AwardWallet receives compensation from advertising partners for links on the blog. The opinions expressed here are our own and have not been reviewed, provided, or approved by any bank advertiser. Here's our complete list of Advertisers.
Offers for the United Club℠ Business Card are not available through this site. Some offers may have expired. Please see our card marketplace for available offers
Most of the time, I book hotels with points or a free night certificate. But that's not always possible. When I do pay cash, I want to get something back for it — whether that is extra perks or earning elite nights. I also make a point to use every statement credit available on my premium credit cards. If I am paying an annual fee, I am not letting those credits go to waste.
Programs like Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts and Chase's The Edit get most of the attention for these benefits. But those are not the only options. Most United credit cards offer some form of hotel credit for stays booked either through the United Hotels platform or the Renowned Hotels and Resorts program.
Here’s how these credits work and how I decide when to use them.
United Hotels Credits
United Hotels is a booking platform for United cardholders that is powered by Hotels.com. You can book stays, access member pricing, earn 2x miles, and pay with miles, cash, or both. It's similar to other booking platforms available through Delta and American Airlines.
Which United cards offer United Hotels credits?
United℠ Explorer Card and United℠ Business Card each offer up to $100 in statement credits annually when you use your card to book hotel stays through the United Hotels portal. This is broken up into two $50 statement credits, which can be used at any point during the year, whenever it fits your travel plans.
- Earn up to 60,000 bonus miles
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $150
- NEW! 9x total miles on eligible United flights and 3x miles on all other eligible United® purchases.
- 2x miles on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel. 1x mile on all other purchases.
- Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $200 per roundtrip. Terms Apply. Plus, priority boarding on United® flights.
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year - over a $100 value
- Over $500 in partner credits each year
- NEW! Save 10% or more when booking flights with miles. Premier members save even more.
- Member FDIC
- 3X miles per $1 spent on purchases from United®*
- 2X miles per $1 spent on dining and hotel stays when booked with the hotel
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
United Card Renowned Hotels and Resorts Credits
Renowned Hotels and Resorts is a curated collection of hotels and perks similar to, albeit smaller than, Amex's Fine Hotels and Resorts program. The hotels in the Renowned Hotels and Resorts collection typically have a higher price point and offer a more luxurious experience than your average hotel. Stays booked through the program come with elite-like benefits, including:
- Free breakfast for two
- $100 property credit (which can be used for dining, spa, etc.)
- Early check-in/late checkout
- Space-available room upgrades
Which United cards offer Renowned Hotels and Resorts credits?
The cards that offer credits for the Renowned Hotels and Resorts program are the premium cards with higher annual fees:
- United Quest℠ Card cardholders receive a $150 annual statement credit.
- United Club℠ Card cardholders receive a $200 annual statement credit.
- United Club℠ Business Card cardholders receive a $200 annual statement credit.
$350Rates & Fees
- 4X miled per $1 spent on United® purchases*
- 5X miles per $1 spent at Renowned Hotels and Resorts
- 2X miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- 2X miles per $1 spent at restaurants
- 2X miles per $1 spent on select streaming services
- 1X mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
$695Rates & Fees
- Earn 5 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases*
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining
- Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases
$695
When Does It Make Sense to Use United Hotel Credits?
Cardholders with United Hotels credits should find this perk easy to use since it functions much like any other third-party booking platform. I tend to think of it as best suited for utility stays, like when I had a positioning flight to Los Angeles before flying onward to Japan. We had a one-night airport hotel stay, and using the credit helped offset that cost.
That said, because it is a third-party booking, you are unlikely to earn elite night credits or receive status benefits. For that reason, I mostly use these credits for stays outside of major chains like Marriott or Hyatt.
I also typically use these for one-off stays. However, since there are no timing restrictions, the credits can be used for back-to-back reservations, making them a viable option for something like a quick weekend getaway.
What Is the Best Use for the Renowned Hotels and Resorts Credits?
While the Renowned Hotels & Resorts credits can offer more value, they can be harder to use. The collection skews toward expensive properties, and while the $150 credit helps on a one-night stay, it becomes less impactful across multiple nights.
For that reason, I tend to look for opportunities where the credit can meaningfully offset the cost and where I can actually take advantage of the included perks. This could be something like a weekend away with my husband or a trip to a friend’s wedding, where I might already be considering a nicer hotel. In those cases, the credit, breakfast, and on-property benefits can help elevate the overall experience rather than just slightly reducing the cost of a longer stay.
How to Use United Hotels Statement Credits
To trigger the United credit card hotel statement credits, click through to the portal linked on your Chase United card’s benefits page. Then search for your hotel and dates as you would on any other booking platform. Complete the reservation using your United card, and the statement credit will typically post within a few days of the transaction.
Final Thoughts
Most of the time, I still prefer to book hotels with points or free night certificates. But when I do pay cash, these credits are an easy way to get something back.
The key is understanding what each credit is actually good for. United Hotels credits are simple and flexible, making them easy to use for everyday stays. Renowned Hotels & Resorts credits can offer more value, but require a bit more intention to use well.
At the end of the day, I view these credits as part of the annual fee I have already paid. If I am going to keep the card, I want to make sure I am actually getting that value back.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: United℠ Explorer Card (Rates & Fees), United Quest℠ Card (Rates & Fees), and United Club℠ Card (Rates & Fees)
