HH vs Marriott vs SPG
 

Hello all;

I just got the Chase Priority Club Visa Signature with 80,000 points after first use and wanted some recommendations on the HH vs Marriott vs SPG hotel cards. We travel mostly for leisure overseas once a year and a few times stateside trips.

Get SPG amex and don't look back, starpoints are worth obgobs 'o money

Eh.

So instead of fanboying the SPG Amex, the only real answer is: Which chain do you use more? That's the card you probably want.

I'm mostly done with SPG as a chain, and I don't need the miles, so I'm dumping my two SPG Amex cards this year when their annual fees come due. Most of the key benefits of this card are tied to its ability to earn Starpoints and not anything super-special about the card.

The HH cards--and there are several of them (2 versions of the Citi, 2 different Amex)--have some good sign-up bonuses and all but the Surpass Amex have no annual fee. If you like the range and flexibility of Hilton, this is probably the way to go. Plus, depending on the card you get, you'll get elite status of some sort.

I am not as familiar with the Marriott card, but some people seem to like it. And similar to Hilton, Marrriotts are everywhere so that gives you flexibility in travel plans. One downside to the card is that unlike the other cards, it's issued by Chase and Chase has other good options out there, but you probably want to diversify the banks you're getting your cards from.

Most people on FT seem to play the card game and thus have multiple cards that they use for various charges depending on the earnings potential. I use the following strategy:

SPG AMEX - All charges not put on the other cards listed below plus Starwood stays. Benefits of the card include cash & points options, premium award room options and airline transfers.

HH AMEX - All charges in bonus categories including grocery, drugstore, gas, cable, internet plus all Hilton stays. Biggest benefit of the card are the AXON awards.

Chase Sapphire - All restaurant and travel charges that don't go on chain/company specific cards. Biggest benefit to me is ability to transfer to Hyatt GP.

Chase PC Visa - Due to their recent devaluation (adding 50K awards) I only keep it for the annual free night and for PC stays.

I also have other cards (UA, BA, US and AA) but they don't get as much use as the SPG, HH and Sapphire cards.

One thing I am somewhat unsure of is if I should change to the Sapphire as my primary card from the SPG AMEX since I have a ton of SPG points and due to the creeping up of their award categories. Seems that some people have done this but I haven't.

I'll second the concept that it really depends on where you plan on staying ...and what other cards you have.

My thoughts:

*wood: Best transfer options. If this was the only card you used for all spending, then I would say this or the CSP would give you the most options. For hotel stays: more limited locations, but if it covers your needs, then this might be it. Also, this is an AMEX, which may or may not matter to you as compared to a V/MC (ex. I can only pay my property taxes with a V/MC). Small annual fee.

Hilton Amex: Great earning rate on certain categories. Elite status with spending thresholds. More properties in small town USA. No fee. No real transfer options. AMEX not VC/MC.

Marriott: Free night each year. Not a great earning rate except at Marriott. Low tier status. Not AMEX. No foreign transaction fee on the higher end card (I think...). I really only found the Marriott card worthwhile for Marriott spending.


During my "year of living in a hotel", I had Marriott and Hilton as options, but no *wood hotel was close to the area I needed. It was worthwhile for me to have both cards. Once my travel stopped, I dropped the Marriott card and kept the HH AMEX (but dropped to non-surpass). I now use this card for groceries, gas, cell, Costco, and cable ...plus enough extra to hit the $20k spend threshold to earn gold status (for when I lose my current diamond status next year). The remainder of my spending goes on the Sapphire Pref (dining or nonUA travel) or UA Club card (everything else).

Lastly, I do prefer to have credit cards from two or more different banks... just in case somebody's network goes down. Am I paranoid? Maybe...


In your case, I'd probably look at the *wood AMEX, HH Amex, or Chase Sap. Pref. (for the flexibility) as the top cards... Likewise, I'd follow christianj's very sound advice and think about having several cards that complement each other.

Surpass does have annual fees. Regular Amex doesn't.

I love SPG, and it's indeed a great program, but I found it hard to earn points with their cards other than hotel stays. So much so, that I dumped them both and I am going to wait until Amex forgets me to apply again.

Hate Hilton all you want, but which other hotel program lets you earn so many points without even setting foot at their property? Amex Hilton earns 3 points at a minimum and 6 at many popular categories. Hilton Surpass adds Gold status (with real benefits unlike PC Platinum sham) and 9 points for hotel stays. And there are 8, yes that's 8 (!) credit cards, some churnable, that can earn you a small Hilton fortune in sign up bonuses. I don't know what not to like. Well, I do, but still they're the best bet for free travel.

I can only think of three, please fill in my blanks.

Amex Hilton
Amex Hilton Surpass
Citibank Hilton
BoA Virgin (converts to HHonor points)
BoA Hawaii (converts to HHonor points)
BoH Hawaii (converts to HHonor points)

Can't think of the 7th and 8th ones.

To bring you to 7:


Amex Hilton
Amex Hilton Surpass
Citibank Hilton Visa
Citibank Hilton Visa Signature
BoA Virgin (converts to HHonor points)
BoA Hawaii (converts to HHonor points)
BoH Hawaii (converts to HHonor points)

The Citibank Hiltons are different cards with different features, but similar sign-up bonuses (I have both).

Maybe #8+ could be the Citi AA cards.

AA miles convert to 1.67 Hilton points. (not the best conversion IMHO but if one does not want to fly AA, maybe that would work).

Isn't the 8th the Alaska Air card.

Thank you. There are also two versions of the Virgin Atlantic credit card, one black, one white.

Where to draw the line? American Express Membership Rewards points convert 1:1.5 to HHonors, with very occasional targeted bonuses.

I don't think that cards that earn points that are able to be converted to Hilton should count as a "Hilton" card.

Amex MR converts to Starwood points (although at a very bad rate), but it's not counted as an SPG card. For SPG there are 2 Amex cards - personal and business - and that's it.

When counting Hilton cards you should only count those branded at a Hilton card. I have nothing against Hilton and have both the Hilton and SPG cards from Amex, but I do tend to heavily favor the SPG card because the wider variety of redemption options available.

Well done! And Chase Amtrak with double Hilton Bonus is the 8th. Granted you can only redeem up to 25,000 a year if you're not an elite member, but what's your rush? Eventually you will get all 64,000 HHonors for 32K Amtrak Guest points.

Mia, I didn't count MR transfers. That's where I draw the line:)

Friedablass, I disagree. When the rate of transfer is good, then there is nothing wrong in taking those cards into consideration. There have been plenty of folks who've only applied for Hawaiian or VS in order to transfer to Hilton. I don't see any difference.

Can you apply for both Virgin Atlantic cards and get the bonuses for both? And if so, do you need to do both in a single churn to get both bonuses or can you space out the applications and still receive both cards and bonuses?