Who doesn’t like free breakfast? Whether staying at a budget hotel or splurging on a European vacation, a comped breakfast is a perk everyone can enjoy.

That's why so many frequent travelers aim to figure out how to get complimentary hotel breakfast regularly. While it's true that many hotel loyalty programs offer complimentary breakfast to top-tier elite members, not everyone travels enough to reach elite status. Luckily, there's another, more fast-tracked way to access these perks: Get mid- to upper-level status by holding a premium co-branded hotel credit card.

The caveat? You will have to pay an annual fee. But if you travel frequently, the advantages of having one of these cards can far outweigh the cost.

How it works

Some premium co-branded hotel credit cards come with automatic elite status, which means complimentary breakfast when you stay at certain hotels and resorts. Hotels differ in that some provide this perk in a dedicated club lounge, while others serve elites complimentary breakfast in the hotel’s main restaurant.

Here's a roundup of hotel credit cards that offer complimentary breakfast to consider adding to your collection.

Credit cards that offer complimentary breakfast for travelers

At certain Hilton brands including Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hampton by Hilton, Tru by Hilton (pictured here), Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton, breakfast is free for all guests, regardless of status. Photo courtesy of Hilton.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

This card doesn’t come with as many red-carpet perks as the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, but it gets you a daily food and beverage credit from the automatic Hilton Gold status that comes with it. Hilton's daily food and beverage credit can be redeemed any time of day 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.

Benefits of Hilton Gold status include 80% bonus points on stays, Milestone Bonuses and room upgrades.

With its modest annual fee ($150 annual fee), the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card can be a solid option for less-frequent Hilton guests who are looking for a few extra perks, like complimentary breakfast.

Other benefits of this card include:

Welcome bonus: Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.

Earn 12x Hilton Honors points on eligible purchases charged at Hilton hotels.

Earn 6x points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.

Earn 4x points on U.S. online retail purchases.

Earn 3x points for all other eligible purchases.

Terms apply.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers some of the best perks you’ll find anywhere. This card carries a high annual fee of $550, but you automatically get Diamond status — the top tier in the Hilton Honors program, which gets you VIP perks when you stay with Hilton.

By holding either Gold or Diamond elite status, 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.

Other benefits of this card include:

Welcome bonus: Earn 180,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/17/2024.

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.

3x points for all other eligible purchases.

$400 in Hilton resort credits every year.

$200 airfare credit every year.

Terms apply.

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

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card won’t automatically get you complimentary breakfast, but it'll help you get closer to earning it once you put in a still-significant amount of effort yourself.

Platinum Elite status will get you complimentary breakfast at almost all Marriott hotels. But to reach Platinum status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, you'll have to have accumulated 50 Elite Night credits in a year. The card, which has an annual fee of $650, gives you 15 Elite Night credits, so you have to stay a far fewer-35 nights to get you to that free breakfast.

But once you have status, it can be worth it. Marriott has been revamping its menu items, including the November 2021 relaunch of breakfast at its Aloft Hotels brand, which serves up trendy menu items including a plant-based sandwich featuring Beyond Meat’s signature breakfast sausage, Funfetti and maple-glazed cinnamon rolls, and Nutella waffles.

At some Marriott brands, Platinum members get to choose their welcome gift, one of which is complimentary breakfast. At other brands, you will be able to enjoy breakfast in the lounge. Unfortunately, there are a few properties where you won’t get complimentary breakfast, like at Ritz Carlton hotels or at Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels or EDITION properties that do not have a lounge.

Other benefits of this card include:

Welcome bonus: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

$300 annual statement credit for eligible purchases at Marriott Bonvoy hotels. Effective Sept. 22, 2022, the $300 Marriott credit will be replaced with a new benefit of up to $300 in statement credits per calendar year (up to $25 per month) for eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide.

6x Marriott Bonvoy points on eligible purchases at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels.

3x points at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines.

2x points on all other eligible purchases.

Annual free night award redeemable for a room costing 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Certain hotels have resort fees.

Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership with unlimited visits to participating airport lounges. Enrollment required.

No foreign transaction fee.

Terms apply.