When we think about making travel more convenient and luxurious, we often consider benefits like access to airport lounges, earning air miles, and getting ticket upgrades. However, for frequent travelers, hotel expenses can significantly impact their overall budget. By using the right hotel credit card, individuals can not only save on hotel bookings but also earn free stays or memberships at renowned hotel chains like JW Marriott. These credit cards offer accelerated rewards, discounts on hotel bookings, and complimentary room upgrades without extra costs. However, these benefits usually come with premium credit cards that have high annual fees. To help you find the best credit card for hotel stays in India, we've compiled a list of premium cards that offer discounts and other benefits on hotel stays to enhance your savings.
Best Hotel Credit Cards in India
Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card
The Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card is a top-tier credit card with benefits like travel, dining, lifestyle, and more. With complimentary hotel memberships, free stays at top hotels, and discounts on bookings, it's perfect for those looking to save on their hotel expenses.
Features & Benefits of Axis Bank Reserve Credit Card
Hotel-related Benefits:
- Club Marriott Asia Pacific Membership: 20% off F&B; 20% off select Marriott rates in India; 20% off weekend rates in Asia Pacific.
- Oberoi Hotels and Resorts Benefits: 15% off room rates/breakfast; 50% off suites; Special rates on 3rd night stay.
- Postcard Hotel Offers: 20% off room rates; Anytime check-in/out; Free lifestyle consultation at Goa hotels.
- ITC Culinaire Membership: Stay 3 nights, pay for 2; 50% off weekend suite stays; Earn 25% Green Points on F&B spending.
- Accor Plus Membership: Free night stay in Asia Pacific; Complimentary room upgrades; Up to 50% off dining + free lunch buffet for 2 in Accor hotels in India.
Other Benefits:
- Enjoy 50 free rounds of golf annually at select courses in India.
- Buy 1 Get 1 free movie ticket, with up to Rs. 500 off on the second ticket via BookMyShow.
- 8 free VIP assistance services covering check-in, security, immigration, and porter services.
- 4 free chauffeured luxury airport pick-ups/drops annually.
- Unlimited international lounge visits for primary and add-on cardholders; 12 free visits for guests. Unlimited domestic lounge visits for cardholders; 12 free guest visits.
- Earn 15 EDGE reward points for every Rs. 200 spent domestically and 30 EDGE reward points for every Rs. 200 spent internationally.
SBI Elite Credit Card
The SBI Elite Credit Card is an all-rounder premium card that provides benefits across multiple categories such as travel, dining, movies, rewards, and more. With opportunities to earn rewards on everyday purchases and milestone benefits, it's an excellent option for individuals who spend significantly.
Features & Benefits of SBI Elite Credit Card
Hotel-related Benefits:
- Receive 1,000 welcome points upon registration, boosting your rewards from the start.
- Enjoy exclusive benefits with Trident Privilege Red Tier Membership at no additional cost.
- Earn 1,500 bonus points on your first stay, plus receive an additional Rs. 1,000 hotel credits when extending your stay for added convenience and value.
Other Benefits:
- Low forex markup fee: Only 1.99%
- Free Club Vistara Silver Membership
- Get 1 free upgrade voucher and 9 Club Vistara points for every Rs. 100 spent on flight tickets
- Receive a welcome e-gift voucher worth Rs. 5,000 from your preferred lifestyle brand
- Earn 5X reward points on dining, departmental stores, and grocery stores
- Earn 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on other purchases (excluding fuel)
- Enjoy 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter
- Enjoy free Priority Pass Program membership worth $99
- Get 6 complimentary international airport lounge visits per calendar year
SBI Prime Credit Card
The SBI Prime Credit Card provides rewards for daily expenditures like groceries, dining, and department store purchases, making it ideal for those who spend frequently. In addition to rewards, the card offers benefits like free hotel membership, lounge access, e-gift vouchers, and more.
Features & Benefits of SBI Prime Credit Card
Hotel-related Benefits:
- Enjoy a complimentary Trident Privilege Red Tier membership.
- Receive 1,000 welcome points upon registration.
- Get 1,500 bonus points on your first stay, plus an additional Rs. 1,000 hotel credit for extending your stay.
Other Benefits:
- Get an e-gift voucher worth Rs. 3,000 from a selection of brands including Bata, Hush Puppies, Pantaloons, Shoppers Stop, Yatra, and Aditya Birla Group brands.
- Benefit from 4 complimentary international lounge visits per calendar year to Priority Pass lounges.
- Earn 10 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on dining, groceries, departmental stores, and movies.
- Receive 2 reward points for every Rs. 100 spent on retail transactions excluding fuel.Receive a complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership featuring 1 complimentary upgrade voucher and earning 9 Club Vistara points for every Rs. 100 spent on flight tickets.
- Get a Pizza Hut gift e-voucher worth Rs. 1,000 upon spending Rs. 50,000 in a calendar quarter.
- Enjoy 8 complimentary lounge visits per calendar year to domestic lounges in India.
HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
The HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card is great for hotel memberships, especially if you love JW Marriott. It's a top-tier card offering free Marriott membership and various travel perks like unlimited lounge visits, low forex markup fee, travel discounts, and more. You get good value with a reward rate of 3.33% if you use it for most of your expenses.
Features & Benefits of HDFC Diners Club Black Credit Card
Hotel-related Benefits:
- Get a free Club Marriott Membership by spending Rs. 1.5 lakh within the first 90 days, upon the first-year fee payment, or by spending Rs. 8 lakh in a year.
- Enjoy a complimentary MMT BLACK Membership by meeting the same spending criteria.
Other Benefits:
- Earn 5 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent.
- Get up to 10X reward points on SmartBuy purchases and 2X points on weekend dining.
- Enjoy 6 complimentary golf games per quarter at premier golf courses worldwide.
- Enjoy a low foreign currency mark-up fee of 2%.
- Benefit from unlimited airport lounge access at over 1,000 lounges globally.
- Receive complimentary Forbes, Amazon Prime, and Swiggy One memberships by spending Rs. 1.5 lakh within the first 90 days, upon the first-year fee payment, or by spending Rs. 8 lakh in a year.
- Spend over Rs. 80,000 in a month and receive complimentary vouchers from Ola cabs, cult.fit Live, BookMyShow, or TataCliQ.
Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card is perfect for those who prefer Marriott’s travel program. This card, developed in partnership with Marriott, provides exclusive perks for Marriott-owned properties upon card activation, reaching spending milestones, earning rewards, and redeeming points. Cardholders can accumulate Marriott Bonvoy Points and use them for various travel services or luxurious hotel stays.
Features & Benefits of Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card
Hotel-related Benefits:
- Earn 1 Free Night Award upon spending 6 lakh in an anniversary year.
- Earn 1 Free Night Award upon spending Rs. 9 lakh in an anniversary year.
- Earn 1 Free Night Award upon spending Rs. 15 lakh in an anniversary year.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award (up to the value of 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points).
- Enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status, typically achieved after completing 10 nights a year at Marriott hotels.
- Obtain 10 Elite Night Credits, usable for room and membership upgrades, under the Marriott Bonvoy Program for the primary cardholder.
Other Benefits:
- Earn 8 Marriott Bonvoy Points for every Rs. 150 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.
- Earn 4 Marriott Bonvoy Points for every Rs. 150 spent on travel, dining, and entertainment.
- Earn 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points for every Rs. 150 spent on all other applicable purchases.
- Receive 12 complimentary lounge accesses each year outside India.
- Enjoy 12 complimentary lounge accesses each year within India, valid at both domestic and international terminals.
HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card
The HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card is exclusive and only available to chosen HDFC Bank customers. It's great for people who spend a lot, especially on travel, shopping, and other stuff. By using this card for big purchases, users can earn lots of reward points and enjoy various benefits.
Features & Benefits of HDFC Bank Infinia Credit Card
Hotel-related Benefits:
- Get 1+1 complimentary nights and weekend buffet at participating ITC hotels.
- Book a 3-night stay and pay for only two nights at participating ITC hotels.
- Enjoy 1+1 complimentary weekend buffet at participating ITC hotels.
- Receive a complimentary Club Marriott membership for the first year with benefits like up to 20% discounts for dining and stays across the Asia-Pacific region.
Other Benefits:
- Earn 5 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent.
- Enjoy unlimited airport lounge access worldwide for both primary and add-on members.
- Benefit from a low foreign currency mark-up fee of just 2%.
- Get 10X reward points on travel and shopping expenses through SmartBuy.
- Receive unlimited complimentary golf games at top courses across India and select courses globally.
- Enjoy unlimited complimentary golf coaching at select golf courses across India.
- Avail an additional 15% off on dining at partner restaurants under the Good Food Trail program.