How to get a Free Night at a Hotel with a Credit Card
5 Min Read | Published: 5 March 2025
Written by American Express
Crisp white sheets, room service and all your needs taken care of – there’s nothing like a relaxing hotel stay. And if you’re lucky enough to enjoy a free night at a hotel, there’s no better feeling.
That’s where a hotel rewards credit card comes in. The more you spend, the more luxury extras you can enjoy, from late check-out to a complimentary hotel stay.
A hotel rewards credit card is created in partnership between a hotel company and credit card brand. Hotel rewards cards work much the same as any credit card, with added benefits. As you spend you earn points, which can be redeemed for perks or used to pay for hotel stays.
A hotel rewards card allows you to earn points as you spend, which can be redeemed for a variety of travel perks. The quickest way to earn points is through introductory bonuses when you sign up for a card, but you can also earn points by using your credit card for everyday purchases. To earn points faster, you can also add family members to your account.
Introductory bonuses
When you sign up for a hotel rewards credit card, you may qualify for an introductory bonus. To receive the bonus, you usually need to spend a certain amount within the first few months. Some cards also offer bonus points if you recommend a friend.
Earning points through spending
It’s easy to earn points, just use your credit card for your everyday purchases and watch the points rack up. With most hotel credit cards, you can maximise your points by spending at the hotels associated with your card.
So, for example, if you have the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card, you’ll earn six points1 for every £1 you spend at eligible Marriott properties (T&Cs apply).
Maximising points on everyday purchases
Rewards cards work much like a normal credit card, with the benefit that, for every £1 you spend on your card, you’ll receive a certain number of points.
If you’re an American Express® Cardmember and you earn Membership Rewards® points2, you can transfer these to one of our hotel partner loyalty programmes and spend them there.
So how do you get that complimentary hotel stay? The perks you get depend on the type of card you have. With some cards you can receive a free night at a hotel after spending a certain amount on your card or after a certain number of stays at the hotel chain, while others offer the fifth night for free if you book four nights. You can also use your points to pay for a hotel stay.
How to get the most value per point
It’s a good idea to shop around to find the most value. There’s often a number of points options available, depending on the date of the stay and hotel. Have a look at the hotel company’s website and compare the cash amount with the points amount.
Using points and cash for stays
If you don’t have quite enough points for the date and hotel you’re hoping for, you may be able to use a combination of points and cash. Just check the details of your hotel credit card to find out more.
Travel with American Express and receive elevated benefits. Earn Membership Rewards® points when you book travel with American Express Travel and discover new trending destinations.
Complimentary breakfast and late check-out
Most hotels offer late check-out for hotel rewards credit card holders. This isn’t guaranteed – if the hotel is full, it might not be available. But it is always worth asking so you can relax for just that little bit longer.
With some cards you can receive a complimentary breakfast. Whether that’s for you or your guest, or both, depends on the card, so make sure you find out before booking.
Room upgrades and Elite Memberships
Many hotel rewards credit cards offer the option of a free room upgrade at check-in, subject to availability.
As well as this, American Express® Platinum Cardmembers can enrol in Hotel Loyalty Programmes to enjoy a range of hotel extras:
MeliáRewards Gold Status
Benefits include late check-out, complimentary Wi-Fi, free breakfast for a travel companion and discount vouchers, plus welcome points. T&Cs apply.
Hilton Honors Elite Gold Status
Benefits include room upgrades, breakfast for you and a companion and a fifth night free on reward stays booked with all points. T&Cs apply.
Marriott Bonvoy™ Gold Elite Status
Benefits include room upgrades, late check-out and a welcome gift of points. T&Cs apply.
Radisson Rewards Premium Status
Benefits include food and drink discounts, room upgrades, late check-out and free nights after a certain number of stays. T&Cs apply.
When you’re considering a Hotel Rewards Credit Card, it’s important to look carefully at the different options to see which one is right for you.
Introductory bonuses
Think about the type of holiday you want. Where would you like to go? Check the list of hotels for each type of card or membership and see if they offer options in places you’d like to travel to.
Each card has a range of different benefits, so do your research to find which one suits you best. If you’re an early riser, a complimentary breakfast might be more your style than a late check-out.
Earning points through spending
There are several tiers of hotel credit cards, ranging from no-fee cards to premium cards with fees of hundreds of pounds a year. As you would expect, Premium Rewards Cards offer the most benefits, which often include free hotel nights.
If you’re a frequent traveller, these benefits can be worth more than the annual fee, so it’s worth doing the sums to see if a card with annual fees actually offers you the most benefit for your lifestyle.
Reading the fine print
As with any credit card, it’s important to read the fine print so you understand exactly how much your Hotel Credit Card will cost and what the benefits are.
Many offers are subject to availability and some only kick in after a certain number of nights or after you’ve spent a set amount on your credit card.
Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card
You receive one free night after you spend £25,000 in an anniversary year. T&Cs apply.
The Platinum Card®
Platinum Cardmembers looking for a free hotel night can enrol in the Hilton Honors programme and earn every fifth night free. There’s also a host of other benefits with your Platinum Card including room upgrades and a late check-out. T&Cs apply.
Transfer Membership Rewards® points
American Express Credit Cardmembers can transfer Membership Rewards® points to one of our Hotel Partner Loyalty Programmes. These can be redeemed for a selection of benefits and once you save up enough points, you can use them to pay for a hotel stay. Check individual programmes for T&Cs.
AMERICAN EXPRESS® CREDIT CARDS WITH HOTEL BENEFITS
It’s not just about a free hotel night with your Credit Card, if you’re a Gold or Platinum Cardmember you can get a number of hotel perks:
The Platinum Card®
Platinum Cardmembers enjoy benefits with Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection, including room upgrades when available, complimentary breakfast and late check-out. Check individual programmes for T&Cs.
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
As a Gold Cardmember you can receive valuable benefits at all hotels in The Hotel Collection, including room upgrades, early check-in and late check-out. T&Cs apply.
How many points do I need for a free night at a hotel?
This depends on which card you have, when you’re looking to book and the hotel, and where you’re hoping to stay in.
As an example, with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Express® Card, points required for a free night range from 7,500 to 85,0001.
Can I use my hotel credit card points for other rewards besides free nights?
Depending on the terms of your card, your hotel credit card points can be used for other benefits, such as flights and frequent flyer programmes.
Find the Amex® Card that fits your lifestyle and see what other benefits await year-round.