Editor’s observe: This is a recurring submit, often up to date with new data.
Before you ebook your subsequent trip, a easy manner to make sure you’ll get pleasure from additional advantages is to hold the bank card of the resort chain the place you’re staying.
Hotel bank cards often earn bonus factors on spending with the resort, plus they sometimes embrace extra advantages like automated elite standing, a beneficiant welcome bonus and a free award evening every year.
With so many profitable advantages, the very best resort bank cards underneath $100 simply justify paying the annual payment.
The finest resort bank cards with annual charges underneath $100
Today, we’ll take a look at bank cards from Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, World of Hyatt and Wyndham Rewards. These playing cards are issued by completely different banks and provide advantages of their respective resort loyalty applications, however every has an annual payment underneath $100 and might be price a spot in your pockets.
Comparison of the very best resort bank cards with annual charges of $100 or much less
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card | IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card | Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card | World of Hyatt Credit Card | Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome bonus | Earn 130,000 bonus Hilton Honors factors after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership. | Earn 140,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | Earn three free evening awards (price as much as 50,000 factors every) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | Earn as much as 60,000 bonus factors. Receive 30,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening and obtain as much as 30,000 extra bonus factors by incomes 2 factors per greenback on purchases that usually earn 1 level per greenback — on as much as $15,000 of those purchases. | Earn 45,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases throughout the first 90 days from account opening. |
| Welcome bonus worth* | $780. | $700. | Up to $1,260 if every evening is redeemed for 50,000 factors. | Up to $1,020 when you obtain the complete 60,000 factors. | $495. |
| Annual payment | $95 (see charges and charges). | $99. | $95. | $95. | $75. |
| Earning construction | 12 factors per greenback at resorts and resorts taking part in Hilton Honors.
6 factors per greenback on eating at U.S. eating places and on eligible takeout and supply orders. 6 factors per greenback at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. fuel stations. 3 factors per greenback on different purchases. |
10 factors per greenback at resorts and resorts taking part in IHG One Rewards.
5 factors per greenback on journey, fuel stations and eating (together with eligible takeout and supply orders). 3 factors per greenback on different purchases. |
6 factors per greenback at resorts and resorts taking part in Marriott Bonvoy.
3 factors per greenback on the primary $6,000 of mixed spending every year at fuel stations, grocery shops and eating (then 2 factors per greenback). 2 factors per greenback on different purchases. |
4 factors per greenback at World of Hyatt resorts, taking part Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) places and eligible Lindblad Expeditions.
2 factors per greenback at eating places, on flights bought immediately from airways, health membership and health club memberships and commuting — together with native transit, taxis, mass transit, tolls and ride-hailing companies. 1 level per greenback on all different purchases. |
6 factors per greenback at Wyndham Rewards resorts.
6 factors per greenback on qualifying fuel purchases. 4 factors per greenback on purchases from and down funds to Wyndham Vacation Club and timeshare properties. 4 factors per greenback on eating and grocery retailer purchases (excluding Target and Walmart). 1 level per greenback on different purchases. |
| Value of factors earned at resorts in that program* | 7.2 cents per greenback at Hilton resorts and resorts. | 5 cents per greenback at IHG resorts and resorts. | 5.04 cents per greenback at Marriott Bonvoy resorts and resorts. | 6.8 cents per greenback at Hyatt and SLH properties. | 6.6 cents per greenback at Wyndham properties. |
| Elite standing advantages | Automatic Hilton Honors Gold standing gives 80% bonus factors on paid stays, a “fifth evening free” profit on factors stays, space-available room upgrades (however to not suites), a welcome reward of bonus factors and free breakfast or meals and beverage credit, relying on the place you keep.
Unlock Diamond standing by spending $40,000 on purchases together with your card in a calendar 12 months. |
Automatic Platinum Elite standing gives 60% bonus factors on paid stays, a “fourth evening free” profit on factors stays, reductions on award reservation charges, a welcome reward of factors or a snack at check-in, late checkout and early check-in (primarily based on availability) and room upgrades primarily based on availability at check-in.
Unlock Diamond Elite standing by way of the tip of the next 12 months by spending $40,000 or extra on purchases together with your card in a calendar 12 months. |
Complimentary Silver Elite standing gives 10% bonus factors on paid stays and late checkout (topic to availability).
Unlock Gold Elite standing by spending $35,000 in your card in a calendar 12 months. |
Complimentary Discoverist standing gives 10% bonus factors on paid stays, premium in-room web, two bottles of water every day of your keep, late checkout (when accessible) and standing match alternatives with MGM Rewards. | Complimentary Platinum standing gives rollover nights, 15% bonus factors on paid stays, upgrades to most popular rooms (however not suites), late checkout, early check-in, elite standing with Avis and Budget automotive rental applications and standing match alternatives with Caesars Rewards. |
| Annual free evening advantages | Earn a free evening award after spending $15,000 on purchases in a calendar 12 months. | Receive a free evening award (price as much as 40,000 factors) on every account anniversary. | Receive a free evening award (price as much as 35,000 factors) on every account anniversary. | Receive a free evening award (legitimate at Category 1-4 properties) every year in your account anniversary. | None, although you obtain anniversary bonus factors. |
| Foreign transaction charges | None (see charges and charges). | None. | None. | None. | None. |
| Other advantages | 10 Priority Pass lounge passes every year.
Free two-day transport with eligible shops after enrolling for ShopRunner. Access to Amex Offers for focused rebates, spending presents and bonus factors. |
Up to $100 in assertion credit to reimburse your Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus software payment.
Up to $50 in United TravelBank credit score every year after linking your IHG One Rewards and United MileagePlus accounts. Receive a $100 assertion credit score plus 10,000 bonus IHG factors after spending $20,000 in your card in a calendar 12 months. Save 20% on IHG factors purchases when paying together with your card; observe that this doesn’t apply to shopping for factors with a reduction or bonus provide. Access to Chase Offers for focused rebates, spending presents and bonus factors. |
Receive 15 elite evening credit per 12 months, which assist you to obtain larger standing ranges.
Receive one elite evening credit score for every $5,000 spent on the cardboard. Access to Chase Offers for focused rebates, spending presents and bonus factors. |
Earn one other free evening award (legitimate at Category 1-4 properties) by spending $15,000 in your card inside a calendar 12 months.
Receive 5 tier-qualifying nights mechanically every year. Earn two tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent in your card. |
Receive 7,500 bonus factors on every account anniversary after paying the annual payment.
Redeem 10% fewer Wyndham factors for “go free” award stays.
|
* Points worth is an estimated worth calculated by TPG and never the cardboard issuer.
Details of the very best resort bank cards with annual charges underneath $100
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
Current welcome provide: Earn 130,000 bonus Hilton Honors factors after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership.
Annual payment: $95 (see charges & charges).
Benefits at resorts taking part in Hilton Honors: Receive complimentary Hilton Honors Gold standing. This presents advantages like 80% bonus factors on paid stays, a “fifth evening free” profit on award stays utilizing factors, room upgrades at check-in (although to not suites) primarily based on availability, a welcome reward of bonus factors and both free breakfast or meals and beverage credit, relying on the place you keep.
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Why it’s price it: The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card presents one of many highest resort bank card welcome bonuses on this checklist however it sits in the course of the pack when it comes to its precise worth. You’ll obtain 130,000 Hilton Honors bonus factors after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the cardboard within the first three months of cardmembership.
Cardholders obtain automated Gold standing, which usually requires 20 nights at Hilton properties. You’ll obtain space-available room upgrades and a every day meals and beverage credit score at U.S. resorts (or continental breakfast when touring overseas), plus you may obtain 5 nights for the value of 4 when redeeming factors for resort stays. Your standing can be upgraded to Diamond after spending $40,000 on purchases in a calendar 12 months.
This card earns 12 factors per greenback spent at resorts and resorts within the Hilton portfolio and 6 factors per greenback at U.S. eating places (together with eligible takeout and supply orders), U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. fuel stations. All different eligible purchases earn 3 factors per greenback. If you make $15,000 or extra in purchases together with your card in a calendar 12 months, you’ll obtain a free evening award that can be utilized at nearly any taking part Hilton Honors property. Plus, you may get pleasure from as much as 10 complimentary visits at Priority Pass lounges yearly (enrollment is required upfront).
For extra data, see our full assessment of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card
IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card
Current welcome provide: Earn 140,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual payment: $99.
Benefits at resorts taking part in IHG One Rewards: Receive complimentary Platinum Elite standing, which presents advantages like 60% bonus factors on paid stays, a “fourth evening free” profit on factors stays, reductions on award reservation charges, a welcome reward of factors or a snack at check-in, late checkout and early check-in privileges (primarily based on availability) and room upgrades primarily based on availability at check-in.
Why it’s price it: People who redeem factors with IHG love the fourth-night reward profit on award stays. This perk saves as much as 25% on factors redemptions and can be utilized an infinite variety of instances. You can pair this profit with the annual free evening award (price as much as 40,000 factors) for a fair longer keep. Plus, you’ll earn 10,000 bonus factors and a $100 assertion credit score every year that you just make $20,000 in purchases and may get pleasure from $50 in United TravelBank credit score by linking your IHG and United accounts and may obtain reimbursement in your software payment to authorities safety applications.
You can earn 10 factors per greenback at resorts and resorts taking part in IHG One Rewards, 5 factors per greenback on journey, fuel stations and eating (together with eligible takeout and supply orders) and three factors per greenback on different purchases.
For extra data, see our full assessment of the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card.
Apply right here: IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
Current welcome provide: Earn three free evening awards (price as much as 50,000 factors every) after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual payment: $95.
Benefits at resorts taking part in Marriott Bonvoy: Receive complimentary Silver Elite standing. This tier gives 10% bonus factors on paid stays and late checkout (topic to availability).
Why it’s price it: The welcome bonus of three free nights price as much as 50,000 every may be very beneficiant for many who can maximize their stays, making it price as much as $1,260 in TPG’s newest valuations. The annual free evening that comes with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless bank card is capped at 35,000 factors, so the free nights from the welcome bonus have the next potential worth. You can also add as much as 15,000 factors to free evening awards to redeem for even higher-priced properties.
Cardholders obtain automated Silver Elite standing, which incorporates 10% bonus factors on stays, precedence late checkout and free Wi-Fi. You’ll be upgraded to Gold Elite standing after spending $35,000 on purchases every calendar 12 months and can obtain 15 elite evening credit in the direction of larger standing ranges, deposited in your Marriott Bonvoy account mechanically at first of every 12 months. Those excited by incomes Marriott Bonvoy standing may also be excited by incomes 1 elite evening credit score for every $5,000 spent on the cardboard.
You can earn 6 factors per greenback at resorts and resorts taking part in Marriott Bonvoy, 3 factors per greenback on the primary $6,000 of mixed spending every year at fuel stations, grocery shops and eating (then 2 factors per greenback) and a couple of factors per greenback on different purchases.
To study extra about this card, learn our full assessment of the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card.
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Current welcome provide: Earn as much as 60,000 bonus factors. Receive 30,000 bonus factors after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening and obtain as much as 30,000 extra bonus factors by incomes 2 factors per greenback on purchases that usually earn 1 level per greenback — on as much as $15,000 of those purchases.
Annual payment: $95.
Benefits at resorts taking part in World of Hyatt: Receive complimentary Discoverist standing. The lowest tier in World of Hyatt presents advantages like 10% bonus factors on paid stays, premium in-room web, two bottles of water every day of your keep and late checkout (when accessible).
Why it’s price it: The World of Hyatt Credit Card is a perennial keeper due to its annual free evening legitimate at Category 1-4 resorts and the flexibility to earn a second free evening after spending simply $15,000 on purchases per calendar 12 months. Most vacationers can simply spend a median of $1,250 per 30 days on their card every year to snag that second free evening, and you may additionally earn six tier-qualifying nights from that spending as effectively.
The card comes with automated Discoverist standing, which usually requires 10 tier-qualifying nights or 25,000 base factors earned. This is the bottom standing tier in World of Hyatt, however the card consists of 5 qualifying evening credit towards elite standing every year mechanically. Plus, you may earn two extra evening credit for each $5,000 you spend on the cardboard. Theoretically, you might earn Globalist standing solely primarily based in your bank card spend.
You’ll earn 4 factors per greenback spent at Hyatt resorts and people affiliated with World of Hyatt (together with some Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties). Plus, obtain 2 factors per greenback at eating places, on airline tickets bought immediately from airways, native transit and commuting, health golf equipment and on health club memberships. All different purchases earn 1 level per greenback.
For extra data, see our full assessment of the World of Hyatt Credit Card.
Apply right here: World of Hyatt Credit Card
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
Current welcome provide: Earn 45,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases throughout the first 90 days from account opening.
Annual payment: $75.
Benefits at resorts taking part in Wyndham Rewards: Receive complimentary Platinum standing, which incorporates advantages like rollover nights, 15% bonus factors on paid stays, upgrades to most popular rooms (however not suites), late checkout, early check-in, elite standing with Avis and Budget automotive rental applications and standing match alternatives with Caesars Rewards.
Why it’s price it: Because of Wyndham’s award construction, the complete sign-up bonus alone of 45,000 factors is price as much as six free nights at taking part properties. That’s as a result of awards begin at 7,5000 factors and do not exceed 30,000 factors.
Eligible purchases at Wyndham properties and at fuel stations earn 6 factors per greenback, whereas eating and grocery retailer transactions earn 4 factors per greenback. All different purchases (besides Wyndham Timeshare resort down funds) earn 1 level per greenback. You’ll additionally obtain an annual bonus of seven,500 factors every year upon renewal of the cardboard, which is sufficient for a free evening in some Wyndham properties. Those incomes charges and the anniversary bonus are actually phenomenal when you go to Wyndham places often.
Cardholders obtain automated Platinum-level elite advantages and unique reductions on rooms, and free evening redemptions price 10% fewer factors for cardholders.
For extra data, see our full assessment of the Wyndham Rewards Earn Plus Card.
Apply right here: Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card
Bottom line
Choosing the best resort bank card can unlock engaging advantages and extra incomes energy at your favourite resort model.
The finest resort bank cards underneath $100 can present automated elite standing, the chance for annual free nights, bonus factors when paying in your keep and lots of different advantages.
Although most of those bank cards do cost annual charges, the worth of their advantages and extra rewards simply make up for the small price ticket.
Additional reporting by Lee Huffman.
For charges and charges of the Hilton Honors Surpass Amex card, click on right here.