The frequent flyer programs that are associated with the hotel chains allow enhanced benefits. This feature enables one to get more value for the points, therefore making their holidays cheaper. This option is offered by many prominent hotel chains, such as Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG Rewards, making it a key initiative for such guests. In this way, by knowing how to use this perk to the best, you will be able to save points on the hotels while you take an extended vacation. This guide will also discuss the best programs that offer this feature, how to get the most out of it, and mistakes to avoid when redeeming free hotel award nights.
When redeeming points, most of the top hotel chains give free nights to their members, where one is awarded an additional five nights for every five that is paid for. This means that when you use points to book five nights, you only pay for four, and this is because of the point system. Some of the programs, such as IHG One Rewards, may have a fourth-night-free scheme for cardholders of certain credit cards. This is a great improvement of the value of hotel award nights free, which now enables more valuable, longer vacations using fewer points. Knowing how these programs operate and the various conditions attached to them can enable one to derive the best out of the programs, and more so when seeking cheap hotel accommodation in popular destinations.
All the large hotel groups have some form of a fourth or fifth-night-free policy, although the details vary. Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors offer award night redemption free night certificates. IHG Rewards and Citi ThankYou Points provide an opportunity to get the fourth night free for holders of certain credit cards. Some of these privileges are valid only for multi-night stays in the specified hotels, and some may not be offered during high-demand periods. Before making the booking, always consult the program rules as to whether you will be able to get this benefit and redeem your hotels at top hotels, whether luxury or cheap, anywhere in the world.
Also, members of Marriott Bonvoy are eligible to get a free night stay when they book five paid nights. This benefit is applicable to points booking for standard rooms, which makes it possible to get the most out of hotel reward points. The discount applies when a person books the hotel for five consecutive days. This program is perfect for those traveling to LXR, Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, and St. Regis, among other luxury hotels. But it does not apply to the paid stay or to any promotions that are advertised as such. In this way, through free points and longer vacations, Marriott Bonvoy members can save thousands of points besides enjoying luxury accommodations in great places.
Fifth-night-free is applicable to redemptions with points bookings by Silver, Gold, and Diamond members. This perk is valid for standard room rewards, which makes it a good method of earning Hilton points. The best-value redemptions are available with Waldorf Astoria, Conrad Hotels, and Hilton beachfront hotels. Members who book five or more nights get the free night to be redeemed and debited from the member’s account. It is, however, useful for those who are guests of luxury Hilton resorts where nightly rates may be steep. Advance booking of award stays is very important because of the availability of the stay, as well as to get the highest return on travel rewards.
So to get the best value for hotel award nights free, the traveler should target hotels that give the most value for points earned. Using the free night benefit on luxury resorts or popular destinations provides the most benefits of the reward. For instance, redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points at a Caribbean beach resort or Hilton Honors points at a Maldives overwater villa is a big deal of saving. Travelers also need to compare the cash price and the value of the award they intend to get so as to get the best offer. This way, proper planning enables the travelers to stay in the best hotels for more days without using additional points.
Some hotels provide other bonus schemes that can be added to the fifth-night-free in order to get the most benefit. Moreover, the hotel brands have a tendency to have a double points promotion, which makes it easier to gain points. Customers can also book award nights during low-demand options and therefore get to use a lower number of points to book a stay. Thus, by employing these two strategies, the travelers are able to have more vacation days yet spend fewer points in their best hotel award redemptions.
To avail this offer, the traveler has to spend a certain number of days at a luxury resort, and the fifth day is free of cost. The Ritz-Carlton, Maldives; Fairmont Bora Bora; and St. Regis Bali are such properties that can be booked for a great value on points. The high-end resorts range anywhere from 100,000 points per night and more, so a free night translates to a substantial saving. In particular, the first-timers may consider booking long-term accommodation in exotic locations to make the most out of the best-tier hotel rewards.
As mentioned above, the fourth or fifth night free is quite beneficial when it comes to using the hotel points and getting longer vacations at the best destinations. Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG Rewards are some of the programs that have useful free night benefits for people who travel often. With regard to the tips, the stays must be planned to avoid high seasons, and especially to check the availability of the award to get the best offers, and no hidden fees or charges should be made in order to take advantage of the points and get luxury or cheaper hotels. Whether it is an overwater villa in the Maldives or a city apartment in New York, the free award nights are a steal in any case.