Conde Naste Traveler recently came out with it’s best hotel rewards program. Here’s that link.
I’m curious how many of you use these programs, and if so, do they affect your selection of hotels when traveling? Or do you just stay at the cheapest place you can and try to collect points (which are free)?
I have to admit loyalty to the Marriott brand. You’ll find Marriott properties almost anywhere. I have an allergy to feathers and sleeping in a down bed anywhere will ruin my sinuses for days, so Marriott is always sure to provide me with a feather free room, something that is a genuine plus for me. That said, price does matter as well.
I’ve heard that in the US, the favorite destinations for people to use their rewards for free rooms are (drumroll…….)……………1) New York City……….2) Maui.
No big surprises there.
I’m a Holiday Inn Express or La Quinta member. On my most recent road trip, I did get upgraded at the HIE for being a member. The free nights are always great too and that’s the main goal. I’ve used many La Quinta free nights when I do workshops out of town. With HIE, I usually use the points for a discounted rate in expensive areas, like Sonoma or Paso Robles – wherever a vineyard may be!
Hi Doc
Over the years it seems I’ve joined so many of these programs, but I really don’t travel enough on business and I tend to use airline reward credit cards…I guess I have gotten free nights before with Hilton and Starwood.
The main usefulness that I have found for these loyalty programs is not the tangible rewards. The staff just seems to be more attentive and accommodating when they see that I am a regular with their company. There have been times when the extra attention has made a big difference in an otherwise harried trip.
I’m a Hilton guy. Stay there whenever I can.
That’s what I do, too, SayMoi. I think it’s a good plan. Use my rewards for expensive cities. Pay in lower priced cities and built up more points there.
It is nice to get little upgrades and free nights for being a member of a program. Plus I like having a place of consistent quality I can count on. I like knowing what kind of room I’m going to get.
Using the points for the expensive properties works well. We have stayed at the Marriott very close to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. It was a treat just to see the Leidesplein and Vondlepark from our room . We have used points to stay at the Hotel George V in Paris, just around the corner from Champs-Élysées . Why stay extra nights in Des Moines when you can be in Paris ? Not knocking Des Moines – but, hey, Des Moinesians would go to Paris, too.
Interesting to see this many people actually using hotel rewards programs for…hotels!
I always looked for ones whose points could be traded for airline miles…not as easy as it used to be!
We have used the points for hotels from time to time. We did not really want to use them for hotels, but it seemed complicated to do anything “out of the system”.
I like the Holiday Inn Express hotels. And I’ll go out of my way to stay there when I can.