Free breakfast in a hotel is convenient but often comes at a price. Yet there are ways to get free breakfast at nearly any major hotel chain in the U.S., such as by joining loyalty programs and working your way toward earning elite status (and often you can easily earn elite status through holding certain credit cards).

Here’s how to get breakfasts for free at eight of the biggest hotel companies.

Photo courtesy of Best Western.

1. Best Western

Good news: Best Western offers a free breakfast at most of their locations. If the hotel has an onsite restaurant, Best Western says it is at their discretion (your booking will say if the hotel includes free breakfast).

If the hotel offers a staff-served breakfast, expect menu items including a pre-packaged or homemade breakfast sandwich, yogurt, cereals, a pre-wrapped muffin, pastry, or breakfast bread and fruit (either pre-wrapped individually or fresh whole fruit).

Otherwise, Grab & Go breakfast is available at other hotels, as well as for guests departing before breakfast service begins.

Some of the breakfast options available at most Aloft hotels. Photo courtesy of Marriott.

2. Marriott

Residence Inn by Marriott, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Fairfield by Marriott, and TownePlace Suites by Marriott locations all have free breakfast with a standard reservation.

At most other Marriott properties, breakfast is typically included if you have Platinum status or higher in the Marriott Bonvoy program.

Otherwise, Marriott typically offers a Stay for Breakfast package at many of its properties for an additional fee added to your reservation.

The breakfast area at a Tru by Hilton hotel. Photo courtesy of Hilton.

3. Hilton

Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton offer free breakfast to all guests with a standard reservation.

As far as the rest of Hilton's hotels, you can get free breakfast by holding either Gold or Diamond elite status. With that, you get a daily food and beverage credit to use on breakfast — or any meal of the day (brunch, linner and late-night snacks are all eligible) at all properties that don't otherwise offer free breakfast to all guests. The amount of the credit varies by hotel brand, but generally speaking, more upscale hotel brands offer a higher credit.

You can also purchase a Breakfast Included package when you stay at a Hilton that includes breakfast for two adults per room. This rate is slightly higher than a standard room, so it’s not totally free.

The breakfast buffet at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson. Photo courtesy of Radisson.

4. Radisson

Complimentary, hot breakfast is available to all guests at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson hotels.

Otherwise, Radisson offers complimentary breakfast to its Platinum status holders — but make sure to read the fine print. The status holder must be the registered guest, and only the status holder received complimentary breakfast.

Or, consider purchasing the Breakfast & Bed For 2 deal. While exact benefits vary by hotel, it typically includes two breakfast coupons for use in the hotel restaurant or room service for each night of your stay, as well as other perks like a 2,000 Radisson Rewards point bonus.

5. International Hotels Group (IHG)

Holiday Inn Express, Avid Hotels and Staybridge Suites locations offer complimentary breakfast for all guests.

Crowne Plaza and Hotel Indigo have a Best Flex with Breakfast deal for up to two adults per room.

The breakfast offering at Quality Inn. Photo courtesy of Choice Hotels.

6. Choice Hotels

Comfort Suites, Quality Inn and Comfort Inn offer complimentary breakfast for all guests. The hotel promises a free hot, fresh and healthy breakfas with items like eggs, waffles or pancakes.

The spread of free breakfast at Hyatt Place. Photo courtesy of Hyatt.

7. Hyatt

Hyatt House, Hyatt Place offer free breakfast to all guests. And because Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva are all-inclusive properties, you'll get not just free breakfast, but free brunch, lunch, linner, dinner and late-night snacks, should you choose.