SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED
This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.
Hotel credit cards offer more than just points and useful card benefits — some can help make your travel experience memorable by extending your trip with a free night.
If you want to know how to get a free hotel night via rewards programs and credit cards, keep reading.
The best hotel rewards program for free nights
1. Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy offers a free night award to some Marriott Bonvoy credit card users. Every year after your card renewal month, you’ll receive a free night award. Marriott-branded cards that offer provide this yearly benefit include the following:
- Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Free night valued at 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points.
- Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Free night valued up to 35,000 points or less. Terms apply.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Free night valued up to 35,000 points or less.
The free night award is valid for a one-night hotel stay, plus taxes. However, it doesn’t cover applicable resort fees. You can top up your free night with up to 25,000 Marriott Bonvoy points if needed.
2. IHG One Rewards
IHG operates more than 5,000 hotels in over 100 countries, making IHG One Rewards a strong contender when it comes to hotel loyalty programs with a wide reach. Travelers who are interested in finding the best hotel credit card for free nights can consider the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card.
As a cardholder, you’ll receive a free night award after every cardmember anniversary. The anniversary free night can be used toward a standard room at an IHG property valued at up to 40,000 points.
Plan your travels ahead of time since this anniversary benefit must be redeemed and used within 12 months of receiving it.
By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
3. World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt Credit Card offers Hyatt enthusiasts a couple of free-night opportunities around card anniversaries.
Each year after your cardmember anniversary, you’ll receive a complimentary night stay for a standard room at a category 1-4 Hyatt property. This benefit is not redeemable at Miraval, Hyatt Zilara or Hyatt Ziva resorts.
Cardholders can also earn a second free night after spending at least $15,000 each calendar year. If you qualify for this card benefit, you can expect to see this additional free night in your account within two to three weeks.
4. Hilton Honors
Cardholders with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card earn a free night every year that can be applied toward a standard room at almost any Hilton property in the portfolio, including eligible Small Luxury Hotels properties. You’ll receive an email with the redemption code eight to 14 weeks after your card’s anniversary date. The free night expires one year after it’s issued.
Other credit cards require you to meet a certain spending requirement to be eligible for a Free Night Reward. Terms apply.
| First free night certificate | Earned each year upon renewal. | Earned after spending $15,000 on your card in a calendar year. |
| Second free night certificate | Earned after spending $60,000 on your card in a calendar year. | N/A. |
Terms apply.
» Learn more: 7 reasons to join Hilton Honors
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get free nights at hotels?
Hotel loyalty rewards programs, like Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, can allow you to accumulate points toward free hotel rooms. What’s great is that the programs are usually free to join.
You can also earn points through hotel credit cards, which earn hotel points for spending on that credit card. Plus, some hotel credit cards, like the World of Hyatt Credit Card, come with additional perks like free night certificates. Otherwise, more general travel credit cards also allow you to earn points for your spending that you can oftentimes redeem for hotel stays.
Does Marriott give free nights?
Yes, you can book free nights at Marriott hotels using points, which you can accumulate as a member of the Marriott Bonvoy program (it’s free to join). You can redeem your points for Marriott free nights starting at 5,000 points. Certain Marriott Bonvoy credit cards also offer free night certificates each year as a perk of holding the card.
How many nights do you have to stay at Marriott to get a free night?
The cost to book an award Marriott hotel room starts at 5,000 points. You start by earning 10 points per U.S. dollar spent on qualifying charges at most Marriott hotels, so you’d have to spend $500 at Marriott to accumulate enough points to book a free night at Marriott’s lowest-cost hotels. Though, there are other ways to earn Marriott points, too. Lastly, if you redeem points for four consecutive nights, you get the fifth night free.
Which hotels have the best rewards program?
The best hotel rewards program is at the hotel you actually stay at — for instance, Hilton Honors Diamond status doesn’t mean a lot when your company only books you rooms at the Hyatt next door to the office.
Is Hilton or Marriott better?
Marriott wins out in every category of best hotel rewards program according to NerdWallet’s rankings. That includes the best hotel program for families and best program for business travelers. It’s largely thanks to Marriott’s top-notch elite status program and more valuable points.
To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.
How to maximize your rewards
You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2026:
- Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
- Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Luxury perks: American Express Platinum Card®
- Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Explore more on
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
