Subscribe Today !
Login

Hotel Programs

Second to flight tickets, accommodation is the next biggest expense when traveling. Why not save hundreds of dollars and take advantage of free hotel rooms?

Hotel Co-Branded Cards

All of the big hotel programs offer co-branded credit cards with welcome bonuses worth several free nights. These cards also give you automatic status in the loyalty programs, which can include free breakfast, room upgrades, welcome amenities, and late checkouts

Transfer Points

You also have the option to transfer points from other credit cards with transferable currencies – Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards – to partner hotel loyalty programs. Points are usually transferable at a ratio of 1 to 1, and throughout the year there are often transfer bonuses of up to 70%

The annual fees that come with most cards are more than made up for in free nights and the perks mentioned above. An often-overlooked benefit of booking hotel rooms with points is that these bookings are highly flexible. Even with very short notice, you’re able to cancel bookings for a full refund of your points. You can save thousands of points by cancelling and rebooking when the redemption rate is cheaper

Booking For More Than 2

When trying to search for redemption nights for more than 2 people in a room, it’s very normal to see limited availability. Many of these hotels have no issue with you including your kids, while others (especially in Europe and Japan) are very strict about occupancy limits. The best way to handle this is to book with 2 people in a room, email the hotel with your confirmation number, and let them know you are coming with your kids. Having it on record is a sure way to avoid any issues when checking in

Hyatt

World of Hyatt

The World of Hyatt loyalty program is by far my favorite and the reason why I keep a stash of Chase Ultimate Reward points. Category 1 hotels are sufficient for me, and they go for as little as 3,500 points during off-peak and 5,000 during regular season. I’ve been shocked at how nice some of these rooms are. This is absolutely one of the best ways to use Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I value World of Hyatt points at 2 cents per point

World of Hyatt Loyalty Program

  • Chase is the only transfer partner and bank with co-branded cards
  • Only 2 co-branded credit cards to choose from
  • Transfer bonuses are extremely rare
  • Cheapest redemption rate of any hotel loyalty program
  • Hotels are categorized as 1 to 8, with 1 being the lowest redemption rate
  • Brand Explorer is a fun perk that rewards you a Free Night Award (category 1 to 4) for every 5 new Hyatt brands you stay at
  • Hyatt House gives free breakfast at all locations, with the exception being Southeast Asia
  • Discoverist status is easy to achieve with a co-branded credit card or 10 qualifying nights and gets you late checkout at 2pm and a Preferred room within same room category (better view, high floor, etc…)
  • Explorist status with 30 qualifying nights gets you a free room upgrade
  • Chase allows you to earn a new welcome bonus for a World of Hyatt card every 2 years

World of Hyatt Credit Card

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card

My Take

These cards come with point multipliers and benefits that I haven’t mentioned above. You should take a close look at what each card offers to determine what is the best for you. I focus solely on the benefits that easily offset the annual fee

The World of Hyatt personal card more than pays for itself with the annual Free Night Award

Marriott

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy has over 30 hotel brands and 10,000 global destinations, making it the world’s largest hotel network. Redemptions range from around 8,000 points to hundreds of thousands per night, and everywhere in-between. The co-branded credit cards often come with Free Night Certificates that put you in rooms worth over $500 a night. This is the only program with more than one transfer partner, making it easier to redeem free nights. I value Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents per point, and you can easily get more value when you take advantage of a 5th night free on award stays

Marriott Bonvoy

  • American Express and Chase are the transfer partners and banks with co-branded credit cards

  • Regular transfer bonuses up to 70%

  • Hotels frequently offer deals of 15% off when staying 3 nights or longer (including point redemptions)

  • Marriott Bonvoy members receive a 5th night free on award stays (does not include stays redeemed using Free Night Certificates)

  • Several co-branded credit cards to choose from

  • Element, Fairfield, Residence Inn, Spring Hill Suites, and TownePlace Suites offer free breakfast

  • Silver status is easy to achieve with a co-branded credit card or 10 qualifying nights, and gets you late checkout at 2pm

  • Gold status is easy to achieve with a co-branded credit card, and gets you an automatic room upgrade

  • American Express credit cards are once in a lifetime, meaning you can only earn the signup bonus for a card once

  • Chase allows you to earn a new welcome bonus on a Marriott Bonvoy card every 2 years

Marriott Bonvoy Bold from Chase

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless from Chase

Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful from Chase

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card

  • Standard offer is 95,000 points after $6,000 in purchases within 6 months

  • Automatic Platinum Elite Status

  • One Free Night Certificate (85k value) each cardmember anniversary

  • $300 dining credits annually ($25 in statement credit per month)

  • Priority Pass with unlimited access for primary cardholder and 2 guests

  • Annual fee $650

  • https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/marriott-bonvoy-brilliant/

Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card

The Ritz-Carlton Card from Chase

  • No offer as this card is not available to new applicants

  • Only available via a product-change from another Chase Marrott Bonvoy credit card

  • Automatic Gold Elite Status

  • One Free Night Certificate (85k value) each cardmember anniversary

  • $300 airline credits annually

  • Annual fee $450

  • https://creditcards.chase.com/marriott/cardmember/ritz-carlton 

My Take

These cards come with point multipliers and benefits that I haven’t mentioned above. You should take a close look at what each card offers to determine what is the best for you. I focus solely on the benefits that easily offset the annual fee

The Boundless from Chase and the Business American Express both come with annual Free Night Awards that easily offset the annual fee. The Bold, Boundless, and Bountiful from Chase are all paths towards the Ritz-Carlton Card, which comes with the most generous Priority Pass benefits offered through cards today

IHG

IHG One Rewards

The IHG group of hotels offers co-branded credit cards with impressive welcome bonuses and hotel perks. You’ll find that they often have hotels in locations where others don’t. Their hotels are generally family friendly, and usually do not have an issue with going over max occupancy to allow families with children in one room. Redemptions start at around 8,000 points and range upwards to near 100,000 per night. I value IHG One Rewards points at 0.5 cents per point, and you can easily get more value when you take advantage of a 4th night free on award stays

IHG One Rewards

  • Chase is the only transfer partner and bank with co-branded credit cards

  • Regular transfer bonuses up to 70%

  • Card members get a 4th night free on award stays (does not include stays redeemed using Free Night Awards)

  • Late checkout at 2pm simply by joining as a member

  • Holiday Inn Express, Avid, and Staybridge Suites offer free breakfast

  • Platinum status is easy to achieve with co-branded credit cards, and gets you an automatic room upgrade and welcome amenity

  • Chase allows you to earn a new welcome bonus on an IHG card every 2 years

IHG One Rewards Traveller Card

IHG One Rewards Premier Card

  • Standard offer is 140,000 points after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months

  • Automatic Platinum Elite Status

  • Eligible for 4th night free on award stays

  • One Free Night Award (40k value) each card member anniversary

  • Annual fee $99

  • https://www.referyourchasecard.com/210y/ZUB9UGYB6O

IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card

  • Standard offer is 140,000 points after $4,000 in purchases within 3 months

  • Automatic Platinum Elite Status

  • Eligible for 4th night free on award stays

  • One Free Night Award (40k value) each card member anniversary

  • Annual fee $99

  • https://www.referyourchasecard.com/210y/ZUB9UGYB6O

My Take

These cards come with point multipliers and benefits that I haven’t mentioned above. You should take a close look at what each card offers to determine what is the best for you. I focus solely on the benefits that easily offset the annual fee

All three of these cards offer generous welcome bonuses, especially when considering the low annual fees. The Platinum Elite status that comes with both of the Premier cards generally gets you a very nice room upgrade, making it very worthwhile to choose one of these cards

Hilton

Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors has an impressive portfolio of hotels with the 2nd largest global footprint. They are known as the family friendly hotel group – offering perks to families that make stays cheaper and more comfortable. Standard award redemptions range from 5,000 to 150,000 points, while Premium redemptions can skyrocket to over 1 million points. Premium redemptions are advertised when there are no longer any Standard redemptions available – it does not mean you are getting a better room. While redemption rates come across as expensive, it is also easier to earn Hilton points. I value Hilton Honors points at 0.5 cents per point, and you can easily get more value when redeeming a 5th night free on award stays

Hilton

  • American Express is the only transfer partner and bank offering co-branded credit cards

  • Transfer bonuses up to 50%

  • 5th night free on award stays

  • Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, Project H3 by Hilton, Spark by Hilton, and Tru by Hilton offer free breakfast

  • Easy to achieve Gold Status with co-branded credit cards, which gets you an automatic room upgrade and free breakfast or F&B credit

  • Late checkout at 2pm simply by joining as member

  • Known to be very lenient going above max occupancy for families

  • Book confirmed connecting rooms for families with discounts of up to 50% for the 2nd room

  • American Express credit cards are once in a lifetime, meaning you can only earn the welcome bonus for a card once

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

  • Standard offer is 150,000 points after $6,000 in purchases within 6 months

  • Automatic Diamond Status

  • Get $200 in statement credit semi-annually for purchases made at Hilton properties ($400 annually)

  • Get $50 in statement credit each quarter on flight purchases directly with airlines or through Amex Travel ($200 annually)

  • Annual fee $550

  • https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/hilton-honors-aspire/ 

Hilton Honors Business Card

My Take

These cards come with point multipliers and benefits that I haven’t mentioned above. You should take a close look at what each card offers to determine what is the best for you. I focus solely on the benefits that easily offset the annual fee

The Hilton cards are designed for people who stay at Hilton properties regularly, and it’s easy to offset the annual fees for the Surpass or Business card if you stay at these hotels at least once each quarter. All but the no annual fee card come with Gold Status or better, which will get you free breakfast and room upgrades

Subscribe
Request Concierge