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simon2579/Getty Images October 19, 2022 Lori Zaino is a contributor to Bankrate who is a freelance editor, writer and travel expert quoted in publications like Travel & Leisure and Time. Bilingual in Spanish, she's been living in Spain for more than a decade, but still prefers writing about topics like travel, finance, wellness, beauty and lifestyle in her native English. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
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There’s no sense in sitting on a big stash of points just waiting for the right time to spend them. Now’s that time! In fact, when cash prices are high, which is usually the case on peak holiday travel dates. And many travel and hotel co-branded cards have hefty point bonuses that can get you a few (or even several, if you play your cards right) free nights at a hotel. Here’s how to use your credit card points for cheaper accommodation. Flexible point currencies
Flexible point currencies such as , , and are some of the most useful point currencies to have because they offer various options for transferring them to hotel programs or booking travel via credit card travel portals. Transferring credit card points to hotel programs
Flexibility is what makes these points the most valuable. For example, Chase has three hotel partners: Marriott, IHG and Hyatt. If you have Chase points but Marriott hotel points rates are sky-high and there aren’t any IHG hotels in your chosen destination, you can still transfer them to Hyatt for a redemption. Make sure to find your chosen redemption before transferring your points, as you can’t move them back. Here’s a cheat sheet for transferring flexible reward currencies to hotel points. Chase Ultimate Rewards: IHG One Rewards (1:1), Marriott Bonvoy (1:1) and World of Hyatt (1:1) Amex Membership Rewards: Marriott Bonvoy (1:1), Choice Privileges (1:1) and Hilton Honors (1:2) Citi ThankYou Points: Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards (ratios vary depending on which Citi card you hold) Capital One Rewards: Choice Privileges (1:1) and Wyndham Rewards (1:1) The ratios indicate how many credit card points make up a hotel loyalty point when you transfer them. For example, the 1:2 ratio associated with transferring Amex points to Hilton Honors means that 50,000 Amex Membership Rewards points would equal 100,000 Hilton Honors points. Note that sometimes, offers and promotions change the point ratio by offering bonus points when transferring. Using points to book travel in travel portals
You can also book hotels using points through each bank’s . While this option may not always offer the best value for your points, it does allow you to book hotels that don’t participate in loyalty programs, boutique hotels, B&Bs, hostels, home rentals and beyond. This creates a lot of flexibility for travelers who need a vacation rental for a large family or group or are visiting a destination that may not have any large brand hotel properties like Hilton or Marriott. Co-branded hotel credit card points and perks
Those who hold co-branded credits with large hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, IHG and beyond can use these points for free or discounted hotel stays. (Some programs offer a ‘Pay with Points and Cash’ option if you don’t have enough points to cover your whole stay.) Note that programs such as Marriott, Hilton and IHG offer free nights when booking with points. Each program has its own rules and limitations. Hilton’s program offers the fifth night free on the average nightly rate to members with elite status booking stays with points on up to a 20-night stay. IHG offers every fourth night free, though you’ll have to hold a specific co-branded card for this perk: the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card, the IHG Rewards Traveler Credit Card or the IHG Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. Marriott offers to fifth night free on points stays but comps the most affordable night. Use hotel elite status perks
Many credit cards offer cardholders elite status — both co-branded hotel cards and flexible travel rewards cards. Some of the most popular are the , which offers Bonvoy Platinum status, and the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card, which offers IHG Platinum status. The offers Hilton Diamond status and offers both Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Gold status. Although elite perks vary by program and status level, some of the advantages are listed below. Make sure to check the specific programs for exact details. Free breakfast or dining credits Early check-in/late check-out Room upgrades Additional points earnings Lounge access Free Wi-Fi While elite status won’t necessarily get you a free stay, you can definitely take advantage of money-saving benefits like dining credits and room upgrades. Know your card benefits
There are numerous one-off credit card perks that can make lodging more affordable. Here are some money-saving benefits you should look for: Annual travel credits and free night certificates
Many travel cards offer annual discounts or free stays. For example, the has a $300 travel credit, meaning if you spend $300 on a hotel, vacation rental (or airfare, or anything else travel-related), you’ll see it refunded on your statement as a credit. The Amex Platinum has a $200 hotel credit on hotels in the Fine Hotels & Resorts Program and the Hotel Collection. Many co-branded hotel credit cards offer a free night certificate each year, like the newly rebranded Marriott Bonvoy Brillant card that offers a free night under 85,000 points every year after your card renewal month. Promotional offers
Keep an eye on your email inbox and rewards portal for any limited-time promotions your issuer may be offering. Many American Express cards feature Amex Offers, which offer perks like statement credits for spending a certain amount on specific hotels and other retailers. Other cards, like the also have promotional offers, like a credit of five percent back on VRBO rentals. The list goes on, but there’s no need to have it memorized. If you have a travel credit card—especially one you pay an annual fee for—be sure to log in to your account and investigate what benefits are available to you. A few minutes of research may save you hundreds. The bottom line
It’s true that many of the aforementioned credit cards have annual fees. But if you work to ensure you obtain the full value that comes from each card’s perks and benefits, you can really come out on top when it comes to accommodation savings, especially during an expensive holiday travel season. SHARE: Lori Zaino is a contributor to Bankrate who is a freelance editor, writer and travel expert quoted in publications like Travel & Leisure and Time. Bilingual in Spanish, she's been living in Spain for more than a decade, but still prefers writing about topics like travel, finance, wellness, beauty and lifestyle in her native English. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Related Articles