(UPDATED!) Save Money With These 15 Hotel Credit Cards Offering Annual “Free” or Discounted Nights!

Since the last time we updated this post, several travel rewards cards have updated their features and there are also some decent welcome bonuses floating around out there, too. So, let’s dive in!

Are Free Nights Really “Free”?

Many hotel credit cards offer annual “free” night certificates. And let’s get this out of the way now. Annual free nights can be a great way to ultimately save some money during your travels. But each of the below credit cards carries an annual fee. So you’re essentially paying for a “discounted” hotel night.

For example, if you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card ($95 annual fee) and use it at a participating property that costs $150, then you’ve saved some money. (All information about the World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided by or reviewed by the card issuer.) But wasted/expired free nights are no good, so make sure to get hotel credit cards with benefits you’ll actually use and enjoy.

Make sense?

I’ve used anniversary night benefits for stays in Tokyo, New York City, London, Boston, Honolulu, Fargo, Minneapolis, and other cities. Some of my more valuable redemptions have been for last-minute bookings at airport hotels when I needed somewhere to stay — without spending a ton of money or points.

See some of the top hotel credit cards and their welcome offers now!

Marriott Credit Cards

Marriott offers the most free hotel night certificates of any major hotel chain. Their Bonvoy loyalty program features credit cards from both American Express and Chase.

• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card
  • Free Night Award: Receive one (1) Free Night Award (starting year two of card membership) redeemable at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels valued at 35,000 points or fewer. You can earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60,000 in eligible purchases on your card in a calendar year.
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn up to 125,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points. First, earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six (6) months of being approved for card membership. Then, earn 50,000 more bonus points after you spend additional $3,000 points within the first six (6) months of card membership. (Terms apply.)
  • Annual Fee: $125 (See Rates and Fees; terms apply)
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: Members earn 15 elite night credits each year of card membership. You earn 6X for each dollar spent on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, and 4X at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
  • Learn More and How to Apply: Read more and learn here how to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex.

• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card  
  • Free Night Award: One anniversary night (starting year two of card membership) redeemable at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels valued at 35,000 points or fewer. You can use points or cash to pay the difference if you want to stay somewhere where the cost is more than 35k for a night.
  • Complimentary Status: Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn five (5) Free Night Awards worth up to 50,000 points each after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Each night is valued at up to 50,000 points, making this promotion worth up to 250,000 points!
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: Earn up to 17X per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. (Everything else earns 2X.) But a $95 annual fee for a card awarding you one night at a 35,000 point property is certainly good.
  • Learn More and How to Apply: Read more and learn here how to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card
  • All information about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card has been collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided by or reviewed by the card issuer.

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card
  • Free Night Award: One anniversary night after your card renewal month, redeemable at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels valued at 85,000 points or fewer.
  • Complimentary Status: Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 bonus Marriott Bonvoy® points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on the card within the first six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms Apply.)
  • Annual Fee: $650 (See Rates & Fees. Terms apply.)
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: This card is packed with benefits. The first is the fact that your anniversary night can be redeemed at hotels valued up to 85,000 points. It also comes with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership (enrollment required) and a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider). Terms apply, enrollment required.
  • Learn More and How to Apply: Read more and learn here how to apply for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex.

Hilton Credit Card

Only one Hilton card offers an annual free night.

• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • Free Night Award: One free weekend night, starting the first year of card membership.
  • Complimentary Status: Hilton Honors Diamond
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 bonus Hilton Honors points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases within six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Terms apply.)
  • Annual Fee: $550 (Rates and fees.)
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: It’s fairly easy to earn back that $550 annual fee — and come out ahead. (Rates and fees.) First, card members can earn up to $400 statement credits for purchases made directly with participating Hilton Resorts. (Terms apply.) Next, cardholders can earn up to $200 in airline flight credit ($50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year, on flight purchases made directly with an airline or through amextravel.com) So if you plan to take a trip or two during the course of a year, the Hilton Aspire Amex can help you save a few bucks. Plus, the card gives you complimentary Hilton Diamond status. So get ready to enjoy some upgrades!
  • Learn More and How to Apply: Read more now about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
  • All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided by or reviewed by the card issuer.

IHG Credit Cards

IHG offers a pair of credit cards featuring anniversary nights: the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
  • Free Night Award: One annual free anniversary night, starting in year two of holding the card. The anniversary night benefit is valid at IHG properties valued at 40,000 points or fewer. However, if you find a property that costs more than 40,000 points, you can apply points to pay for the difference.
  • Complimentary Status: IHG Platinum Elite
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn four (4) free nights, each worth up to 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases within three (3) months of being approved for the card. (Other promotions may be available.)
  • Annual Fee: $99
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: This card features a great benefit: members receive a free fourth night on award stays of three nights. So you basically redeem three nights’ worth of points — and the fourth night’s room rate (of the same stay) is free.
  • IHG gets beaten up a lot. They don’t really have a bunch of luxury. Even some InterContinental hotels are fairly meh. But this card is especially great for families. Why? So many Holiday Inns have pools — which kids love. And the welcome offer comes with enough points to create a good vacation for the family.
  • Learn More and How to Apply: Read more here and learn how to apply for the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
  • (All information about the IHG Premier Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)

• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card
  • Free Night Award: One annual free anniversary night, starting in year two of holding the card. The anniversary night benefit is valid at IHG properties valued at 40,000 points or fewer. Just like its personal/consumer card, you can apply points to pay for the difference over 40,000 points.
  • Complimentary Status: IHG Platinum Elite
  • Current Welcome Offer: 140,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within three (3) months of being approved for card membership.
  • Annual Fee: $99
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: Earn 5X on eligible travel, gas stations, select advertising, and restaurant purchases. Plus, this card also features the Fourth Night Free benefit. Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS application fee statement credit up to $120 every four years.
  • Learn More and How to Apply: Read more here and learn how to apply for the IHG Business Card.
  • (All information about the IHG Business Premier Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was neither provided nor reviewed by the card issuer.)

Hyatt Credit Card

• The World of Hyatt Credit Card
  • Free Night Award: You’ll receive one free night each year (starting the second year of card membership). The award is valid at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort. Keep in mind that Hyatt has a partnership with MGM Resorts/M Life; the World of Hyatt Credit Card‘s free night is redeemable at many of their properties. (Great to help save some money on a Vegas vacation!)
  • Complimentary Status: Hyatt Discoverist status. (Plus, earn an additional free night at any Category 1–4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year.
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn up to 60,000 bonus World of Hyatt points. First, earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases during your first three months of card membership. Plus, earn up to 30,000 more by earning two bonus points total per $1 spent within the first six months from account opening on purchases that normally earn one bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent. Got that straight? 🙂
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: The World of Hyatt Credit Card can help you achieve higher-tier Hyatt status. You receive five qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every year. Plus, you earn two additional qualifying night credits against your next status tier each time you accrue $5,000 in spending on the card.
  • All information about the World of Hyatt Credit Card has been collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided by or reviewed by the card issuer.

Wyndham Credit Cards

Two Wyndham credit cards don’t offer free night awards, per se. Rather, they deposit into your account a nominal amount of points which can be redeemed for free nights at certain hotels.

• Wyndham Rewards Earner+ Card
  • Free Night Award: 7,500 bonus points after paying your renewal fee. That’s worth one night at many Wyndham properties. But Wyndham itself admits, “A free night can require up to 30,000 points per bedroom at participating properties.”
  • Complimentary Status: Wyndham Platinum
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn up to 90,000 bonus points: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of card membership.
  • Annual Fee: $75
• Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: Cardholders can get a 10% discount on award bookings. They also enjoy special card member booking discounts.
  • All information about the Wyndham Rewards Earner+ Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided by or reviewed by the card issuer.
  • Wyndham Earner Business Card
  • Free Night Award: 15,000 bonus points after paying your renewal fee. That’s worth two nights at many Wyndham properties.
  • Complimentary Status: Wyndham Diamond
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn up to 75,000 bonus points: Earn 65,000 bonus points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of card membership. Then earn an additional 10,000 bonus points after a purchase is made on an employee card in the first 90 days.
  • Annual Fee: $95
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: Cardholders can get a 10% discount on award bookings. They also enjoy special cardmember booking discounts.
  • All information about the Wyndham Earner Business Card was collected independently by Eye of the Flyer. It was not provided by or reviewed by the card issuer.

American Express, Capital One, and Chase Premium Cards

The high-end, “luxury benefits” card war between Amex and Chase resulted in some potentially lucrative benefits for cardholders. And Capital One’s major cards also offer major credits.

None of these cards offer Free Nights in the traditional sense. But you can save a chunk of money or even score a free night (if you find a great deal) with that.

Two American Express cards offer Fine Hotels + Resorts options:

• Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
• Daily breakfast for two people ($30 per person or $60 total per room)
• Guaranteed 4 PM late check-out
• Noon check-in, when available
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• $100 Food and beverage credit to be used during the stay

• American Express Platinum Card®
  • Feature: Earn up to $600 in yearly statement credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel®. (Earn up to $300 back in statement credits semi-annually — $300 from January through June, then $300 from July through December — on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel® when you pay with your eligible card. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • Complimentary Status: Complimentary Hyatt Honors Gold status. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold status. Enrollment required for each.
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $8,000 on eligible purchases on the card within the first six (6) months of being approved for card membership. (Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Terms apply.)
  • Annual Fee: $895 (Rates & Fees)
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: Select airport lounge admission privileges, statement credit opportunities galore, and much more. Here’s a breakdown of the card.

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
  • Feature: Earn up to $600 in yearly statement credit on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel®. (Earn up to $300 back in statement credits semi-annually — $300 from January through June, then $300 from July through December — on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel® when you pay with your eligible card. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
  • Complimentary Status: Complimentary Hyatt Honors Gold status. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold status. Enrollment required for each.
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn 200,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on the card within the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Terms apply.
  • Annual Fee: $895 (Rates & Fees)
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: 35% airline bonus (Get 35% points back after you use Pay with Points for flights booked through Amex Travel with your selected qualifying airline, up to 1,000,000 points back per calendar year), select airport lounge admission privileges, statement credit opportunities galore, and much more. Here’s a breakdown of the card.

Once you’ve exhausted your statement credits, you can still take advantage of Fine Hotels + Resorts! It’s really a great way to save around $160 (at least) on your stay.

Chase features something similar. It’s called The Edit and offers:

• Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
• Daily breakfast for two people
• Late check-out, when available
• Early check-in, when available
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• $100 Food and beverage credit to be used during the stay

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
  • Feature: Earn up to $500 in yearly statement credit on prepaid The Edit stays booked through Chase and paid with your card. (Earn up to $500 back in statement credits semi-annually — $250 from January through June, then $250 from July through December)
  • Complimentary Status: Complimentary IHG Platinum Status through December 31, 2027
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership.
  • Annual Fee: $795
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: $300 travel credit, DoorDash benefits, Apple statement credits and more.
• Sapphire Reserve for Business℠
  • Feature: Earn up to $500 in yearly statement credit on prepaid The Edit stays booked through Chase and paid with your card. (Earn up to $500 back in statement credits semi-annually — $250 from January through June, then $250 from July through December)
  • Complimentary Status: Complimentary IHG Platinum Status through December 31, 2027
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership.
  • Annual Fee: $795
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: $300 travel credit, $100 curated gift card, DoorDash benefits, and more.

Finally, we come to Capital One. Both versions of their Venture X cards offer up to $300 in annual credit for travel bookings through Capital One Travel.

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • Feature: Receive up to $300 each year for travel bookings through Capital One Travel. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles each year of card membership, starting the second year.
  • Complimentary Status: —
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three (3) months of being approved for card membership.
  • Annual Fee: $395
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: Complimentary admission to Capital One Lounges and Landings, Priority Pass Select membership. Earn at least 2X on each eligible purchase.
• Capital One Venture X Business
  • Feature: Receive up to $300 each year for travel bookings through Capital One Travel. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles each year of card membership, starting the second year.
  • Complimentary Status: —
  • Current Welcome Offer: Earn 150,000 bonus miles after you spend $30,000 on eligible purchases within three (3) months of being approved for card membership.
  • Annual Fee: $395
  • Other Notable Benefits and Points Earnings: Complimentary admission to Capital One Lounges and Landings, Priority Pass Select membership. Earn at least 2X on each eligible purchase.

Final Approach

Annual free nights can be a great way to save some money while traveling. Make sure to get hotel credit cards whose benefits you’ll actually use and enjoy.

For rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, please visit this link.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link.
For rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit this link. 
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, please visit this link.