7 Hotel Credit Card Mistakes to Avoid

Hotel credit cards can deliver a host of great perks, from bonus points-earning opportunities to built-in benefits like late checkout. But given the number of cards available — not to mention the sometimes confusing inclusions and exclusions — there are several mistakes you could be making with your credit card.

Or shall we call them missed opportunities to earn better rewards?

The usual dangers of using hotel credit cards include taking on too much debt and spending money that you don’t have. These major mistakes aside, you might be skipping other benefits that make traveling more convenient or affordable.

Whether you’re new to travel credit cards, are a seasoned points and miles nerd or are gearing up to choose a hotel credit card, here are some hotel credit card mistakes that could be holding you back from experiencing their maximum potential.

No one likes to leave free perks on the table, especially if you’re paying off your card balance each month in full.

Hotel credit cards, like others in your wallet, often have bonus spending categories which offer more points for specific types of purchases. For example, with the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you can earn 2x points on dining, local transit and gym memberships.

If you don’t have another card in your wallet with a higher earning rate, you should put these types of purchases on this card. Otherwise, you may end up using a card that only offers 1 point per dollar spent on these purchases.

Nerdy tip: Add a small sticker or piece of tape to the bottom back of the card (not covering the magnetic strip). Then, write the categories in which the card provides maximum points. This way, when you’re about to charge an expense at a store or online, you know which card to grab from your wallet. Update this information regularly as categories change, promotions pop up or you add new cards to your wallet.

When staying at a particular hotel brand, you should only use the associated hotel credit card to get maximum points.

Many hotel credit cards come with a sweet sign-up bonus that rewards bonus points for meeting a certain spending threshold within a set number of months. Keep an eye on this timeline and don’t miss this opportunity for a large number of points all at once.

Nerdy tip: Purchase charges need to hit your account within the set time frame to qualify for the sign-up bonus. If you use your card for a charge that won’t be made until a future date (let’s say a vacation next year), that won’t count for any potential sign-up bonus.

Each card is different, so be sure to read the fine print.

Many hotel credit cards offer an anniversary night certificate that can be used at eligible hotels in the portfolio, which are traditionally awarded after your cardmember anniversary date each year. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card comes with a free night award valued up to 50,000 points. The same card also offers up to $300 in statement credits per year when using it to pay for eligible purchases at Marriott properties. Terms apply.

Free night awards and statement credits can be lucrative, helping you easily offset the cost of the annual fee. It is easy, however, to forget that you have these perks in your account.

Ouch! This is a rough one. If you paused travel and haven’t been using your hotel credit card, you could be at risk of losing points. In some programs, points expire (or are forfeited) when there is no activity in the account after a set amount of time.

Even if you stopped using a hotel credit card or staying with a particular brand, it would be a shame to see all those points disappear. Be sure to either use them for a stay or find a way to keep the account active by spending a small amount on the card.

Use the included perks that matter to you — and maybe your travel companions.

For instance, some cards come with a statement credit for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry membership. If you already have these, use your card to pay for a family member when they sign up. The statement credit is tied to the credit card that is used, not the person who applies for the program, so there is no additional expense.

If you don’t use it, you’re letting a relative spend cash when they don’t need to.

Some hotel credit cards, like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, waive transaction fees when using the card overseas. This can save you cash if you travel internationally, but not all cards include this benefit.

Be sure to read the fine print and only pay for international purchases (or for charges in any foreign currency) with a card that does not impose these fees.

You see an enticing offer with lots of bonus points, and you think you may start to stay with that hotel brand eventually. Well, if you don’t, take a look at that annual fee. If you’re paying a hefty fee each year, but not taking advantage of using the card with a particular hotel chain or any of the associated benefits, it’s time to cut the cord.

Another important consideration is weighing the cost of the annual fee with the projected benefits you expect to receive from the card. If you end up spending more on an annual fee than the value of the perks you receive (anniversary nights, bonus points, airport lounge access, etc.), then you may be signing up for the wrong card.

Hotel credit cards can deliver great perks on low spending. Assuming you would make these purchases anyway, using the right card for specific types of purchases and in the appropriate way can have you enjoying travel-related benefits in no time.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2022, including those best for: