Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card Review: Should You Get It?

Hotels.com is a great way to compare prices for hotel stays and vacation rentals with other companies. However, many people don’t know that with a card issuer from Hotels.com you could get a credit card. This can be an excellent tool for frequent travelers who want to get the best deals on their accommodations.

Hotels.com® Rewards Visa® Credit Card is a great way to earn hotel reward nights. By using your card to make purchases, you can quickly rack up rewards points that can be redeemed for free nights at hotels worldwide. In this review, we’ll cover all of the benefits and drawbacks of this card so that you can decide whether it’s right for you.

Is the Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card right for you?

Hotels.com is a comprehensive source for finding information about hotels worldwide. With so many choices available, you’re sure to find the perfect lodging for your next trip.

The Hotels.com Credit Card is a great way to earn rewards while you travel and they offer high priority customer service and a price match guarantee. You can earn rewards nights by using your card for everyday purchases, and the more you spend, the more you can earn. This is a great way to save money on your next hotel stay, and it’s an exciting concept that will work in some situations. The Hotels.com Credit Card could be a good choice for you, depending on how you book your future bookings in hotel accommodations.

With this card, you can choose from a wide selection of hotels. However, remember that certain hotel benefits might not apply when booking through a third party, such as Hotels.com. Additionally, one of the card details is that typically requires good or excellent credit scores to qualify.

Benefits and perks of the Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card

• Generous welcome bonus: Would you like to earn two free nights* reward night value $250 (up to $125 per night)? If you want this sign up bonus all you have to do is spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, you can earn another free night* night costs $125 when you spend $4,000 in the first six months of account opening. *Excludes taxes and fees. Note that you will not receive the difference for any night costs less than $125.

• Unique rewards system: You’ll get one stamp for every $500 you spend on purchases with your card. And for every night you stay at any eligible property booked on Hotels.com, you’ll get one logo too. Once you’ve collected ten stamps, you’ll be rewarded with one free night. So start collecting those stamps and enjoy your free night.
• $0 annual fee: No annual fee card and no foreign currency conversion fees, so you don’t have to worry about offsetting the annual fee cost each year. Fees to watch out for include a 5 percent (minimum $10) cash advance fee and a up to 5 percent (minimum $5) balance transfers fee.
• No foreign currency conversion fee: The Hotels.com Rewards Visa is an excellent choice for purchasing abroad since it doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees. With this card without a foreign transaction fee, you can earn rewards points redeemed for reward nights at participating hotels.
• Hotels.com Silver status: As a cardholder, you’ll enjoy a complimentary Silver status in the Hotels.com Rewards program as long as your card is open. That could mean complimentary free breakfast and Wi-Fi, airport transfers, and more at select properties designated as “VIP Access.”
• No blackout dates: There are no blackout dates for reward nights. You can use your reward nights for any eligible hotel stay, as long as available.
• Cell phone protection: As a cardholder, you are eligible to receive up to $600 in protection against damage or theft of your cell phone. If your phone is lost or stolen, you will have a $25 deductible. This protection is limited to two claims per 12-month period if you pay your monthly cell phone bill with this card.
• Travel protection: You’ll enjoy exclusive travel protection benefits as a member. We’ve covered you, from auto rental collision damage waiver and roadside dispatch to trip cancellation and coverage. Our travel accident insurance will give you peace of mind on your next journey.

The Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card has some drawbacks

Reward night average value: You can earn a Hotels.com reward night by collecting ten stamps with your card. The value of each reward night is based on the average value of the ten stamps, which excludes taxes and fees. However, remember that low-value you earn reward nights will result in a low-value reward night.

• No bonus categories: There are plenty of rewards credit cards out there that offer bonus categories for making purchases. But sometimes, you want a simple way to earn rewards from your spending. That’s where a card like ours comes in. We don’t offer any bonus categories, but we make it easy for you to rack up stamps with your everyday spending.
• Limited elite status: Traveling can be a hassle, but one way to make it easier is to have a great travel credit card. Many of these cards offer perks like complimentary Silver status with Hotels.com or other benefits that can make your trip smoother. Check out our best travel credit card list to find the right one for you and your next adventure.
• Welcome Bonus: On the downside, the spending requirement to earn all three reward nights is very high ($4,000 in your first six months). Some cardholders may prefer a slightly lower-value but more attainable bonus that only requires you to spend a few hundred dollars. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers a 20,000-mile bonus (worth $200 if you redeem for travel through Capital One) after a spend of just $500 in your first three months.

Reward nights: earning & redeeming

Best ways to earn

When it comes to credit cards, it’s usually best to use a rewards card for purchases you’re already making to maximize your earnings potential. However, the Hotels.com Credit Card has a different earning rate than most other cards.

With your card, you can collect one stamp for every $500 of credit card spending on other purchases and one stamp for every night you stay at any eligible property booked on hotels.com. Once you’ve collected ten stamps, you’ll get one reward night at Hotels.com.

The new rewards program offers many great benefits, including the ability to earn stamps that can be redeemed for free nights. With no bonus categories, every eligible purchase earns you progress toward a logo, making it easy to rack up rewards.

Getting the most out of your redemptions

The Hotels.com Rewards Visa is an excellent choice for those who want to earn rewards without worrying about multiple redemption options. With this card, you’ll earn bonus points toward free hotel stays, making it the perfect choice for travelers. There are no restrictions on how you can redeem your points, so you can book your stay at any hotel that accepts Visa.

The only way to redeem your rewards is to receive a free night’s stay at an eligible hotel after you’ve earned ten stamps. Remember that the value of your reward night is based on the average value of the ten stamps you’ve made previously. So, the more valuable each symbol is, your free night will be.

When it comes to stamps and reward nights, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

• Your reward night needs to have enough value for a stay. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay the difference.
• Your reward night can be worth more than just a stay. Depending on the value, you may forfeit the difference.
• With more than one reward, multiple-night stays become easier to redeem.
• After 12 months without collecting a stamp or redeeming a reward night, your account will expire.

Other cards to consider

There is plenty of excellent hotel credit card, so don’t feel limited to the Hotels.com Visa Rewards Credit Card. There are many options available for other hotel credit cards that may better suit your needs.

With Chase Sapphire Preferred®, you can earn Ultimate Rewards points on common spending categories like dining, delivery, takeout, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs). These flexible rewards can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, and rental cars through the Chase travel portal. You can also transfer your bonus points with a variable balance transfer fee to travel partners like Marriott Bonvoy, IHG Rewards Club, and World of Hyatt. Sapphire Preferred has an annual fee of $95, but it comes with a $50 yearly hotel credit that could help offset that annual fee cost.

Hilton Honors American Express Card is an excellent choice for Hilton fans. With no annual fee and bonus categories that can help you earn rewards on everyday spending, this card is more beneficial than the Hotels.com Rewards card. You can earn 7X points at participating Hilton hotels and resorts, 5X points at U.S. restaurants and supermarkets, and 3X on all other eligible purchases. As a card member, you’ll enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status.

Hotels.com Rewards Visa Credit Card FAQs

How to use the Hotels.com credit card:

• Use your card for everyday spending in order to rack up as many stamps as possible
• Book paid stays with Hotels.com properties to earn stamps faster
• Pay your cell phone bill with your credit card to qualify for cell phone protection
• Pay your credit card bill in full each month to avoid paying interest