There are many cards that offer a fantastic sign-up bonus. But some cards offer a great benefit that makes them worth keeping long-term: free hotel nights on your card anniversary.
You’ll typically earn the free night after your account has been open for a year, so you’ll have to pay the card’s annual fee to get the benefit.
But these cards usually make the annual fee worthwhile because you can more than make up for the fee with the free card anniversary night.
It’s Worth Paying the Annual Fee on Certain Cards Because You Get a Free Night Potentially Worth Much More on Your Card Anniversary
I’ll share my favorite hotel cards that offer free anniversary nights or bonus nights for big spending!
Cards That Give You a Free Night Each Year
1. Chase IHG
Link: Chase IHG® Rewards Club Select Credit Card
One of my favorite keeper cards, the Chase IHG card has a very reasonable annual fee of $49 (waived the first year), which includes a free night at any IHG hotel each year on your cardholder anniversary.
Emily on the Lower Deck of our Emerald Overwater Bungalow at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa
Emily and I have had some unforgettable experiences at IHG hotels, including our getaway at the historic Willard Hotel in Washington, DC. And our amazing stay the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa.
With the Chase IHG card, you’ll earn 70,000 IHG points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account. Plus an additional 5,000 IHG points when you add an authorized user and make a purchase in the same timeframe.
And because you can use the free anniversary night at any IHG hotel (even their most expensive locations), you can get a stay worth hundreds of dollars more than the annual fee!
Here’s how to get the most Big Travel from the Chase IHG card. And ideas on where to use your anniversary night in the US, Europe, Caribbean & Mexico, on the Mediterranean Sea, and Asia & Australia.
And our readers have shared their favorite IHG hotels, too!
2. Chase Hyatt
Link: Chase Hyatt
The Chase Hyatt card is worth getting for the sign-up bonus of 2 free nights at ANY Hyatt hotel after meeting minimum spending requirements. But it’s worth keeping for the free anniversary night!
You’ll get a free night in a category 1 to 4 Hyatt each year on your card anniversary. And there are awesome values to be had at hotels in those categories.
A great option for skiers is the Hyatt Centric Park City in Utah. Located in the Canyons village, the Hyatt Centric offers ski-in / ski-out access, along with two whirlpools, a heated outdoor pool, and ski storage.
Award nights at this category 4 hotel cost 15,000 Hyatt points per night. Or use the free anniversary night from the Chase Hyatt card!
I checked a random date in January and standard rooms cost ~$527 (including a $25 per night resort fee). You’ll have to plan in advance to find available award nights, but having a free night at this hotel is a steal for the price of the Hyatt card’s $75 annual fee (waived the first year).
We Had an Excellent Experience at the Park Hyatt Goa Resort & Spa
Another great category 4 option is the Park Hyatt Goa in India. Emily and I had an awesome stay there on a trip to visit family. Paid nights cost ~$160, so you’ll still come out ahead by paying the annual fee for the Hyatt card and getting a free night here.
3. Chase Marriott Cards
Link: Chase Marriott Rewards® Premier Credit Card
Link: Chase Marriott Rewards® Premier Business Card
The personal Marriott Rewards Premier card has an annual fee of $85 and the Marriott Rewards Premier Business card (now with a higher signup bonus of 100,000 Marriott points!) has an annual fee of $99.
Both offer a free anniversary night in category 1 to 5 hotels.
You could use your free night at the category 5 Courtyard Sydney – North Ryde, located in a northern suburb of Sydney, Australia. A standard room for a random night this summer is 234 Australian dollars (~$169).
If you’e headed to Canada, you could stay at the Courtyard Toronto Downtown. Located in heart of Toronto, it’s is newly renovated and offers easy access to Toronto’s attractions. Rooms start at ~$229 Canadian dollars (~$175).
Relax in the Cozy Lobby at the Courtyard Toronto Downtown
Free Anniversary Nights for Big Spenders
1. Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve
Link: Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card
The Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card doesn’t offer an anniversary night just for paying the annual fee, but it does offer a weekend night after spending $10,000 on the card each membership year.
Keep in mind, there are a few Hilton hotels where you can’t use the weekend night certificate, like certain all-inclusive, Hilton Grand, and Waldorf Astoria locations.
But the card can be worthwhile for big spenders, especially because there are other perks like complimentary Gold status, which gets you free breakfast at certain brands and can be a great money-saver.
Save Hundreds of Dollars at the Conrad Maldives When You Use Your Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Weekend Anniversary Night
Emily and I stayed at the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and it was one of our best vacations ever! Rates this fall start at ~$807 per night, so paying the $95 annual fee and meeting the annual spend could save you a lot of money if you’re planning to visit the Maldives.
2. Chase Fairmont
Link: Chase Fairmont Visa Signature Card
Fairmont is a smaller hotel brand with gorgeous locations worldwide. The Fairmont Visa Signature Card offers a free night at any of their hotels when you spend $12,000 per anniversary year on your card.
Paid nights at the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui start at ~$694, which would an excellent use of the free anniversary night, even with the $95 annual fee!
The Fairmont Kea Lani Is an All-Suite Hotel on the Ocean in Maui
3. US Bank Club Carlson Cards
Link: Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Link: Club Carlson Business Rewards Visa Card
With the Club Carlson personal and business cards, you’ll earn a free night at any US Club Carlson hotel when you spend $10,000 in an anniversary year and renew your card.
That’s on top of the 40,000 anniversary Club Carlson points you’ll earn each year when you renew your card and pay the annual fee. That’s more than enough for an award night in Club Carlson category 1 to 4 locations.
Use an Anniversary Award Night at the Radisson Martinique on Broadway in New York City
These cards also come with complimentary Gold elite status, which gets you room upgrades (when available), late check-out, and points bonuses.
Bottom Line
Paying the annual fee on hotel cards which offer a free anniversary night can be a great money-saving strategy. Especially if you’ll be staying at a hotel that costs more than the annual fee!
And big spenders can earn anniversary nights with certain cards. But you’ll typically have to spend a lot ($10,000+) per cardholder year to qualify.
Even better, when you and a friend or partner both have the card, you can spend a whole weekend away by each booking the hotel on back-to-back nights.
Which cards do you keep for the free anniversary night perk?
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Comments
- Kendall, yes you can use the hyatt free nights at a hyatt all ... by Kyle
- The Free night comes with the strings that you have to use it ... by ff_lover
- The Club Carlson free night needs to have an asterisk. I've ... by scott
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- Darius, I am just not able to wrap my head around keeping the ... by Christine