TravelDiari matches your credit cards to every hotel booking — saving you points you'd otherwise miss.

Destination + card

The best credit card for hotels in Los Angeles.

Updated

Why this card

Hilton Honors Aspire for hotels in Los Angeles.

LA is a Marriott town at the high end. The Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey, Beverly Hills Marriott, JW LA Live, and W Hollywood are the major chain properties. Hilton has the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Conrad Downtown.

Annual fee

$550

Best earn rate

14 points per dollar at Hiltons, automatic Diamond, $400 in annual credits

Signup bonus

175,000 points after $6,000 spend in 6 months

Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Conrad LA Downtown are both Diamond-friendly properties. Diamond breakfast at the Waldorf saves $80 per day in food. The Aspire's annual free weekend night cert covers a $700 cash room at the Waldorf, which more than recovers the annual fee in one trip. Conrad LA's location near Walt Disney Concert Hall is a strong base for a downtown stay.

See this cardarrow_forward

If the top pick is not right

Alternative: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant.

Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey and JW Marriott LA Live both prices around 70K to 85K points off-peak. The 85K free night cert covers a Friday night at either, and Platinum upgrades at the Beverly Hills Marriott can move you into a junior suite.

American ExpressAnnual fee $650

At a glance

Side by side.

SpecHilton Honors AspireMarriott Bonvoy Brilliant
Annual fee$550$650
Best earn rate14 points per dollar at Hiltons, automatic Diamond, $400 in annual creditsSee alternative section above
Signup bonus175,000 points after $6,000 spend in 6 monthsVaries by month

Local tip

What to know before you book.

Most LA luxury hotels include valet-only parking at $50 to $70 per night. This is rarely waived even with elite status. Factor it into your stay cost. Self-park alternatives are limited in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, so weekend rates matter.

Questions

Frequently asked.

What is the best credit card for hotels in Los Angeles?

expand_more

Hilton Honors Aspire from American Express. Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills and Conrad LA Downtown are both Diamond-friendly properties. Annual fee is $550.

How many points do you need for a free night in Los Angeles?

expand_more

Roughly 80,000 points per night at the recommended chain for Los Angeles. Cash rate is around $420 per night, so the points stay is a meaningful discount versus paying cash.

Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant a better choice for hotels in Los Angeles?

expand_more

Ritz-Carlton Marina del Rey and JW Marriott LA Live both prices around 70K to 85K points off-peak. The 85K free night cert covers a Friday night at either, and Platinum upgrades at the Beverly Hills Marriott can move you into a junior suite. Annual fee is $650.