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Many families are using hotels for social distancing to protect their loved ones. Using a hotel credit card can reduce your lodging costs and help you enjoy loyalty perks. Before booking a room, consider using these cards to get free nights and other benefits.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
The IHG portfolio includes the Holiday Inn Express, Crowne Plaza, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites. Booking your stays with the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card offers several perks:
- Earn up to 26x IHG points on IHG purchases
- Automatic IHG Platinum Elite status
- 4th reward night is free on 3+ night award stays
- Annual award anniversary night
IHG Platinum Elite benefits include complimentary room upgrades (when available), 50% bonus points, and extended check-out.
New cardholders can earn IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card earns 140,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn up to $100 in IHG® statement credits on purchases at IHG® Hotels and Resorts during the first 12 months from account opening.
Member FDIC
The annual fee is $99.
Related: IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
World of Hyatt points are some of the most valuable hotel points and the Hyatt portfolio can be more luxurious than other brands. Hyatt is also offering “Work from Hyatt” packages that offer extra space for sleeping and working. This promotion along with a Hyatt credit card can help you get the most out of your stay at a hotel for social distancing.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card has several exciting perks:
- Earn up to 9 points per $1 on Hyatt purchases
- One free anniversary night at card renewal (valid at category 1-4 properties)
- Second free anniversary night after $15,000 in annual card purchases
Additionally, cardholders can enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as their account is open. Cardholders get premium internet access, free bottled water, and space-available room upgrades.
New The World of Hyatt Credit Card cardmembers can earn a signup bonus of up to 60,000 World of Hyatt bonus points. Earn the first 30,000 points by spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn up to 30,000 more bonus points with 2 bonus points per $1 spent on purchases that earn 1 bonus point, up to $15,000, in the first 6 months of account opening. The full bonus is worth up to 12 free nights in category 1 property (5,000 points per night).
The annual fee is $95.
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card
There are several Mariott Bonvoy credit cards to choose from. The best for social distancing can be the premium Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite members earn 50% more points on eligible purchases at participating hotels for each U.S. dollar (or the currency equivalent) that is incurred and paid for by the member.
Each card renewal year, get up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.
Other featured benefits include 1 Free Night Award (redemption level at or under 85,000 points) annually after your card renewal month at participating Marriott Bonvoy properties (some hotels have resort fees), up to $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card, and complimentary Priority Pass Select airport lounge access.
Additionally, cardholders can enjoy a fee credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, up to $800 in cellphone protection, and 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy Elite status (terms apply).
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card cardholders earn:
- 6x points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
- 3x points at restaurants worldwide
- 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines
- 2x points on all other eligible purchases
Welcome Bonus
Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases, Card Members are eligible to select an Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
New LTO! New Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card cardholders earn two 85K Free Night Awards after spending $6,000 in purchases on the Card in their first 6 months. Each award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Card Members could enjoy a value of up to $1,200 when redeeming each reward. Certain hotels have resort fees. Offer ends 11/1/2023.
Although this card has a $650 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (See Rates & Fees), it has plenty of benefits that are worth a lot more.
Citi Prestige Credit Card
The information for the Citi Prestige® Credit Card has been collected independently by Johnny Jet. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
The best credit cards to use with hotels for social distancing don’t all have to be co-brand hotel cards. The Citi Prestige® Credit Card is one of the best premium travel credit cards for hotel stays. You get the 4th hotel night free on a 4+ night booking using ThankYou.com (you pay fees and taxes for the award night). This perk can be redeemed twice per year.
Other travel perks include:
- Annual $250 travel statement credit
- Priority Pass Select lounge access
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Earn 5x points on restaurants and air travel
- Earn 3x points on hotels and cruise lines
- 1:1 point transfers to airline loyalty programs
The signup bonus is 50,000 points ($500 value) after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. The annual fee is $495 per year and $75 per authorized user.
Related: Best Citi Credit Cards
Chase Sapphire Reserve
Another non-cobrand hotel card that is perfect to use with hotels for social distancing is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives you the flexibility of earning and redeeming Ultimate Rewards from any hotel brand.
- Annual $300 travel statement credit
- 50% redemption bonus on travel booked on Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 1:1 point transfer to airlines and hotels
- Special benefits at the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
Plus, earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards® immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Additional Sapphire Reserve Perks
Each point is worth 1.5 cents each when booking hotel reward nights using the Chase Ultimate Rewards travel portal. You can also transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to World of Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott Bonvoy.
New Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $900 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
The annual fee is $550 for the primary user and $75 per authorized user.
Related: Chase Sapphire Reserve Review
Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card
The Hotels.com® Rewards Visa® Credit Card can be a good option when you want a hotel credit card with no annual fee. Also, this card can be a perfect fit when you’re not loyal to a particular loyalty program but want to earn free hotel nights.
Card benefits include:
- One stamp for each hotel night you book at any eligible property using Hotels.com (10 stamps equals 1 free night)
- Earn one stamp (worth $110 in hotel nights credits) for every $500 in card purchases
- Hotels.com Silver membership for the first year
- Cell phone protection (up to $600 per year)
- Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
- No annual fee
You earn a stamp for each hotel night you book at any eligible property using Hotels.com. You also earn one stamp for every $500 in card purchases. Ten stamps equal a free reward night.
For the first year, you get automatic Hotels.com Silver loyalty status. Silver benefits include free breakfast, WiFi, and spa vouchers at participating properties. You also get price protection on Hotels.com purchases. Keeping Silver status requires earning 10 stamps per year.
New cardmembers can earn get 2 reward nights worth $250 total (max $125 per night)*, when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months. *Excludes taxes and fees. If a night costs less than $125, you won’t get the difference.
But as there is no annual fee for this card, this perk is pretty sweet.
Related: Credit Cards to Pay Your Cell Phone Bill With Each Month
Summary
There are several exciting opportunities to stay at hotels with social distancing protocols. You can have the space you need to rest and work while earning rewards. Hopefully, one of these credit cards to use with hotels for social distancing works for you.
Related Articles:
- The Best Credit Cards For Holiday Shopping
- The Best Credit Cards for Online Shopping
- Best Limited-Time Credit Card Offers
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please click here.
