Because Shelley and I often stay for free at someone’s house, condo or apartment via a home exchange or at an inexpensive guesthouse when we travel, I usually don’t pay that much attention to credit card offers that offer bonus points for free stays at hotels. But I came across a few recent hotel-related credit card offers that are so good that I may take advantage of them. It’s nice to have a bunch of airline points saved up for free flights for future trips, so why not have some points saved up for free hotel stays for those times when a home exchange or an inexpensive guest house just isn’t available? Plus, I know that at least some of you out there already do play the points game with hotels.
With very little effort you could easily rack up enough points and certificates for several nights of free stays at these major hotel chains which have properties located all over the world.
THIS OFFER NO LONGER VALID
- $85 annual fee waived for first year
- Earn 50,000 Bonus Points after
your first purchasespending $1,000 in first 3 months from account opening – enough points for up to 6 free nights - If redeem for four nights in a row then get 5th night free
- Receive 1 free night stay e-certificate after account approval and each year upon account anniversary
- Redeem Marriott Rewards® points at Marriott properties, including Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, and Fairfield Inn & Suites
- No foreign transaction fees
- Apply Now: Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card
- $75 annual fee
- 2 Free Nights at Hyatt properties worldwide after spending $1000 in first 3 months
- Receive 1 Free Night each year on your anniversary in any Category 1-4 property
- No foreign transaction fees and Smart Chip protection on international purchases
- Apply Now: Hyatt Credit Card
Travel well!
How to Travel for Free 
I prefer hotel credit cards to airline cards since tickets are sometimes cheaper than hotels these days. All the cards on your list are great but my favorite is the Starwood Amex.
LikeLike
I guess it depends on which airline tickets and which hotels you are shooting for. We tend to use our credit card points for international airline tickets which have always been more expensive than domestic tickets, and now they are getting even more expensive it seems. And for accommodations we typically stay in home exchanges or inexpensive guest houses. But travelers have different needs, so of course they should take advantage of the credit cards that best serve them. I’ve never had the Starwood Amex, but I know of people (like you) who swear by it. I’m guessing that card is better for travelers like yourself who are more focused on getting free accommodations. Is that what you use it mostly for?
LikeLike