These Credit Cards Offer Members “Free” Hotel Nights (Need a Place to Stay Before or After a Cruise?)

Many of us who don’t live reasonably close to a cruise’s departure or arrival port arrive a day or two early (if we’re smart). We may need to stay a night or two at a hotel before heading home. (It’s kind of like a vacation within a vacation!)

Several programs offering flexible-transferrable “currencies” allow us to transfer points to travel partners such as hotels. We’re talking about Chase Ultimate Rewards®, American Express Membership Rewards®, Capital One miles, etc.)

But several hotel credit cards offer members annual “free” anniversary nights — just for holding a card. (Remember to earn cashback on Uber rides to/from cruise terminals — then you’re really cooking with gas!)

Before we start, just a quick reminder:

card_name: bonus_miles_full. annual_fees annual fee. 5X earnings categories. (Learn here how to apply for the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card)

card_name: bonus_miles_full. annual_fees annual fee. Earn unlimited 1.5X on all eligible purchases. (Learn here how to apply for the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card)

What’s the Catch? Why Do I Say “Free”?

Credit cards offering “free” nights carry an annual fee. Some of those fees are low-ish, while others can reach into the hundreds the dollars. (But the latter generally feature a bunch of other perks and benefits.)

So, are the nights really “free”? No. They usually only cover room and tax. (Plus, you’re on the hook for any resort fees, room charges, etc.) These anniversary nights kick in starting year two of card membership. (Hence, the term “anniversary.”)

But I regularly enjoy excellent values from my card_name (annual_fees annual fee) and World of Hyatt® Credit Card ($95 annual fee) anniversary nights. I’ve redeemed both cards’ anniversary nights for room nights normally costing three or four times their annual fees.

Let’s take a look at some cards offering those anniversary nights!

Hilton Hotels

Hilton Honors Aspire American Express Card

• Annual Night: One free night award from Hilton Honors. (Terms apply.)
• Annual Fee: $450 (Rates and Fees.)
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status; $250 airline incidental credit (enrollment required); complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required). Terms apply.

Hyatt Hotels

World of Hyatt® Credit Card (learn here how to apply)

• Annual Night: One free room night at Category 1 through 4 property under the World of Hyatt program
• Annual Fee: $95
• Welcome Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus World of Hyatt points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within three (3) months of being approved for card membership. Plus, earn up to $100 in Hyatt Credits when your World of Hyatt card is used for qualifying Hyatt purchases within the first 12 months from account opening (up to $100 total in eligible purchases.)
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary World of Hyatt Discoverist status (which can be matched to MGM Resorts status).

IHG Hotels

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• Annual Night: One free night for rooms valued at 40,000 points or less. For rooms valued higher than 40,000 points, card members can apply IHG Rewards One points to pay the difference.
• Annual Fee: annual_fees
• Welcome Offer: bonus_miles_full
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary IHG Rewards One Platinum elite status. Fourth Night Free: receive a reward night when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay. Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every four (4) years as reimbursement for the respective application fee charged to your card.
• Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the card_name

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• Annual Night: One free night for rooms valued at 40,000 points or less. For rooms valued higher than 40,000 points, card members can apply IHG Rewards One points to pay the difference.
• Annual Fee: annual_fees
• Welcome Offer: bonus_miles_full
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary IHG Rewards One Platinum elite status. Fourth Night Free: receive a reward night when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG hotel stay. Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every four (4) years as reimbursement for the respective application fee charged to your card.
• Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the card_name

Marriott Hotels

Marriott is the big winner when it comes to free/anniversary night perks on its credit cards.

• Annual Night: One Free Night Award worth at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a one-night stay (inclusive of room rate and applicable taxes) at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. (Terms apply.)
• Annual Fee: annual_fees  (Rates & Fees)
• Welcome Offer: bonus_miles_full
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status. Earn up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant ® Card at restaurants worldwide. Global Entry, TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS Statement Credit of up to $100 every four (4) years as reimbursement for the respective application fee charged to your card. Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required). (Terms apply.)
• Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the card_name

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• Annual Night: Starting the second year of card membership, the member may redeem one Free Night Award worth at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a one-night stay (inclusive of room rate and applicable taxes) at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. (Terms apply.)
• Annual Fee: annual_fees (Rates & Fees)
• Welcome Offer: bonus_miles_full
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status. Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott Bonvoy for participating in Marriott Bonvoy properties.
• Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the card_name

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card

• Annual Night: Starting the second year of card membership, the member may redeem one Free Night Award worth at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a one-night stay (inclusive of room rate and applicable taxes) at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
• Annual Fee: $95
• Welcome Offer: SPECIAL! Three (3) free night awards (each valued at up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases within three (3) months of being approved for card membership. (Learn here how to apply for this promotion.)
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status.

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• Annual Night: Starting the second year of card membership, the member may redeem one Free Night Award worth at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for a one-night stay (inclusive of room rate and applicable taxes) at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. (Terms apply.)
• Annual Fee: annual_fees (Rates & Fees)
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status. Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott Bonvoy for participating in Marriott Bonvoy properties.

I really like that Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card welcome offer — it’s basically worth up to 150,000 bonus points.

Wyndham Hotels

Wyndham Rewards Earner^® Plus Card

• Annual Night: Receive 7,500 bonus points each anniversary year after payment of the renewal fee. 7,500 points is enough for up to one free night at participating hotels every year. (Be wary of that “up to” when it comes to the free night.)
• Annual Fee: $75
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary Wyndham Rewards Platinum Elite Status.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card

• Annual Night: Receive 15,000 bonus points each anniversary year after payment of the renewal fee. 15,000 points is enough for up to two free night at participating hotels every year.
• Annual Fee: $95
• Other Notable Perks: Complimentary Wyndham Rewards Diamond Elite Status.Keep in mind this might qualify for a Caesars Diamond match which can work wonders.

Honorable Mentions

Even though they aren’t cobranded hotel credit cards, a few other products offers benefits that can turn into free — or discounted — hotel room nights.

The card_name offers cardholders up to $300 in statement credit each year (including the first year of membership) for purchases made through Capital One travel. Plus, cardholders receive 10,000 bonus points each year starting the second year of membership. Just because. So, you can use those toward the purchase of a hotel room.

Meanwhile, the card_name members can receive $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through thankyou.com, once per calendar year. That’s certainly far from free — especially for a annual_fees annual fee card.

That said, I do like how the card_name earns 3X points on a bunch of everyday purchases. So, this may save you a few bucks if you have expensive tastes and a budget to match.

Both card_name and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express feature something called the Fine Hotels + Resorts Program (colloquially known as “FHR”). These properties are generally higher-end hotels — but you can occasionally score some great deals. (Fellow Las Vegas lovers: you might find killer deals at Bellagio). FHR benefits include:

• Noon check-in (when available)
• Room upgrade upon arrival (when available)
• Daily breakfast for two people (valued at up to $60 total, per day)
• Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• A “special amenity” unique to each property (food and beverage credit, resort credit, etc.)

FHR bookings must be made through Amex Travel.

On top of that, card_name members can earn up to $200 in statement credits each year on prepaid FHR bookings made through Amex Travel. That’s in addition to the benefits you receive on-site.

Chase features its own version of the FHR program. It’s called the “Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection.” (Yep, the slang for this is “LHR.” Like the code for London Heathrow Airport.) Eligible cards include (H/T Upgraded Points):

• card_name
• J.P. Morgan Reserve card
• card_name
• card_name
• United℠ Explorer Business Card

LHR benefits include:

• Daily Breakfast for Two
• $100 Property Credit
• Welcome Gift

Other perks such as upgrades and early check-in and late check-out are not guaranteed. Reservations must be made through LHRCollection.com.

Time to Set Sail!

Staying at a hotel for night or two on either end of a cruise can extend your vacation. Bedding down at a hotel before you embark ensures you’re in town on time — and helps build the anticipation of setting sail! Staying an extra night before heading home helps soften the blow of your vacation ending. It gives you a chance to rest up (if you’re like me and stay up a little late!) from your cruise.

Credit cards offering annual anniversary nights can offer substantial savings on many room nights. Other cards come with statement credits or packages that might save you money on a stay and/or offer you an upgraded experience.

Information about The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express Card, and Hilton Honors Aspire American Express Card has been independently gathered by Eye of the Flyer. Those cards are presently not available through our site.

Information about the J.P. Morgan Reserve card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, United℠ Explorer Business Card, World of Hyatt® Credit Card, Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card, and Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card has been independently gathered by Eye of the Flyer. Those cards are presently not available through our affiliate program.

To see rates and fees for the Hilton Honors Aspire American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Express® Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express Card, please visit this link. Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.

To see rates and fees for The Platinum Card® from American Express, please visit this link. Terms apply.