It is fantastic that you have gone through the process of collecting valuable hotel points so you and your family can enjoy the low cost of accommodations on your travels. The next step is to make sure you preserve those points the best way possible. You will want to take advantage of free bonus nights where you can, sometimes paying with some cash combined with points when your balances are too low to cover the hotel nights, trying to avoid transferring points to an airline program, making sure points don’t expire, and trying to travel off-peak whenever possible.
Accumulate Hotel Points
In many cases you can accumulate hotel points for a definite amount of time before they start to expire. The good news is that because of the limited travel during COVID, hotel programs have been nice enough to extend those expiration dates. At some point that will end. You should always be aware of the expiration dates and make sure you use them before that date. In most cases all it takes is any activity on the co-branded credit card to extend it out an extra 12-24 months.
If you don’t have the credit card, you may want to apply so you can benefit even more from the hotel rewards program. Make sure you do not apply for the card until you know you have expenses coming up within 90 days so you can receive the bonus points with your minimum spend. You will most likely have to charge a couple of thousand dollars or more in the first 90 days. Some of these cards offer one year annual fee waived. Don’t let the annual fee be a turnoff. Some of them throw in a bonus when you pay the fee like a free night or a statement credit so it may offset. When you receive the bill for the annual fee it does not hurt to make a call and ask what they can do for you.
Transfer Hotel Points & Rewards
Unless you are desperately trying to accumulate enough mileage rewards for a flight, it is a poor decision to transfer your hotel rewards into airline rewards. In most cases you will be giving half the value away by doing that. By not transferring your points, you can maximize your rewards and stick to your value travel ambitions.
Utilize Your Dining Travel Rewards
You eat out or take out food anyway so get something for it. Make sure you link up your hotel rewards program to their free dining program. When you go to a participating restaurant you grow your hotel points balances. That is a no-brainer.
For example, Marriott is connected to The Eat Around Town program. For information to join go to eataroundtown.marriott.com. Another one is the Hilton Honors Dining which gives you Hilton Honors points. hiltonhonorsdining.com
Use Your Shopping Portals Rewards
At the present time, these programs are more limited than the dining rewards but do have flexibility. Some of them give you bonus points when used for gas stations and supermarkets. These are expenses we all have anyway so try to use the credit card that gives you the biggest bonuses.
Maximize The Value Of Your Hotel Points
There are many strategies you can do to keep your hotel points from being depleted. Even though you may go away for multiple nights at a hotel, you may find you spend less in points by booking one night at a time. Definitely look at that option before you book a multiple night reservation. Sometimes there are individual nights that cost a lot less due to availability. For instance an urban business hotel may have specials for weekend nights. Once you make your multiple reservations let the hotel know so they can link them together so you don’t have to check-in and check-out.
Even better, once you book, keep checking to see if point values change prior to your travels. Cancel your original reservation and rebook if you have to. Just make sure you avoid non-refundable reservations if you can. Unless it is a screaming deal there is no reason to.
Mix Cash & Hotel Points
If you do not have enough points to pay for your hotel stay, some of the programs allow you to supplement the reward points with cash to complete the transaction. Calculate if it is worth it to pay extra money to combine with your points balance to make your reservation. If you are planning well in advance, use your co-branded hotel credit card for those purchases to increase your balances in the rewards account. It may get you to the threshold you are looking for to avoid the cash option.
Take Advantage Of Bonus Nights
When you book multiple nights at a hotel, double check to see if you get a free night if you add an extra night. IHG offers a 4th night free and Marriott and Hilton offer a 5th night free. Don’t leave a free night on the table. Extend your trip one extra night and enjoy that promo!
Donate Your Hotel Travel Points
In addition, you can always choose to donate your hotel travel points. Donating your hotel points and rewards is an excellent way to support communities that are in need. There are plenty of charities you can donate to in order to support U.S veterans, LGBTQ rights, or global health. If you are interested in learning more, be sure to visit important foundations like the American Red Cross, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as well as the Polaris Project. Even if you have not accumulated a vast amount of hotel travel points yet, you can certainly make a difference with your donation. Certainly, consider donating your hotel points in order to make a difference and maximize your rewards.
Purchase Gift Cards With Your Points
Next, you can use your hotel points and rewards to purchase gift cards, as well as other consumer essentials. There are several hotel points programs that allow you to purchase gift cards for food delivery, grocery markets, and drug stores. In fact, you may even be able to transfer your airline miles to gift cards as well. This way, you can reduce your spending on everyday goods and services. Of course, this is increasingly beneficial to value travelers during the COVID-19 global pandemic, where finances are tight and travel is incredibly restrictive. Surely, purchasing gift cards with your accumulated hotel points is essential to maximize your value.
Remain Flexible
When looking to maximize your hotel points and rewards, remember to be flexible. Ideally, you will be able to be somewhat flexible on a mixture of your destinations, hotels, and travel dates. If this is the case, you will almost always be able to secure a better redemption rate. To get the best rates, avoid peak travel times, such as holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. At the same time, keep in mind that your dollar will go much further at more affordable, less luxurious hotels. Of course, this still provides you with a plethora of trustworthy options to choose from, especially when visiting bigger cities. As you prepare for post-COVID travel, it is important to remain flexible and prepare for your hotel rewards.
Look For Rewards That Meet Your Needs
Of course, it is important to look for hotel points and rewards that meet your lifestyle, preferences, and travel profile. For a start, ensure that your chosen hotel chain always has plenty of accommodations wherever you frequently travel. Some hotels are much more common in bigger cities, while others can more often be found in smaller, quaint towns. This way, you can ensure that you will always have ample opportunities to successfully accumulate and use your hotel points. Indeed, finding rewards that meet your needs is critical to maximize your overall value.
Upgrade To Elite Status
In many cases, it will be beneficial to upgrade your travel credit card program to elite status. Simply, elite status designates that you are preferred customer of your chosen hotel program. Traditionally, hotel rewards programs will often generic status levels like silver, gold, platinum, and elite. As you progress in each level, you will be able to claim an additional number of valuable rewards. If you travel frequently enough, this is one of the most dependable ways to maximize your rewards value.
Other Important Hotel Rewards Tips
Be aware that your hotel points have value. The longer you have a balance in your account, the longer you enjoy free accommodations. As with all value travel strategies try to avoid peak times. Because there is more demand at those times, hotels can ask for more points per night. Look to go off-season, weekends unless it is a business hotel which has more supply on the weekends, non-convention times, and avoiding major events near that hotel. A music festival or a major sporting event can fill a hotel and peak hotel points go with that. If you must go to a destination during an expensive hotel point stay, save those points for another time and grab an AirBnb or B&B on the outskirts of town with a lower cost.
Make sure you take advantage of what is coming to you complimentary! Some of the co-branded cards offer you wi-fi at your hotel which can get expensive, bottled water which can add up during your stay, a room upgrade but only if you ask, and if you are leaving the country, waiving all transaction fees on your credit card transactions. That one can really add up and may save you 3% on EVERY charge.
Ultimately, with all value travel strategies, basing your trip dates around the best possible use of your points will get you more travel for free in the long run. If you must go on a particular date with no flexibility at all, it may cost you a lot more than it needs to be. Value travelers hate peak times!
Here is your little cheat sheet……
- Radisson Rewards- min of 9000 points for a free hotel night. 85,000 bonus points with $ 2500 spent within 90 days. radissonhotels.com
- World of Hyatt- min of 5000 points for a free night. Resort fees are waived when using a free night. 30,000 bonus points with $3000 spent within 90 days. worldofhyatt.com
- Marriott Bonvoy- 75,000 bonus points with $3000 spent within 90 days. marriott.com
- Hilton Honors- 150,000 bonus points with $2000 spent within 90 days. $ 150 statement credit given. Hiltonhonors.com
- IHG Rewards- 140,000 bonus points with $ 3000 spent within 90 days.
All this information is subject to change. Special offers may be made that are even better at times. By following the tips above, you can optimize your hotel points, rewards, and credit score travel hacking strategy.
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