Hotels, Australia & New Zealand
Best Card For Australia & New Zealand Hotels
Updated on Wed, 11 Feb 2026
When it comes to utilizing points for hotels in Australia and New Zealand, footprint and flexibility matter more than elite perks. It’s a region where you’re often moving between major cities, coastal towns, and national parks, so scale usually beats luxury benefits. The following cards offer the best mix of coverage, value, luxury, and flexibility to help you maximize points for hotel stays across the region.
Our Rankings
1 | Citi Strata Elite
With Accor and Choice having such a large footprint in Australia and New Zealand, a Citi card makes the most sense at the top of these rankings because it provides the broadest access. We chose the Strata Elite for its $300 annual hotel credit, which can be put to good use on a trip to the region, and if you happen to fly American and can use the Admirals Club passes in transit, that’s an added bonus. You won’t get outsized value from Accor, as transfers effectively return about 1 cent per point, but redemptions function like a discount, which works well for lower budget and mid-range stays. The 1:2 transfer ratio to Choice can unlock strong value in the right situation, and while Preferred Hotels and Resorts has a smaller footprint, the 1:4 transfer ratio can really work in your favor if a property fits your trip. Wyndham is another option, though it’s most useful in larger cities.
Honorable Mentions
2 | IHG One Rewards Premier
Australia and New Zealand are both popular for road trips, and IHG can be especially valuable for that style of travel thanks to its presence in smaller cities and regional areas. While award prices can be higher than programs like Hyatt, Choice, or Wyndham, you receive a free night certificate each year and a fourth night free on award stays, which adds real value if you plan to stay in one place for several nights. The annual fee is also relatively low, making this a strong option for broad coverage across the region without paying for luxury-level perks you may not use
3 | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Marriott has a large presence in Australia and New Zealand, which is why its top-tier card ranks third. While award prices can be high, the Brilliant offers a strong signup bonus and an annual free night certificate worth up to 85,000 points, which can unlock a quality stay at an upscale property. Automatic Platinum Elite status can also add value in major cities. If you’re more focused on broad coverage or road trips and won’t maximize status perks or a higher-point certificate, the Boundless or Business cards may be better fits. They carry lower annual fees and offer three free nights as a welcome bonus (up to 50,000 points each) plus a 35,000-point annual certificate.
Honorable Mentions
4 | Amex Platinum
The Amex Platinum is a strong option for travelers planning their trip around major cities and prioritizing luxury stays. Fine Hotels and Resorts has a solid presence in key Australian and New Zealand cities, allowing you to use the card’s bi-annual $300 credits while enjoying premium benefits. Free breakfast for two, guaranteed 4pm checkout, a $100 property credit, and potential early check-in and room upgrades all add meaningful value. Amex also transfers to Marriott and Hilton, giving you flexibility to top up accounts with your welcome bonus points when needed.
5 | World of Hyatt
The World of Hyatt card earns a spot for the same reason it does on most hotel rankings. Hyatt still uses an award chart, and it consistently delivers outsized value on point redemptions, no matter where you are in the world. The card also includes an annual free night at a Category 1–4 property, which can offset the annual fee. The only reason it ranks lower here is its smaller footprint in Australia and New Zealand, limiting its usefulness primarily to larger cities.
Honorable Mentions
6 | Capital One Venture X
The Venture X is a solid mid-range option for hotel stays in Australia and New Zealand. Its annual fee sits between premium cards like the Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and Citi Strata Elite and lower-fee options like the IHG Premier and World of Hyatt. It transfers to Accor and Wyndham, both of which have meaningful footprints in the region, and while it also partners with Choice and Preferred Hotels, the transfer ratios aren’t as strong as Citi’s. The $300 portal credit can be used on stays where points don’t make sense, and the ability to erase travel purchases at 1¢ per point provides a simple, flexible fallback option.
7 | Hilton Honors Surpass
Hilton doesn’t have as large a footprint in Australia and New Zealand as Marriott or IHG, and while it has more properties than Hyatt, the overall value proposition isn’t as strong. We chose the Surpass because the region’s smaller Hilton presence makes the Aspire’s premium perks less essential. The Surpass still provides Gold status, which includes free breakfast and space-available upgrades, along with a lower annual fee and a strong signup bonus relative to that cost. You’ll also receive a free night after qualifying spend and can take advantage of the fifth night free on award stays. If Diamond status and an uncapped free night matter to you, the Aspire remains a solid upgrade option.
Honorable Mentions
8 | Chase Sapphire Reserve
The Chase Sapphire Reserve can also be a useful card if you already have it in your wallet, but we wouldn’t apply for it just for a trip to Australia and New Zealand. It transfers to Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG, which can be helpful for top-ups. The high annual fee might be worth it if you can take advantage of The Edit’s two $250 annual credits for stays of two nights or more. You’ll receive perks similar to Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts, like a $100 property credit, free breakfast, and early check-in, late checkout, and room upgrades, though the last three are not guaranteed. You can find Edit hotels in larger cities, but the footprint isn’t nearly as extensive as FHR. Booking through the Chase portal is also an option if you find a good Points Boost redemption, but the inconsistency of the offerings and how often they change means you can’t rely on it.
9 | Bilt Palladium
Last on the list is the Bilt Palladium. It’s the only other transferable points program outside of Chase that partners with Hyatt, which gives it immediate value, even though Hyatt’s footprint isn’t as strong in this region as others. Bilt also transfers to IHG, providing another way to top up a program with a solid presence in Australia and New Zealand. The Palladium has a high annual fee, but it’s the only Bilt card with a traditional signup bonus, and it provides two $200 bi-annual hotel credits through the Bilt portal. You can also leverage Bilt Gold status from the signup bonus and Bilt Cash to top those credits up to $300 twice per year. The upside to Bilt is earning points on your housing payments, which can generate a large number of points. The downside is that you must put at least 75% of your non-housing spend on the card each month, meaning you may need to consolidate most of your spending to fully maximize it.
Honorable Mentions
Best Cards For Rental Cars
Best Card For Airfare Within Australia & NZ
Best Cards For Flights To Australia
Hilton Honors
Marriott Bonvoy
Bonvoy 1/24 My Strategy Notes