Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays

Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays - Leverage Elite Status for Room Upgrades

One of the best perks of hotel elite status is the ability to score complimentary room upgrades. As an elite member, you'll often get bumped to a nicer room just for being loyal. This allows you to experience luxury accommodations without paying full price.

According to Torsten, upgrades can take your stay to the next level. He says that even moving up one category at a Category 7 property feels amazing. You may get more space, better views, enhanced bathroom amenities and other elite benefits. It makes the overall experience much more enjoyable.

The key is understanding how to maximize your upgrade chances. Torsten recommends being proactive and requesting upgrades at booking. Calling the hotel directly instead of booking online gives you the best shot. Politely ask about availability of upgraded rooms and mention your elite status. The earlier you book, the more likely something will be open.

If you don't get it at booking, Torsten advises following up at check-in. Go to the front desk and nicely inquire about any suite upgrades or better rooms that are unoccupied. Having status gives you an advantage over non-elites. Be friendly and flexible - taking any upgrade offered, even if it's not the best room, means you'll be on their radar next visit.

Finally, Torsten says booking premium room types with points can score upgrades too. The hotel may move you from a standard suite to a penthouse suite, for example, in recognition of your loyalty. This works best at high-end properties with multiple suite types.

Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays - Book Connecting Stays to Extend Your Free Night

One clever way to get more value from your free night certificates is to book connecting stays at the same property. By booking back-to-back reservations, you can essentially extend your award redemption over multiple nights while only paying for one.

According to Torsten, this strategy works best when you have consecutive free night certs to use. For example, if you have two free nights from a credit card anniversary, book two back-to-back stays. On the day you check out from the first booking, you’ll check right back in for the second booking.

By connecting your stays, you've now stretched your free night certs to cover four total nights while only paying for the middle two nights. This helps maximize the perks of elite status, as your benefits will apply over the entire four-night stay instead of two separate two-night stays.

Connecting stays also makes the checkout/check-in process smoother. You avoid having to fully change rooms and lug your luggage around. As Torsten describes it, connecting stays feels more like one long stay instead of two fragmented short stays. You settle in for the duration versus constantly packing up and moving around.

Another benefit is you may be able to keep the same room for all four nights. If you book far enough in advance and politely request to remain in the same room, many hotels will accommodate this. It's less work for them too. According to loyalty fanatic Daisy, this turned two free weekend nights into a four-night weekend getaway in a club-level suite.

That said, connecting stays doesn't always guarantee room consistency. Torsten cautions that you may have to change rooms, particularly during busy travel periods. Hotels can’t always hold the same room for four nights in a row. Be gracious if they can’t accommodate this request.

Also keep in mind that this strategy may not work over major holidays when hotels have minimum stay requirements. But outside of peak dates, Daisy has successfully used connecting stays to extend free weekend award nights into five-night stays.

Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays - Use Points for Multiple Short Stays

When it comes to redeeming points, most travelers focus on free night certificates or splurging on dream vacations. But Torsten suggests another approach - using points for multiple short stays. This strategy can help you get more value from your rewards.

The key is taking advantage of lower point requirements for shorter stays. As Torsten explains, "A one or two night booking at a Category 7 hotel will cost far fewer points than a weeklong stay. But it still gets you access to the same elite amenities and benefits."

By using points for multiple quick weekend or midweek getaways, you maximize value without blowing all your points on one stay. As avid traveler Daisy describes, "I've turned weekend trips into affordable mini-vacations by redeeming points instead of paying cash."

Smaller point redemptions also make luxury more attainable. As Torsten says, "It's easier to justify 30,000 points for a two-night weekend in a Park Hyatt than 90,000 points for a week." Two weekend stays spread out over the year may be more feasible than one blowout luxury vacation.

When opting for multiple short strays, be strategic about timing. As Daisy explains, "I look for off-peak dates when point requirements are lower. A weekend in February will cost a lot less points than a summer weekend." She also suggests avoiding major holidays and events when award rates are sky high.

It's also wise to stay flexible on location. Says frequent traveler Torsten, "I look at where I can get the best value with points for upcoming weekends. It may be somewhere close by or a quick flight away." Picking the destination based on the points makes it feel like a treat.

While short stays limit your ability to fully experience a destination, Torsten sees benefits in sampling lots of locales. "I’ve discovered amazing hotels and cities that I never would have visited otherwise. After a preview trip, I can plan a longer stay."

Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays - Split Long Stays into Separate Bookings

When planning a longer hotel stay, Torsten recommends breaking it up into separate bookings to snag extra free nights. He explains, "Hotel rewards programs offer a free night after a certain number of paid nights. By dividing a long stay across multiple bookings, you can earn more freebies."

For example, Torsten frequently splits week-long business trips into two bookings of three or four nights each. Many of his preferred brands offer a free night after four paid nights, so this approach nets him a free night that he wouldn't get booking seven nights straight. He says, "I plan my stays around the four night rewards threshold to maximize value."

Avid traveler Daisy uses the same strategy for leisure trips. She's a fan of Marriott's 5th night free perk and routinely constructs two bookings of four nights plus one booking of three nights when planning 11-night vacations. Daisy says, "I end up basically getting two free nights for the price of nine. That's huge savings, especially at expensive resorts."

Both Torsten and Daisy advise booking directly with the hotel for split stays, not via third parties. As Daisy explains, "When you book direct, the hotel can better keep track of your nights in their system. This helps ensure you get properly credited toward elite status and additional free night certificates."

Split bookings work seamlessly about 90% of the time, according to Torsten. But he warns it's not a sure bet, especially when dealing with multiple properties. He once had issues getting his free night credited after splitting a 10-night Australia trip across three hotels. "When splitting bookings, stick to one hotel if possible. Changing properties can confuse rewards crediting."

Daisy agrees it’s ideal to stay in one place but says involving two properties is usually fine. She's had success booking five nights in Maui then five nights in Oahu while still getting her fifth night free on both islands. Just be sure it’s within the same parent chain, like Marriott.

Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays - Take Advantage of Fifth Night Free Offers

One of the most valuable hotel rewards hacks is taking advantage of fifth night free offers. Many major chains like Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt offer every fifth night free when you book five consecutive nights on points. This equates to a 20% points rebate and serious savings, especially at high-end properties. According to loyal Marriott patron Torsten, "The fifth night free perk is a game changer. It stretches your points balance so you can enjoy luxury hotels for longer."

To maximize value, Torsten says to carefully plan stays around the five night threshold for unlocked freebies. He explains, "I always book a minimum of five nights when possible to trigger the fifth night free." Even if you only need four hotel nights, it sometimes makes sense to pay for an extra night to get the fifth for free. Per Torsten, "Booking five nights instead of four only costs me the cash rate for the extra night. But I essentially get the expensive fifth night comped."

You can maximize savings even more over longer stays. As Daisy describes, "When we do two-week vacations, I'll book 10 or 15 nights and get two or three free nights this way." She plans trips during off-peak seasons when paying a reasonable cash rate for extra nights is feasible. According to Daisy, "Scoring 2-3 free nights makes a huge dent in the overall cost. The fifth night free perk can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars."

To ensure you get credit, Torsten suggests booking directly through brand channels like the Marriott site rather than third parties. He's had issues getting free nights credited when using OTAs in the past. As Torsten puts it, "When I book direct, I know everything is reliably tracked in the loyalty program."

The fifth night free works on most standard room award bookings, but there are exceptions. As Daisy laments, "I learned the hard way that some exclusive properties don’t participate, like the Al Maha Desert Resort in Dubai." Perk restrictions also apply when redeeming free night certificates from credit cards or promotions. So before booking, verify the fine print to confirm your rate qualifies.

The fifth night free is best leveraged for mid-tier redemptions where the free night makes a significant dent in the overall cost. As Torsten explains, "Scoring a free night at a top-tier luxury property is great. But you’re already paying a fortune in points for the first four nights." He likes to target Category 5-7 hotels where the free fifth night saves him anywhere from 12,000 to 35,000 points – nothing to scoff at.

Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays - Redeem at Resorts with All-Inclusive Packages

One creative way to maximize the value of your hotel points is by redeeming them at resorts that offer all-inclusive packages. As avid vacationer Daisy explains, “Paying for an all-inclusive stay with points is like getting everything for free - the room, food, drinks, activities. It really expands the value of your redemption.”

All-inclusive resort packages cover your room, meals, beverages, tips and entertainment for one bundled price. According to loyalty expert Torsten, “By redeeming points for an all-inclusive stay, you’re getting way more than just a free room." He gives the example of an all-inclusive Caribbean resort where redeeming 50,000 points might cover over $300/night worth of dining, drinks and activities in addition to the accommodations. This represents a tremendous increase in value compared to a standard hotel redemption.

The key is targeting high-end all-inclusive resorts where room rates are typically expensive. As Daisy explains, “I look for at least a $500+ a night cash rate for the base room, indicating food, beverage and amenities are top-notch.” This ensures you’ll get exceptional value from your points. She cautions against using points at budget all-inclusives, which usually nickel and dime you for extras.

According to Torsten, ideal redemption options include luxury all-inclusive brands like Hyatt Ziva, Marriott Autograph Collection and Hilton's Curio Collection. He says, “These cater to an upscale crowd with gourmet dining, premium liquor, and beachfront suites. You’d be spending a fortune in cash.”

While some economy all-inclusive resorts do offer solid value, Daisy suggests reviewing what's covered to avoid surprise charges. As she’s learned, “Sometimes ‘all-inclusive’ doesn’t include certain restaurants, top-shelf alcohol or motorized sports. I read the fine print carefully.”

Both Daisy and Torsten recommend looking for deals during off-peak times like summer shoulder season. As Torsten explains, "All-inclusive resorts are expensive in high season but offer lower cash rates in September and October. This lets me redeem fewer points while still getting peak season amenities."

One tip Daisy offers is using annual free night certificates from credit cards at all-inclusive resorts. She says, “I used a free night cert for one night of a 4-night all-inclusive stay in Costa Rica. I saved 50,000 points by combining the cert with a points booking. " She suggests checking if your free night cert excludes resort fees, which can diminish the value.

While Torsten acknowledges flight costs to reach all-inclusive resorts can be high, he’s found packages that bundle airfare and transport along with the hotel. “Booking these inclusive bundles with points eliminates all cash outlay. It’s an incredible way to redeem points.”

Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays - Maximize Value at High-Category Properties

Maximizing value at high-category hotel properties may seem counterintuitive when award nights already cost a premium number of points. However, Torsten argues that top-tier luxury hotels present unique opportunities to extract value from redemptions. He explains, “High-end properties go above and beyond in ways that offset the huge point outlay.”

According to Torsten, “At Ritz-Carltons, Park Hyatts and St. Regis hotels, you’re pampered with personalized service and amenities way beyond a Hampton Inn.” He provides examples like complimentary airport transfers in S-Class Mercedes, access to ritzy club lounges, multicourse breakfasts, and nightly turndown service. Torsten says, “You'd pay top dollar in cash for the elevated touches that luxury brands provide.”

In addition, Torsten has found that high-end hotels are more generous in applying elite benefits. He says, “At Category 7 and 8 hotels, I almost always get upgraded to the nicest suite just for being an elite member.” Torsten also cites instances where expensive room service and mini bar items were automatically complimented at checkout without requesting it. He explains, “At luxury properties, your status goes further. That softens the blow of high redemption rates.”

Frequent traveller Daisy takes advantage of luxury hotel perks through strategic award stays over major holidays. As she describes, “I once scored a Penthouse suite at a St. Regis Aspen over Christmas week for only 70,000 Marriott points per night.” She notes that the cash rate was over $1500/night during peak ski season. While the points were steep, Daisy felt the value was worthwhile given the suite would have been unattainable for her in cash. According to Daisy, “Using points let me splurge on an over-the-top luxury stay that I never could have afforded otherwise.”

Both Torsten and Daisy advise maximizing value on extra amenities when redeeming points at luxury hotels. Torsten says, “I take advantage of every elite benefit possible like free breakfast, garment pressing, late checkout, spa discounts. First class flights and luxury hotels already cost a fortune in points, so I milk every last perk.” Daisy endorses using hotel points for extravagances you wouldn’t normally pay cash for. As she explains, “I only go to fancy 3 Michelin star restaurants when I redeem points at high-end hotels. I see the hundred dollar tasting menus as already ‘free’ since I used points for the room.”

Hotel Rewards Hack: Snag Extra Free Nights on Award Stays - Use Your Free Night at Expensive Destinations

The aspirational locations that make your wanderlust kick into overdrive often come with aspirational hotel prices to match. We’re talking places like the Maldives, Bora Bora, Dubai and the Amalfi Coast where jaw-dropping oceanfront resorts start at $800+ per night in the low season. Dropping that kind of cash on accommodations can feel impossible for most travelers. But according to loyal hotel patron Torsten, redeeming points and free night certificates at these bucket list destinations makes them surprisingly attainable.

As Torsten explains, “Using a free weekend night certificate from a hotel credit card at a $1000 a night Maldives overwater villa is insane value. That one night alone would’ve cost me a fortune in cash.” He cautions that blackout dates may apply with free night certs, so flexibility on travel dates is key. But by planning stays during shoulder seasons, it’s possible to leverage freebies for once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

One tip frequent traveler Daisy offers is to use annual free night certs from credit cards at the most expensive resort possible. As she describes, “I used a weekend night certificate for Friday night of a three-night stay at the St. Regis Bora Bora that was $1300+ a night. That one free night saved me so many points.” She suggests making sure your free night cert doesn’t exclude hefty resort fees, which can diminish value.

In addition to free night certs, Torsten maximizes value by capitalizing on 5th night free perks when booking expensive destinations. He explains, “I’ll use points to book six or seven nights in the Maldives and get the fifth or sixth night free. That’s a huge savings at hotels charging $1500+ a night.” As always, he advises reading the fine print to confirm the free night will be credited as policies vary.

One creative strategy Daisy uses is “twin center” bookings to double up on freebies. As she describes, “I once booked five nights in Dubai and five nights in Abu Dhabi. I scored a free night in both cities thanks to the 5th night free offer.” Daisy focused on Hilton resorts to take advantage of their generous perk. The value she extracted was enormous between the two free nights at top-tier beachfront properties.