waldorf-Astoria loyalists a hefty 100,000-point sign-up bonus and 10 Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent at Hilton Hotels, including Waldorf-Astoria Hotels and Resorts worldwide. Existing Hilton Honors members can earn up to 50,000 bonus points when they add an authorized user to their account. There is an annual fee of $95, but Hilton Honors members can use the card to earn 10 extra points per dollar spent on up to $1500 in combined purchases at supermarkets and gas stations each calendar year. The card also offers 15 Hilton Honors bonus points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels and one point per dollar spent on all other purchases. – The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card – The Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card offers 50,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months of card membership. Cardholders can earn an additional 5,000 bonus points when they add an authorized user to their account and make a purchase within the first three months of card ownership. The annual fee is $95, but the card includes a $300 annual travel credit that can be applied to airline fees, baggage fees, in-flight food and drinks, hotel cancellation or interruption fees, cruise ship fees and more. Sapphire Preferred cardholders also earn two points per dollar spent on travel and dining and one point per dollar spent on all other purchases. – The Hilton Honors Ascend credit card – The Hilton Honors Ascend credit card offers 75,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in the first three months of card membership. Cardholders can earn an additional 15,000 bonus points when they add an authorized user to their account and make a purchase within