Originally Posted by
hhdl
For those cards that confer elite status and thus enhanced earn rate on the non-tax portion of charges, like the Hilton Aspire, that earn rate should also be factored in. Since it would apply on about 90% of the final charge amount, the Diamond status from the Aspire makes it effectively 23 pts (or 11.5%) return, unless you're organically Diamond (somewhere between if you're organically some other status).
Sure, but then you need to start considering the annual fee vs the card benefits how often you stay, can you use the free night most of these cards give you, etc etc.