MoneyGeek's Take

Best Hotel Credit Cards for No Annual Fee in 2023

The best hotel credit cards with no annual fees give you the ability to earn higher-than-usual rewards when you spend across specific properties. These cards tend to come with other hotel-specific benefits as well.

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This article is part of our larger series on Best Hotel Credit Cards

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Last Updated: 5/2/2023

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No-annual-fee hotel credit cards typically offer higher reward earn rates when you use them to pay at participating properties. Depending on the card you have, you might benefit by getting a membership status upgrade in your hotel loyalty program.

Co-branded hotel cards account for the best cards from this category. These cards are linked to specific groups of hotels and offer brand-specific benefits. For example, the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Card comes with complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status and offers 7x points for eligible purchases made at properties within the Hilton portfolio. Similarly, the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card lets you earn up to 15x points at IHG Hotels and Resorts.

The top no-annual-fee hotel credit cards come without foreign transaction fees. Some such cards offer basic travel insurance coverage as well.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Our Top 2 Picks
Summarized List of All Winners
Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Hotel Credit Cards

MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 2 Hotel Credit Cards With No Annual Fees

Quick Summary

The rewards you stand to earn will vary from one hotel card to the next. While the best hotel credit cards with no annual fee come with introductory bonus offers, not all are equally rewarding. We’ve accounted for these factors when selecting the top no-annual-fee hotel credit cards, and we’ve also paid attention to APRs, foreign transaction fees and other benefits.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
- 1–2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.49% – 28.49% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend the no-annual-fee IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card to people who frequently stay at properties that are part of the InterContinental Hotels Group and wish to earn reward points faster. You earn up to 17X points per dollar at IHG Hotels and Resorts. Purchases at restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores come with 2X points, and you get 1X points on all other purchases.
If you spend $10,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year, you get Gold Elite Status that remains valid until the end of the following year. If you redeem your points for stays of four or more nights, you get a free reward night. This card is perfect to use outside of the U.S. as it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Additional benefits include purchase protection and travel insurance coverage.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
- 3–7 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We love the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card because it lets you earn reward points faster when you spend across Hilton properties. It also comes with a sizeable spending-based welcome offer.
Eligible spending at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio comes with 7X points. You earn 5X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, as well as on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and on gas at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases come with 3X points.
This card is ideal for international use, as it charges no overseas transaction fees.
All cardholders get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status. This card offers car rental loss and damage insurance and access to Global Assist Hotline.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

Summary of the Best Hotel Cards for No Annual Fee

Learn about the best no-fee hotel credit cards by going through this no-annual-fee hotel card comparison table. Here we’ve summarized aspects such as reward rates, welcome offers and foreign transaction fees.

Credit Card
Best For
Avg. Reward Rate
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Great card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists
1–2 Points per $1
$0
Hilton Honors American Express Card
A good travel rewards card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts
3–7 Points per $1*
$0
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties
1–2 Points per $1
$0

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

While hotels may offer different versions of their cards, the best hotel cards with no annual fees offer attractive perks for the occasional traveler. These cards provide additional benefits and the ability to earn more points during your stay without needing to commit to one hotel brand. — Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.

How to Compare Hotel Credit Cards & Intro Offers

Even the best hotel cards with no annual fees come with several differences, so it's best practice to compare them across different parameters based on your spending patterns and specific requirements.

The brand

Narrow down on a suitable option based on the hotels you use most frequently. This could be Hilton, Marriott, IHG or any other brand.

Rewards rate

Take into account the rewards you stand to earn. If you’re a high spender, you might benefit by getting a hotel card with an annual fee that offers a high rewards earn rate. For example, while the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card offers up to 14x points on spending at participating Marriott properties, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card with a $95 annual fee lets you earn up to 17x points at participating Marriott properties. The latter also comes with a better new cardholder bonus and other benefits.

APR

Pay attention to the interest you’ll need to pay if you maintain revolving balances. If you don’t plan to pay off your balances in full each month, you might benefit more by taking a look at what the best low APR cards have to offer.

Introductory offers

It’s common for the top no-annual-fee hotel credit cards to come with introductory spend- and time-based welcome offers. For example, you might earn 30,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 within three months from account opening.

Status upgrades

You might qualify for a complimentary status upgrade through your hotel credit card’s corresponding loyalty program. For instance, you get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status with the Hilton Honors Card.

Foreign transaction fees

If your travels take you outside of the U.S., getting a no-annual-fee hotel credit card that also does away with foreign transaction fees might work best for you. The IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card, the Amex Hilton Honors Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card fit this bill.

Additional benefits

While no-annual-fee hotel credit cards refrain from offering extensive features and perks linked with premium hotel cards, you may still expect some benefits. For instance, the IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card offers a reward night when you redeem points for a stay of four or more nights.

These might come in the form of basic travel insurance coverage, purchase protection, fraud protection and free additional cards.