Hotel perks offered through credit cards typically include complimentary enrollment in hotel loyalty programs, discounts at participating hotels, and complimentary stays. By choosing the appropriate card, you can significantly reduce your hotel costs and gain access to premium benefits such as complimentary room upgrades, dining discounts, bonus points for booking stays, and more.
Top lifetime free credit cards with no annual fee, joining fee
“Since hotel benefits are generally available on premium and super-premium cards, you must consider whether you would be able to make full use of the other features of the card, instead of focusing only on the hotel benefit. Moreover, as most of these benefits are brand-focused, you must check the hotel group’s portfolio to see whether the range of hotels and the benefits match your expectations. For instance, Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Bank Credit Card provides benefits at properties participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Users seeking benefits with different hotel groups should look for a card that offers more flexibility, such as cards that allow transfer of reward points to multiple hotel loyalty programs,” explained Rohit Chhibbar, Head of Credit Cards Business, Paisabazaar.
The list comprises both premium cards and low-annual-fee cards offering hotel benefits such as free stays, complimentary memberships and additional benefits that help users save on their hotel expenses. (Source: Paisabazaar; All card information is sourced from the card provider’s website as of 25 January 2024.)
HDFC Bank
Marriott Bonvoy HDFC Credit Card
Annual Fee
Rs. 3,000
Hotel-related Benefits
- 1 Free Night Award (Up to a value of 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy Points)
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite Status
- 10 Elite Night Credits under the Marriott Bonvoy Program for primary cardholder
- 8 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy Program
- 1 Free Night Award each on spending Rs. 6 lakh, Rs. 9 lakh and Rs. 15 lakh in an anniversary year
Other Key Benefits
- 4 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on travel, dining & entertainment
- 2 Marriott Bonvoy Points per Rs. 150 spent on all other applicable purchases
- 12 complimentary lounge access per year outside India
- 12 complimentary lounge access per year, within India
- 2 complimentary golf access per quarter across the world.
HDFC Infinia Credit Card Metal Edition**
*This is an invite-only card.
Annual Fee
Rs. 12,500
Hotel-related Benefits
- Complimentary nights & weekend buffet at participating ITC hotels for 1+1
- Book stay for 3-nights and pay for two at participating ITC hotels
- Club Marriott membership for the first year with benefits such as up to 20% discount for dining and stay across Asia Pacific region
Other Key Benefits
- Unlimited airport lounge access across the globe for primary and add-on member
- Low forex markup fee of 2%
- 5 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent
- Unlimited airport lounge access across the globe for primary and add-on member
- Low forex markup fee of 2%
- 5 reward points for every Rs. 150 spent
- 10X reward points on travel & shopping expenses through Smartbuy
- Unlimited complimentary golf games at leading courses across India and select courses across the world
- Unlimited complimentary golf coaching at select golf courses across India
- Additional 15% off on dining at partner restaurants under Good Food Trail program
Axis Bank
Annual Fee
Rs. 50,000
Hotel-related Benefits
- Complimentary ITC Culinaire Membership with benefits, including free 3rd Complimentary ITC Culinaire Membership with benefits, including free 3rd night stay, 50% off on published room tariff for suites on weekends, 25% Green Points on food & beverage spends and bouquet of 10 certificates and other benefits
- Complimentary Accorplus Membership for 1-night free stay at all Asia Pacific region, free room upgrades, up to 50% off on dining and free lunch buffet for 2 across all Accor hotels in India
- Complimentary Club Marriott Asia Pacific Membership for 20% discount on food & beverages and
- 20% discount on best available rates at select Marriott hotels in India and on weekend rates in Asia Pacific region
- 15% off on room only rate, room with breakfast rate or on 3rd-night stay at Oberoi Hotels and Resorts
- Postcard Hotel offers, including 15% off on best available room rate, anytime check-in & check-out and free lifestyle consultation at Goa hotels
Other Key Benefits
- Priority Pass membership with free unlimited international lounge visits for both primary and add-on cardholders and 12 free guests visits
- Free unlimited domestic lounge visits for both the primary and add-on cardholders and 12 free guest visits
- 8 free VIP assistance services for check-in, security check, immigration processes, etc.
- 4 free chauffeured luxury airport pick-ups/drops every year
- 50,000 EDGE reward points on card activation and renewal
- 15 EDGE reward points for every Rs. 200 spent
- 30 EDGE reward points for every Rs. 200 spent internationally
- Up to 25% off across premium restaurants with EazyDiner Prime Membership
- Buy 1 get 1 offer on tickets at BookMyShow
Axis Atlas Credit Card
Annual Fee
Rs. 5,000
Hotel-related Benefits
- 5 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent on travel International, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG Hotels & Resorts, IHG One Rewards, ITC and Club ITC
- 1 EDGE Mile = 2 Partner Points across hotels
- 2 EDGE Miles = 1 Marriott Bonvoy Point
- Redemption of EDGE Miles against hotel loyalty programs, including Marriott
Other Key Benefits
- 2 EDGE Miles per Rs. 100 spent across all categories
- 5,000 bonus EDGE Miles on making the first transaction within 30 days of card setup
- For Silver Tier members- 8 domestic, 4 international lounge visits and 2,500 EDGE Miles on spending Rs. 3 lakh in a year
- For Gold Tier members- 12 domestic, 6 international lounge visits, 2 airport meet & greet services, and 5,000 EDGE Miles on spending Rs. 7.5 lakh in a year
- For Platinum Tier members- 18 domestic, 12 international lounge visits, 2 complimentary airport pick-ups, 4 airport meet & greet services and 10,000 EDGE Miles on spending Rs. 15 lakh in a year.
State Bank of IndiaSBI Card ELITE
Annual Fee
Rs. 4,999
Hotel-related Benefits
- Complimentary Trident Privilege Red Tier Membership with
- 1,000 welcome points on registration
- 1,500 bonus points on first stay along with additional Rs. 1,000 hotel credits on extended night stay
Other Key Benefits
- Low forex markup fee of 1.99%
- Complimentary Club Vistara Silver Membership
- 1 complimentary upgrade voucher and 9 Club Vistara points on every Rs. 100 spent on Vistara flight tickets
- Welcome e-gift voucher worth Rs. 5,000 from your choice of lifestyle brand
- 5X reward points on dining, departmental store and grocery store spends
- 2 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent on other categories
- 2 complimentary domestic airport lounge visits every quarter
- Complimentary membership to the Priority Pass Program worth $99
- 6 complimentary international airport lounge visits per calendar year
Standard Chartered India
Standard Chartered Easemytrip Credit Card
Annual Fee
Rs. 350
Hotel-related Benefits
- 20% instant discount on domestic hotel bookings through EaseMyTrip, up to Rs. 5,000 per transaction
- 20% instant discount on international hotel bookings through EaseMyTrip, up to Rs. 10,000 per transaction.
Other Key Benefits
- 10% instant discount on domestic and international flight bookings
- Rs. 125 off on bus ticket bookings
- 10 reward points on every Rs. 100 spent at standalone airline/hotel websites, mobile applications or outlets, except any travel aggregators
- 2 reward points per Rs. 100 spent on other categories
- 1 complimentary domestic lounge visit per quarter
- 2 complimentary international lounge visits per year through Priority Pass.