Guide to Acquiring Complimentary Hotel Morning Meals
Top Hotel Credit Cards Offer Perks for Food and Breakfast
In the world of travel, the right credit card can make all the difference. Two popular co-branded hotel credit cards, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card, offer a range of benefits that cater to food and breakfast lovers.
The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card stands out with its generous points earning structure. Cardholders can earn 14x Hilton Honors points for eligible charges at Hilton properties, 7x points on flights booked directly with airlines or AmEx Travel and on car rentals from select car rental companies, 7x points at U.S. restaurants, and 3x points for all other eligible purchases. Additionally, the card offers a $200 airfare credit every year and a $400 in Hilton resort credits annually.
One unique feature of the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is the daily food and beverage credit to use on breakfast or any meal of the day at all properties that don't otherwise offer free breakfast to all guests. Some premium Hilton cards, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, even offer complimentary breakfast to cardholders.
On the Marriott side, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide. Cardholders can also earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3x points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines, and 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card also provides 25 Elite Night credits, which help you get closer to earning Platinum Elite status and complimentary breakfast at almost all Marriott hotels. Marriott Bonvoy elites at the Platinum or higher level can often choose free breakfast in the hotel restaurant at most properties.
Complimentary Breakfast at Hilton and Marriott Hotels
When it comes to complimentary breakfast, some Hilton brands offer free breakfast to all guests, such as Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and Home2 Suites by Hilton. These brands typically provide complimentary breakfast to every guest, with Hampton by Hilton notably offering a hot breakfast including its signature fresh-baked guest-made Belgian waffles.
In the Hilton Honors loyalty program, Gold and Diamond elite members generally receive complimentary breakfast or a food & beverage credit depending on the hotel, brand, and location. Gold members may receive a complimentary continental breakfast at most full-service Hilton properties, while Diamond members receive guaranteed Executive Lounge access where breakfast and other refreshments are served.
In contrast, Marriott Bonvoy does not offer complimentary breakfast to all guests, but top-tier elite members can enjoy complimentary breakfast at most properties.
Improved Hotel Free Breakfast Options
Hotel free breakfast options have improved in recent years, offering hot options with a wider range of dietary preferences. Whether you're a fan of Hilton or Marriott, these credit cards can help you make the most of your hotel stays with their attractive food and breakfast benefits.
[1] Source for Hampton by Hilton breakfast information [2] Source for Hilton Honors elite status breakfast benefits [3] Source for Hampton by Hilton breakfast information [4] Source for Hilton Honors Diamond elite status benefits [5] Source for Hilton Honors elite status breakfast changes in the U.S.
- With the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, cardholders can enjoy a daily food and beverage credit to use on breakfast or any meal at all properties that don't offer free breakfast to all guests.
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card offers up to $300 in statement credits per year for eligible food purchases at restaurants worldwide.
- Some Hilton brands, like Hampton by Hilton, offer free hot breakfast to all guests, including their signature fresh-baked Belgian waffles.
