What is the best credit card for hotels?

The Strata Elite from Citi is currently the top-ranked hotels credit card with an effective return of 21.6% per dollar spent. It earns 12x TYP on hotels purchases with a $595/year annual fee.

What is the best hotels credit card with no annual fee?

The Custom Cash is the highest-ranked no-annual-fee card for hotels spending, earning 5x TYP (all purchases) with an effective return of 9.0% per dollar.

How do we rank the best hotels credit cards?

We rank cards by effective value per dollar spent on hotels, not just the headline multiplier. Effective value accounts for the real-world worth of each point or mile based on transfer partner redemptions and cash-out options. Rankings reflect standard earning rates only — portal bonuses and rotating categories are excluded.

Supapoints

Category Rankings

Best Cards for Hotels

Ranked by effective value on hotels spending. Effective rate accounts for the real-world value of each point or mile.

We rank the best hotels credit cards by their effective return per dollar spent. Effective value accounts for the real worth of each point or mile, not just the headline multiplier. Rankings reflect standard earning rates — portal bonuses and rotating categories are excluded.

CardEarn RateEff. ValueAnnual Fee

Citi

Strata Elite

Hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked via CitiTravel.com

Highest effective return in this category

12x TYP~21.6% value$595/yr

$595/yr annual fee

Apply at Citi

Capital One

Venture X

10x C1~18.5% value$395/yr

$395/yr annual fee

Effective value is calculated using our standardized cents-per-point values. Multiplier cards are valued at their points currency's transfer partner potential. Rankings reflect standard rates only — portal bonuses and rotating categories are excluded. View all cards →

More Category Rankings

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Citi

Custom Cash

Automatically applied to your highest eligible spend category each billing cycle. Eligible categories: restaurants, gas, groceries, travel, transit, streaming, drugstores, home improvement, fitness, entertainment

5x TYP (all purchases)~9.0% valueNo fee

No annual fee

Apply at Citi