Though earning and redeeming points is a great strategy to scoring free hotel stay, there are more convenient ways. Free hotel rooms are easier to earn than you might think. It can be as simple as having the right hotel credit card or the right reward program. Here are three of the easiest ways to earn a free room for your next adventure:
Hotels.com Rewards
Probably one of the easiest hotel reward programs out there, Hotels.com Rewards is easy to understand and earn reward stays with. If you aren’t looking to build brand loyalty or use membership perks, this is one of the best programs on the market. And it works pretty simply. Basically, you collect stamps for each night you stay at Hotels.com properties (be sure the hotel is included in the program, most are) and after 10 nights you earn a free stay.
After your 10 stays your reward certificate will be for the average paid price of your 10 stays. You must use your certificate on one free night (not the entire booking). If the certificate is worth more than the cost of your free night, you forfeit the remaining balance available. But, if the room rate is more than your certificate, you can pay the difference.
Also a perk worth mentioning – after ten stamps in a membership year you’ll become a Hotels.com Silver member, which unlocks VIP perks like free breakfast and spa vouchers.
Hyatt Brand Explorer
The Hyatt Brand Explorer program is basically Hyatt’s version of a reward bingo card. Complete stays at 5 Hyatt brand properties and earn a certificate for a free night at a Category 1-4 hotel. You can keep earning free nights, too. Just as long as you stay at 5 new brands you haven’t already earned.
A Category 1-4 hotel certificate is good for some amazing properties in the Hyatt portfolio, including the Hyatt Andaz Savannah and the Hyatt Regency Tokyo. It can be worth paying a couple extra dollars at a new Hyatt brand to work towards a certificate than can be worth more than $300.
To receive your Brand Explorer stamp, be sure to book your hotels directly with Hyatt and sign-in to your membership account! Both cash rates and point redeemed nights count towards your Brand Explorer card. You can also easily see your progress towards a free night in your Hyatt account under your account details in “My Awards.” All your completed brands will be in color with a small check mark next to them.
Hotel Reward Credit Cards
All large hotel brands have co-branded personal credit cards, and many cards come with annual free night certificates. Most of these certificates have limitations with either the points allowed or category you can use them for. But, if used correctly the free night certificate will pay the card’s annual fee and more. Plus, many hotel cards come with some great perks, too. More than anything, these cards can be money makers for even the occasional travelers.
Here is a list of personal cards offering free night certificates and some of the best places to use them:
| Card | Free Night Information | Annual Fee | Use Your Free Night at Locations Like… |
| World of Hyatt | Category 1-4 Certificate | $95 | Thompson Chicago Hyatt Regency Tokyo Park Hyatt Istanbul |
| Hilton Honors Aspire | Free weekend night at any Hilton property worldwide | $450 | Waldorf Astoria Maldives Waldorf Astoria Cabo Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam |
| IHG Rewards Club Premier | Certificate for a property stay up to 40,000 IHG points | $89 | Intercontinental Bangkok Holiday Inn Orlando Disney Springs Intercontinental Bali |
| Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant | Certificate for a property stay up to 50,000 Marriott points | $450 | Aegon Mykonos Ritz-Carlton Bali JW Marriott Los Cabos |
| Marriott Bonvoy Boundless | Certificate for a property stay up to 35,000 Marriott points | $95 | JW Marriott Miami Sir Albert Amsterdam St. Regis Bangkok |
Explore on. -K
Jade