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The best credit card for hotels in San Francisco.

Updated

Why this card

IHG One Rewards Premier for hotels in San Francisco.

San Francisco has an unusual mix: Hyatt has the Park Hyatt and Grand Hyatt SFO, Marriott has the St Regis SOMA and W Union Square, and IHG has the Kimpton portfolio across the city.

Annual fee

$99

Best earn rate

10 points per dollar at IHG, free anniversary night up to 40,000 points, Platinum status

Signup bonus

175,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 months

San Francisco has eight Kimpton properties in the city center (Sir Francis Drake, Buchanan, Marker, Riu Plaza, etc.). The Premier's 40K anniversary night covers a standard Kimpton room in most non-conference weeks. Kimpton wine hour is included nightly and the brand vibe matches the city better than a typical chain. The card's fourth-night-free benefit on points stays is also strong for SF since visitors usually do 3 to 5 night stays.

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If the top pick is not right

Alternative: World of Hyatt Credit Card.

Park Hyatt San Francisco is a Category 5 to 6 property at 25K to 35K a night against $400 to $600 cash. The Hyatt card's 4x earn on stays plus annual free night plus 5 elite night credits keeps you within reach of Globalist if SF is a regular trip.

ChaseAnnual fee $95

At a glance

Side by side.

SpecIHG One Rewards PremierWorld of Hyatt Credit Card
Annual fee$99$95
Best earn rate10 points per dollar at IHG, free anniversary night up to 40,000 points, Platinum statusSee alternative section above
Signup bonus175,000 points after $4,000 spend in 3 monthsVaries by month

Local tip

What to know before you book.

San Francisco hotels add a tourism assessment district fee on top of normal tax, which runs around 2 percent. Most chain properties also have a daily destination fee ($25 to $40). Confirm what is included in your points stay because some hotels still charge the destination fee on award nights.

Questions

Frequently asked.

What is the best credit card for hotels in San Francisco?

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IHG One Rewards Premier from Chase. San Francisco has eight Kimpton properties in the city center (Sir Francis Drake, Buchanan, Marker, Riu Plaza, etc.). Annual fee is $99.

How many points do you need for a free night in San Francisco?

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Roughly 35,000 points per night at the recommended chain for San Francisco. Cash rate is around $350 per night, so the points stay is a meaningful discount versus paying cash.

Is the World of Hyatt Credit Card a better choice for hotels in San Francisco?

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Park Hyatt San Francisco is a Category 5 to 6 property at 25K to 35K a night against $400 to $600 cash. The Hyatt card's 4x earn on stays plus annual free night plus 5 elite night credits keeps you within reach of Globalist if SF is a regular trip. Annual fee is $95.