Travel Hacking: Hotel and Hostel Rewards Programs
Hotels.com Rewards Program
The Hotels.com Rewards program can be a helpful tool for travel hacking if you frequently stay at hotels and want to earn rewards that can be used towards future travel. Here's how the program works and how it can help with travel hacking:
Sign up for the program: To participate in the Hotels.com Rewards program, you'll need to create an account on the Hotels.com website or app. It's free to join and easy to get started.
Earn rewards: With the Hotels.com Rewards program, you earn 1 reward night for every 10 nights you stay at a participating hotel. The value of the reward night is based on the average rate of the 10 nights you've stayed, and can be redeemed at any participating hotel. There are no blackout dates, so you can use your reward nights whenever you want.
Silver and Gold status: In addition to earning reward nights, you can also achieve Silver or Gold status in the Hotels.com Rewards program by staying a certain number of nights or spending a certain amount on hotel bookings. Silver and Gold members can earn extra rewards, such as bonus points on bookings, priority customer service, and early access to sales and deals.
No expiration: The reward nights you earn with the Hotels.com Rewards program never expire, as long as you have activity in your account at least once every 12 months. This means you can save up your reward nights for a big trip or use them whenever you want.
No restrictions: The Hotels.com Rewards program has no restrictions on how you can use your reward nights. You can use them for any participating hotel, anywhere in the world, and there are no blackout dates. This can be a great way to save money on hotel stays and stretch your travel budget further.
Marriot Bonvoy Rewards Program
The Marriott Bonvoy program is a hotel loyalty program that allows members to earn points for stays at participating Marriott hotels and resorts. These points can be redeemed for free hotel stays, room upgrades, airline miles, car rentals, and other rewards.Here are a few ways that the Marriott Bonvoy program can help with travel hacking:
Free hotel stays: By earning points through the Marriott Bonvoy program, you can book free hotel stays at participating Marriott hotels and resorts. This can be a great way to save money on travel, particularly if you frequently stay at Marriott properties. Depending on the hotel and room type, free nights can cost anywhere from a few thousand points to tens of thousands of points. Additionally, Marriott often offers promotions that allow you to earn bonus points or free nights for completing certain activities or staying a certain number of nights.
Elite status benefits: Marriott Bonvoy offers elite status tiers, which provide additional benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast, lounge access, and more. By reaching elite status, you can enjoy a more comfortable and luxurious travel experience without having to pay for it out of pocket. There are several elite status tiers, including Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elite, each with different benefits and requirements.
Credit card rewards: Marriott Bonvoy also partners with credit card companies to offer co-branded credit cards that allow you to earn additional points for everyday spending. By using a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, you can earn points on purchases like groceries, gas, and dining, in addition to the points you earn for hotel stays. Many Marriott Bonvoy credit cards also offer a welcome bonus of tens of thousands of points, which can be a great way to jumpstart your rewards balance.
Overall, the Marriott Bonvoy program can be a valuable tool for travel hacking, particularly for frequent travelers who stay at Marriott properties. By earning points, reaching elite status, and taking advantage of credit card rewards, you can save money on hotel stays and enjoy a more luxurious travel experience.
Hostelling International Rewards
Hostelling International is a global network of non-profit hostels that provides affordable and high-quality accommodation for travelers. The HI reward program is called the HI Membership Rewards program and it is designed to reward travelers for their loyalty to the Hostelling International network.Here are a few ways that the HI Membership Rewards program can help with travel hacking:
Discounts on accommodation: With an HI membership, you can enjoy discounts on accommodation at HI hostels around the world. Depending on the location and type of room, these discounts can range from a few dollars to a significant percentage off the regular price. By staying at HI hostels, you can save money on accommodation and stretch your travel budget further.
Free nights: The HI Membership Rewards program allows you to earn points for every night you stay at an HI hostel. Once you earn enough points, you can redeem them for free nights at any participating HI hostel. This can be a great way to save money on accommodation, particularly if you plan to stay at HI hostels frequently.
Discounts on activities: In addition to discounts on accommodation, HI members can also enjoy discounts on activities and tours in many locations. This can be a great way to save money on sightseeing and other travel activities, and can help you make the most of your travel experience.
Overall, the HI Membership Rewards program can be a valuable tool for travel hacking, particularly for budget-conscious travelers who are looking for affordable and high-quality accommodation. By taking advantage of the discounts and rewards offered through the program, you can save money on accommodation and activities, stretch your travel budget further, and have a more enjoyable travel experience.
*You do have to buy the membership first. It was 15 GBP last checked for US citizens.
Hilton Honors Rewards Program
Hilton Honors is the loyalty program for the Hilton hotel chain, which includes more than 6,000 properties in over 100 countries. With Hilton Honors, you can earn points for stays at participating hotels, as well as through credit card spending and other activities. These points can be redeemed for free hotel stays, room upgrades, airline miles, car rentals, and other rewards.
One of the best things about Hilton Honors is that it offers a wide range of hotel brands, from budget-friendly options like Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites to luxury properties like Waldorf Astoria and Conrad. Hilton Honors also offers elite status tiers, which can provide additional benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast, and lounge access.
Another key benefit of the Hilton Honors program is that it partners with a number of airline loyalty programs, including Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, and American Airlines AAdvantage. This means that you can transfer your Hilton Honors points to these airline programs and use them to book flights, which can be a great way to stretch your rewards even further.
Overall, Hilton Honors is a strong hotel rewards program that can be a great option for travel hacking. With a wide range of hotel brands, elite status tiers, and airline partnerships, it offers a lot of value for frequent travelers.
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