All 18 Hilton Hotel Brands Explained & Prices Compared [2020]

Hilton has many different brands of hotels in its portfolio. But what are the differences between these brands and what should you know about them in terms of quality, price, and history?

In this comprehensive article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about the different types of Hilton hotel brands, including what brands are best for families or business travel and which brands don’t earn you as many Hilton points.

And to provide you some insight into the differences between these brands when booking, I’ve supplied both cash prices and points prices for these properties. Some of these prices are depressed because of the current pandemic and prices may be updated in the future to reflect the current climate of travel.

How many hotel brands does Hilton have?

Hilton has a total of 18 Hilton brands and they include the following: 

  1. Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
  2. LXR Hotel & Resorts
  3. Conrad Hotels & Resorts
  4. Canopy by Hilton
  5. Signa
  6. Hilton Hotels & Resorts
  7. Curio Collection by Hilton
  8. Doubletree by Hilton
  9. Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  10. Embassy Suites by Hilton
  11. Tempo by Hilton
  12. Motto by Hilton
  13. Hilton Garden Inn
  14. Hampton Inn & Suites
  15. Tru by Hilton
  16. Homewood Suites by Hilton
  17. Home2 Suites
  18. Hilton Grand Vacations

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

Maximizing Hilton stays across brands

If you’re curious about the different Hilton hotel brands, you probably are also curious about maximizing your stays at those brands.

It’s a good idea to get familiar with the Hilton Honors program and I would start by finding out what some of the elite status benefits are for Hilton.

You can start with a mid-tier status like Hilton Gold status which is one of the best hotel statuses if you ask me because they provide you with real benefits like free breakfast.

If you think you might be more of the overachiever type, then you can look into the top-tier status known as Hilton Diamond status. It’s very similar to Gold status but offers more perks like better upgrades and lounge access.

Something that is really interesting about Hilton is that it allows you to take a shortcut and get the top level of status just by getting approved for a credit card like the Hilton Aspire. You can also easily get the mid-tier Hilton Gold status by getting approved for the Hilton Surpass Card.

In addition to getting elite status, these cards will allow you to earn tons of bonus points on your Hilton stays and usually come with some great welcome bonuses that allow you to stay at some top Hilton properties for free.

And finally, be on the lookout for free weekend night certificates that come attached to these cards. If you maximize your free weekend night by using it at one of the most expensive properties like the Conrad Maldives, you could potentially receive over $1,000 in value from this single perk alone.

Tip: Looking for the best hotel credit cards? Check out the full list here.

A suite at the Hilton Auckland New Zealand.
Use Hilton elite status to get upgraded to suites like this one.

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts (formerly The Waldorf-Astoria Collection) is the flagship luxury brand for Hilton and was launched in 2006, receiving its name-sake from the historic Waldorf Astoria in New York City. 

These properties are designed to “reflect the culture and history of their extraordinary locations” and they can often be best be described with words like “epic,” “legendary” (and “expensive”). These are ultra-luxurious properties that provide exceptional service to their guests at high-impact moments, such as the pre-arrival welcome, the arrival, and the invitation to return.

Whether it’s in a converted landmark or a newly sprouted building, if you’re looking for that over the top luxury experience with elegant lobbies and rooms, while not losing out on the local connection and feel, the Waldorf will offer you just that.  

Some of the top locations include the Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal, Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam, and Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel. At some of these more expensive properties, you can get exceptional value for your Hilton points (.7 cents per point). 

Similar brands that you might encounter from other hotel companies include Four Seasons, The Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, and the Ritz-Carlton. 

Locations 

  • Properties: 32
  • Countries and territories: 15

Prices

  • Waldorf Astoria Chicago
    • Points: 90,000
    • Cash: $361
  • Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
    • Points: 95,000
    • Cash: $782
  • The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel
    • Points: 47,000
    • Cash: $187

LXR Hotel & Resorts

LXR Hotel & Resorts properties are “found in the worlds most alluring locations.” There are less than a handful of these properties located around the globe but they offer a very exclusive guest experience and can be ultra luxurious like the Habtoor Palace Dubai, which is the former St. Regis Dubai.

Individual attention to the guest is a top priority and Hilton claims, “Each property delivers a singular travel experience native to its place, history, and tradition.” While still a small luxury collection, this small group of hotels packs a big punch with beautiful properties like the Zemi Beach House, an intimate boutique hotel consisting of 76 rooms and suites.  

Locations 

  • Properties: 5
  • Countries and territories: 3

Prices

  • Habtoor Palace Dubai, LXR Hotels & Resorts
    • Points: 42,000
    • Cash: $156
  • Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts
    • Points: 95,000
    • Cash: $515

Conrad Hotels & Resorts

Conrad Hotels & Resorts was the initial flagship luxury brand until the Waldorf stepped into the picture in 2006.

Still though, these hotels are ultra luxury properties but they rely more on art, technology, and a “cool” factor to offer unforgettable and modern travel experiences to guests. Style and service are big at the Conrad and you’ll be blown away and deeply inspired by some of their exotic locations like Bora Bora and the Maldives. 

Similar brands that you might encounter from other hotel companies include Loews Hotels, Sofitel, Park Hyatt, and Shangri-La. 

Locations 

  • Properties: 39
  • Countries and territories: 22

Prices

  • Conrad Miami
    • Points: 55,000
    • Cash: $229
  • Conrad Indianapolis
    • Points: 56,000
    • Cash: $226
  • Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
    • Points: 95,000
    • Cash: $480
Hilton Conrad Maldives Ithaa Restaurant.

Canopy by Hilton

Canopy by Hilton is a hotel brand that aims to create a positive state and is meant for those seeking an energizing experience. With Canopy, Hilton is focused on creating a refreshing experience that fits right into the neighborhood.

You’ll find open and welcoming lobbies and cafes that have a sense of flow and offer vibrant spaces to work and rest, often with plenty of natural light. There’s an effort to integrate these properties right into their localities as a “street lamp of the neighborhood” with an intent to create a comfortable and homy feel. 

Similar brands that you might encounter from other hotel companies include Kimpton, Hyatt Centric, and Ace Hotel. 

Locations

  • Properties: 13
  • Countries and territories: 5

Prices

  • Canopy by Hilton Dallas Uptown
    • Points: 51,000
    • Cash: $202
  • Canopy by Hilton Jersey City Arts District
    • Points: 52,000
    • Cash: $209
  • Canopy by Hilton Charlotte Southpark
    • Points: 56,000
    • Cash: $229

Signa

Signa is a new portfolio of premier hotels in popular urban and resort destinations. These Hilton properties offer dynamic meeting and event capabilities along with state of the art technology and signature food and beverage experiences.It’s primarily targeted at meeting professionals and sophisticated business travelers.

Locations 

  • Properties: 13
  • Countries and territories: 5

Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Hilton Hotels & Resorts is the foundation of the Hilton brand and arguably the most recognized name in the industry. Located in over 90 countries and territories, it’s pretty easy to find a Hilton hotel just about wherever you go. Hilton Hotels will come in all sorts of different varieties and the level of luxury can fluctuate pretty widely.

Locations 

  • Properties: 584
  • Countries and territories: 94

Prices

  • Hilton University of Houston
    • Points: 39,000
    • Cash: $115
  • Hilton Time Square
    • Points: 61,000
    • Cash: $219
  • Hilton Auckland
    • Points: 38,000
    • Cash: $176

Curio Collection by Hilton

The Curio Collection by Hilton is a global group of hotels hand-picked for their unique character and personality (Curio Collection is a “soft brand,” so hotels are supported by Hilton, but retain their own branding).

These hotels embody the “culture and spirit” of the community in which they reside. Because these are a hand-picked collection of properties, you won’t find a ton of consistency across the properties but I personally have loved the Curio properties I’ve stayed in.

One of my last Curio stays was at the H Hotel in Los Angeles just outside of LAX. It was a modern hotel with a great observation deck of incoming flights and also a cool robot butler that would serve you snacks. It was nothing like the Sam Hotel in Houston I stayed at that was also a Curio collection hotel. I guess it was a perfect example of how different these properties can be.

Locations 

  • Properties: 91
  • Countries and territories: 27

Prices

  • H Hotel Los Angeles, Curio Collection by Hilton
    • Points: 29,000
    • Cash: $119
  • Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale, Curio Collection by Hilton
    • Points: 57,000
    • Cash: $199
  • The Central Station Memphis, Curio Collection by Hilton
    • Points: 54,000
    • Cash: $214
Getting service from a robot butler at the H hotel.

Doubletree by Hilton

The full-service Doubletree by Hilton brand is one of the largest brands by Hilton and one that you will find in a lot of places. At these properties, the idea is to make the guest feel as comfortable as possible with thoughtful touches like warm chocolate chip cookies at check-in.

In fact, those warm chocolate chip cookies are somewhat famous. The cookies, which have been made by Nashville-based Christie Cookie Company for over 30 years, were originally made in the early 1980s for VIPs but these days they are given to all guests.

And the best part? Doubletree recently released the recipe!

While you might see some new buildings pop up, most DoubleTree hotels are converted from other properties. Also, most DoubleTree hotels are independently owned and operated by franchisees.

You can find these hotels located within cities and also near airports. 

Locations 

  • Properties: 587
  • Countries and territories: 47

Prices

  • DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Seattle Airport – Southcenter
    • Points: 25,000
    • Cash: $100
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Juan
    • Points: 47,000
    • Cash: $169
  • DoubleTree by Hilton Baton Rouge
    • Points: 30,000
    • Cash: $144

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Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Tapestry Collection by Hilton is another collection of hotels. This one is a global portfolio of upscale and unique hotels that have vibrant and welcoming personalities. These properties focus on experiences that emphasize the intersection between the hotel and its location.

Locations 

  • Properties: 31
  • Countries and territories: 3

Prices

  • The Verve Hotel Boston Natick, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
    • Points: 33,000
    • Cash: $134
  • The Sire Hotel Lexington, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
    • Points: 42,000
    • Cash: $169
  • The Sound Hotel Seattle Belltown, Tapestry Collection by Hilton
    • Points: 70,000
    • Cash: $284

Embassy Suites by Hilton

Embassy Suites by Hilton is an upscale all suite hotel with a mix of two room and studio suites and along with spacious rooms. It’s known for its atrium space, cooked-to-order breakfast (can’t go wrong with the omelets), and evening receptions. It also has a very long history of offering great customer service.

While fan-favorite Embassy Suites serves business travelers, these are also great properties for families on vacation and often work out perfectly with their conjoined suites, which allow for privacy and space for parents. (Embassy Suites was once ranked the #1 hotel brand for families in the category by Parents magazine.)

Small details like in-room mini fridges and in-room microwaves make them a great choice for convenience. Interestingly, they’ve also been one of the more popular brands during economic recessions. 

Locations 

  • Properties: 257
  • Countries and territories: 5

Prices

  • Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Downtown
    • Points: 37,000
    • Cash: $155
  • Embassy Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center
    • Points: 39,000
    • Cash: $159
  • Embassy Suites by Hilton Anchorage
    • Points: 47,000
    • Cash: $199

Tempo by Hilton

Tempo by Hilton is a brand new approachable lifestyle hotel brand “dedicated to exceeding expectations of an emerging and discerning class of traveler the modern achiever.”

Several special amenities are offered to help ambitious guests continue their journey without disrupting their routine like one-of-a-kind Power Up and Power Down collections and “curated assortments of morning and bedtime rituals created in partnership with Thrive Global.”

You’ll also find bright, oversized bath suites, which include mirrors with built-in Bluetooth speakers to help your recharge and renew. The dining experience here is supposed to be elevated yet approachable and includes a signature of coffee and tea fuel bar. 

Motto by Hilton

Motto by Hilton is another new brand that is in the process of being launched. This is a new micro hotel with an urban vibe located in prime global locations. The hotels are designed to be centrally located, reasonably priced, and also less traditional than typical lodging.

Hilton Garden Inn

Hilton Garden Inn is a mid-priced hotel found in almost 50 countries and territories. Hilton Garden Inn’s typically range from 150 to 250 rooms with some buildings taking on unique characteristics depending on the location. Rooms are designed to be comfortable and appealing and to basically just get the job done.

Some of these Garden Inn properties can be much more impressive than you might anticipate, though. I recently stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn at the Frankfurt Airport and it was a pretty beautiful hotel as far as airport hotels are concerned.

Locations

  • Properties: 862
  • Countries and territories: 49

Prices

  • Hilton Garden Inn New York/Central Park South-Midtown West
    • Points: 37,000
    • Cash: $144
  • Hilton Garden Inn Fargo
    • Points: 23,000
    • Cash: $99
  • Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Waterfront/Downtown
    • Points: 41,000
    • Cash: $169
The view from the Hilton Garden Inn at Frankfurt Airport .

Hampton Inn & Suites

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton is an industry leading upper-midscale brand. Hampton is one of the largest Hilton brands as they have over 2,500 properties. You’ll find a very consistent experience at these hotels and be able to take advantage of amenities like a free hot breakfast and complementary Wi-Fi.

Each Hampton is committed to what’s called the, “100% Hampton Guarantee,” which is “providing an exceptional guest experience and consistent, high-quality accommodations and amenities.” While most Hampton Inns seem to offer the same type of experience, there are some outlier properties that are a bit unique like the Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District.  

The Hampton brand has consistently been named one of the best and largest franchises in the lodging category and one of the top franchise brands overall. It’s sort of the McDonald’s of Hilton. 

Locations

  • Properties: 2,544
  • Countries and territories: 30

Prices

  • Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City-Convention Center
    • Points: 35,000
    • Cash: $143
  • Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix Glendale-Westgate
    • Points: 29,000
    • Cash: $119
  • Hampton Inn & Suites St. Louis at Forest Park
    • Points: 45,000
    • Cash: $179

Tru by Hilton

Tru by Hilton is a fun hotel brand that embraces vibrant simplicity in a back to the basics type of way. The brand was designed to disrupt the midscale hotel category and it’s definitely a bit funky.

You’ll find interesting exteriors at these properties along with bright and colorful accent colors. Natural light in the lobbies will be plentiful and simplistic, modern landscape designs can be found surrounding the buildings.

In common areas, you’ll find bright furniture pieces situated along with workstations and game areas. And fitness centers will contain both traditional and nontraditional equipment and accessories that “leverage modern wellness trends.”

Rooms are designed with space in mind as you have open closets and hanging bars. Bathrooms will be spacious and in-room furniture such as desks and shelves will be minimalistic. The Tru properties definitely have a distinctive feel and look to them that you will probably either love or hate.

It’s worth noting that when it comes to earning Hilton points you only earn five base points (versus 10) when staying at these properties.

Locations

  • Properties: 116
  • Countries and territories: 2

Prices

  • Tru by Hilton San Antonio Downtown Riverwalk
    • Points: 30,000
    • Cash: $112
  • Tru by Hilton Meridian Boise West
    • Points: 25,000
    • Cash: $109
  • Tru by Hilton Charlotte Ayrsley
    • Points: 34,000
    • Cash: $139

Homewood Suites by Hilton

Homewood Suites by Hilton is an upscale all-suite residential style property designed for extended stays that competes with Staybridge Suites by IHG and Residence Inn by Marriott.

It’s meant to help business and leisure travelers stay in their routines when on these longer stays and you will find amenities such as free breakfast provided at these properties. Also, there is the free evening social reception Monday through Thursday, consisting of draft beers, house wine, soft drinks, and light snacks.

I once stayed at Homewood suites in Dallas for two weeks and it was a pretty interesting experience. Having the extra space of the suite was definitely helpful in a situation like that and I dare say that it did begin to feel slightly like home by the end of my stay

Locations

  • Properties: 505
  • Countries and territories: 4

Prices

  • Homewood Suites by Hilton Dallas Downtown, TX
    • Points: 37,000
    • Cash: $149
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton Halifax-Downtown Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Points: 37,000
    • Cash: $149
  • Homewood Suites by Hilton Jacksonville Downtown-Southbank
    • Points: 33,000
    • Cash: $139

Home2 Suites by Hilton

Home2 Suites is a mid-scale, all suite hotel targeted to those on extended stays who are more budget conscious and it competes with TownePlace Suites by Marriott and InterContinental Hotels Group’s Candlewood Suites. So if you’re looking to really stretch your cash or points on a long stay, this might be an appealing brand for you.

Home2 Suites properties, which target both leisure and business travelers, feature an open lobby area space called the “Oasis” designed to foster an environment where guests can easily socialize. In these, you’ll find both communal and individual work zones along with 52″ flat-screen TVs. 

It’s worth noting that when it comes to earning Hilton points you only earn five base points (versus 10) when staying at these properties.

Locations

  • Properties: 384
  • Countries and territories: 2

Prices

  • Home2 Suites by Hilton Harvey
    • Points: 34,000
    • Cash: $138
  • Home2 Suites by Hilton Atlanta Midtown
    • Points: 36,000
    • Cash: $139
  • Home2 Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City South
    • Points: 24,000
    • Cash: $97

Hilton Grand Vacations

Hilton Grand Vacations develops, manages, markets, and operates a system of brand-name vacation club ownership resorts. The resorts villas are jointly owned by different members who have exclusive use of the properties for a designated period of time — this is known as a timeshare. 

A word about hotel brands

Above, I’ve included descriptions of the different Hilton brand based on published descriptions by Hilton and based on my own experiences with these brands. There are a couple of things to note, however.

The first is that hotel companies are notorious for using abstract and even vague language when offering descriptions of their hotel brands. It’s not always clear exactly what they are describing, and I don’t completely blame the hotels because a lot of what goes on in a hotel stay is experiential.

So in many ways the only way to get a true appreciation or understanding of what a brand offers is to visit them. 

The second thing to note is that the descriptions used for these properties are not always universal. While some brands are very consistent across the board, other brands do not always fall in line with each other.  

Final word

Hilton has quite a few different type of hotel brands. Some of these brands have very distinct identities that are unmistakably unique. Meanwhile some brands don’t necessarily have a defining characteristic that is readily visible. But generally speaking, you can expect to encounter similar experiences within these brands just be aware that when traveling outside the US some brands can often feel quite different.

Note on pricing:

The prices above were based on the cheapest room that I found for the properties and those prices can obviously fluctuate based on seasonality. 

Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection Review [2020]

A lot of people don’t even realize that their Visa Signature credit card comes with a special hotel perk that offers elite-like benefits to people who may not have elite status or who want to receive those benefits at hotels that don’t have elite programs. It’s called the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection and here’s a review of what the program has to offer.

Interested in finding out the hottest travel credit cards for this month? Click here to check them out! 

What is the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection?

The Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection consists of over 900 hotels around the world and offers you special privileges when you use the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection portal to book your hotel stay.

Many of these hotels are world-class properties like the Conrad Maldives, Park Hyatt Bangkok, and many others but the program also has a lot of properties under $299/per night.

The program is available to those who hold Visa Signature credit cards (and others discussed below).

In order to receive the benefits, reservations must be booked either on a Visa Luxury Hotel Collection website or through the Visa Concierge.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

What credit cards are eligible for the program?

There are many different types of Visa Signature credit cards that will allow you to be eligible for the program. Keep in mind that Visa Infinite cards and select Visa Gold and Visa Platinum cards also provided access to this program.

Here are some of my favorite types of Visa Signature cards.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

The Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with a solid sign-up bonus of 60,000 Ultimate Rewards after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months and is one of the best travel rewards credit card out there. It offers 2X on dining and travel and allows you to redeem your points through the Chase Travel Portal at a rate of 1.25 cents per point.

The annual fee is only $95 dollars per year and because of its broad earning potential in its low annual fee, this is a very popular card for the masses. Read the full review here!

Chase Ink Preferred

The Chase Ink Business Preferred is a small business credit card that is considered to be one of the best business credit cards. The Chase Ink Preferred has a high sign-up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $5,000 in the first three months. The card also earns 3X per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on all of the following categories:

  • Travel, including airfare, hotels, rental cars, train tickets and taxis
  • Shipping purchases
  • Advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines
  • Internet, cable and phone services

Chase Freedom Cards

Chase Freedom foreign transaction fee

The Chase Freedom cards are not always Visa Signature cards but if you get started off with a decent credit limit (usually around $5,000), then you will probably have a Visa Signature version of the Chase Freedom.

The original Chase Freedom earns 5X on rotating quarterly categories which include things like gas, grocery stores, department stores, and various other categories. Meanwhile the Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5 X on every single purchase.

These are only a few of the best Visa Signature Cards and there are many other versions out there.

The Conrad Maldives.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

What are the Visa Signature Hotel Collection benefits?

  • Best available rate guarantee
  • Automatic room upgrade when available
  • Complementary in room Wi-Fi when available
  • Complementary breakfast for two
  • $25 food and beverage credit
  • VIP guest status
  • Late checkout upon request when available

Best available rate guarantee

The Best Rate Guarantee online claim form must be completed in full within 24 hours of making your Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection booking. The 24 hour time restriction on this best rate guarantee is very important to remember since it significantly reduces the time period for which you can apply for a price match.

There are also a number of key rates that are not eligible for the rate guarantee.

The following rates do not qualify:

  • Pre-paid, non-cancellable, and/or non-refundable rates
  • Rates available on auction or flash sale websites like (but not limited to) Priceline or Hotwire
  • Reward program rates, corporate/group rates, government rates and/or other rates not available to the general public
  • Packaged rates that include the room with other travel and/or entertainment goods and services such as (but not limited to) airline tickets, car rentals, or show tickets

This means that you will not be able to take advantage of those advance purchase rates that often have lower rates and that those AAA rates won’t be matched since of those are not available to the general public. So always keep in mind how much you potentially could be saving by going those routes versus the value of the benefits that you would receive from this program.

Automatic room upgrade when available

Upon availability at check-in, you will be upgraded to the next highest room class for the duration of your stay. This type of upgrade language is very similar to what you would expect to find for a mid tier elite status for other hotel loyalty programs. It often means that you will receive something like a bigger room or a corner room with a better view.

However, it is always possible that you could get a better upgrade to a suite. Always be sure to request an upgrade and don’t expect them to proactively give it to you.

Complimentary in room Wi-Fi when available

If your hotel offers Wi-Fi then you should expect to receive that on a complimentary basis for your room.

Complimentary breakfast for two

You will be able to receive a complimentary breakfast for two with this program. This is one of the most valuable benefits because a hotel breakfast for two at a luxury hotel could easily surpass $70+.

I would try to do some research search to see what type of breakfast you would expect at the property that you are thinking about staying in. Some hotels may offer a lighter continental breakfast while other properties may offer you a full-blown breakfast buffet.

$25 food and beverage credit

You should receive a $25 food and beverage credit.  Other similar luxury hotel programs offer credits ranging from $100 and above, so this is definitely on the lower side of a food and beverage credit.

With that said, it’s still nice to get a free $25 dollars toward these purchases.

There is a limit of one $25 USD credit per room, per stay. Some people like to hack these credits by setting up multiple one night reservations so that they can take advantage of the credit each night. The terms and conditions seem to prohibit this as they state at a “stay is defined as consecutive nights spent at the same hotel, regardless of check-in/check-out activity.”

However, if you and a travel companion made separate reservations and alternate checking in and out it is possible that you both could receive this $25 credit per night.

“VIP guest status”

As a guest through the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection, you will be recognized within the hotel as a VIP Guest. VIP Guest services and amenities differ by property.

It’s not clear what exactly the VIP guest services is and it seems that it will differ greatly between different properties. It’s possible that this could include something like a wine and cheese tray delivered to your room or perhaps a box of chocolates.

I would generally only expect some sort of amenity like that rather than anything elaborate like getting picked up in a Rolls Royce.

Late checkout upon request when available

Late checkout is available upon request, upon availability by the hotel. At the time of check-in, or during the course of your stay, you may contact the front desk and request late checkout up to 3 p.m.

Getting late check out to up to 3 PM is a pretty significant benefit. A lot of hotel programs limit you to 1 PM or to 2 PM for a late checkout and so it is nice to have the option to potentially get checkout up to 3 PM. Of course, this is based on availability so there is a chance that you will not be able to get late checkout.

There is also the possibility that you could request even later check out and still get that honored. This type of benefit usually just comes down to the properties preference for honoring these requests and what the availability is like on that given date. Mentioning your “VIP” status might work in your favor with this.

Things to note

Some hotels may not not provide all of the listed benefits above. In cases where one of the benefits is not available at a hotel, the hotel may provide a substitute benefit of equal value.

Another thing to note is that some hotels may provide one of the benefits as a standard feature of the room being booked. In that case, you might be losing out on value if you passed up on booking a cheaper rate. For example, the hotel may already offer complimentary breakfast or free wifi. In those cases, the hotel may or may not provide a substitute benefit of equal value but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to request something.

Also note that if the resort fee covers your benefit, the resort fees that cover any of the benefits are still not reimbursable.

The Park Hyatt Bangkok.

Limited time offers

If you want to get the maximum amount of value from this program that I suggest that you take a look at the special limited time offers. These limited time offers can be found on the front of the main page under the limited time offers tab.

These limited time offers can vary dramatically and they can include any of the following:

  • Save 25% on the Visa Premium Card Rate
  • 4th night free
  • 3rd night free
  • $100 USD Dining Credit
  • $125 USD Dining Credit (in addition to the standard $25 USD food or beverage credit that you already receive with all Visa Luxury Hotel Collection stays)
  • $100 USD Spa Credit
  • $100 USD Hotel Credit

If you can capture any third night or fourth night free, then all of a sudden this becomes a very lucrative program. For example, take a look at a potential booking for the Park Hyatt in New York City. That is a savings of $775 which is just amazing!

Also the hotel and dining credits that are up to $125 are in addition to the standard $25 food and beverage credit, so you can really rack up value with these limited time offers.

Do you receive points and elite credits for your stay?

Others report that they have received both points for their stay and elite credits when they have made their bookings through the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection program.

It is possible that you may not receive your points and elite credits so I would always try to follow up at the hotel program if that is the case. These luxury hotel programs are generally pretty good when it comes to earning points and credits.

I would contact the hotel directly to add your loyalty number to your itinerary to make sure that you receive your points and credits. A lot of times when you add your loyalty information through a third party booking service, it does not always get through to the hotel for some reason.

Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection Locations

As stated, you can find over 900 locations all across the globe for this hotel program. It is very easy to search for hotels with their website. Simply go to the main page and then enter in the location of your desired hotel along with your check in and check out dates.

You will then see all of the hotels for that location. If you want, you can sort them by different criteria such as prices from high to low or from low to high. You can also select the map to see the location of the different properties. Also, there are filters that you can use to filter by brand, location, or even check for special offers

If you select a property, then you can check out detailed reviews and rankings for the property. These factors include the following:

  • Service
  • Rooms
  • Food & Beverage
  • Spa & Fitness
  • Attention to Detail
  • Generosity & Value
  • Wow / Hip Factor
  • Architecture & Design
  • Location
  • Fit to Promise

Below is a sample list of some of the properties that you can find it in major cities. Note that these properties could always change and you should make sure to check for the latest properties.

New York

Las Vegas

San Francisco

Hawaii

Paris

Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts

American Express has a program that is pretty similar to this. It is called Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts and it offers an entire suite of benefits which include:

  • Noon check-in, when available
  • Guaranteed 4pm late check-out
  • Room upgrade upon arrival, when available
  • Daily breakfast for two people
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Special amenity unique to each property

The perks are pretty similar although the American Express program has slightly upgraded perks with things like higher property credits and later checkout. You can read more about this program here. 

If you are interested in a comparison between the major luxury programs here is a chart:

ProgramUpradesEarly check inLate check-outBreakfastFree wifiSpecial amenity value
Visa Signature Luxury Hotel CollectionBased on availabilityN/A3pm, based on availabilityFree for twoYes$25
Visa Infinite Luxury Hotel CollectionBased on availabilityN/A3pm, based on availabilityFree for twoYes$25 (additional $75 may be available)
Luxury Hotel & Resort CollectionBased on availabilityBased on availabilityBased on availabilityFree for twoYes$100
Amex Fine Hotels and ResortsBased on availabilityNoon, based on availability4pm, guaranteedFree for twoYes$100

Additional Visa Signature benefits

There are many other Visa Signature benefits in addition to this program.

These include things like:

  • Visa offers
  • Food and wine perks
  • Concierge service
  • Golf savings
  • Rental car privileges

You can find out more about these perks here.

Final word

The Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection Is a great program to receive elite-like benefits at properties where you do not have status or at least not meaningful status. If you can jump on one of the limited time offers, this can be an extremely lucrative hotel program. But even if you can’t, it can still be a decent option to look into if you want to capture some savings.

12 Ways to Get a Free Night Stay at a Hotel [2020]

There are a lot of different methods for getting a free hotel stay. These range from signing up for certain credit cards to catching the right promotions and even building up your own travel-related media platform.

This article will discuss 12 different ways to get a free night stay at a hotel.

Interested in finding out the top travel credit cards for this month? Click here to check them out!

How to get free night stays at hotel

  • Hotel credit cards
  • Cash back credit cards
  • 5th night free
  • 4th night free
  • 3rd night free
  • 2 nights free
  • Utilize OTAs (online travel agencies)
  • Hotel promotions
  • Travel portals
  • Timeshare presentations
  • Be an “influencer”
  • Negotiate

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

1. Hotel credit cards

The most sure-fire method for getting free hotel stays is to utilize credit card rewards.

You can get free nights via credit cards by earning points or by earning free night certificates. Many cards will give you free night certificates each year just for paying your annual fee like the new IHG Rewards Club Premier Credit Card.

Other credit cards that offer you annual free night certificates are the World of Hyatt credit card, the Marriott Rewards credit card, and the Hilton Aspire. These free nights might be capped to certain categories, like the Marriott free nights at 35,000 points but you can still get great value with these hotels. 

The Hyatt and Marriott cards come with lower annual fees but the Aspire will get you a free weekend night that can be used at any Hilton property.

Many of these hotel cards offer referrals so you can earn additional hotel points when others are approved that used your links. You can read more about how these work here.

2. Cash back credit cards

If you don’t want to hassle with points or free night certificates then using cash back credit cards or travel statement credit cards is a great way to get a free hotel stay.

We used the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card which currently offers a $500 sign-up bonus.

You can use that travel credit to cover any hotel stay and it won’t be subject to black-out dates or award inventory. The Venture also now earns 10X on purchases made at Hotels.com so there’s additional opportunities for big savings.

Using the Venture at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel was one of my favorite redemptions.

3. 5th night free

Hotel loyalty programs like Hilton and Marriott provide you with the 5th night free when you book five consecutive award nights. This is a way to greatly increase the value of your points, and I’ve used the 5th night free for some high value redemptions like the Hilton Playa del Carmen.

Obviously you’ll need a decent amount of points to cover 4 nights but that’s when the credit cards come in handy with their sign-up bonuses.

Related: Is It Safe to Use a Hotel Safe?

4. 4th night free

Sometimes it’s not ideal to stay in one location for five nights so you can go for the fourth night free instead.

The Citi Prestige offers the 4th night free when you use your card to book hotels through its portal. This perk can be used on any hotel found through the portal but can only be used two times per year now. This is one of the most valuable hotel benefits out of any credit card since you can easily save hundreds of dollars on a four night hotel booking.

5. 3rd night free

Is it possible to get a third night free? 

The answer is yes, but you need to know where to look.

The Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts program offers special promos for some amazing properties where you can get the third night for free. In addition to getting the third night free, you’ll also get a lot of special perks like free breakfast, upgrades, and credits to use at the resorts. You can read more about that valuable program here. 

6. 2 nights free

It’s even possible to sometimes get two nights free when you make a booking.

The program that offers this is called the Relais & Châteaux and it’s a collection of over 500 luxury properties located all around the world. Most of the locations are found in Europe but you can find them in the US and in other places like Asia and South America.

If you find the right deal, you can get two free nights whenever you make a seven night booking. This is one of the only programs that I’ve seen offering this kind of double free night and it could be very lucrative given the price of some of these hotels. Find out more about the program here.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

7. Utilize OTAs (online travel agencies)

OTAs (online travel agencies) are actually great ways to earn free hotel nights. You can go with a program like Expedia and earn rewards or programs like Hotels.com that give you the 10th night free based on the average cost of your prior 9 stays.

You can also go with sites like BonWi.com. You’ll be able to earn cash back in high amounts that will have you earning free nights in a hurry! For example, I stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Dallas and received 40% back on my stay. That’s unheard of.

If you’re serious about earning a free hotel stay via an OTA, I highly recommend to check out BonWi.com.

8. Hotel promotions

Catching the right hotel promotions can be a great way to get a free hotel stay.

Marriott started a promotion for the 2017 NFL football season allowing you to earn 1,000 free Marriott points every week just by following them on social media and tweeting out answers to football related questions.

And Wyndham offers promotions like this one where you can earn one free night (good even for all-inclusive properties) by completing two stays (even if they were at super-cheap motels).

You just need to stay tuned in to blogs like this one and all of the others to see when these promos are happening.

9. Travel portals

Many of the major credit card issuers have travel portals where you can use your points to book hotel stays without having to pay cash.

One of the best travel portals is the Chase Travel Portal which allows you to redeem points at a rate of 1.5 cents per point if you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

That rate is better than just about any travel portal out there. You won’t always get your elite benefits honored when booking through these portals but I have had them honored in the past. 

10. Timeshare presentations

This is something I’ve never personally done, so I won’t pretend to be an expert.

But you can often find special promotions going on that allow you to receive free travel perks by sitting through a time share presentation. You need to be very careful that you know what you’re getting yourself into when attending these, but they can lead to free hotel nights.

  • Read more about timeshare presentations and how to get free hotel stays here.

11. Be an “influencer”

This is probably the hardest to accomplish. You can start to build an online presence as a travel blogger, vlogger, etc. Once you can demonstrate that you have a certain reach online (and quality content to go along with that), you can reach out to hotels about receiving comped stays.

Typically, you’ll need to be somewhat established in the field to be considered an “influencer” (yes, I don’t care for the term either). You’ll need to have followers, features, awards, or some type of notable element to your brand so the hotel knows they’re not wasting their time. Also, this method works best on newer hotel properties that can use the additional exposure upon opening.

Just pray that this doesn’t backfire like it did recently for one unfortunate blogger.

12. Negotiate

When something goes wrong with your booking or your stay, don’t be afraid to voice your displeasure and to request compensation. I just wrote about a guy who received 2 additional free nights, 100,000 additional points, and elite status for two years with IHG all because IHG canceled his mistake fare booking.

Obviously, you never know what you might get with this method and you need to remain reasonable. However, you never know what type of perks you might get offered just by asking when something goes awry with your hotel stay.

Final word

Knowing how to get a free night stay at a hotel comes down to just a few key things. Generally, signing up for the right credit card is the best and most surefire method for getting free night stays. But signing up for promotions, utilizing OTAs,  and knowing how to leverage your situation are also ways to get a free night.

Relais & Châteaux Ultimate Guide (Top Locations) [2020]

There are a lot of luxury hotel programs out there like the FHR offered by American Express and the Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection offered by Chase.

But there is another group of hotels that stands out known as Relais & Châteaux.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Relais & Châteaux including how to get the most out of this amazing luxury hotel program.

What is Relais & Châteaux?

Relais & Châteaux is a network of individually owned and operated luxury hotels and restaurants located all around the globe.

There are currently approximately 550 members and they are predominantly located in Europe, although you can find locations in other places such as the United States, Asia, South America, and Oceania. 

Related: Top Hotel Credit Cards for Optimal Rewards

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

What is so special about Relais & Châteaux hotels?

Relais & Châteaux hotels are special because they are often located in idyllic locations, offer exceptional dining experiences, and provide high levels of quality service on a consistent basis. Hotels must also successfully go through an extensive selection process to be a member of Relais & Châteaux.

The locations 

Quite simply, the properties you will find in this hotel group are often exceptional and located in breathtaking settings like the beaches of the Seychelles or Napa Valley vineyards. It’s not uncommon for them to be found in historic landmarks or castles and elegant manor houses.

When we stayed at the Palazzo Manfredi, the view looking directly to the Rome Colosseum was exceptional and the property fit right into the nearby neighborhood. So expect big things in terms of location when you stay at a Relais & Châteaux hotel.   

The dining

It’s not uncommon to find a Michelin starred restaurant located inside your property as Relais & Châteaux hotels make great places to indulge yourself in “haute cuisine.” It’s home to many Michelin stars including some three Michelin star rated chefs.

Sometimes you can take the culinary experience even further and sign up for something like a cooking class. Relais & Châteaux definitely caters to true foodies.  

The service 

What stands out to me the most is the level of service.

You’ll find people who truly love what they are doing staffed at these properties and they will go over and beyond to make you feel welcomed in a warm and memorable way. 

For example, whenever we stayed at the Palazzo Manfredi in Rome it was such a memorable hotel stay. We had been on a kick of staying at big brands like the Park Hyatt and Hilton Conrad and then we decided to mix it up and go with a smaller boutique luxury hotel.

The level of attention that we received was exceptional and there just was something special about the entire hotel experience that made it feel like one of the best stays I’ve ever had. 

In short, some of these Relais & Châteaux hotels have that “it” factor that’s hard to describe.

Palazzo Manfredi in Rome.

How do I get the most out of Relais & Châteaux?

To get the most out of Relais & Châteaux, make sure that you are aware of all of the special packages and offers that might be available to you before booking. You might be able to find the perfect itinerary already arranged and priced out or simply be able to save by lumping together spa treatments and dining experiences.

And also, after you choose your designated hotel, be sure to check out all of the property details so that you have a good overview of all the available amenities. You’ll be surprised about some of the activities offered and this will help you narrow down what things you’d like to do during your travels.

Check for special packages and offers

Relais & Châteaux itineraries

Relais & Châteaux itineraries are pre-made, multi-day itineraries that range from a few days to a couple of weeks and their prices fluctuate accordingly.

For example, you can do a package from New Mexico to Texas for three nights for a total of $1,045.48 where you will be exploring “remains of old Native American villages and the deepest caves in the United States.”

On the other end of the spectrum there is the 1 Route du Bonheur — a 15 night journey through Argentina and Chile, along the Andes Mountains that will cost you over $19,000.

These packages will combine other forms of travel such as rental cars to get you from point A to point B. When booking, you can get assistance from the concierge and put together the perfect travel itinerary based on your specific travel needs.

Relais & Châteaux special offers

Relais & Châteaux offers special offers that can provide you with savings on your travels.

For example, you can get one night free when booking three nights or possibly even two nights free when booking seven nights (two free nights is definitely a rarity for hotel programs.) By the way, if you are looking for ways to score free nights with credit cards be sure to check out our full guide here.

If you’re a foodie, you can look into gastronomy packages that were lumped together with your stay. These may offer a free breakfast and something like a three course meal at a fine restaurant. If you are into wellness, you might even be able to throw in a spa treatment into that package.

So be sure to check on the special offers to see if there are any packages right up your alley.

Relais & Châteaux Experiences

Instead of checking on the experiences tab one by one, you might just want to search for hotels based on the type of experiences you are looking for.

Relais & Châteaux experiences breaks down different types of travel styles that you might be interested in. For example, you might be interested in an exciting safari tour in Africa or you might be more into a weekend spa getaway.

Either way, you can search for properties based on the type of experiences that you are interested in pursuing by clicking on the “Experiences” option on the main menu. 

Here are some of the experience categories you might look into.

City breaks

City breaks is about getting a concentrated dose of culture during your stay.

Whether it’s sipping a ristretto coffee in Florence or listening  to snake charmers in the Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakesh, the city breaks will help you encounter the local culture in a way that will leave a lasting impression on you.

Cooking classes

In more than 200 properties, you can enroll in a cooking course to sharpen your culinary skills. 

Spa experiences

There are 160 properties that specialize in spa experiences.

Golf

If hitting the links is your thing, there are over 100 golf courses in the program to choose from.

Safaris and wildlife

If you are someone who likes to explore, there are about 20 hotels that offer some form of a safari or wildlife experience. As you would probably expect, most of these are in Africa and places like South Africa, Kenya, and Madagascar.

Inspire me

The inspire me page is cool because you simply click on an image that you think represents the type of travel you would be interested in and you will get recommendations on where to go.

Check the details on your hotels website

If you’re paying top dollar for a luxury hotel experience, you definitely need to do some research ahead of time to make sure that you are aware of all of the special perks available to you.

Whenever you are searching for a hotel, and you land on its main page, you can click on different tabs to get insight into that property.

Since many of these properties have fine dining establishments located on site, you definitely want to check out the restaurant tab.

You’ll then be able to get details about the chef and restaurant and see any accolades such as Michelin stars that may have been awarded. You’ll also be able to see the prices and potentially menus for the restaurants.

Screenshot of the Relais & Châteaux website
Be sure to check out all the details on the Relais & Châteaux website.

You’ll also want to check on the “experiences” tab.

This will give you a sense of activities you can enjoy at the hotel. For example, you might discover a free yoga class.

Click on the “good to know” tab to get a full breakdown of everything offered at the hotel. You can quickly see what type of facilities are at the property such as bars, pools, tennis courts, etc. And you can also get a rundown of all of the available activities such as things like horseback riding, sailing, hiking, etc.

Relais & Châteaux Selection process

There is an incredibly in-depth selection process to be accepted as a member.

First, after receiving an application or finding a prospect, a quality department audits the candidates according to a quality charter that accounts for more than 300 different factors.

Secret inspections are then done to control the “criteria of excellence.”

The property must then submit a formal application which is reviewed by the network commission. Other members are also asked to give their opinions on the hotel and then an interview is done with the president.

According to the president, “The objectives of the interview are to check the commitment of the owner, the soul of the property and to ensure that the candidate intends to comply with the values of our association.”

The board of directors then decides on whether to admit the property based on the full file: the application documents, the secret audits, and the interview with the president. 

And even after a hotel is approved, they must still pass annual secret audits that take place.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Relais & Châteaux hotel locations

As mentioned above, there are over 500 properties in this hotel network and they all have to meet strict requirements for quality. So it’s hard to go wrong when choosing any of them but here are a few that you might look into.

Relais & Châteaux hotels in Canada

  • Wedgewood Hotel & Spa (Vancouver, British Columbia)
  • Hastings House Country House Hotel (Salt Spring Island, British Columbia)
  • Auberge Saint-Antoine (Quebec, Quebec)
  • Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa (Cambridge, Ontario)

Relais & Châteaux hotels in the US

  • Ocean House (Watch Hill, Rhode Island)
  • The Inn of the Five Graces (Santa Fe, New Mexico)
  • Meadowood Napa Valley Saint Helena, California
  • The Inn at Little Washington (Washington, Virginia)
  • Triple Creek Ranch (Derby, Montana)
  • Auberge du Soleil (Rutherford, California)
  • Château du Sureau (Yosemite National Park, California)
  • Dunton Hot Springs (Dolores, Colorado)
  • Hotel Wailea (Wailea, Hawaii)

Relais & Châteaux hotels in Mexico and the Caribbean

  • Hotel Le Toiny (St. Barts)
  •  Hotel Solar de las Animas (Tequila, Mexico)

Relais & Châteaux hotels in Central and South America

  • El Silencio Lodge & Spa (Bajos Del Toro, Costa Rica)
  • Saint Andrews Gramado (Gramado, Brazil)
  • Cavas Wine Lodge (Lujan De Cuyo, Argentina)
  • El Colibri (Santa Catalina, Argentina)
  • EOLO – Patagonia’s Spirit (Santa Cruz, Argentina)

Relais & Châteaux hotels in Europe

  • Il San Pietro di Positano (Italy)
  • Ballyfin Demense (County Laois, Ireland)
  • Cliveden House (UK)
  • Chateau de La Chèvre d’Or (France)
  • The Yeatman hotel (Portugal)
  • Sheen Falls Lodge (Ireland)
  • Royal Champagne (France)

Relais & Châteaux hotels in Asia

  • Asaba (Japan)
  • Beniya Mukayu (Japan)
  • Bettei Senjuan (Japan)
  • Cape Weligama (Sri Lanka)
  • Saint Pierre (Singapore)
  • Hotel Villa de Pranakorn (Thailand)

Oceania

  •  Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa (French Polynesia)
  • Huka Lodge (New Zealand)
  • Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa (French Polynesia)
  • Matakauri Lodge (New Zealand)
  • Otahuna Lodge (New Zealand)

Remember, these are only a fraction of the properties in this amazing network of hotels. If you’d like to search for more properties, just visit the homepage.

Relais & Châteaux FAQ

Is the Relais & Châteaux worth it? 

If you truly value luxury and fine dining Relais & Châteaux hotels are definitely worth it. 

How expensive are Relais & Châteaux hotel rooms?

Relais & Châteaux Room rates can vary from a couple of hundred bucks per night to over $1,000 per night. It all just depends on the property and the location. Generally, I would expect to pay a few hundred dollars per night (~$300).

How expensive are Relais & Châteaux Restaurants?

Restaurant rates can vary but generally you can expect prices to begin at around $100 per person. You can always check the website for details on menu pricing.

Does Relais & Châteaux offer discounts?

You can get special offers at select locations that allow you to receive free nights when booking multiple nights. For example, you can get the fourth night free when booking four nights or two nights free when booking seven nights.

Other discounts may be offered when booking packages such as spa treatments and dinners with your room. Always be sure to check the special offers page.

What are the Relais & Châteaux Visa Infinite benefits?

If you are a Visa Infinite cardholder and book through the concierge, you can take advantage of additional perks when staying at Relais & Châteaux properties. You will receive: 

VIP Welcome: This could include a bottle of champagne on arrival.
Complimentary Breakfast: More than 180 properties offer a complimentary daily breakfast for each member of the party for up to a maximum of seven consecutive days

What is the Relais & Châteaux cancellation policy?

The cancellation policy for your booking will depend on the property you book with.

However, you can easily view the cancellation terms prior to check out by clicking on “See guarantee & cancellation policies.” Be aware that some cancellation fees may apply far out from your time for check-in. 

What is Relais & Châteaux Club 5C?

Club 5C was the exclusive loyalty membership that came with special perks. The name 5C came from how perspective and current members are evaluated by the group which include:

Character
Courtesy
Calm
Charm
Cuisine

You could get accelerated access to Club 5C status with Relais & Châteaux after staying just 2 nights at qualifying properties in a 12-month period with the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

But this program is no longer available as of 2019.

Final word

Relais & Châteaux properties are exceptional and if you truly are interested in luxury travel and fine dining, then this network should be on your radar.

Wyndham Rewards Platinum Benefits Guide [2020]

Wyndham Rewards does not get nearly as much attention as other popular hotel programs like Hilton Honors or World of Hyatt but it’s an interesting program that offers some decent perks to its loyalty members.

In this article, I’ll be breaking down the Wyndham Rewards Platinum elite level and telling you everything you need to know about things like upgrades, bonus earnings, and how to earn the status.

What is Wyndham Rewards Platinum?

Wyndham Rewards Platinum status is the mid-tier elite level for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts although it compares with lower elite levels from other major hotel programs, such as Hilton and Marriott.

Related: 37 Best Wyndham Properties to stay at 

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

How can you earn Wyndham Rewards Platinum?

You can earn Platinum status by staying 15 qualifying nights, by getting approved for the Wyndham Rewards Visa, or by completing a status match.

Earn Wyndham Rewards Platinum with stays 

As stated, you can earn Platinum status by staying 15 qualifying nights.

Here’s how the requirements stack up against each other.

  • Blue: Upon Enrollment
  • Gold: 5 Qualifying Nights
  • Platinum: 15 Qualifying Nights
  • Diamond: 40 Qualifying Nights

Qualifying nights are:

  • A paid, stayed night so long as the Qualified Stay has an average daily rate of at least $25
  • A paid, stayed Go Fast award night at any type of participating property;
  • A stayed Go Free award night at any type of participating property.

Earn Wyndham Rewards Platinum with a credit card

The easiest way to earn Platinum status is to simply get approved for the Wyndham Rewards Visa. I would not say that this is the best hotel credit card out there, but it’s one of the more underrated hotel credit cards in my opinion and it comes with the following perks:

  • Decent welcome bonus (varies)
  • 5 points per $1 spent on Wyndham 
  • 2 points per $1 spent on gas, utility, and grocery store purchases
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • $75 annual fee

Tip: Be sure that before you apply you check your eligibility utilizing the free app WalletFlo!

Earn Wyndham Rewards Platinum with a status match

You can also earn Platinum status by doing a status match when available. Here are some of the other elite programs that match up with Platinum status.

  • Marriott Bonvoy Silver
  • Hilton Silver
  • Hyatt Discoverist/Explorist
  • IHG Gold Elite
  • Choice Privileges Gold/Platinum
  • Radisson Rewards Silver
  • Omni Select Guest Platinum

Caesars Rewards

At any time, you should be able to match your Caesars Rewards status to get instant Platinum level status. The Platinum Caesars Rewards Tier will give you Wyndham Rewards Platinum Level

Union Station HotelUnion Station Hotel Nashville. Photo by Geoff Stearns.

What are the Wyndham Rewards Platinum benefits?

  • Discounted rate
  • 10 points per dollar (or 1,000 points) plus a 15% bonus
  • Rollover nights
  • Free wifi
  • Go Free PLUS
  • Go Fast PLUS
  • Dedicated Member services
  • Preferred Room Choice
  • Late Check-out

You’ll also get additional benefits including:

  • Early Check-in
  • Avis and Budget upgrades

Discounted rate

You’ll get access to a discount on the Best Available Rate at participating Wyndham Rewards Hotels.

10 points per dollar (or 1,000 points) plus a 15% bonus

As a Wyndham Rewards member, you’ll earn 10 base points per dollar spent on each qualifying night. However, the cool thing about Wyndham is that you are guaranteed at least 1,000 points assuming that you meet the minimum average daily rate requirement of $25.

Because you will be Platinum, you’ll receive a 15% bonus on top of those points. So your total earnings would be 11.5 points per dollar. Using a WalletFlo valuation of .87, that comes out to 10% back which is pretty good if you ask me. 

Rollover nights

Another feature that I love about the Wyndham Rewards program is that your leftover elite qualifying nights will roll over to the next year and they don’t expire.

So if you were to earn 20 qualifying nights in one year, you would achieve Platinum status and then five qualifying nights could give you a head start on earning status the next year.

Free wifi

Like most other loyalty programs, you will be granted free Wi-Fi. Like other perks, this perk may be excluded at Caesars Entertainment hotels.

Go Free PLUS

Go Free awards are the standard free night awards for Wyndham. Wyndham has a very simplified award structure so that standard free awards will cost one of three prices: 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points per bedroom.

When you redeem a Go Free award night in certain cities, you’ll receive a gift code to save $10 on a local experience. You’ll will receive one Go Free PLUS promotional gift code for each Go Free award night booked

You can search for eligible activities here. 

The activities you get a discount for can vary but here are some examples you might encounter:

  • Pizza walking tour of Manhattan
  • Chicago Architecture River Cruise
  • Gangsters and Ghosts Tour in Chicago
  • Niagara Falls Canadian Side Tour and Maid of the Mist Boat Ride
  • New Orleans Ghost, Voodoo & Vampire Walking Tour

In order to get the discount, simply make your booking and you will receive a follow up email with your discount code.

If you book your award night more than 7 days in advance, you will receive the email up to 7 days prior to your arrival date but if you book your award night less than 7 days in advance, you will receive the email the day of your booking.

Go Fast PLUS

Go Fast awards are discounted awards and you can redeem nights for just 1,500, 3,000, or 6,000 points per bedroom (plus a cash co-payment). 

When you redeem a Go Fast award night in certain cities, you’ll receive a gift code to save $5 on a local experience. See the link above for a selection of experiences.

Dedicated Member services

When you need assistance for things like bookings or itinerary changes, your calls will be handled by a representative specific to your member level. To find a dedicated services phone number, check your My Account page.

Preferred Room Choice

You can choose the preferred room type you would like within the same class of rooms you booked. Note that these are subject to availability.

Examples of preferred rooms include “a recently renovated room, a more spacious room, or a room with a desired view or location.” This is pretty standard upgrade language for a mid to lower-tier elite status. So while you can voice your preference for a better room, just don’t go expecting a suite upgrade.

Late Check-out

Late check-out is offered upon request and subject to availability during qualified stays. The terms and conditions state, “Requested checkout time is not to exceed two hours after the hotel’s standard checkout time.” So if the check-out time is noon, you might come in they get a 2pm late checkout.

But often the determination for late check-out just depends on the property that you are staying at. To get some tips on how to secure a late check-out on a regular basis be sure to read our detail guide here. 

Early Check-in

With this perk you can check-in “up to two hours prior to the applicable Participating Hotel’s standard check-in time.” A common check-in time is 3pm so this perk would allow you to check in at 1pm. However, a lot of hotels allow you to check in sooner if there is availability so it never hurts to try to get in extra early.

Early check-in is subject to availability.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Avis and Budget upgrades

Get a free upgrade on your car rental through Avis or Budget at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada (excludes Quebec).

New YorkerThe New Yorker, A Wyndham Hotel

Wyndham Rewards Platinum FAQ

Do you get free breakfast with Wyndham Rewards Platinum?

No, you do not get a free breakfast. But some properties will offer a free breakfast including:

Baymont Inn & Suites
Days Inn
Howard Johnson
Hawthorn Suites
La Quinta
Microtel Inn & Suites
Super 8
Travelodge
Wingate

Read more here about hotels that offer free breakfast.

How many points are needed for a free night?

Standard free awards will cost one of three prices: 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points. However, you can book discounted free nights for just 1,500, 3,000, or 6,000 points per bedroom (plus a cash payment)! Also, Wyndham is known to run great promotions for earning free nights.

Do you get upgrades with Wyndham Rewards Platinum?

Wyndham Rewards Platinum allows you to choose a preferred room which could be a room with a better view or a more spacious room but the room must be in the same room class as your original booking. So you typically will not get bumped up to a suite.

Can you earn Wyndham Rewards Platinum with a credit card?

Yes, you can get automatic Platinum status with the Wyndham Rewards Visa.

Does Wyndham rewards offer status matches?

Yes, Wyndham Rewards does offer status matches from various hotel programs. Platinum typically matches from a lower tier status. Check the article above for more details.

Do I still get the 3,000 point bonus?

As of 2019, Platinum members no longer receive a bonus of 3,000 Wyndham Rewards points, regardless of how they earned their Platinum Member Level status. This was replaced with “Accelerated Earning.”

Final word

Platinum status has a nice earning rate especially if you have the Wyndham Rewards Visa. There are also some other interesting perks like roll-over nights that don’t expire and discounts on certain activities. Overall though, the perks I care most about such as quality upgrades and breakfast are not included so I’m not a huge fan of this status.

Cover photo: Wyndham Vacation Resorts Asia Pacific

What Are the Benefits of Hyatt Explorist Status? [2020]

Hyatt Explorist status is the mid-tier status of the World of Hyatt Program. Unlike the lower tier status, Discoverist, you won’t be granted this level of status with the World of Hyatt Credit Card and will have to do a little bit of work to earn it.

Here’s a look at the benefits of Hyatt Explorist status and whether all that work might be worth it.

What is Hyatt Explorist status?

Hyatt Explorist is the mid-level elite status in the World of Hyatt program.

Tip: Use the free app WalletFlo to help you travel the world for free by finding the best travel credit cards and promotions!

World of Hyatt Card

The World of Hyatt Card is one of the best hotel credit cards available since it comes with a great sign-up bonus, strong bonus category earning, and the opportunity for free nights. It’s also one of the best hotel cards for climbing your way up the elite status tiers for Hyatt. You can read our full detailed review here. 

  • Welcome Bonus
    • 30,000 Bonus Points after $3,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening
    • Plus, 2 points total per $1 spent on purchases that earn 1 point, up to $15,000 in spend in the first 6 months of account opening
  • Bonus earning: 
    • 4X spent with your card at Hyatt hotels, including participating restaurants and spas
    • 2X on local transit and commuting, including taxis, mass transit, tolls and ride-share services
    • 2X at restaurants, cafes and coffee shops
    • 2X on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline
    • 2X spent on fitness club and gym memberships
  • Free nights: 
    • Receive one free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort every year after your cardmember anniversary
    • Earn an extra free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 during your cardmember anniversary year
  • Elite status:
    • Comes with Hyatt Discoverist status
    • Receive 5 qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year
    • Earn 2 additional qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every time you spend $5,000 on your card
  • $95 Annual Fee 

How do you earn Hyatt Explorist status?

You can earn Explorist status by:

  • Staying at Hyatt properties
  • Using credit card elite credits
  • Status challenges

Staying at Hyatt properties

You can earn Hyatt Explorist status by getting a minimum of:

  • 30 Tier-Qualifying Nights
  • 50,000 Base Points
  • 10 Meetings/events

Note that Hyatt goes by nights and not stays for elite qualification.

Here’s how Explorist stacks up to the other Hyatt tiers.

StatusNightsBase PointsMeetings/events
Discoverist 1025,0003
Explorist3050,00010
Globalist 60100,00020
Lifetime GlobalistN/A100,000N/A
World of Hyatt elite levels

Credit cards

Hyatt offers one of the best hotel credit cards with the World of Hyatt Credit Card.

As far as elite status goes, you will get:

  • Automatic Discoverist status
  • 5 qualifying night credits towards elite status
  • 2 qualifying night credits every time you spend $5,000

So you could spend your way to Explorist with $65,000 in spend. More realistically for some people, they might meet somewhere in the middle.

So your journey to earn Explorist status could go something like this:

  • Five qualifying nights automatically from the World of Hyatt Credit Card
  • 15 notes stayed in a hotel
  • 10 nights from $25,000 worth of spend on the World of Hyatt Credit Card

That would be 30 nights and you would have your status met without a super high amount of spend on your credit card needed.

Related: What’s The Best Top Hotel Elite Status?

Status challenge

You can also try to jump on a status challenge when they are available.

For example in late 2017, Hyatt allowed Discoverist members to earn Explorist status by staying 10 nights and could have even earned top-tier Globalist status with 20 nights within the span of 4 months.

This opportunity was only open to Hyatt credit card holders, however, so if you intend on climbing the Hyatt ranks it might be a good idea to get that card.

There have also been some random and unexpected status challenge/upgrades that have gone out as well. So stay on your toes!

Hyatt Ziva Butler Suite Rose Hall Jamaica.

What are the Hyatt Explorist status benefits?

Here are the main Explorist benefits:

  • 20% bonus on base points
  • Upgrades
  • Late check-out
  • Guaranteed Availability
  • M life Rewards Status Tier Match
  • Special reservations line

Here are some of the additional perks that other elite levels get:

  • Exhale benefits
  • Resort fees waived on awards stays
  • Small Luxury Hotels of the World Benefits
  • Premium Internet
  • Bottled Water
  • Elite check-in
  • American Airlines AAdvantage Bonus

Bonus points

Explorists will receive a 20% point bonus on the base points.

Members earn 5X at Hyatt properties so an additional 20% bonus means that you’ll be earning 6X.

If you value Hyatt points at 1.57 cents per point (which is the WalletFlo valuation) that’s a return of 9.4% back, which is not bad at all for a mid-level elite status.

If you add on the 4X at Hyatt hotels with the World of Hyatt Credit Card, that’s 10X per dollar spent or 15.7% back, which is very nice.

Upgrades to best room available

Explorists will be offered “the best room available” at the time of check-in at Hyatt hotels and resorts

It’s worth noting that this excludes suites and Club lounge-access rooms, though upgrades to suites can happen as an Explorist.

What exactly is the best room?

Well, that’s up to the hotel or resort and may vary from stay to stay. It will often be a room type/category higher than the one you booked.

One important thing to know is that upgrades for Explorists are not limited to rooms within the same type of category.

Note that these upgrades are not valid at Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Destination Residences, or Hyatt Residence Club hotels and resorts.

Hyatt Ziva Butler Suite Rose Hall Jamaica.

Late check-out

Upon request, Explorists will receive a 2pm late checkout at Hyatt hotels.

Late checkout is subject to availability at hotels with a casino and Hyatt resorts and late checkout is not offered at Hyatt Residence Club resorts or M life Resorts.

Along with preferred room upgrades, late check out is a pretty solid perk. Being able to relax in your room the final morning of your stay feels great and it’s pretty normal to see restrictions for it at resorts.

Still, other programs like Marriott offer late check out to 4pm for mid-tier status which is more convenient.

For tips on how to maximize the late check out perk, click here.

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

72-Hour Room Availability

Hyatt Explorist offers a guaranteed 72-hour room availability but subject to many restrictions, however.

Paid reservations

  • Explorists will be guaranteed a room at Hyatt hotels (subject to the exclusions detailed below) for their own personal use when making a paid reservation directly with Hyatt at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to arrival (local time for the applicable hotel) that is guaranteed with a valid credit card. All reservations are subject to hotel policies.

Standard rate rooms

  • This guarantee is only applicable when the hotel is otherwise entirely sold out (including all suites), is valid for one (1) standard guest room, and is subject to the applicable hotel’s reservation requirements (e.g., minimum length of stay, special packages, and meal plans).
  • Rooms secured under this provision are only available at the Standard Rate. Negotiated rates or other group, promotional, or discounted rates do not apply and Free Night Awards may not be redeemed for a room secured pursuant to this benefit.

Not valid during “extraordinary” demand

  • This guarantee is not valid during any period of extraordinary room demand and is subject to blackout periods set out by each hotel. Contracted last-room-available rates do not apply to rooms secured under this provision.

Not valid at certain properties

  • Guaranteed availability for Explorists is not valid at Destination Residences or Hyatt Residence Club resorts, any Hyatt hotel with a casino, or any Hyatt resort.

M life Rewards Status Tier Match

Explorists will receive Gold status with M life Rewards, the loyalty program of MGM Resorts International.

Special Reservation Phone Line

Explorists have access to a Hyatt reservation telephone line exclusively for use by Explorists. You can find the phone number for this phone line by logging into your account.

Hyatt Regency Dallas

Additional Explorist Benefits

Explorists also receive the same dedicated check-in area, complimentary premium in-room internet access, and daily bottled water benefits afforded to Discoverists below.

  • Exhale benefits
  • Resort fees waived on awards stays
  • Small Luxury Hotels of the World Benefits
  • Premium Internet
  • Bottled Water
  • Elite check-in
  • American Airlines AAdvantage Bonus

You can read more about these benefits here.

Milestone Rewards

Hyatt offers special Milestone Rewards that reward you for your stays as you pile up the nights and base points.

Here are the relevant rewards for obtaining Explorist.

  • 20 nights or 35K base points: 2 Club Lounge Access Awards
  • 30 nights or 50K base points: 1 Category 1-4 Free Night Award and 2 Club Lounge Access Awards

This means that if you obtain Explorist status by nights or base points, by the time you get the status you will have earned four club lounge access awards and a free night at a category 1 through 4 hotel.

Since you don’t get free breakfast as a Hyatt Explorist, these four club lounge access awards could be your ticket to getting one.

Hyatt Explorist FAQ

Can you get Explorist status with a credit card?

You can’t get Explorist status instantly with a credit card but you can use the credits that come with the World of Hyatt Credit Card to earn it faster.

You’ll get five qualifying elite night credits every year and for every $5,000 you spend on the card you will receive two additional qualifying nights.

Do Explorist members get free breakfast?

No, Explorist members do not get free breakfast. However, you can use club lounge access awards to receive a free breakfast at some properties.

Do Explorist members get club lounge access?

No, Explorist members do not get club lounge access.

However, you can use the club lounge access awards that you will receive along the way for club lounge access on certain stays.

How late is the late check out benefit?

You will get late check out until 2pm. However, be aware that the late check out is not guaranteed at all properties.

Does Explorist match to M Life?

Yes, Explorists will receive Gold status with M life Rewards.

How long will my status be good for?

Your status will be good through February of the second calendar year following qualification. So if you finish 30 stays in May of 2021 you will retain Explorist status through February of 2023 (the second calendar year).

Final word

I personally prefer Hilton mid-tier status to Hyatt because I can get lounge access and free breakfasts on a more consistent basis and it’s not restricted to 4 times a year.

Other benefits like late check out are also more convenient with other programs since they are later. And finally, there’s no quick short cut via a premium credit card to Explorist status like there is to Hilton mid-tier status, so for me Hyatt Explorist status leaves some to be desired.

Wyndham Rewards Diamond Benefits [2020]

Wyndham Rewards does not have an elite program quite as robust as other major hotel programs like Marriott or Hyatt. However, there are some pretty valuable aspects of this reward program that you should be aware of.

In this article, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Wyndham Rewards Diamond status.

What is Wyndham Rewards Diamond status?

Wyndham Rewards Diamond status is the top-tier elite level for Wyndham Hotels & Resorts although it compares with mid-elite levels from other hotel programs, such as Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott. 

The reason that it compares with mid-level elite status is because it offers benefits close to what mid-level elite statuses offer and also the criteria for qualifying is close to what those levels require.

Fan of Wyndham? Check out the 37 best Wyndham properties!

How can you earn Wyndham Rewards Diamond?

You can earn Diamond status by staying 40 qualifying nights or by completing a status match. 

Earn Wyndham Rewards Diamond with stays 

As stated, you can earn Diamond status by staying 40 qualifying nights.

Here’s how the requirements stack up against lower elite levels.

  • Blue: Upon Enrollment
  • Gold: 5 Qualifying Nights
  • Platinum: 15 Qualifying Nights
  • Diamond: 40 Qualifying Nights

Qualifying nights are:

  • A paid, stayed night so long as the Qualified Stay has an average daily rate of at least $25
  • A paid, stayed Go Fast award night at any type of participating property;
  • A stayed Go Free award night at any type of participating property.

40 nights would get you Marriott Gold or Hilton Gold elite status which are both middle tier elite levels. So the Wyndham elite level requirements top out pretty low compared to other programs.

That’s significant because those other programs will continue to reward you as you stay more nights at their properties. So you should be aware of what you are giving up if you decide to pursue elite status with Wyndham.

Wyndham Rewards credit card

The Wyndham Rewards Visa comes with Platinum status and unfortunately it does not offer a way to earn Diamond status.

It’s not the best hotel credit card out there, but it has some decent perks such as:

  • Decent welcome bonus (varies) 
  • 5 points per $1 spent on Wyndham 
  • 2 points per $1 spent on gas, utility, and grocery store purchases
  • 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases 
  • No foreign transaction fees 
  • $75 annual fee

That 5X earning rate can be combined with the bonus on Diamond status for some pretty lucrative earnings which I will talk about below.

Tip: Be sure that before you apply you check your eligibility utilizing the free app WalletFlo!

Earn Wyndham Rewards Diamond with a status match 

You can also earn Diamond status by doing a status match when available. Here are how some of the other elite programs match with Diamond status. 

  • Marriott Bonvoy Gold/Platinum/Titanium/Ambassador
  • Hilton Gold/Diamond
  • Hyatt Globalist
  • IHG Platinum Elite/Spire Elite
  • Choice Privileges Diamond
  • Radisson Rewards Gold/Platinum
  • Omni Select Guest Black

Caesars Rewards

You can also match your Caesars Rewards status to get instant Diamond level status. The Diamond Caesars Rewards Tier will give you Wyndham Rewards Diamond Level. 

What are the Wyndham Rewards Diamond benefits?

These are the exclusive Diamond benefits:

  • Suite Upgrades
  • Welcome Amenity at Check-In
  • Gift Gold
  • 10 points per dollar (or 1,000 points) plus a 20% bonus

And here are all of the other benefits lower elite level members may get:

  • Discounted rate
  • Rollover nights
  • Free wifi
  • Go Free PLUS
  • Go Fast PLUS
  • Dedicated Member services
  • Late Check-out
  • Early Check-in 
  • Avis and Budget upgrades

Suite Upgrades

The big difference between Wyndham Platinum and Diamond is that Diamond members can get suite upgrades while Platinum members only get a preferred room choice.

There are very mixed data points about Diamond members getting upgrades to suites. It sounds like this is something you will definitely want to be proactive about requesting.

Welcome Amenity at Check-In

When you check in, you should be offered some type of complimentary snack or beverage.

These welcome amenities should be available at:

  • AmericInn by Wyndham
  • Baymont by Wyndham
  • Dolce Hotels and Resorts by Wyndham
  • Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham
  • La Quinta by Wyndham
  • Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham
  • Ramada by Wyndham
  • TRYP by Wyndham
  • Wingate by Wyndham
  • Wyndham Garden
  • Wyndham Grand and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts

Gift Gold

Each year, you can gift one Gold level membership to a family member or friend (there is a limit of one per calendar year).

You can gift Gold to someone by contacting Member Services at the number found on the Diamond Level Member’s Wyndham Rewards card.

20% bonus

As a Wyndham Rewards member, you’ll earn 10 base points per dollar spent on each qualifying night.

You are guaranteed at least 1,000 points assuming that you meet the minimum average daily rate requirement of $25.

Because you will be Diamond, you’ll receive a 20% bonus on top of those 10 base points.

So your total earnings would be 12 points per dollar. Using a WalletFlo valuation of .87, that comes out to 10.4% back which is pretty solid.

If you are also using the credit card, you’ll be earning 17 points per dollar and at that same valuation, that comes out to 14.8% back. Not bad.

Discounted rate

You’ll get access to a discount on the Best Available Rate at participating Wyndham Rewards Hotels. 

This discount can save you something like 10% and you should see the discount clearly marked when choosing room rates.

Screenshot of Wyndham savings
Just by being a member you can save 10%.

Rollover nights

Each year, all of the leftover elite qualifying nights will roll over to the next year and they don’t ever expire.

So if you were to earn 50 qualifying nights in one year, you would achieve Diamond status and then 10 qualifying nights could give you a head start on obtaining elite status the following year.

Free Wi-Fi

As a loyalty member, you’ll get free Wi-Fi.

Go Free PLUS

Go Free awards are the standard free night awards for Wyndham that cost one of three prices: 7,500, 15,000, or 30,000 points per bedroom.

When you redeem a Go Free award night in certain cities, you’ll receive two free tickets to a local experience. (Lower elite levels just get a gift code to save $10.)

These passes do expire so pay attention to the expiration terms.

You can search for eligible activities here. 

Go Fast PLUS

Go Fast awards are discounted awards and you can redeem nights for just 1,500, 3,000, or 6,000 points per bedroom (plus a cash co-payment). 

When you redeem a Go Fast award night in certain cities, you’ll receive a gift code to save $10 on a local experience, a $5 increase from lower elite levels.

Dedicated Member services

When you need hotel assistance, your calls will be handled by an agent specific to your Diamond status. To find a dedicated services phone number, check your My Account page.

Late Check-out

Late check-out is offered upon request and subject to availability.

The terms and conditions state, “Requested checkout time is not to exceed two hours after the hotel’s standard checkout time.” So if the check-out time is noon, you might expect a 2pm late checkout.

This is very different from some programs that offer guaranteed 4 PM late checkout to top elite levels.

The determination for late check-out depends on the property that you are staying at. To get some tips on how to secure a late check-out be sure to read our detail guide here. 

Early Check-in 

Wyndham states you can check-in “up to two hours prior to the applicable Participating Hotel’s standard check-in time.”

A standard check-in time is 3pm so this would get you check-in at 1pm.

However, a lot of hotels allow you to check in sooner if there is availability so it never hurts to try to get in extra early.

Early check-in is subject to availability.

Avis and Budget upgrades

Get a free upgrade on your car rental through Avis or Budget at participating locations in the U.S. and Canada (excludes Quebec).

Wyndham Rewards Platinum FAQ

Do you get free breakfast with Wyndham Rewards Diamond?

No, you do not get a free breakfast. But some properties will offer a free breakfast including: 

Baymont Inn & Suites
Days Inn
Howard Johnson
Hawthorn Suites
La Quinta
Microtel Inn & Suites
Super 8
Travelodge
Wingate

Read more here about hotels that offer free breakfast.

Do you get upgrades with Wyndham Rewards Diamond?

Yes, you can get upgrades to hotel suites. However, you should be proactive in requesting these at check-in and they are subject to availability.

Final word

Wyndham Diamond status has pretty strong bonus earnings at over 10% back which can be stacked with the Wyndham Rewards Credit Card for even better returns. It’s nice that you can get suite upgrades and the savings on the free activities could add up over time.

Marriott Bonvoy Lifetime Status Requirements (Progress Check) [2020]

Almost every major hotel program rewards those customers who have been loyal over the course of several years or even decades in many cases. One way that they accomplish this is by offering lifetime elite status. To get lifetime status it usually requires a lot of nights (several hundred to a thousand) and also a number of years holding certain elite levels (point earnings sometimes count, too).

In this article, I will tell you everything that you need to know about Marriott Bonvoy lifetime elite status. I will cover the different requirements for the elite levels like Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Titanium. I’ll also discuss how to check your progress toward lifetime status and go over some of the recent changes.

What is Marriott Bonvoy lifetime status?

There are four different levels of Marriott lifetime status:

  • Lifetime Silver Elite
  • Lifetime Gold Elite
  • Lifetime Platinum Elite
  • Lifetime Titanium Elite (not available to new members)

I will go over the qualifications for each of these levels below and also highlight some of the benefits. But for starters, you just need to know that once you obtain lifetime elite status you will be able to enjoy those elite level benefits for your entire lifetime (subject to changes that take place).

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Lifetime Marriott Silver Elite

  • Lifetime Silver Elite Requirements: 250 Qualifying Nights + 5 Years as Silver Elite or higher

As a Marriott Silver member you will be entitled to the following benefits:

  • 10% Bonus Points
  • Priority late check out
  • Ultimate Reservation Guarantee

Overall, it is not a very rewarding status to be honest. Moreover, you can earn the status by holding the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. That card also comes with some additional benefits that could be worth it.

These include benefits like:

  • Annual free night for properties that cost up to 35,000 points per night
  • 6X on Marriott properties
  • 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year

Getting those 15 free night credits each calendar year can help you to climb up higher levels of status in future years. If you are constantly cutting it close to reaching elite levels then you might consider that credit card.

Also, something that is cool is that the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless elite night credits should count toward lifetime status. Not only that, but the status obtained via credit cards should also count towards lifetime status requirements. Note that I have seen some funky things going on with these credit card nights credits counting toward lifetime status (post-merger) so we may still need to see how it plays out.

Finally, I should note that you are limited to 15 credit card night credits per year. So if you hold several Marriott credit cards there is no way to double up or triple up on the 15 night credits.

Lifetime Marriott Gold Elite

  • Lifetime Gold Elite Requirements: 400 Qualifying Nights + 7 Years as Gold Elite or higher

As a Marriott Gold member you will be entitled to the following benefits:

  • 25% Bonus on points
  • Late check-out
  • Upgrades
  • Enhanced internet
  • Welcome gift

Marriott status begins to get a bit more valuable at this level but to be honest even Marriott Gold is not that valuable to me. The reason why I’m not too impressed with that is that you don’t get guaranteed breakfast or lounge access.

You might be able to get breakfast and/or lounge access if you get  the right upgrades though. Upgrades will be limited to “enhanced rooms” and enhanced rooms may include “rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors.”

  • You can read more about Marriott Gold elite status here.

Marriott Gold status can easily be achieved with the American Express Platinum Card. Not only can you get automatic gold status with Marriott, but you also get Gold status with Hilton Honors. And those benefits only scratch the surface of all of the benefits offered by the Platinum Card, which include:

You can also earn Marriott Gold status with the Marriott Brilliant credit card.

Lifetime Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite

  • Lifetime Platinum Elite Requirements: 600 Qualifying Nights + 10 Years as Platinum Elite or higher

Once you obtain the Marriott Platinum level the benefits really start to ramp up.

As a Marriott Platinum member you will be entitled to the following benefits:

  • 50% bonus on points
  • Complimentary upgrades
  • Guaranteed lounge access
  • Elite welcome gift
  • Guaranteed 4 PM late checkout
  • Annual choice benefit

The upgrades are definitely sweeter at this level because they include upgrades to suites. The terms and condition state:

Complimentary upgrade includes suites, rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities or rooms on Executive Floors.  At The Ritz-Carlton, suites are only included for Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Members and rooms with direct Club access are excluded.

As a Platinum member you will receive free breakfast and or lounge access. The lounge policy gets a little bit complicated depending on what the hotel offers but basically at the minimum you should be guaranteed a breakfast or a form of compensation.

One thing to note about Marriott is that there are several properties where lounge access is not given or available. These properties include:

  • The Ritz-Carlton
  • St. Regis
  • EDITION
  • The Luxury Collection
  • W Hotels
  • Design Hotels
  • Tribute Portfolio
  • Gaylord Hotels
  • Four Points
  • Quite a few others

Getting guaranteed late checkout at 4 PM is a nice perk but again this is not available at every property. The terms and conditions state:

This benefit is guaranteed at all Participating Properties, except at resort and convention hotels and Design HotelsTM, where it is based upon availability.  Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, and participating Vistana properties are excluded from this benefit.

The annual choice benefit is pretty interesting because you can choose between several different types of benefits, which include:

Platinum Elite Annual Choice Benefit Options:

Five (5) Suite Night Awards

40% off bed

$100 Charity Donation

The gift of Silver Elite status for a friend or family member

Five (5) Elite Night Credits

I will have a more detailed article breaking down these benefits at later date. But right now it is worth noting that if you chose the five elite night credits those should count toward lifetime status.

Lifetime Marriott Premier Platinum (Titanium) Elite

  • Lifetime Platinum Premier Elite Requirements were: 750 Qualifying Nights + 10 Years as Platinum Elite or higher

This requirement became no longer available as of December 31, 2018.

What counts as a year for lifetime elite status?

Whenever you earn elite status you typically will receive status for the remainder of that year, the full next year, and the very beginning of the year after that. For purposes of qualifying for a lifetime elite status the only year that counts is the year that you actually make the stays in. 

I will illustrate this with an example.

Let’s say that you achieve gold status in the middle of 2019. Now you will be able to enjoy that status for the remainder of 2019 and also all through 2020. However only 2019 will count as a year toward lifetime elite status. 2020 will only count if you also achieve the requisite number of nights during that calendar year.

Can I forfeit my points?

Having lifetime elite status will protect you from forfeiture of your points even if your account goes inactive. Marriott makes this clear when they state:

Lifetime Elite Status only provides a Member with Silver Elite, Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, or Titanium Elite status and protection against the forfeiture of Points even if the Lifetime Elite Member is inactive

But it is worth noting that Marriott can still cancel your membership.

Annual elite status requirements

If you are wondering about the number of nights required to reach each level of Marriott elite status, here are the requirements for earning the different elite levels each year:

  • Silver: 10 to 24 nights
  • Gold: 25 to 49 nights
  • Platinum: 50 to 74 nights
  • Titanium: 75 to 99 nights
  • Ambassador: 100 nights +  $20,000 U.S. dollars in qualified annual spend

Tip: Use WalletFlo for all your credit card needs. It’s free and will help you optimize your rewards and savings!

Check your Progress toward Marriott lifetime status

If you want to check your progress toward lifetime status you have a few options.

First, you can call customer service at 1 (800) 535-4028. Explain to them that you are trying to find out the number of nights and years that you have held status and they should be able to help you out.

Second, you can check your nights store lifetime status online. Simply log into your account and then click on the activity tab. And then on the right side of the screen right underneath where the number of nights for your year is shown you should see a tab called “Details.” Click on that to bring up your information.

On the right side of the window that opens you should be able to the number of lifetime nights.

You can also check your lifetime nights through the app.

Unless I’m overlooking something, the biggest missing feature is showing you the number of years that you have qualified at a certain elite level. For example, it would be really convenient if you could see that you have obtained Gold for six years, Platinum for three years, etc. I know that this function existed in the past and I’m just waiting for it to return.

It is interesting because I have heard that the lifetime status determination/years of elite membership are made based on a manual review when evaluating lifetime status. This would explain why a lot of people unexplainably have several more years of elite status then they thought they did. And why others may have had missing status. I’m not sure if this will change in the future but it is something to be aware of.

Final word

Earning lifetime elite status with Marriott (or any program) is an exciting accomplishment but at the same time elite status at the silver and gold level can easily be obtained via credit cards. Obtaining elite status is going to take a long time at the Platinum level but at least credit cards can also help you get there with the elite night credits.

Hilton taking new efforts to sanitize rooms in the future

We recently heard from Marriott and some of the efforts that they are taking to ensure that their guest rooms will properly be sanitized in the future.

But we also just heard from Hilton and found out they are planning to partner with some big names to make sure guests are comfortable with staying in their hotel rooms. 

Hilton just announced that they will be collaborating with RB, the maker of Lysol and Dettol and will be consulting with the renowned Mayo Clinic in order to “develop elevated processes and Team Member training to help Hilton guests enjoy an even cleaner and safer stay from check-in to check-out.”

The program is going to be called “Hilton CleanStay with Lysol Protection.” 

Experts from Mayo Clinic’s Infection Prevention and Control team will advise and assist in enhancing Hilton’s cleaning and disinfection protocols and Hilton will rely on the scientific approach of RB’s cleaning practices and product offerings. 

For those of you wondering what Hilton was already doing to sanitize your rooms, they state that the new program “build[s] upon the already high standards of housekeeping and hygiene at Hilton properties worldwide, where hospital-grade cleaning products and upgraded protocols are currently in use.”

The new efforts will create a focus on sanitization that will be apparent to guests in different facilities like the lobbies, restaurants, and fitness centers.

With the help of the Mayo Clinic, Hilton will be rewriting it’s cleaning protocols “to translate the best practices in hospital hygiene standards to hotel guest rooms.”

Experts from the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Response Team will also be advising on new technologies and trainings.

While we don’t have the full details on the program yet, here are some standards under consideration:

  • Hilton CleanStay Room Seal: Add an extra measure of assurance by placing a room seal on doors to indicate to guests that their room has not been accessed since being thoroughly cleaned. 
  • 10 High-Touch, Deep Clean Areas: Extra disinfection of the most frequently touched guests room areas – light switches, door handles, TV remotes, thermostats and more. 
  • De-clutter Paper Amenities: Remove pen, paper and guest directory; supplement with digital or available upon request. 
  • Focus on Fitness Centers: Improved guidelines for disinfecting the hotel Fitness Center, possibly closing for cleaning multiple times daily and limiting the number of guests allowed in at one time. 
  • Clean and Clean Again: Increase the frequency of cleaning public areas. 
  • Guest-Accessible Disinfecting Wipes: Provide stations at primary entrances and key high traffic areas, for instance, a station to allow guests to wipe the elevator button before pressing. 
  • Contactless Check-In: Hilton will double-down on its award-winning Digital Key technology for guests who desire to have a contactless arrival experience. Guests can check-in, choose their room, access their room with a digital room key and check-out using their mobile devices through the Hilton Honors mobile app at participating hotels. Hilton will continue to expand its Digital Key capabilities to common doors and access points throughout the hotels. 
  • Innovative Disinfection Technologies: Hilton is exploring the addition of new technologies, like electrostatic sprayers – which use an electrostatically charged disinfecting mist – and ultraviolet light to sanitize surfaces and objects.

Press Release

 

Hotels close to tourists in Florida county

Brevard County in Florida has decided to shut down all hotels to tourists along with motels, recreational-vehicle parks, campgrounds, vacation rental facilities, time-shares, and Airbnb rentals for the next 30 days. The county is home to Cape Canaveral and Melbourne, Florida, along with a beautiful stretch of coastline on the Space Coast.

The Brevard County Policy Group — which is a 10-member panel that meets when there is a state of emergency — unanimously approved the measure.

Like most of these rules, there are exceptions.

For example, business travelers can produce a note from their employer and still frequent these hotels.

Also, the hotels will still be open to those who are working in the county, local residents, and also those who need to self isolate away from people infected with the coronavirus.

Hotel occupancy rates are currently at record lows with the rates coming in at under 25% across the nation. In some hotspots, rates are even down as much as 90%.

As Florida is considered one of the hotspots, it’s no surprise that we are seeing actions taken to curb the spread by shutting down hotels to tourists. Florida, particularly along the stretches of coastline, is a tourist hotspot so they have to take extra measures to contain viruses that could be transmitted from tourists flocking in from out of town.

As cities brace for their outbreak peaks coming this month, we might see more closures like this but I do not think that they will last beyond 30 to 60 days.

Still, this is one reason I would avoid planning anything in the months of April/May in or near a potential hotspot region because hotels might be closed to tourists there as well.

H/T

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