This Underrated Travel Card Perk Is Your Ticket to Epic Hotel Stays

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I've been using travel rewards cards for years. But sometimes, I'm still pleasantly surprised by the perks they offer.

Case in point, many hotel credit cards include automatic elite status. Hilton cards can get you Silver all the way up to Diamond status, depending on the card you choose. Marriott Bonvoy cards offer Silver Elite to Platinum Elite status.

I wasn't always a fan of hotel cards, and elite status never seemed like a big deal. It has since become one of my favorite features -- and it has seriously upgraded my travel experience.

What is hotel elite status?

The major hotel chains all have their own loyalty programs. As a member, you earn points redeemable for free nights.

Each loyalty program also has elite status tiers. If you stay enough nights, or earn enough qualifying points, you can get elite status with the hotel. For example, you might get silver status for staying at least 10 nights per year, gold status for staying 30 nights, and so on.

Basically, elite status is a way for a hotel to build loyalty and reward its most loyal guests. It includes complimentary benefits, and these benefits get better the higher your status in the loyalty program.

How elite status can improve your hotel stays

Here's a look at some of the typical benefits you can get with elite status:

• Complimentary upgrades, when available
• Free daily breakfast for two
• Early check-in and late checkout, when available
• Guaranteed room availability
• Access to the hotel's club or lounge area
• Bonus points on stays

Let's say you're in one of the higher status tiers with your favorite hotel chain. Instead of waiting in line at reception, you use the special desk for guests with elite status. You're told that since there's availability, your room has been upgraded.

Even though breakfast for two would normally cost $70 or $80, you don't need to worry about that, as it's included. And since your flight home isn't until the early evening, you take advantage of a late checkout to enjoy the last day of your vacation.

I've gotten to experience the elite status treatment quite a few times over the last two years, and it has made hotel stays much more enjoyable. Some of the perks save you money. Free breakfast for two could knock a sizable amount off your bill if you're staying a few nights. And some of them, especially complimentary upgrades, make your stay more special.

Getting elite status with a hotel card

If you want elite status with a hotel, it's probably easy enough to get it, no matter how often you stay there. The major chains all offer hotel credit cards , and elite status is a standard feature on many of them. Here are a few of the biggest chains that have their own credit cards:

• Hilton
• Hyatt
• IHG
• Marriott

All these hotels have multiple cards at different price points. Generally, cards with higher annual fees also include a higher elite status tier. These cards have other benefits, too, so you'll want to take all these factors into account when deciding which one to pick.

If you're a fan of a specific hotel chain, check out the credit cards it offers, and apply for the one you like the most. If you're flexible about where you stay, then you can compare card options from different hotels. I've never had a favorite hotel chain, so I did the latter. I got a Hilton card, since I liked its benefits. Now I stay at Hilton properties when I can to take advantage of my elite status.

For frequent travelers, elite status with a hotel is nice to have. If you think it's something you'd enjoy, there are plenty of credit cards that can help you get it.

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