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Some of the best travel credit card offers are free annual night certificates might be the only reason you own a hotel credit card. In many cases, the value of the free hotel night exceeds the annual fee. Several hotels have recently changed the free night policies, but these hotel credits cards are still worth owning just for the free hotel night.
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card lets you redeem your annual reward night certificate at any IHG property that costs 40,000 points or less. In the U.S., that means you won’t be able to stay at many of the high-end InterContinental properties, but you can still find some gems in the Holiday Inn Express and Crowne Plaza brands by staying at properties in major metro areas.
Redeeming your award night certificate overseas can help you stay at high-end brands like InterContinental Madrid or InterContinental Bangkok. As an IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card cardholder, you’ll get to enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Additionally, you can enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 3 or more nights.
For frequent IHG travelers, the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is a nice option. Cardholders can earn up to 26 total points per $1 spent when they stay at an IHG hotel. Also, earn 5x points per $1 spent on purchases on travel, gas stations, and restaurants. Earn 3x points per $1 spent on all other purchases.
As long as you remain a Premier card member, you can enjoy Platinum Elite status. Platinum Elite Status allows for room upgrades (when available), late check-out, welcome amenities at check-in, and more. Additionally, enjoy a Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card.
New IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card cardholders can earn 5 Free Nights after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Member FDIC
The annual fee is $99.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card
The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® 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 Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card gets you an annual free night certificate after each account anniversary. This certificate is valid at any hotel that costs 35,000 points or less.
Additional benefits include:
- Cardholders can earn up to 17x total Bonvoy points per $1 spent at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card
- 3x Bonvoy points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
- 2x points for every $1 spent on all other purchases
- Automatic Silver Elite status annually on the account anniversary
Additionally, earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
Plus, receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite Status each account anniversary year, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
New limited-time offer! New Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card cardholders can earn 5 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.
There are no foreign transaction fees, and the annual fee is $95. Your points don’t expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
The World of Hyatt Credit Card
The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers one of the most generous free annual night certificates and valuable World of Hyatt points. Here are the free night opportunities:
- Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year
- Get automatic World of Hyatt Elite status for as long as your account is open and 5 qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year
- Earn 2 qualifying night credits towards your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
Also, each card anniversary year, you’ll receive a free hotel night certificate for any category 1-4 hotel or resort that costs 15,000 points or less. Some of the possible destinations include:
- Hyatt Centric Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco
- Andaz Costa Rica Resort
- Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa
Additionally, you will also earn 9 points total per $1 spent at Hyatt. This breaks down to 4 points per $1 when you use your card at Hyatt hotels & 5 points per $1 earned as a World of Hyatt member. Additionally, you’ll earn 2 Bonus Points per $1 spent at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting, and on fitness club and gym memberships.
Additionally, cardholders can enjoy complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as their account is open.
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 by earning 2x Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1x Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
Wyndham Rewards Earner Card
The information for the Wyndham Rewards Earner® 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 Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card offers a unique take on their hotel rewards nights. Reward nights go from 7,500 – 30,000 points per bedroom at over 30,000 hotels, homes, and condos globally. There are two cards available – one with an annual fee and one without.
When you choose a Wyndham Rewards card with a $75 annual fee, you’ll have the opportunity to get 30,000 points as a sign-up bonus. That is equal to up to four free nights!
Wyndham also gives you 6,000 points every card anniversary. Although still 6,000 points short of getting a free hotel night, you can pay with points and cash to get a free night.
To make up the difference, you can earn Wyndham points for:
- 5 points per $1 on eligible Wyndham purchases made at participating properties
- 2 points per $1 for gas, grocery, and utility purchases (excluding Walmart and Target)
- 1 point per $1 on all remaining eligible purchases
As an automatic Wyndham Rewards Platinum member, you can also earn 10 points per $1 or 1,000 points (whichever is more) on each eligible Wyndham stay. With this benefit alone, paying for six separate Wyndham stays and the 6,000 point anniversary bonus gives you enough points to book a free hotel night each year.
Although Wyndham might not be your first hotel preference, some of the quality hotels you can stay at include:
- Landal Sonnenburg, Leiwen, Germany
- Nobu Hotel at Caesar’s Place, Las Vegas
- Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay, Phuket, Thailand
Summary: Hotel Credit Cards With Free Annual Night Certificates
Most of the free hotel night certificates are awarded as an anniversary bonus. Others might require you to spend a certain amount each year before you receive the bonus. If you have a hotel credit card in your wallet with a free annual night certificate, you have one of the most valuable hotel travel benefits around.
