The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is the best hotel credit card in Canada, as well as the only hotel-branded option. It's a solid card that rewards you heavily for staying at Marriott properties, offers an annual free night certificate, and has plenty of redemption options.
If you don't frequent Marriott hotels, don't worry. You can still book a stay at your favourite hotel, and, with the right credit card, you can earn increased cash back or points you can redeem for future travel.
This article presents the best hotel cards, reviews the best hotel loyalty programs, and offers tips on how to choose the best hotel card for your needs.
Key Takeaways
- There aren't many hotel credit cards to choose from in Canada, and the only co-branded hotel card is the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card.
- Cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards offer excellent opportunities to earn points that can be redeemed for hotel stays.
- Top hotel loyalty programs include Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt, and Marriott Bonvoy Rewards.
- If you frequently stay at Marriott properties, the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is a good choice, but otherwise, choose a card that better fits your spending habits.
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6 best hotel credit cards in Canada
Here's our listing of the best hotel credit cards in Canada – and yes, this world belongs to American Express:
| Category | Credit card | Current offer | Annual fee | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best co-branded card | Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card | 70,000 bonus points (terms) | $120 | Learn more |
| Best for everyday spending | American Express Cobalt Card |  $100 GeniusCash + Up to 15,000 bonus points (terms) | $191.88 | Learn more |
| Best for premium perks | American Express Platinum Card | Up to 100,000 bonus points (terms) | $799 | Learn more |
| Best for travel credits | CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card | Up to 80,000 bonus points (terms) | $499 | Learn more |
| Best Visa | TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card | $20 GeniusCash + Up to 165,000 bonus points (terms) | $139 | Learn more |
| Best for international travel | Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card | $150 GeniusCash + 50,000 bonus points (terms) | $150 | Learn more |
The best co-branded card
There's only one choice for a hotel-branded credit card in Canada: the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card. This card offers competitive rewards, earning you 5 points per $1 on your Marriott Bonvoy stays and 2 points per $1 on all your other purchases. Plus, you'll get hotel-specific perks like an annual free night certificate, automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, and 15 Elite night credits. High spenders will also get their Marriott status upgraded to Gold.
If you primarily travel for business, consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card. It earns the same rate as the personal card at Marriott properties, but earns more for travel, gas, and dining. Users also have access to business management tools, which can go a long way towards offsetting the card's annual fee.
Pros:
- Up to 70,000 welcome bonus points
- Annual free night certificate worth 35,000 points
- Flexible redemption options
- Ability to transfer reward points
Cons:
- Lower acceptance as an American Express
- Lower insurance coverage compared to similar cards
Best for everyday spending
×9 Award winner 
GC: $100
9x Award winner The American Express Cobalt Card is the best hotel credit card for everyday spending, earning you the most points of all cards on our list (and then some). While you won't earn bonus points on hotel spending, you can earn up to 5 points per $1 on your everyday purchases. Flight redemptions offer the most value for Amex Membership Rewards, but you can transfer your points to Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors at a rate of 5:6 or 1:1, respectively.
This Amex isn't just the best credit card for hotels. It's also the best overall credit card in Canada, and is worth a look no matter what your spending habits.
Pros:
- Up to 15,000 welcome bonus points
- 4 ways to redeem points for high value
- 10 types of insurance included
- Access to American Express Hotel Collection
Cons:
- Relatively high annual fee
- Lower acceptance as an American Express
Best for premium perks
The American Express Platinum Card takes credit card perks to a whole new level, offering an annual $200 travel credit and $200 dining credit, plus automatic advanced hotel status at Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton hotels. You'll earn up to 2 points per $1 on restaurants and travel. We did the math and found that these rates can give you roughly 44,100 Membership Rewards and Hilton points or 52,920 Marriott Bonvoy points based on average spending.
The significant welcome bonus is a sweet way to get started – it's worth as much as $2,000, which can go a long way towards free hotel stays.
Pros:
- Up to 100,000 welcome bonus points
- Unlimited airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges
- 4 ways to redeem points for high value
- 11 types of insurance included
Cons:
- Very high $799 annual fee
- Lower acceptance as an American Express
Best for travel credits
Several of the credit cards on our list give cardholders annual travel credits, but the CIBC Aventura Visa Infinite Privilege Card is the most generous. Every year, you'll get $200 to put toward any type of travel – hotel stays included. There's also a rebate on NEXUS application fees, which is another huge help for frequent travellers.
And, as a Visa Infinite Privilege card, you'll get access to the Visa Luxury Hotel Collection, along with automatic Diamond status at 60+ hotels through RSVP Rewards.
Pros:
- Annual $200 travel credit
- Points worth up to 2.29 cents each
- Comes with 6 free lounge passes
- Includes 12 types of insurance
Cons:
- High annual fee of $499
- Very high income requirements
Best Visa
GC: $20
The best Visa card for hotels, the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, is also an excellent travel credit card in general. Cardholders have access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection, which provides the best available rate at hotels, automatic room upgrades, food or beverage credits, late check-out, and more. You can even use the card's annual $100 travel credit to maximize your savings.
The fact that this Visa also includes a Visa Airport Companion membership and 4 free passes is just icing on the cake.
Pros:
- Annual fee rebate for the first year
- Extensive travel insurance coverage
- Visa Airport Companion membership
- Earn 8 TD Reward Points for every $1 you spend when you book travel through Expedia For TD
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Points only worth 0.5 cents each
Best for international travel
×1 Award winner GC: $150
1x Award winner The only non-Amex card on our list is the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card, and it's an excellent choice for those who travel internationally. While it doesn't offer bonus rewards or hotel-specific perks, it doesn't charge foreign exchange fees – in fact, it's one of the best no-FX fee cards available in Canada. Plus, it comes with Visa Infinite benefits, which include access to the Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel Collection.
Other travel perks include access to airport lounges with 6 free passes, extensive insurance coverage, discounted roaming and eSim plans, and a sweet welcome bonus worth up to $500.
Pros:
- Up to 50,000 bonus points
- Up to 3 points per $1 spent on select purchases
- 11 types of insurance included
- 6 airport lounge passes per year
Cons:
- High income requirements
- Lower overall rewards compared to other premium credit cards
Hotel loyalty programs
Again, Marriott Bonvoy isn't the only game in town (or Canada). If you prefer to stay at a different hotel group, it probably makes more sense to join their specific loyalty program. These include:
- Hilton Honors: When you book a stay at a Hilton-owned hotel, rest assured that you'll get discounted rates and perks like mobile check-in. And if you're a Diamond member, you can relax in the executive lounge and get premium upgrades, where available.
- IHG One Rewards: The IHG group includes Holiday Inn and Intercontinental. You'll earn points for stays, free internet, membership rates, and member promotions.
- Marriott Bonvoy Rewards: Basic membership in the program earns you free Wi-Fi, exclusive rates, and mobile check-in/room keys.
- World of Hyatt: Earn points for free hotel stays and get discounted rates with an entry-level membership. Elite status members also earn free room upgrades, bottled water, Peloton benefits, and more.
How to choose a hotel card
The best hotel credit cards offer free hotel nights or bonus point certificates every year, but before you start narrowing your options, take a look at your travel habits and try to choose a card that gives increased rewards for membership programs you might participate in.
You might also look for a card that automatically upgrades your status with a loyalty rewards program or gives steep discounts on travel.
That said, most cards that aren't co-branded won't offer hotel-specific perks. Other details to look for that make these cards worthwhile include:
- No foreign exchange fees
- Airport lounge access
- Comprehensive insurance coverage
- The flexibility to transfer your points to other travel programs
It can be difficult to find a single card that includes all of these benefits, but if you can pinpoint what perks you'd use the most, you can find a solid hotel credit card that suits both your spending habits and travel preferences.
Should you get a hotel credit card?
Since there is only one true hotel credit card in Canada, we recommend you consider which features, perks, or conditions you want in a credit card. If you stay in Marriott hotels frequently, the branded Marriott Bonvoy card might be perfect.
But if you want to earn points that can be used towards bookings with other hotel brands, for example, you'd be better off with a non-branded option.
When choosing any credit card, you'll also want to consider the annual fee, welcome bonus, insurance coverage, interest rates, and unique perks and benefits offered.
FAQ
What is the best hotel credit card in Canada?
The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is the best – and only – hotel-branded credit card in Canada. However, the best credit card for booking hotel stays really depends on your spending needs and habits. For instance, consider a top business credit card if you mainly stay in hotels for work.
Which credit card gives you free hotel stays?
Most travel credit cards and reward programs give you the option to cash in points for hotel stays. Sometimes, you have to book directly through a program's travel platform. In other cases, you might get a statement credit that you can apply towards any travel, including hotel stays.
Which credit card has the best hotel benefits?
Your best bet is to choose a hotel reward program that you want to participate in. Then, use a well-rated travel credit card to book your stay. As you gain status in the program, you'll earn more perks and rewards, like room upgrades, late check-out, and dining credits.
What's the difference between travel credit cards and hotel credit cards?
Travel credit cards usually offer perks and better travel-related benefits for vacation packages, airfare, train travel, and, yes, hotel stays too. Hotel credit cards, on the other hand, offer top rewards for hotel stays. The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is technically the only co-branded hotel credit card in Canada.
Who has the best travel credit card in Canada?
The American Express Cobalt Card tops our best travel credit card list. You'll get some of the highest reward rates and flexible redemption options through Amex Membership Rewards, along with hotel room upgrades, travel discounts, hotel credits, and top-notch travel insurance.
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