Travelers Are Choosing Hotel and Loyalty Programs Over Credit Cards -- Here's How To Take Advantage
Hotel rewards programs are more desirable than travel rewards cards, according to the Forbes Advisor’s "The State Of Travel Rewards in 2026." In this report, consumers were asked which moves they’ve made or would be willing to make to earn travel perks.
Forty-one percent chose joining hotel loyalty programs compared with 31% reporting that they would choose a travel rewards card — only 13% said they’d be willing to pay the annual fee that accompanies a premium rewards card.
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MoneyLion reached out to two frequent travelers who take personal and business trips to get their tips on how they get the most out of hotel loyalty programs.
Choose a Brand and Stick With It
One of the best ways to get the most out of your hotel loyalty points is “picking a program and sticking with it,” said Jeanine Bobenmoyer, founder and CEO of theCityMoms.
As a loyal Marriott Bonvoy member for personal travel and Hilton Honors member for her business, she’s seen the benefits first-hand. You’ll accumulate more points with one brand and can accumulate more points for free stays. You’ll also move up in membership tiers faster, earning more perks at each level rather than scattering them across multiple brands and never getting enough to make a difference.
Dr. Sheree Bryant Sekou, a leadership consultant at Sheree Sekou Consulting, LLC, is a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Member. She said, “When I travel on business, I do my best to stick with the brand. I rarely ever cheat on the brand.”
She loves perks like late checkout, access to the lounge with free breakfast with snacks throughout the day and evening and room upgrades. The more you travel, the more perks you earn as you move up through the membership tiers, and as Sekou said, “Status matters, especially to frequent travelers.”
To get these points, however, it’s important to book directly through the hotel’s site.
“Often with third-party sites like Expedia or Priceline, you’re not able to get your Marriott Bonvoy or your Hilton Honors points,” said Bobenmoyer.
Get a Payoff Right When You Check In
Compared to travel rewards credit cards where you have to wait for enough points to stack up before getting any perks, Bobenmoyer said, “Hotel perks pay off right away when you check in.”
When you join a hotel rewards program, you get certain perks right off the bat. When you sign up for IHG One Rewards, for instance, you automatically qualify for a 2 p.m. late checkout option (subject to availability, of course). For Bobenmoyer, late checkout is one of her most cherished perks because it gives her teens a bit longer to sleep or an extra pool session before they have to pack up.
As you move up membership tiers, you can take advantage of more perks without using any of your points. Some programs even offer amenities upon check-in or dining credits at a certain membership level.
Use the Hotel’s Debit or Credit Card
Rather than get a travel rewards card through a credit card company directly, you can choose to get a debit or credit card specific to the hotel that you frequent most often. Perks for hotel specific cards often include bonus points after meeting spending requirements, additional points for dollars spent at the property, no annual fees, and more. You may also get additional perks depending on the promotions that the company is running at the time.
While you can use travel credit card points for hotels and flights, most cards also come with an annual fee that ranges from $95 to over $400, so a hotel-specific card may save you a significant amount just on the annual fee. If you choose to go the credit card route, be mindful of the credit card’s APR which is typically around 20%. Failing to pay your credit card balance off each month or late payment fees may offset some of the value of your hotel perks.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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