18 Ways To Save On Your Next Hotel Stay
18 Ways To Save On Your Next Hotel Stay
Traveling isn’t cheap. Whether you’re going away for business or taking a well-deserved vacation, it’s just too easy to rack up a bill worth hundreds — or perhaps even thousands — of dollars. And, your biggest budget buster will often be your hotel room if you don’t take steps to save money on this travel necessity.
Luckily, there are various ways that you can save at popular hotel chains if you’re looking to spend more on your adventures and not so much on your lodging.
Last updated on July 25, 2019
How To Save Money at AccorHotels
Like most businesses, hotels love loyal customers and are willing to offer them perks, said consumer and money-saving expert Andrea Woroch. The Le Club AccorHotels loyalty program is a prime example of this.
The AccorHotels umbrella includes numerous luxury chains like the Fairmont, Sofitel and Banyan Tree hotels. When you join the free Le Club AccorHotels loyalty program, you can get 10% off your booking and early bird access to sales to score even better hotel deals. Earn points based on the brand, hotel and number of nights you stay, and redeem points for free nights starting at 2,000 points.
How To Save Money at Best Western
“Best Western Rewards members can earn points for free nights ,” Woroch said. Rewards members also get early check-in and late checkout.
You might be able to save at Best Western depending on your memberships and other affiliations. If you’re a member of AAA, you can save 5% to 15% on booking, and you earn 10% bonus Best Western Rewards points — which can help you earn a free stay even faster. And, if you’re 55 and older, you can save up to 15% on your stay thanks to the chain’s senior discount. Best Western also offers a discount of 10% or more to veterans, active military and government personnel.
How To Save Money at Choice Hotels
Save on your next stay at Sleep Inn, Quality Inn or Comfort Inn by becoming a Choice Privileges member. Membership is free and gives you access to member-only rates, whether you’re booking far in advance or looking for last-minute hotel deals. If you stay during the week, you get extra perks like coffee cards and online shopping credits. You earn 10 points for every $1 spent on your stay; points can be redeemed for free hotel stays beginning at 8,000 points, and free resort stays starting at 16,000 points.
Choice Hotels offers discounts to military members and government personnel. You can book directly through its site to receive the special government rate. The chain also offers a 10% discount to AARP members and anyone 60 and older, which you can take advantage of when you book directly through its site.
How To Save Money at Hilton Hotels
Becoming a Hilton Honors member is free, and it gets you a guaranteed discount on bookings, no resort fees on rewards stays, late checkouts and a free second guest. You also earn points for free nights, with members earning 10 to 20 points for every $1 spent, except at Tru and Home2 properties, where you earn five to 10 points for every $1 spent, depending on your membership tier. You can get a free night starting at as little as 5,000 points.
And that’s not the only way you can save.
“Hilton offers 10% off for senior citizens ages 65 and older,” Woroch said. Plus, Hilton offers up to 10% off for AAA and CAA members, as well as an exclusive rate for military families.
How To Save Money at Hyatt Hotels
The best way to save at Hyatt is to become a World of Hyatt member — for free. As a member, you automatically save up to 10% on hotel stays and get complimentary internet access, free breakfast and waived resort fees. Depending on the property, you might also be eligible for early check-in, late checkout and a complimentary room upgrade. In addition, you earn five points per $1 spent on hotel stays, and you can redeem points for a free night starting at 5,000 points.
Hyatt also gives a AAA discount of 10% or more.
How To Save Money at IHG Hotels
Become an IHG Rewards Club member for free to earn 10 points for every $1 spent at Intercontinental, Kimpton, Hotel Indigo, Even Hotels, Hualuxe, Crowne Plaza, Vovo, Holiday Inn and Avid properties, and five points for every $1 spent at Staybridge Suites and Cambridge Suites. There are several ways to redeem points, including rewards nights, which can be redeemed for as little as 10,000 points. Even before you earn enough points to redeem for free nights, you can benefit from exclusive rates, complimentary internet and the $30 in-room spa credit that members get with their stay.
You can save even more if you’re 62 and older, but the senior discount at IHG hotels varies by property. You can also get exclusive discounts if you are a former or current member of the military.
How To Save Money at The Leading Hotels of the World Properties
A stay at a luxury property that’s part of The Leading Hotels of the World group — which includes Mr. C hotels, Nobu Hotels and more — will probably cost you a pretty penny, but there are ways to save. Members of the Leaders Club get upgrade priority at arrival, daily continental breakfast for two and complimentary Wi-Fi, and after your first paid stay, you’ll get a free pre-arrival upgrade. Members earn one point for every $1 spent on rooms, and free nights start at 4,000 points. However, unlike many other hotel loyalty programs, this one isn’t free — there’s an annual fee of $175.
How To Save Money at Marriott Properties
You can save on your next stay at any Marriott property by joining the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. It’s free to join, and you earn 10 points for every $1 spent at the entire suite of Marriott properties, which include Aloft, W, The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott. However, at the Element, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites hotels, you earn five points per $1 spent. Points can be redeemed for spa and golf purchases, free nights and on-site dining, and you’ll also get other member perks, including free internet in your room and exclusive rates.
If you have a AAA membership, you can save 5% or more on booking, and you still earn Marriott rewards points when you book through AAA. And, if you’re a senior, you can save at least 15% on your stay. Plus, Marriott hotels offer discounts to military members and government employees, so be sure to ask about any discounts you may qualify for when booking.
How To Save Money at MGM Resorts
If you’re planning a trip to Vegas, there’s a good chance you’ll end up staying at an MGM resort. The company owns not only the MGM Grand but also the Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, New York, Luxor, Excalibur, Circus Circus, Borgata and more. When you become an M life Rewards member, you get access to special room rates and offers at both luxury and more affordable hotels, plus the opportunity to earn points for future stays and other perks.
You can also save on your stay if you’re with AAA — members get 10% off. MGM also offers a discounted military rate.
Before booking your stay, check the MGM Resorts “Offers” page to find promotions that can help you save on your trip.
How To Save Money at Motel 6
Motel 6 is already affordable, but if you’re a military member or a senior, you should take advantage of the discount — up to 10% — that the chain offers to both groups.
How To Save Money at Omni Hotels & Resorts
When you become a member of Omni’s Select Guest loyalty program, you get free Wi-Fi, bottled water, shoeshine services and express check-ins and checkouts whenever you stay at one of its properties, which total more than 50. You also earn a free night every time you book 20 qualifying nights at one of Omni’s properties. And, best of all, Select Guest membership is free.
How To Save Money at Preferred Hotels & Resorts
Preferred Hotels & Resorts represents more than 750 luxury hotels, resorts, residences and unique hotel groups across 85 countries, and you can save on your next booking by becoming an I Prefer Hotel Rewards member for free. Members get exclusive rates at more than 650 participating properties, free Wi-Fi, room upgrades and priority check-in and checkout. Plus, you can earn free stays by accumulating points. Members earn 10 to 15 points for every $1 spent depending on membership tier.
How To Save Money at Radisson Properties
You can save up to 10% on bookings at Radisson properties just by becoming a Radisson Rewards member. Members also earn 20 to 35 points per $1 spent, depending on their membership tier. Points can be redeemed for free nights starting at 9,000 points. Other exclusive savings include 5% to 20% off food and drink at hotel restaurants, depending on the rewards tier, and two complimentary bottles of water during each stay.
How To Save Money at Red Lion Hotels
RLH Corporation includes Red Lion Hotels, GuestHouse and Knights Inn properties, and there are several options for saving on your stay. Anyone can join the Hello Rewards program, which allows you to earn 10 Hello Bucks with every stay that can be used for future bookings. And, if you’re an active or retired service member, first responder or government associate, you can get discounted rates on every booking.
How To Save Money at Red Roof
Become a RediRewards member to earn free nights and discounts with RediPoints. You earn five to 10 points per $1 spent, depending on the hotel brand, and you can redeem free nights beginning at 6,000 points. You can also redeem points for a 30% discount before you hit the minimum for a free night.
If you’re a government employee, military member, veteran or government retiree, you get 10% off your room.
How To Save Money at SLH Properties
It’s not just the biggest hotel chains that offer free membership programs. Invited is a loyalty program for bookings at Small Luxury Hotels of the World properties. Beginning with the first stay, members get exclusive rates, complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Once you’ve accumulated six stays or spent $6,000, you’ll receive a free reward night voucher — plus, you’ll get room upgrades, early check-in and late checkout. Invited is free to join.
How To Save Money at Sonesta
You’ll save at least 5% on every booking when you join Sonesta Travel Pass, and you’ll receive free upgraded Wi-Fi as well. If you already have a high-level status at another hotel loyalty program, Sonesta Travel Pass will match it. Members earn 10 points for every $1 spent on qualified room purchases, and you can earn a free night starting at 15,000 points. Sonesta Travel Pass is free to join.
How To Save Money at Wyndham Hotels & Resorts
Save on your stay at a Wyndham property — La Quinta, Ramada, Days Inn, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and more — by becoming a Wyndham Rewards member. Members earn 10 points per every $1 spent or 1,000 points per stay, whichever is more. You can also earn points by shopping and booking tours and activities through the Wyndham site, and by making purchases at Avis and Budget car rentals and Marathon Gas. You’ll soon be able to earn points by ordering DoorDash delivery, too. Points can be redeemed for a free night starting at 7,500 points, or you can use points plus cash to redeem points faster.
Active and retired military members, veterans and their spouses save 12% on their stays at Wyndham Rewards Hotels across the U.S. and Canada when they present a military ID at check-in. Military members who are Wyndham Rewards members also get 1,000 bonus points after their first qualifying stay, as well as a free upgrade to their status.
In addition, guests ages 60 and older qualify for special discounted rates.
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Terence Loose and Gabrielle Olya contributed to the reporting for this article.