Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Benefits Guide (Breakfast, Upgrades) [2023]

With all of the different levels of the Marriott rewards program it’s easy to get confused about what benefits each status tier offers.

In this article, I’m going to focus on the benefits offered by Marriott Platinum status and walk you through each of these.

I’ll cover things like breakfast, upgrades, and all of the other key perks you might be able to take it advantage of.

What is Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status?

Marriott Platinum status is an upper mid-tier status within the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program. It is one step above Bonvoy Gold and one step below Bonvoy Titanium.

Because Marriott has five different elite levels and many other programs only have three, this puts Platinum status in a bit of a unique tier allowing loyalists to receive upper tier perks without having to obtain the highest level of elite status.

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

Hotel bed
Hotel Paso Del Norte, Autograph Collection Review

How to earn Marriott Platinum status

To earn Marriott Platinum status, you’ll need to earn 50 nights between January 1 and December 31 of any given year.

You will then have Marriott Platinum status for the duration of the year that you earned it in, the entire next year, and through the month of February following that year.

For example, if you earn Platinum status in August 2024, it will be valid until February 28, 2026.

Here’s a look at the different elite levels for Marriott and their requirements:

  • Silver: 10 to 24 nights
  • Gold: 25 to 49 nights 
  • Platinum: 50 to 74 nights 
  • Titanium: 75 to 99 nights
  • Ambassador: 100 nights +  $23,000 U.S. dollars in qualified annual spend

As shown below, you can use two Marriott credit cards to start you off with 30 Elite Night Credits.

That means that you could earn Platinum status with only 20 nights! More on that below.

Elite status comparisons

Here’s how Marriott Platinum status compares to other statuses with Hyatt and Hilton.

You’ll notice how Platinum falls right in between the middle and top level of these programs based on the number of nights.

World of Hyatt

  • Discoverist
    • 10 qualifying nights
    • 25,000 Base Points
    • or holding 3 qualifying meetings/events per year.
  • Explorist
    • 30 qualifying nights
    • 50,000 Base Points
    • or holding 10 qualifying meetings/events per year.
  • Globalist
    • 60 qualifying nights
    • 100,000 Base Points
    • or holding 20 qualifying meetings/events per year.

Hilton Honors

  • Silver
    • 4 stays in a calendar year or
    • 10 nights in a calendar year
  • Gold
    • 20 stays in a calendar year, or
    • 40 nights in a calendar year, or
    • 75,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year
  • Diamond
    • 30 stays in a calendar year, or
    • 60 nights in a calendar year, or
    • 120,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year

Marriott Platinum status via credit cards

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant is one of my favorite hotel credit cards and offers automatic Marriott Platinum status.

Here’s a look at the other features:

  • $300 in dining statement credits ($25 a month)
  • $100 luxury credit
  • Bonus earning:
    • 6x at Marriott properties
    • 3x at restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
    • 2x on all other purchases
  • Each calendar year you can receive credit for 25 nights towards the next level of Elite status.
  • 1 Free Night Award every year after renewal month (redemption level at or under 85,000 points)
  • Priority Pass Select membership
  • Receive a statement credit every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre-Check ($85) with your Card.
  • Select an Earned Choice Award benefit after spending $60,000
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Annual fee: $650

This makes the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant similar to the Hilton Aspire because you can automatically earn a high level of status. That’s exciting for people who want to earn Marriott Platinum status but it also means diluting Platinum status, which is a drawback for people who earn the status the old-fashioned way through stays.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card offers automatic Silver status but you can earn Marriott Gold status by spending $35,000 in a year. 

That’s a lot in spend per year for a status that doesn’t even offer breakfast so I would rather put $35K to use in another way.

You’ll also be given 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, which can help you reach status much quicker.

Currently, you can combine elite credits from a Marriott personal card with the 15 Elite Night Credits from a business Marriott card allowing you to start off with 30 Elite Night Credits.

It’s a super fast track to Platinum status since you’re only 20 nights away.

Another great benefit of this card is that you get an annual free night for properties that cost up to 35,000 points per night.

Status challenge

You can always inquire with Marriott customer service either via email or by phone to see if you’re eligible for a status challenge to Platinum.

If you’re eligible, you’ll probably have to hit something like 16 nights in a designated time period (e.g., 3 months) to achieve Platinum status but the challenge terms could vary.

Keep in mind that you usually can only enroll in these challenges once every three years.

resort pool view
The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas Review

What are the Marriott Platinum status benefits?

  • 50% Bonus on points
  • Complimentary room upgrade
  • Welcome gift
  • Guaranteed Lounge Access
  • 4pm late check-out
  • Annual Choice Benefit
  • Guaranteed Room Type

50% Bonus on Marriott Rewards Points

  • Platinum members are credited with a 50% bonus on base points earned during stays.

At most Marriott properties you’ll earn 10 Marriott points per dollar spent, so with this bonus you’ll be able to earn 15 points per dollar spent. 

At a value of .8 cents per point, Platinum status earns 12% back. 

Properties where earnings are only 5 points per dollar include: Protea Hotels, Element, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, and Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Those reduced rates are a bummer for those who take advantage of extended-stay properties.

Complimentary room upgrade

Platinum Elite Members and above receive a complimentary upgrade to the best available room subject to availability which could include the following:

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.
  • The Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade for Platinum Elite Members and above is available at all Participating Brands except at Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Aloft, Element and participating Vistana properties.

As a Titanium Elite member over the past few years, I’ve been pretty disappointed with my upgrades. I’ve been given mostly corner rooms and deluxe rooms for pretty much every upgrade, as suites appear to be difficult to obtain.

So I don’t think I would expect a lot of suite upgrades as a Platinum Elite member.

Tip: It’s good to remember when you visit places like Hawaii that you won’t get your elite benefits at brands like the Marriott Vacation Clubs.

Hotel suite
Westin Riverwalk San Antonio Review

Welcome gift

As a Platinum member you will be able to choose a welcome gift upon arrival.

The type of gift that you can get will vary depending on the type of property you are staying at.

At a lot of properties you will be able to choose between 500 to 1,000 points or a food and beverage credit/free breakfast.

I generally always go with the free breakfast because that offers the best value. This is especially true if you have a long stay where you can get a good amount of value in breakfast every day.

Below, you can see a chart that breaks down the welcome gifts. It’s always a little bit confusing because they vary based on location and there are always some types of exceptions.

But it’s good to be familiar with these because some properties will not give you everything you are due. If you were not given your gift, you may be able to receive the compensation listed in the chart.

 Participating Brands Elite Welcome GiftGuest Compensation*
JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, Renaissance HotelsUnited States, Canada, Europe: 1,000 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 food and beverage (“F&B”) credit per Stay

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, Middle East, and Africa: 1,000 Points per Stay or F&B amenity per Stay

RESORTS only:
United States, Canada, Europe: 1,000 Points per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, Middle East, and Africa: 1,000 Points per Stay or F&B amenity per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1		U.S. $100
Gaylord Hotels1,000 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per StayU.S. $100
St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin, Tribute Portfolio1,000 Points per Stay or amenity per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1 (including Resorts)U.S. $100
The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, EDITION, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, Design Hotels™, Homes & Villas by Marriott International.1,000 Points (per Stay)N/A
CourtyardUnited States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay for Member +1** 

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: Properties without lounge – 500 Points per Stay or F&B amenity per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay for Member +1** 

Properties with lounge – 500 Points per Stay and breakfast in lounge – if lounge is closed, breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1		U.S. $50
AC Hotels, Moxy HotelsUnited States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay for Member +1** 

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 500 Points per Stay or F&B amenity per Stay or U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay		AC Hotels:      U.S. $50; Moxy Hotels:  U.S. $25
SpringHill Suites, Fairfield, Residence Inn, TownePlace SuitesUnited States, Canada, Europe: 500 Points per Stay or F&B item 

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa: 500 Points per Stay or F&B amenity		SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn:U.S. $50; Fairfield, TownePlace Suites:
U.S. $25
Four Points, Aloft500 Points per Stay or amenity or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1Four Points:U.S. $50; Aloft: U.S. $25
Protea Hotels500 Points per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of Stay for Member +1U.S. $50
Element500 Points per Stay or amenityU.S. $25
Chart via Marriott’s terms and conditions (April 2023).

*Outside of the U.S. compensation will be paid in the local currency

** The U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay is for the Member. An additional U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay is given for one (1) guest staying in the same guestroom as the Member.

Marriott breakfast
Review: The Laura Hotel Downtown Houston

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

Guaranteed Lounge Access

In addition to the free breakfast, lounge access is the other major reason to get Platinum status. (Sometimes the free breakfast will be in the lounge but other times you can get it in the restaurant.)

As a Platinum member you will get guaranteed lounge access for you and one guest staying in the same room at non-resort:

  • JW Marriott
  • Marriott Hotels
  • Sheraton
  • Delta Hotels
  • Le Méridien
  • Westin
  • Autograph Collection and
  • Renaissance Hotels.

Lounge Access is not offered at the following brands:

  • The Ritz-Carlton
  • St. Regis
  • EDITION
  • The Luxury Collection
  • W Hotels
  • Design Hotels
  • Tribute Portfolio
  • Gaylord Hotels
  • Four Points
  • SpringHill Suites
  • Protea Hotels
  • Fairfield
  • AC Hotels
  • Aloft
  • Moxy Hotels
  • Residence Inn
  • TownePlace Suites
  • Element
  • Marriott Vacation Club
  • Marriott Grand Residence Club
  • and participating Vistana properties.

Generally, whenever a lounge is closed or the property does not have a lounge or an approved alternative the property will offer you daily breakfast in the restaurant or an allowance of points ranging from 750 to 1,000.

If lounge access or alternatives are not available at eligible properties, Platinum Elite Members will be compensated $100 U.S. dollars for the inconvenience.

There are a few special rules for different properties and locations and you can read more about those here.

Marriott Marquis Houston
Marriott Marquis Houston M Club Lounge.

Late checkout

With Platinum status, you can get late check out as late as 4 p.m. local time of the participating property.

I have to give it to Marriott because late check out has been one of the most dependable benefits I’ve received as a Marriott elite member.

I rarely ever request 4 PM late check out and usually go with 2 PM but the couple of times I have requested 4 PM they have honored it no problem.

This benefit is guaranteed at all participating properties, except at resort and convention hotels and Design Hotels, where it is based upon availability. 

Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, and participating Vistana properties are excluded from this benefit.

Hotel room with stairs
Hotel Colonnade Coral Gables Review: Grand & Historic, Yet Charming

Annual Choice Benefit

A Platinum Elite Member who has achieved 50 eligible Elite Night Credits annually is eligible to receive one annual choice benefit from the list of available benefits listed below:

  • Five (5) Suite Night Awards
  • 40% off bed
  • $100 charity donation
  • The gift of Silver Elite status to a friend or family member
  • Five (5) Elite Night Credits

If you’re going to chase Bonvoy Titanium then you may consider selecting the 5 elite night credits, which will help you get to 75 quicker.

Otherwise, I would recommend choosing the Suite Night Awards, especially because suite upgrades seem hard to come by.

Beach resort view
Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino Review

Additional perks

Complimentary enhanced Internet service

  • This benefit is provided where available, regardless of booking source, at all Participating Brands worldwide except at the EDITION brand.

Keep in mind that you can get this benefit with the Marriott Boundless credit card.

5th redemption night free

  • Book 5 consecutive nights and the 5th night is free (this perk is available to all Marriott status levels but is worth mentioning). 

Discount

  •  Gift Shop Discount of 10% on retail merchandise.

Phone lines

  • Elite Reservations Line: (800) 228-2100
  • Customer Engagement Center Line: (800) 321-7396

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum FAQ

How many nights do I need for Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status?

You will need to stay 50 nights to earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status.

Can I earn Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status with a credit card?

You can get Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant which offers you automatic Platinum status.

What are the main Marriott Platinum status benefits?

– 50% Bonus on points
– Complimentary room upgrade
– Welcome gift
– Guaranteed Lounge Access
– 4pm late check-out
– Annual Choice Benefit
– Guaranteed Room Type

How many bonus points do I earn with Marriott Platinum status?

With Platinum status, you will earn 15 points per dollar spent at most properties. At a value of .8 cents per point, Platinum status earns 12% back. 

What kind of upgrades do I get with Marriott Platinum status?

You can get upgrades to suites and rooms with special amenities, including rooms on executive floors. Upgrades are subject to availability.

What kind of welcome gift do I get?

The type of gift you will receive would depend on the property that you visit.

Sometimes you might be offered something like 500 to 1,000 points and in other cases you can choose a free breakfast.

Do you get lounge access with Marriott Platinum status?

Yes, you will get guaranteed lounge access for yourself and one guest when staying at the following hotels:

JW Marriott
Marriott Hotels
Sheraton
Delta Hotels
Le Méridien
Westin
Autograph Collection and
Renaissance Hotels

Do Marriott Platinum members get late check out?

Yes, you can get late check out as late as 4pm.

Final word

Marriott Platinum has some valuable benefits like guaranteed lounge access, breakfast, late checkout, and annual choice benefits like suite night awards that can be very valuable. With how easy it is to obtain now some of the perks like upgrades may be even more watered down than they were before, however.

Hilton Honors Gold Benefits Explained (Upgrades, Breakfast, Etc.) [2022]

Hilton Honors Gold Status offers some decent benefits like dining credits, bonus earnings, and even room upgrades but a lot of people might wonder whether or not it’s worth it to pursue obtaining Gold Status and if the perks will benefit their travels.

Here’s a look at all of the different Hilton Gold benefits and some insight to help you decide if it’s something you might benefit from.

 I’ll also show you how to obtain Gold status with certain credit cards and status challenges. 

What are the Hilton Gold Benefits?

The main Hilton Gold benefits are:

  • 80% bonus on base points
  • Daily Food & Beverage Credit for two (at some properties)
  • Upgrades (subject to availability)
  • Lounge access (when upgraded to lounge level rooms)
  • Late check-out (subject to availability)

I’ll discuss each of these in more detail below. 

Photo of a Hilton entrance at a hotel lobby
Hilton Gold is one of the best mid-tier statuses.

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

How to get Hilton Honors Gold status

You can achieve Honors Gold Status the hard way or the easy way. 

The hard way: hotel stays

The hard way to earn Gold is by physically staying in Hilton properties.

Frequent business travelers aside, it may be difficult for the average traveler to achieve status with stays.

You’d have to meet the following criteria in a calendar year:

  • 20 stays in a calendar year, or
  • 40 nights in a calendar year, or
  • 75,000 Honors Base Points

During the 2022 calendar year, Hilton Honors Gold will be awarded with 14 stays, 28 nights or 52,500 Base Points earned during in a calendar year.

The easy way: credit cards

I highly recommend utilizing credit cards to obtain Hilton Honors Gold Status because it’s really easy to do.

The credit cards that will offer you automatic Gold Honors status are the following:

Platinum Card from American Express

The Amex Platinum Card comes with a lot of benefits in addition to Gold status include:

Hilton Honors Surpass Card

The Hilton Honors Surpass Card comes with a lot of benefits in addition to Gold status which include:

  • 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton Portfolio
  • 6X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. restaurants, and U.S. gas stations
  • 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on all other eligible purchases
  • 10 free priority pass lounge passes
  • One Weekend Night Reward at a hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio after spending $15,000 in purchases in a calendar year
  • No foreign transaction fees

Earning 12X on Hilton purchases is a big deal.

If you value Hilton points around half a cent per point, that’s like getting back 6% on your Hilton purchases which is competitive or even better than some of the most premium credit cards.

Also, the free night certificate offered by this card is one of the best because you can use it at even the most expensive Hilton brands which could go for close to $1,000 per night or more!

Status matches and challenges

You can also utilize status matches and challenges to earn Hilton Honors Gold status.

These typically require you to have a certain level of status with another hotel loyalty program (IHG, Marriott, Hyatt, etc.) and maybe proof that you’ve stayed with that hotel in the past year.

After you show that, you’ll often be matched with a corresponding level of Hilton Honors status.

For example, IHG Platinum status can earn you Hilton Honors Diamond status.

Sometimes you’ll be able to keep that status without doing anything but other times you’ll need to book some Hilton stays in order to retain the status.

For example, you might need to complete seven or eight stays to hold on to your status.

Related: Which American Express Hilton Card is Best for You?

Hilton Gold benefits
Hilton Cabana Miami Beach.

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

The Hilton Honors Gold benefits

80% elite status bonus

  • With Gold elite status, you automatically receive a 80% bonus on all the Honors Base Points you earn.

This is a decent benefit but given the weak value of Honors points, it’s not exactly as strong as you might have first imagined. 

All Hilton Honors members will earn 10 points per dollar spent at Hilton properties. So with this 80% bonus, you will be earning 18 points per dollar spent.

Compared to other major hotel loyalty programs, this 80% bonus for mid-tier status amounts to a ~7% return based on a point valuation of .4 cents per point which is below Marriott, IHG, and Hyatt.

With a more generous valuation of .5 or .6 cents per point, however, the return value is much more competitive.

Still, extra points are always nice and Hilton runs many lucrative promotions that make earning Honors points probably easier than any other program (like when they offered triple the points to Hilton Honors Diamond members, allowing for returns of 16% or more).

Arizona Biltmore Waldorf Astoria Resort Review

Daily Food & Beverage Credit ($10 to $25)

As a Gold member, you can receive a Daily Food & Beverage Credit as a MyWay Benefit. 

The amount of the Daily Food & Beverage Credit will depend on the type of brand you’re staying at and your location but you will be granted a credit for you and one additional guest.

For example, you’ll receive a Daily Food & Beverage Credit of $25 at Conrad Hotels & Resorts in the U.S but you can get a free breakfast at international Conrad locations.

At DoubleTree by Hilton, you’ll receive a Daily Food & Beverage Credit of $15 in the U.S. ($18 in select markets).

Here’s a breakdown of the Food & Beverage Credit amounts:

At hotels that have an Executive Lounge that offers complimentary breakfast, Gold members upgraded to Executive Lounge access will not receive the Daily F&B Credit.

However, these hotels will still provide the Daily F&B Credit to Gold members NOT upgraded to Executive Lounge access.

Keep in mind that many hotels usually offer complimentary breakfasts to all guests, such as Homewood Suites, Hampton Inns, etc.

Related Reading: What Hotels Have Free Breakfast?

Hilton Gold benefits
Hilton Honors breakfast, one of the top Hilton Gold benefits.

Upgrades

Hilton states that with Gold Status, you’re eligible for upgrades at the following hotels:

  • Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
  • Conrad Hotels & Resorts
  • Canopy by Hilton
  • Signia by Hilton
  • Hilton Hotels & Resorts
  • Curio Collection by Hilton
  • DoubleTree by Hilton
  • Tapestry Collection by Hilton properties

Although the terms and conditions only explicitly reference the hotels above, you’re not limited to just these hotels for upgrades.

I’ve stayed in Hilton hotels not on this list that have given me upgrades specifically because of my Gold Status.

So while Hilton doesn’t list them on their website, I believe you should always inquire about upgrades if you have Gold Status.

Here’s what the terms and conditions have to say about Hilton Gold upgrades: 

Gold Hilton Honors Members may be upgraded to preferred rooms up to Executive Floor room types.  Preferred rooms may also include those not on the Executive Floor but conferring Executive Lounge access, the next-best available room types, rooms with desirable views or amenities or other rooms identified as “preferred” by the hotel and may vary within each brand.

They exclude:

executive suites, villas, specialty accommodations/floors/towers, and “Club” accommodation types

Although a suite upgrade could happen I would not expect that.

More likely, you might get bumped up to a higher floor or a room with a better view.

One thing I will say is to not assume that your upgrade will automatically happen when you check in.

If you are really interested in maximizing your upgrade odds, you should definitely inquire with the agent at check in to see if they have any available upgrades for you as a Hilton Gold member.

Most of my best upgrades have happened upon me requesting them.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort Review

Executive Floor Lounge Access Policy

While Diamond Members are granted access to the executive lounges, Gold Members are only given these privileges when they “receive a room upgrade to the Executive Floor or an upgrade to a room type that confers Executive Floor Lounge access benefits.”

However, you’ll still be able to get your dining credit in many of the hotels, so I wouldn’t stress too much over the lack of lounge access.

In fact, sometimes the breakfast offered in the lounge isn’t even on the same level as the breakfast offered by the restaurant (where you can use your credit).

Thus, for many people, having breakfast comped is enough to satisfy them and lounge access isn’t a deal breaker.

Gold status can sometimes get you lounge access.

Late check-out?

One of the biggest let downs has to be late check out.

Hilton does not offer guaranteed late check out up to 2PM or 4PM like some other programs do. In fact, many times I have only been given late checkout until about 1 PM.

In the past, they listed late check out as an official benefit but as of September 2022, I can’t find any mention of it in the main pages for benefits or terms and conditions.

However, one page does mention:

“Late check-out must be requested and is subject to availability.”

So you can still get it when you request it but it is not guaranteed.

Related reading: Ultimate Late Check-Out Guide for Hotel Stays

DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Phoenix Review

The basic Hilton Honors benefits

Two valuable Hilton Honors benefits are the fifth night free and complimentary internet.

These benefits are also offered to Hilton Honors Silver Members, but I wanted to cover these two since they can be pretty valuable. 

5th night free

Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members will receive every 5th night free on Standard Room Reward stays of 5 nights or more.

The way that the fifth night free works is that Hilton takes an average of each night based on the total number of points required for the stay.

They then average the amount of points needed per night and subtract that amount from the total number of points required for the booking.

Utilizing the fifth free night is how to capture ridiculous value with your Hilton points.

We once used the fifth night free at the all inclusive Hilton Playa del Carmen and we came out with over $3,500 worth of free travel on that trip. It was pretty fantastic.

You can read more about how the free night is calculated here.

With this benefit you have to think about if your particular travel style will benefit from this perk.

I know a lot of travelers (myself included) who rarely, if ever, stay in the same location for more than four nights when they travel. If you fall into that category then you obviously should value this perk accordingly. 

Complimentary internet

Silver, Gold and Diamond elite members will receive complimentary in-room and lobby Standard Internet access during stays at:

  • Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts
  • LXR Hotels & Resorts
  • Conrad Hotels and Resorts
  • Canopy by Hilton
  • Signia by Hilton
  • Hilton
  • Curio Collection by Hilton
  • DoubleTree by Hilton
  • Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  • Embassy Suites by Hilton
  • Hilton Garden Inn
  • and Hilton Grand Vacations

This is yet another nice perk but it’s offered to Silver Status holders so you’re not getting anything exclusive internet-wise by being a Gold Member.

If you make your way to Diamond Status, the difference is that you’re given premium internet in the lobby and your room.

In my experience, the difference in speed varies hotel to hotel and for most purposes the complimentary standard internet has been sufficient for me. 

Hilton Honors Gold FAQ

What is the easiest way to earn Hilton Gold?

The easiest way to earn Hilton Gold is with a credit card. You can get automatic Hilton Gold status with the following credit cards:

Platinum Card from American Express
Hilton Honors Surpass Card

How many nights are needed to earn Hilton Gold?

Gold status requires 40 nights in a calendar year.

Alternatively, you can earn it with 20 stays in a calendar year or by earning 75,000 base points in a calendar year.

What are the main Hilton Gold benefits?

80% bonus on base points
Daily Food & Beverage Credit for two
Upgrades (subject to availability)
Lounge access (when upgraded to lounge level rooms)
Late check-out

Do you get free breakfast with Hilton Gold?

You can get a Daily Food & Beverage Credit for two which you can use for breakfast.

Do you get lounge access with Hilton Gold?

You only get lounge access if you are upgraded to a room that offers lounge access.

What Hilton hotels offer upgrades to Gold members?

Hilton states that you are eligible for upgrades at the following hotels:

Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
Conrad Hotels & Resorts
Canopy by Hilton
Signia by Hilton
Hilton Hotels & Resorts
Curio Collection by Hilton
DoubleTree by Hilton
Tapestry Collection by Hilton properties

Can you get upgraded to a suite with Gold status?

Typically, an upgrade is just to a preferred room but it is possible that you could be upgraded to a suite. If you would like upgrades to suites then you might want to consider going for Hilton Diamond status.

How many bonus points do I earn with Gold status?

You will earn an 80% bonus on base points which means that you will earn an extra eight points per dollar spent.

Do I get late check out with Gold status?

Hilton offers late check out but it is not guaranteed up to 2 PM or 4 PM like other programs. Often, your late check out will be given up to 1 PM but you can always request for later.

Final Word

Hilton Gold benefits can consist of solid perks like food and dining credits and potential upgrades (in addition to all of the other basic benefits). I like how easy it is to obtain the status and to maintain it over time and so it is one of my favorite middle-tier statuses.

Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Benefits: What to Expect with Breakfast, Upgrades, & Lounges [2022]

Marriott Bonvoy has five elite status tiers and Titanium is one of the highest elite status tiers offered at Marriott Bonvoy properties.

But is this status actually worth pursuing?

In this article, I go over what makes Marriott Titanium Elite status worth it, how to reach it, and all the benefits that are offered.

What is Marriott Titanium Elite status?

Marriott Titanium Elite status is the second-highest status offered by the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program.

It offers benefits like complimentary suite upgrades, club lounge access, welcome gifts, United Airlines Silver status, and a 75% bonus points.

Let’s take a close look at the requirements and benefits to see if it could be worth it for you.

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

How to earn Marriott Titanium status

To achieve or renew Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, the following number of elite nights must be earned at participating locations between January 1 and December 31 of any given 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

75 nights seems like a lot.

But as shown below, you can use two Marriott credit cards to start you off with 30 Elite Night Credits Plus you can get 5 Elite Night Credits with your Annual Choice Benefits whenever you reach Platinum.

Therefore, you can earn Titanium by only staying 40 nights. That’s a lot more doable for many people, as it is just over three nights per month.

Coronavirus changes

Note: These special benefits were not extended to the 2022 or 2023 qualifying year.

Marriott has offered some pretty solid coronavirus elite benefits.

The first benefit is that your elite status earned in 2019 will be extended to February 2022.

In addition you will receive a one-time deposit of 50% of your tier’s annual Elite Night Credit requirement based on your status from 2020.

This means that those Members who achieved Titanium Elite status in 2020 would receive 38 Elite Night Credits and will need 62 Elite Night Credits and $14,000 in Qualifying Stay Spend in 2021 to achieve Ambassador Elite. Find out more details here.

Elite status comparisons

Here’s how Titanium Elite status compares to other statuses with Hyatt and Hilton.

World of Hyatt

  • Discoverist
    • 10 qualifying nights
    • 25,000 Base Points
    • or holding 3 qualifying meetings/events per year.
  • Explorist
    • 30 qualifying nights
    • 50,000 Base Points
    • or holding 10 qualifying meetings/events per year.
  • Globalist
    • 60 qualifying nights
    • 100,000 Base Points
    • or holding 20 qualifying meetings/events per year.

Hilton Honors

  • Silver
    • 4 stays in a calendar year or
    • 10 nights in a calendar year
  • Gold
    • 20 stays in a calendar year, or
    • 40 nights in a calendar year, or
    • 75,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year
  • Diamond
    • 30 stays in a calendar year, or
    • 60 nights in a calendar year, or
    • 120,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year

As you can see, Marriott Titanium Elite status has higher requirements than any of the elite status requirements at Hilton or Hyatt.

And remember, it’s not even the top level of Marriott elite status!

Marriott Titanium via Credit cards

The credit cards below can help with gaining you elite nights for status, but wont get you Titanium status directly.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

  • Bonus earning:
    • 6x at Marriott properties
    • 3x at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
    • 2x on all other purchases
  • Each calendar year you can receive credit for 15 nights towards the next level of Elite status. Limit one 15 Elite Night Credit per Marriott Loyalty Program member.
  • Priority Pass Select membership
  • Receive a statement credit every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre√® ($85) with your Card.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Free, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi at more than 1,000,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide.
  • Annual free night

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant (full review here) sports decent benefits, even for its high annual fee. I for one love the annual free night worth up to 50,000 points. That means you can stay at a category 6 property on a standard award.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

If you think the Bonvoy Brilliant card isn’t for you, then the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card may be a better option. With this card you can get an annual free night for properties that cost up to 35,000 points per night.

You’ll also be given 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, which leaves you 60 nights away from Titanium status.

If you combine this with a business Marriott card, you can start off each year with 30 Elite Night Credits, since the business card will also grant you 15 Elite Night Credits.

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

What are the Marriott Titanium Elite status benefits?

Marriott Titanium Elite status has a lot of the same overlapping benefits of Platinum Elite, but there are a few key differences.

75% Bonus on Marriott Rewards Points

  • Titanium Elites are credited with a 75% bonus on base points earned during stays.

At most Marriott properties you’ll earn 10 Marriott points per dollar spent at the property directly. So, with this bonus, you’ll be able to earn 17.5 points per dollar spent.

At a value of .8 cents per point, Titanium status earns 14% back.

Complimentary room upgrade

Titanium Elites receive unlimited complimentary upgrades to the best available room subject to availability which could include the following:

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.
  • The Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade are available at all Participating Brands except at Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Aloft, Element and participating Vistana properties.

What makes Titanium Elite status stand out over Platinum Elite is the fact that Titanium Elites can be upgraded to suites at Ritz-Carlton properties.

Personally, I have to admit that I have been very disappointed by my Titanium Elite status upgrades.

I have rarely been put in a suite and some of the upgrades I’ve received seem like they are more in line with what you would get with a mid tier or even lower tier elite level status.

View from Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong.

Complimentary United Premier Silver status

As a Titanium or Ambassador Elite, you automatically get Premier Silver status with United Airlines. (This is the bottom level of elite status with United.)

This means you can get complimentary upgrades when flying United, free baggage allowance, priority baggage, priority check-in, priority boarding, and Star Alliance Silver status.

All you have to do is link your accounts for this to happen.

Surprisingly, as a Premier Silver member, I have been upgraded to first class on certain non-business routes.

The upgrades to economy plus are almost always guaranteed and that’s nice because you get a few extra inches of legroom.

I also appreciate the priority boarding and free checked bag although I was already getting that with my United credit card.

United Economy Plus
United Economy Plus seats

48-hour guarantee availability

  • 48-Hour Guaranteed Availability: Limited to Titanium Elite and Ambassador Elite Member’s personal guest room. Guaranteed room availability for reservations booked at least 48 hours prior to arrival.

If you travel on short notice and want a guaranteed room, this benefit is more useful than anything as nothing is worse than arriving and you have no room.

It’s excluded for certain events, but certainly more straight forward than other benefits.

Welcome gift 

The welcome gift for Titanium Elites will be the same as Platinum Elites.

It all depends on the property and brand.

At a lot of properties, you will be able to choose between 500 to 1,000 points or a food and beverage credit/free breakfast.

I prefer breakfast over other welcome gifts because it’s usually way more value, but sometimes I will go with points or another welcome gift if the club lounge breakfast is satisfying.

Make sure that you know what welcome gifts you are entitled to and what your travel companion can get as well.

Pay special close attention to whether the benefit is per night per stay.

Over the past year, I’ve had a couple of instances where I’ve had to “educate” someone at the hotel as to what we are supposed to receive.

BrandWelcome Gift Choice/PointsGuest Compensation*
Marriott Hotels, JW Marriott, Delta Hotels, Autograph Collection, Renaissance HotelsUnited States, Canada, Europe:
1,000 points per stay or $10 USD Food & Beverage (“F&B”) credit per stay 

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa:1,000 points per stay or F&B amenity per stay 

RESORTS only:

United States, Canada, Europe:
1,000 points per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1 

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa:

1,000 points per stay or F&B  amenity per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1		$100 USD
Gaylord Hotels1,000 points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per stay$100 USD
St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin, Tribute Portfolio1,000 points per stay or amenity per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1 (including resorts)$100 USD
The Ritz-Carlton, Ritz-Carlton Reserve, EDITION, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Design Hotels™, Homes & Villas by Marriott International. Vistana properties provide Elite Welcome Gift only to Members who are not Vistana Owners using their ownership interest.1,000 points per stayN/A
CourtyardUnited States, Canada, Europe:

500 Points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for Member +1** 

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa:

Properties without lounge:
500 Points per stay or F&B amenity per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for Member +1** 

Properties with lounge – 500 Points per stay and breakfast in lounge – if lounge is closed, breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1		$50 USD
AC Hotels, Moxy HotelsUnited States, Canada, Europe:

500 Points per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay for Member +1** 

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa:

500 Points per stay or F&B amenity per stay or $10 USD F&B credit per night of stay		$50 USD (AC Hotel) $25 USD (Moxy Hotels)
SpringHill Suites, Fairfield by Marriott, Residence Inn, TownePlace SuitesUnited States, Canada, Europe: 
500 points per stay or F&B item 

Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Middle East, and Africa:
500 points per stay or F&B amenity		$50 USD (SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn) 25 USD (Fairfield by Marriott, TownePlace Suites)
Four Points, Aloft500 points per stay or amenity or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1$50 USD (Four Points), $25 USD (Aloft)
Protea Hotels500 points per stay or breakfast in restaurant per night of stay for Member +1$50 USD
Element500 points per stay or amenity$25 USD

*Outside of the U.S. compensation will be paid in the local currency

** The U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay is for the Member. An additional U.S. $10 F&B credit per night of Stay is given for one (1) guest staying in the same guestroom as the Member.

JW Marriott Downtown Houston breakfast – Texas Eggs Benedict

Guaranteed Lounge Access

As a Titanium Elite you will get guaranteed lounge access for you and one guest staying in the same room at:

  • JW Marriott
  • Marriott Hotels
  • Sheraton
  • Delta Hotels
  • Le Méridien
  • Westin
  • Autograph Collection and
  • Renaissance Hotels.

Lounge Access is not offered at the following brands:

  • The Ritz-Carlton
  • St. Regis
  • EDITION
  • The Luxury Collection
  • W Hotels
  • Design Hotels
  • Tribute Portfolio
  • Gaylord Hotels
  • Four Points
  • SpringHill Suites
  • Protea Hotels
  • Fairfield
  • AC Hotels
  • Aloft
  • Moxy Hotels
  • Residence Inn
  • TownePlace Suites
  • Element
  • Marriott Vacation Club
  • Marriott Grand Residence Club
  • and participating Vistana properties.

Some of the properties above that don’t offer club lounge access might offer something special for Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elites.

It might be a happy hour at the bar or a club lounge.

W Hotels, for example, offer WIP access, which is usually a menu of drinks and snacks you can have at the lobby bar. Then there are a few Luxury Collections that have a club lounge.

Properties might go above and beyond offering happy hours or club lounge access, even when it’s not mandatory. However, it all depends on the property.

Generally, whenever a lounge is closed or the property does not have a lounge or an approved alternative the property will offer you daily breakfast in the restaurant.

If Lounge Access or alternatives are not available at eligible properties, Titanium Elite Members will be compensated $100 for the inconvenience.

There are a few special rules for different properties and locations and you can read more about those here.

Some properties will offer executive lounge as a welcome gift.

Sheraton City Center Istanbul club lounge – dinner and cocktails

Late checkout

  • Titanium Elites may check out as late as 4 p.m. local time of the Participating Property.

Late checkout is guaranteed at all Participating Properties, except at resort and convention hotels and Design Hotels, where it is based upon availability. 

Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, and participating Vistana properties are excluded from this benefit.

In my experience, properties have been very good about honoring late check out.

Complimentary enhanced Internet service

  • This benefit is provided where available, regardless of booking source, at all Participating Brands worldwide except at the EDITION brand.

Keep in mind that you can get this benefit with the Marriott Boundless credit card.

Stay for 5, pay for 4

  • Book 5 consecutive award nights and you only pay for 4 nights (this perk is available to all Marriott status levels but is worth mentioning).

When Marriott announced the starting date of their off-peak and peak awards Marriott also made changes and one of which is changing this 5th night free benefit.

Redemptions that were made after September 14th are subject to the stay for 5, pay for 4 benefit and not the 5th night free.

The stay for 5, pay for 4 works by booking 5 consecutive award nights, the cheapest night will become free.

This is looked at as an abrupt devaluation by many, including myself. Why?

Well because instead of averaging out the cost per night, it will only make the cheapest night free. So, if you had one off-peak night and the rest were standard, the off-peak night would be free.

Marriott 75 Nights Annual Choice Benefit milestone

Once you reached 75 elite nights in a calendar year, you will have the following Annual Choice Benefits to choose from:

  • Five Elite Night Credits
  • Five Suite Night Awards
  • A free night award (valid at a hotel costing up to 40,000 points)
  • The ability to gift Gold Elite status
  • 40% off a hotel bed
  • A $100 UNICEF donation

The Annual Choice Benefit makes it worth it to stay the nights at a Marriott property. This is a passive benefit that only comes once you reach 75 nights. However, you can get Suite Night Awards or a free night award. Both of which offer great value.

I wrote everything you needed to know about the Annual Choice Benefit milestone. So, I suggest you read about it here if you haven’t already. 

You can only choose one of the benefits above when reaching 75 elite nights.

Is it worth it to reach Marriott Titanium Elite status if I am already Platinum Elite?

I think Marriott Titanium Elite status could be worth it if you are spending cash at the property, staying at Ritz-Carlton properties frequently, and booking last minute on regular bases.

Those benefits really do help make a difference, especially if you constantly book last minute and spend cash. My only major complaint with Titanium is the lack of quality upgrades.

I wouldn’t do a mattress run for Titanium Elite status if you are a Platinum Elite, but if you are traveling for work or live in hotels as I do and Titanium Elite status is within reach, then go for it.

I still think Ambassador Elite status is still the best elite status tier.

Phone lines

  • Elite Reservations Line: (800) 228-2100
  • Customer Engagement Center Line: (800) 321-7396

Final word

Marriott Titanium Elite status is a great second top tier status for Marriott. While many of the benefits overlap with Platinum Elite, it offers greater last minute availability, better upgrades for Ritz-Carlton, 75% bonus points, and United Premier Silver status.

This article was originally published by Steve Smith.

Hertz President’s Circle (Benefits & Status Matches) [2022]

Hertz President’s Circle is an elite status offered by Hertz that offers a number of benefits for your travels with rental cars.

This article will walk you through the different benefits you can expect to receive from President’s Circle and I’ll also talk about how to do a status match to President’s Circle.

What is the Hertz President’s Circle?

The Hertz President’s Circle is the top-tier elite status offered by the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program that offers special perks like confirmed one-car-class upgrade, designated parking stalls, and a 50% bonus on Gold Plus Rewards points on all qualified car rentals.

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

How do you achieve Hertz President’s Circle?

In order to be granted Hertz President’s Circle, you need to meet one of the following within a specified 12-month period:

  • Complete 15 or more rentals
  • Spend $3,000 or more on rentals

These are the lowered requirements due to Covid.

The normal requirements are:

  • Complete 20 or more rentals
  • Spend $4,000 or more on rentals

Status challenges

It’s possible to earn Hertz President’s Circle with a status challenge.

In fact, at one point in the past, Hertz was allowing people to sign up and instantly earn Hertz President’s Circle.

But more likely, you’ll be trying to achieve President’s Circle with a match from one of the major car rental companies like National, Enterprise, or Avis.

In the past, people have been able to be matched to President’s Circle by having National Executive Elite or Enterprise Platinum. This is really nice for people who have the Amex Platinum and receive Executive status with National (along with other benefits).

In order to apply for a status match you’ll need to do the following:

Simply enroll in the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Program then provide proof of your identity and proof of status with other car rental companies via email to [email protected].

Proof of Identity

  • First and last name as it appears on your Hertz account
  • Address as it appears on your Hertz account
  • Phone number
  • Email address

Proof of Status with other car rental companies (Please provide one)

  • Monthly statement indicating membership status
  • Copy of a credentials letter (membership kit)
  • Copy of a welcome letter

Airline status

You may also qualify for Hertz President’s Circle if you hold platinum or diamond elite status with Delta.

Hertz rental station

What are the benefits of Hertz President’s Circle?

  • Expedited Pick-up
  • Confirmed vehicle one-car-class upgrade
  • Hertz Ultimate Choice
  • 50% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points
  • Valet terminal drive-back service that you can get at participating locations up to four times a year as a President’s Circle member.

Expedited Pick-up

As a President’s Circle member you’ll get expedited pick-up at over 1,000 locations worldwide. Plus, at over 50 airports you won’t have to stop at the counter.

Confirmed vehicle availability with a minimum 48 hour advance reservation

This benefit should allow you to have a confirmed vehicle ready for you so long as you make your reservation at least 48 hours in advance. There are some reports of this benefit not always being honored so you might not always be guaranteed a vehicle.

2022 Update: this benefit no longer shows up on the website.

Confirmed vehicle one-car-class upgrade

With Hertz President’s Circle, you stand a good shot at being upgraded when making your reservation at all participating locations in the U.S., Canada and select European locations.

Just note that the maximum upgrade is to a full-size class vehicle when you’ve reserved a compact vehicle. If you’re not familiar with the different classes of vehicle you can check out this Flyertalk thread right here.

You’ll be able to see the cars which fall into which classes.

For your reference, I’ve copied over an unofficial Flyertalk list of vehicles between compact and full size — these are the vehicles that you might be get upgraded to when you book a compact car.

Compact 2 or 4 Door (B, CCAR)

Nissan Versa B, YB CCAR (36 mpg; includes sedans and Note hatchbacks)
Chevrolet Sonic YB CCAR
Fiat 500L YB CCAR (Spotted at SLC and SFO)
Ford Fiesta B, YB CCAR (38 mpg)
Ford Focus B, YB CCAR (Includes sedan and hatchback models; 38 mpg)
Honda Fit YB CCAR
Hyundai Accent B CCAR (Formerly ECAR)
Kia Rio B CCAR
Mazda2 B CCAR
Mini Cooper YB CCAR
Nissan Juke YB CCAR
Toyota Yaris B, YB CCAR (4-door and 5-door models)
Volkswagen Golf YB CCAR (Includes 2.5L gas and TDI diesel models)

Intermediate 2 or 4 Door (C, ICAR)

Chevrolet Cruze 5-Door Hatchback, C ICAR
Kia Soul C ICAR
Kia Forte C ICAR
Hyundai Elantra C ICAR
Mazda3 C ICAR
Honda Civic C, YC ICAR (2-door models tagged C; 4-door models tagged YC)
Nissan Sentra C, YC ICAR
Toyota Corolla C, YC ICAR (33 mpg)
Mazda5 YC ICAR
Subaru Impreza YC ICAR (Includes sedan and hatchback models)
Volkswagen Jetta YC ICAR (Includes gasoline and TDI diesel models)
Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen YC ICAR

Standard 2 Door (D4, SCAR)

Chevrolet Camaro Coupe D SCAR (I-4 Turbo)
Dodge Challenger D SCAR (V6 SXT)
Ford Mustang D SCAR (V6 Premium trim; hard-top)

Standard 4 Door Sedan (D, SCAR)

Volkswagen Jetta D SCAR(24 mpg; formerly ICAR, includes gasoline and TDI diesel models)
Chevrolet Cruze SCAR (2017 model year and newer; older years are C ICAR)

Full Size 4 Door (F, FCAR/FDAR/FXAR)

Chevrolet Malibu F, YF FCAR, FDAR (LS through LTZ trims available; 29 mpg)
Chrysler 200 F, YF FCAR, FDAR(30 mpg)
Ford Fusion F, F6,YF FCAR
Buick Verano YF FCAR
Dodge Charger F,F6, YF FCAR
Honda Accord YF FCAR
Hyundai Sonata F (Base Trim), YF FCAR
Kia Optima F FCAR
Mazda6 F FCAR
Nissan Altima F, F6 FCAR
Subaru Legacy Limited F, F6 FCAR
Toyota Camry F, F6 FCAR
Volkswagen Passat F, F6 FCAR

Hertz Ultimate Choice

Ultimate Choice is a benefit open to any member of the Hertz Gold Plus Rewards program.

It’s a special lot at select locations where you can select cars from based on your status (President’s Circle, Five Star, or Gold).

To be eligible for this you need to book anything other than an Economy (A), Compact (B), or Manager’s Special (EXAR) vehicle.

50% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points

You will automatically receive a 50% bonus on your earnings which means you will be earning 1.5 points per dollar spent on Hertz rentals.

A standard reward starts at 950 points for one day, so that means that you would have to spend $633 to qualify for the cheapest free rental.

Hertz Award Chart

Valet terminal drive-back service

This is an interesting perk because there are conflicting data points on who gets to use it and whether or not the rental car agents are even aware of this perk at times.

Some report that you can use this up to four times per year but that there are requirements for getting the service. For example, you may be offered it after your 15th, 20th and 40th rentals. This also might be restricted to certain airports.

So I would just be on the lookout after I make my 15th car rental to see if I receive any emails from Hertz about this benefit. It also would not hurt to inquire with the agents when you are picking up your rental car to see if you are eligible.

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

Other Hertz status tiers

Hertz President’s Circle is the top-tier elite status and right below that is Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star.

Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Five Star

Meet one of the following within the specified 12-month period: Complete 10 rentals
or spend $2,000 on rentals.

Benefits include:

  • One-car-class upgrades (subject to availability)
  • 10% bonus on Hertz Gold Plus Rewards Points (earn 1.25 points for every $1)
  • Plus, all Gold member benefits

Hertz Gold

There is no criteria for this status and anybody can enroll for free at hertz.com

Benefits include:

  • Designated Gold Plus Rewards parking stalls.
  • Free additional driver (only spouse or domestic partner)
  • Earn Gold Plus Rewards points on all qualified car rentals

Hertz cancellation policy

If you need a refresher on how the cancellation policy works for both Pay Now and Pay Later bookings, you can read more about that here.

Final word

Hertz President’s Circle can provide you with some worthwhile benefits like upgrades and confirmed reservations when you need them. I don’t think this is an elite status I would go out of my way to obtain, but I would definitely consider jumping on a status match when the time was right.

Differences Between 4-Star and 5-Star Hotels Explained

When searching for luxury hotels, you’re bound to come across many four-star and five-star hotels. But what exactly is the difference between a four-star property and a five-star property?

In this article, I’ll give you some guidance on the differences that you can look for when shopping around and staying at these different types of properties.

You’ll get a sense of the little things that might differ and also some of the big things that might amount to huge differences in the quality of your stay.

I’ll use a combination of data from different official hotel rating systems and also refer to my own personal experiences when staying at these type of properties to give you some insight.

What is the difference between 4-star and 5-star hotels?

Five-star properties tend to offer higher levels of service and are usually all-round better equipped than four-star hotels to meet your individual needs. Everything from the dining to the decor may be more extravagant at a five-star property and they generally will leave a more lasting impression on you in a variety of ways.

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

What hotel rating system are you using?

There are many different hotel rating systems out there and they are not always so consistent.

For example, one ranking system might show a five-star rating for a property while another one shows a four-star ranking.

A few of the different ranking systems you might encounter include:

In addition to these systems, you have hotels that rank themselves as a four star or five star hotel by seemingly random criteria. Some properties even claim themselves to be a 4.5 star hotel!

Make sure you don’t get some of the rankings confused with some of these systems.

For example, with Google there are the star ratings provided by users and then there is the hotel star rating provided by Google.

Where does a place like Google get their hotel rankings?

They state it’s a combination of a “variety of sources, including third-party partners, direct research, feedback from hoteliers, and machine learning inference that examines and evaluates hotel attributes, such as price, location, room size, and amenities.”

Other systems like AAA use extremely detailed criteria that judge seemingly every little facet of the hotel experience.

Because each system has its own ranking criteria and gives weight to factors differently, inevitably you’ll eventually see hotels listed with different rankings.

But regardless of what rankings you go by, in my opinion, there are certain factors that generally stand out when talking about the difference between five-star and four-star hotels. So let’s dive right in.

Service

In my experience, the most stark difference between a four-star hotel and a five-star hotel is the level of service.

A true five-star hotel goes out of their way to make you feel something like royalty.

That’s accomplished by friendly and charismatic staff but it’s also achieved by the staff anticipating your needs.

This high level of service is included from every department within the hotel so that you’re constantly impressed with your interactions whether it be at the front desk, chauffeur, concierge, valet, etc.

Five-star properties may have a higher guest-to-staff ratio which makes it easier to provide guests with more individualized attention.

You’ll notice this when you make special requests like getting your clothes pressed or shoes shined because the hotel can take care of your request in a ridiculously short amount of time.

Another major way that service stands out at a five-star hotel is when something goes wrong.

Two real-life experiences illustrate this.

We booked a Rolls-Royce to transfer us to the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong and it ended up showing up something like 15 minutes late. The hotel apologized profusely and ended up waving the entire charge which was a few hundred dollars.

At the St. Regis in Houston, the receptionist had difficulty finding my reservation and I was forced to stand at the check-in desk area for quite a while awaiting check-in.

Without me even voicing a complaint, I received a phone call from the hotel manager apologizing about the incident and offering me a dining credit for $100+.

When something goes wrong at a four-star hotel, chances are you will have to be the one to chase down someone to get it fixed and to receive compensation if you’re entitled to it.

And even then you may have to put up a fight to get anything.

The bottom line is that they love to take care of you at a five-star hotel in a way that four-star hotels usually just can’t compete with.

Welcome gifts

Five star hotels like to kick your stay off with a bang.

It’s not uncommon to be greeted with some type of champagne, chocolate, or some other type of amenity gift.

Sometimes you might need hotel elite status to receive the gift but other times it may be available to all guests.

Often tied to the welcome gift is some type of personalized welcome letter, which goes along with the theme of the personalized touch you should get at a five-star property.

Dining

Both four-star and five-star hotels can offer exceptional dining experiences.

I recall a dinner at the La Concha Renaissance in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the Perla Restaurant, which was a fabulous dinner in a beautiful clam shell of a restaurant facility.

The food was great, service was on point, and it was just a great venue to dine in.

But fine dining experiences are just more expected at a five-star hotel and often get taken to the next level.

It’s not uncommon to find Michelin rated restaurants like at the Palazzo Manfredi, which offers views of the Colosseum right from your candle-lit dining table.

Then there is the underwater restaurant at the Conrad Maldives known as Ithaa. You can enjoy a multi-course lunch or dinner while sharks swim around you and waves roll overhead. It’s quite hypnotic.

While the dining venues at a five-star hotel can be ultra impressive, the meal itself should also stand out and be extra memorable.

So while a four-star hotel can still serve up an amazing meal, it’s not usually offered in the same extravagant way as a five-star hotel and probably not as noteworthy.

Room service

Room service is another area where you’ll probably find a difference.

It may be more common to find more quality room service menu items from a five-star hotel and they may be more inclined to deliver food 24 hours a day versus a four-star hotel where you might be dealing with a more limited menu and limited hours.

The waiting time for your food could also be longer at a four-star property and when your food is delivered you can expect a fancier presentation at a five-star property.

Breakfast

Breakfast at a five-star hotel usually stands out in a major way when compared to a four-star hotel.

At a five-star hotel buffet set up, you should have a wide range of options and just about everything on the menu should be fresh and high-quality.

I found that at four-star hotels, the breakfast can be “so-so” or at least half of the items on the breakfast menu could be just okay.

But at a five-star hotel, this does not tend to be the case especially with items that the hotel is willing to make fresh for you such as eggs Benedict, omelettes, pancakes, etc.

Also, the coffee and juices at a five-star hotel are consistently high quality but can sometimes be hit or miss at a four-star hotel.

Bars

Both four-star hotels and five-star hotels may have great bar scenes. But in my experience, the five star hotels can take the bar scene to another level.

The venue of the bar may look like something you’ve never seen before like at the Ozone Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong.

They may also have more talented mixologists and unique cocktails that you may not be able to find anywhere else on the planet. You also shouldn’t struggle to find top of the line champagnes like Dom Perignon, Krug, etc.

Decor

Another area where five-star hotels usually stand out is the decor.

Five-star hotel lobbies often makes a statement with stunning decor and architecture and you typically remain impressed with artwork and design elements as you explore the hotel corridors.

Many four-star hotels offer this type of experience, too.

For example, I’ve stayed at W hotels that qualify as a four-star hotel but offer a pretty visually stunning experience at seemingly every corner.

The difference is that a five-star hotel property may offer a more grand or elegant set up when it comes to decor, so there is more of a “wow” factor.

Gyms and pools

I haven’t always noticed a dramatic difference between the gym and pool areas at a four-star vs five-star hotel.

When it comes to gyms, one way that a five-star hotel may stand out is by offering an array of exercise classes or personal trainer sessions.

They may also utilize more state of the art equipment, have more TV screens, etc. but it’s rare that I notice a large gap between a four-star and five-star hotel with the gym’s hard product.

There are some five star hotels like the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong that offer an unbelievable pool experience with exceptional views but I’ve also stayed at five-star hotels that don’t seem to stand out that much with their gym or pool (and they may not even have a pool).

If I did have to pick one area where a five star hotel might stand out it’s probably that they are just more equipped with hot tubs, cold plunge pools, spacious and clean locker rooms, etc.

A five-star hotel may be more likely to have additional facilities like a steam room and sauna.

Room features

At a five-star hotel you’ll probably find the room more equipped with various features.

It’s common to have things like electronically controlled window shades and other room enhancements like a surround sound, ambient lighting, etc.

You might even find special features like a television screen viewable in the bathtub. But sometimes, a five-star hotel room may not be that much different from any other hotel room in terms of functionality.

Bathrooms

I always say that you can tell a lot about a hotel by the bathroom.

A five star bathroom is going to have something like marble (or some other stone) floors, large counter space with dual sinks, spacious shower with dual shower head, fresh flowers or live plants, enclosed toilets, soft and plush towels, comfy robe, brand-name amenities, and beautiful lighting and mirrors.

It might also have added luxurious features like heated toilet seat, heated floor, and possibly even a stunning view.

I’ve stayed at some four-star properties that pretty much fit this description so it’s not only the five star properties that offer these splendid hotel bathrooms.

But there is usually a substantial gap between a three star hotel and a four/five star hotel when it comes to the bathrooms.

Bedding

The bedding is definitely an area where a five-star hotel should stand out.

Usually, there are some decorative elements that nicely complement the room’s design. The mattress should be of the best quality and the linens and pillows should be super soft and plush.

Spas

Another area where the distinction is somewhat blurred between four-star and five-star properties is the hotel spa.

I don’t always try out the spas when I review hotels but we have tried out a handful of them, including some at five-star properties.

I’ve honestly been pretty blown away by the facilities and staff at both four-star and five-star properties, so I think this is the type of thing that just depends on the specific spa facility.

Final word

Like I mentioned above, typically the biggest difference I’ve noticed between a four-star and a five star hotel is the level of service we receive.

In addition to that, I often find elevated dining experiences, more interesting decor, and feel like the hotel is just better equipped all around to accommodate my needs. It usually results in leaving me with a very memorable experience when I leave and sometimes I’d even say I’m a bit blown away.

But the difference between a four-star and five-star hotel is not always as dramatic as you might think, especially if the service is not up to par.

Using WalletFlo’s Value Tracker for Hotel Elite Status Benefits

A lot of hotel credit cards offer you automatic hotel elite status or elite status perks. These are cards like the Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Hilton cards, Marriott cards, and many others.

But how much value do these benefits really give you?

WalletFlo’s new Value Tracker feature is designed to help you answer this question in an accurate way, so that you can make more informed decisions for your credit card strategies and keep tabs on the value you’re receiving.

Why track elite status perks?

Before getting into the “how,” you might be wondering why you should even bother tracking your elite status perks.

Beyond mere curiosity, there are some real practical reasons for doing it.

For premium cards that have high annual fees like the Amex Platinum or Hilton Aspire, it’s not always easy to offset the annual fee with perks and credits (that you may not even be using).

If you don’t spend a lot on the card, you might be paying for an annual fee that you shouldn’t be paying for.

WalletFlo’s new annual fee feature (coming soon) will show you if you should pay a fee based on your recorded perks/credits usage.

If you’ve been logging entries into the Value Tracker, you won’t have to think much about what decision to make.

How to track elite status perks

You can use WalletFlo to easily track the value you receive from elite status perks.

In the Wallet screen, find the active card that has the elite status perk and click on it, navigate to the perks tab and you can then click on the perk to begin the tracking process.

You will first input the value of your entry and then some notes and then you’re all done. It’s that simple.

Determining the value on your perks can be very clear-cut sometimes and other times not so clear cut. I’ll give you some examples of how to value your perks below.

Upgrades

You can verify the value of an upgrade by figuring out the difference between the room you booked and the room you were upgraded to.

The day you book your room (or just sometime before you are scheduled to check-in), simply take a screenshot of a few room types or suites that you suspect could be an option for an upgrade.

Once you get the upgrade you’ll know exactly what the price would have been and then you can input the price difference into your Value Tracker.

So if your standard room was $180 per night but the deluxe room you get upgraded to was $200 per night and you were staying for three nights, you could input your upgrade value as $60 since 3 x $20 = $60.

You could also just ask the agent at the front desk how much the upgraded room is going for when you get the nod. You could say something like, “I’m just curious, what is the nightly rate for the upgraded room?”

If you already finished your stay you can look up the rates for the next week and if you are choosing dates on the same weekdays the prices may be the same or similar. But hotel prices can fluctuate a lot week to week so getting the prices before your stay will be the most accurate way to track.

Breakfast

Breakfast is another benefit that is easy to track the value of.

In some cases, like with Hilton you may be issued a daily food and beverage credit so you have a clear limit on the value you can get. (Each use should be documented in your folio whenever you check out.)

In other cases, if you were given a free breakfast you can order from a hotel restaurant that should have specific prices and that can also make it very easy to get a sense of the value.

And finally, you may have access to a buffet and you can just estimate the value from your breakfast.

Think about it in terms of how much you would pay for a breakfast of that quality and go with that. Often this is around $15 unless you’re at a luxury hotel.

Early check-in and late check-out

You can also add value for early check-in and late check-out.

The cost for these can vary. In some cases it could range from free to ~$25 but other times it could be attached to the room rate. It all depends on the hotel and how early or late you’ll be arriving/leaving.

Sometimes these are available to people without elite status so it is difficult to attribute receiving these solely to your elite status all of the time.

But in some cases a hotel will directly reference your elite status when offering you the perk and you can take that as a sign that it’s being offered due to your status.

Welcome gifts

When you arrive at a hotel you may be given the option to receive points, choose something from the market, take a credit for the bar, etc. Often the value of a welcome gift is around $10 or less. For example, 500 Marriott points might be worth around $3.85.

Tip: If you go with points, you can use your points valuation found in your WalletFlo wallet and calculate the amount of value you have been given for the points.

Special benefits

Some hotels will offer you special benefits that you may not expect to receive. For example, elite status could get you a discount on parking or even a property credit. These can sometimes offer some pretty solid value of $20 or more so be on the lookout for these.

Promotions (Advanced)

Some hotel promotions will offer you more points for certain levels of elite status. In that case, you could add the value from your extra bonus points since you would not be receiving that without your credit card.

If you really wanted to keep detailed tracking data you could also track the bonus points you earn on your stays.

So let’s say you normally would not have any elite status with Hilton. In that case you would be earning 10 base points per dollar spent but because you have Diamond status you are earning 20 points.

If you earned 5,000 extra points due to Diamond status and valued Hilton points at .5 cents per point., you could add $25 to your Value Tracker as “Diamond bonus points.”

Other benefits

Some benefits will be much more difficult to quantify the value for.

For example, if you took advantage of a 48 hour room guarantee, how much value would you assign to that?

You can simply enter one dollar if you would like to track benefits received just for the sake of record keeping your use of them.

But in other cases you can just think about how much you would be willing to pay (on top of your room rate) for such a benefit.

Final word

Tracking elite status benefits is great way to determine how much value you are getting from your credit cards. Sometimes you will have a clear indication of the monetary value but other times you may have to make a judgment call.

If you just ask yourself how much you would be willing to pay to receive a specific benefit, that will be good enough in a lot of cases because the Value Tracker is all about tracking the value you are receiving in your eyes (aka your true savings) and not just the price tag attached to it by others (which could be a dollar amount you would never pay for).

Wyndham Status Match Guide [2021]

Are you thinking about climbing up the elite status ladder with Wyndham? If so, a status match could be a perfect way to do it. In this article, I’ll break down everything you need to know about Wyndham status matches.

What is a Wyndham status match?

A Wyndham status match is a special way for you to obtain elite status by simply requesting Wyndham to match your elite status with another hotel program to a corresponding level of Wyndham elite status.

These status matches are not always available, however, so you will need to keep a close eye for when these roll around.

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

Status matches are not always available

Wyndham elite benefits

You don’t really get to receive meaningful benefits until you reach Platinum or Diamond level elite status with Wyndham. So here’s a look at some of the elite benefits you can expect if you complete a status challenge.

Platinum

Typically, you would need to earn 15 qualifying nights to earn Platinum status so it is a relatively easy status to earn even without a status match. You can also get this status if you are approved for the Wyndham Rewards Visa

Here are the Platinum benefits you can expect:

  • 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

Diamond

Diamond status requires 40 qualifying nights and so it is much more difficult to earn. You’ll get all of the benefits above but in addition you will also get:

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

How to check for a status match

If you want to check about the latest status match, click here.

What hotel elite levels match with Wyndham status matches?

Below you can see what other elite programs will match to the different levels of Wyndham elite status. You will also see how to easily earn those qualifying elite levels just by getting approved for a credit card.

Marriott Bonvoy

With Marriott, you can earn Gold status automatically with the American Express Platinum Card. So if there is a status challenge available that is definitely a shortcut to get to Diamond.

MarriottWyndham
Rewards MemberGold
SilverPlatinum
Gold Elite
Platinum Elite
Titanium Elite
Ambassador Elite		Diamond

Hilton

You can also earn automatic Hilton Gold status with the American Express Platinum Card. And if you want to go straight to the top of Hilton, the Hilton Aspire card will offer you automatic Diamond status.

HiltonWyndham
MemberGold
SilverPlatinum
Gold, DiamondDiamond

Choice Privileges

Choice PrivilegesWyndham
MemberGold
Gold, PlatinumPlatinum
DiamondDiamond

Best Western

Best WesternWyndham
BlueGold
Gold, Platinum, DiamondPlatinum
Diamond SelectDiamond

Hyatt

The World of Hyatt credit card will grant you automatic Discoverist status so that is an easy way to get to Wyndham Platinum.

Best WesternWyndham
MemberGold
Discoverist
Explorist		Platinum
GlobalistDiamond

Related: Hyatt Status Match Guide

IHG

The IHG credit card starts you off with Platinum Elite status so that is yet another easy way to get top level status with Wyndham during a status challenge.

IHGWyndham
Club MemberGold
Gold ElitePlatinum
Platinum Elite
Spire Elite		Diamond

Radisson Rewards

Radisson RewardsWyndham
ClubGold
SilverPlatinum
Gold, Platinum Diamond

Omni Select Guest

Omni Select GuestWyndham
GoldGold
PlatinumPlatinum
BlackDiamond

Related: Barclays Wyndham Rewards Visa Review

How to complete a status match

In order to complete a status match, you need to follow the following steps.

First, make sure that you are an existing Wyndham Rewards member.

Once you have created an account, you need to complete and submit the Status Match Request Form. It’s a simple form and the main information you need to enter is what elite status you have with another program.

You will also need to provide some type of verification of this elite status which can often be done with a simple screenshot of your account. Just make sure that if there is any personal information displayed on the screen that you redact that information.

Wyndham will then review your application and after they verify your status you will receive the equivalent elite status with Wyndham rewards.

This verification will be sent to you via email and it may take between 5 to 7 days from the time that you submitted the request form. Note that others have received confirmation within just a couple of days.

Tip: Look into status matching your Wyndham status to Caesars Rewards after you complete the status match.

Related: 37 Best Wyndham Properties to stay at

How long do you keep elite status for?

If you complete a status challenge, you still might need to complete additional steps in order to obtain elite status for a meaningful period of time.

Gold status

If you match to gold status, you will keep the elite status for the remainder of the year that you completed the status challenge, and for the entirety of the year after that.

Platinum status

If you are matched to Platinum status, you will keep your status for 90 days after the date of your verification email unless prior to that 90 day expiration, you complete seven qualifying nights.

If you complete those nights then you will retain the status for the remainder of the year that you completed the status challenge and for the entirety of the year after that.

Diamond status

If you are matched to Diamond status, you will keep your status for 90 days after the date of your verification email unless prior to that 90 day expiration timeline, you complete 14 qualifying nights.

If you complete those nights then you will retain the status for the remainder of the year that you completed the status challenge and for the entirety of the year after that.

Wyndham status match FAQ

How do I know if I’m eligible for a status match?

You will be eligible for a status match if you hold elite status with Marriott, Hilton, Choice Privileges, Best Western, Hyatt, IHG, Radisson Rewards, or Omni Select Guest.

When do I receive my new matched status?

You will receive your status after your Status Match Request Form is processed by Wyndham Rewards. This could take between 5 to 7 days.

Does a status match keep your points from expiring?

No, if you complete a status match it will not reset when your points from expiring.

Can I transfer my status match eligibility to someone else?

No, you cannot transfer your status match to anybody else.

Final word

As you can tell, completing a Wyndham status match is relatively straightforward. It is pretty easy to earn a qualifying status that will fast track you to the top level of Wyndham status just by getting approved for the right credit card.

The key is to remember that if you get matched to platinum or diamond status you will need to make qualifying stays in order to keep that status for the following year.

Marriott Bonvoy Gold Status Benefits Guide: (Upgrades & More) [2020]

With all of the different levels to the Marriott rewards program (known as Marriott Bonvoy), it’s easy to get confused about what benefits each status tier now offers. In this article, I’m going to focus on the benefits offered by Marriott Gold status and walk you through each of these.

What is Marriott Gold status?

Marriott Gold status is a lower mid-tier status with the Marriott Bonvoy rewards program. This status is no longer as valuable as it once was due to several key benefits that were taken away after the Marriott/SPG merger.

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

How to earn Marriott Gold status

To achieve or renew Marriott Bonvoy Elite Membership status, the following number of personal nights must be earned through stays at participating locations between January 1 and December 31 of any given 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

Coronavirus update

Marriott has offered some pretty solid coronavirus elite benefits.

The first benefit is that your elite status earned in 2019 will be extended to February 2022.

In addition you will receive a one-time deposit of 50% of your tier’s annual Elite Night Credit requirement based on your status from 2019. This means that those Members who achieved Gold Elite status in 2019 would receive 13 Elite Night Credits .Find out more details here.

Here’s how Gold compares to other statuses with Hyatt and Hilton.

World of Hyatt

  • Discoverist
    • 10 qualifying nights
    • 25,000 Base Points
    • or holding 3 qualifying meetings/events per year.
  • Explorist
    • 30 qualifying nights
    • 50,000 Base Points
    • or holding 10 qualifying meetings/events per year.
  • Globalist
    • 60 qualifying nights
    • 100,000 Base Points
    • or holding 20 qualifying meetings/events per year.

Hilton Honors

  • Silver
    • 4 stays in a calendar year or
    • 10 nights in a calendar year
  • Gold
    • 20 stays in a calendar year, or
    • 40 nights in a calendar year, or
    • 75,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year
  • Diamond
    • 30 stays in a calendar year, or
    • 60 nights in a calendar year, or
    • 120,000 Hilton Honors Base Points in a calendar year

Marriott Gold via Credit cards

You can also achieve Gold status with the following credit cards.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card offers automatic Silver status but you can earn Marriott Gold status by spending $35,000 in a year. That’s a lot in spend per year for a status that doesn’t even offer breakfast so I would rather put $35K to use in another way.

You’ll also be given 15 Elite Night Credits each calendar year, which can help you reach Gold status much quicker since you’ll only be 10 nights away from reaching Gold. Free nights start out at 5,000 points per night for off-peak Category 1 awards and welcome bonuses can range from 75,000 to 100,000 points after meeting minimum spend requirements.

So after earning the bonus you could use 50,000 Marriott points to climb your way to Marriott Gold status since free night stays count towards elite status. Another great benefit of this card is that you get an annual free night for properties that cost up to 35,000 points per night. See how the Boundless card compares to some of the top hotel credit cards!

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card offers automatic Gold status but you can earn Marriott Platinum status by spending $75,000 in a year. Platinum status will get you breakfast and lounge access but that’s a lot of spend for Platinum status and once again, I don’t think I would go for it.

Here’s a look at the other features:

  • $300 in Marriott statement credits
  • Bonus earning:
    • 6x at Marriott properties
    • 3x at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
    • 2x on all other purchases
  • Each calendar year you can receive credit for 15 nights towards the next level of Elite status
  • Priority Pass Select membership
  • Receive a statement credit every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre√® ($85) with your Card.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Free, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi at more than 1,000,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide.

Platinum Card from American Express

With the Amex Platinum Card you can earn automatic Marriott Gold status along with Hilton Honors Gold status. The Platinum Card is also loaded up with additional benefits which include: 

  • Priority Pass access for you and two guests
  • Centurion lounges access for you and two guests
  • Delta SkyClub access when flying with Delta
  • $200 annual Uber credit
  • $200 annual airline credit
  • 5X on airfare and 5X on hotels booked through the Amex Travel portal
  • TSA Pre-Check/Global Entry $100 credit

Airline status

Another way to get Gold status is if you are a MileagePlus Premier Gold member. Through the RewardsPlus Program, you’ll be given complimentary Gold status with Marriott if you hold any of the following statuses with the  United MileagePlus program:

Status challenge

You can always inquire with Marriott customer service either via email or by phone to see if you’re eligible for a status challenge to Gold. If you’re eligible, you’ll probably have to hit something like 8 nights in a designated time period (e.g., 3 months) to achieve Gold status but the challenge terms could vary.

Keep in mind that you usually can only enroll in these challenges once every three years.

Marriott La Concha Hotel
Marriott La Concha Hotel in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

What are the Marriott Gold status benefits?

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

25% Bonus on Marriott Rewards Points

  • Gold Elite members are credited with a 25% bonus on base points earned during stays.

At most Marriott properties you’ll earn 10 Marriott points per dollar spent, so this with this bonus you’ll be able to earn 12.5 points per dollar spend. At a value of .8 cents per point, Gold status earns 10% back, which is not bad.

Consider that if you value Hilton points at .5 cents per point, Hilton Gold offers you 9% back and that status requires many more nights to obtain than Marriott Gold.

Late checkout

You’ll get to check out as late as 2pm (based on availability). This is a step down from the guaranteed late check out of 4pm that used to be offered by Marriott Gold.

This benefit is available at all Participating Brands except at Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, and participating Vistana properties.

Complimentary room upgrade

As a Marriott Gold member, you’ll be able to receive a complimentary upgrade based on availability. These upgrades will be limited to “enhanced rooms.” Enhanced rooms may include “rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors.”

These type of upgrades are pretty common for a lower tier status but there are some specific exclusions you’ll want to know about:

  • Suite upgrades are excluded for Gold Elite Members.
  • At The Ritz-Carlton, rooms with direct Club access are excluded.
  • The Complimentary Enhanced Room Upgrade for Gold Elite Members is available at all Participating Brands except Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Aloft, Element and participating Vistana properties.

Note that just because suites are explicitly excluded, that doesn’t mean that you can’t ever get upgraded to one; it just means that they’re not obligated to put you in one and that you shouldn’t expect to be put in one.

Complimentary enhanced Internet service

  • This benefit is provided where available, regardless of booking source, at all Participating Brands worldwide except at the EDITION brand.

Keep in mind that you can get this benefit with the Marriott Boundless credit card.

Welcome gift 

Participating Brands

Gold Elite Welcome Gift

The Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, EDITION, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Marriott Vacation Club, Marriott Grand Residence Club, Delta Hotels, Le Méridien, Westin, Autograph Collection, Design Hotels, Renaissance Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels

500 Points per Stay

Courtyard, Four Points, SpringHill Suites, Protea Hotels, Fairfield, AC Hotels, Aloft, Moxy, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element

250 Points per Stay

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

5th redemption night free

  • Book 5 consecutive nights and the 5th night is free (this perk is available to all Marriott status levels but is worth mentioning). 

Discount

  •  Gift Shop Discount of 10% on retail merchandise.

Phone lines

  • Elite Reservations Line: (800) 228-2100
  • Customer Engagement Center Line: (800) 321-7396

Ultimate Reservation Guarantee

If a Participating Property is unable to honor the reservation, it will pay for comparable accommodation nearby for the Elite Member that night and compensate the Member for the inconvenience.

 At The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis Hotels, the Ultimate Reservation Guarantee only applies to Platinum Elite and above Elite Members. 

Here are the compensation amounts:

Participating Brands

Guest Compensation*

EDITION, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels, Sheraton, Delta Hotels, Le Méridien, Westin, Autograph Collection, Renaissance Hotels, Tribute Portfolio, Gaylord Hotels

U.S. $200

90,000 Points

Courtyard, Four Points, SpringHill Suites, Protea Hotels, Fairfield, AC Hotels, Aloft, Moxy, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Element

U.S. $100

90,000 Points**

The Ritz-Carlton**, St. Regis**

U.S. $200

140,000 Points

** Available only to Platinum Elite and above.

Lounge access and breakfast?

Under the new program, Gold elite members no longer receive breakfast or lounge access. This represents a huge devaluation for Platinum cardmembers and others who were able to match to Marriott Gold since that is where the bulk of the value for this status was.

Since it is possible to get upgraded to Executive Floor rooms, it could be possible to get lounge access at some hotels so as a Gold member, you at least have a shot at getting these perks.

Marriott Marquis Houston
Marriott Marquis Houston M Club Lounge.

Marriott Gold FAQ

How many nights are needed for Marriott Gold?

Marriott Gold requires 25 nights in a given year.

Can I earn Marriott Gold with a credit card?

You can get Marriott Gold instantly with a credit card like the Amex Platinum Card.

You can also get automatic Marriott Gold with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card.  

Do you get free breakfast with Marriott Gold?

No, you do not get free breakfast.

Can you do a status challenge for Marriott Gold?

Yes, occasionally you can do a status challenge to obtain Marriott Gold. Contact Marriott customer service to find out more.

What are the main Marriott Gold benefits?

The main benefits include:

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

How many points do I earn with Marriott Gold?

You will receive a 25% bonus on points earned which means you will earn 12.5 points per dollar spent. At a value of .8 cents per point, Gold status earns 10% back.

What time is Marriott Gold late check out?

You will get late check out as late as 2pm but it is based on availability.

Do you get upgrades with Marriott Gold?

You will get upgrades based on availability. Typically, these upgrades are limited to enhanced rooms which include rooms with better views, more space, and sometimes rooms on executive floors.

Do you get free Internet with Marriott Gold?

Not only do you get free internet but you also get enhanced internet service at all participating brands.

What kind of welcome gift do I get?

Typically, a welcome gift for Marriott Gold is 500 points or 250 points per stay.

Do you get lounge access with Marriott Gold?

Lounge access is not a guaranteed benefit but it is possible that you could get it if you were upgraded to a room on an executive floor.

Final word

Overall, the benefits for Marriott Gold Elite status have been watered down after the SPG/Marriott merger to a large degree. The new Marriott Platinum is essentially the old Gold which doesn’t really effect you if you reached status by staying nights but if you obtained Gold via credit cards, this was a pretty big devaluation.

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

What’s The Best Top Hotel Elite Status? (Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, IHG) [2020]

Achieving hotel elite status is becoming more common with the help of credit cards. However, top tier elite statuses at certain hotel chains are harder to achieve than others, making some more exclusive than others. But what makes one top tier elite status different and are they worth the extra nights to be the top elite? Luckily, I have top tier elite status at Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and IHG and can help you find an answer to this question.

In this article, I will go over Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador, and IHG Spire elite status requirements and benefits. I will also give a reality check on the benefits to try to clear them up. Then I will explain what the best hotel top tier elite status is.

Requirements

Requirements for each of the four major hotel loyalty programs will differ. Some will be easier to achieve than others. Some are obtainable via credit cards while others aren’t given out via credit cards. Below I go over the standard qualification requirements for Hyatt, Hilton, Marriott, and IHG top tier elite status that are offered.

Hyatt Globalist:

  • 60 nights
  • or 100,000 base points
  • or holding 20 qualifying meetings/events per year

Hilton Diamond:

  • 60 nights
  • or 30 stays
  • or 120,000 base points

Marriott Ambassador:

  • 100 nights + $20,000 U.S. dollars in qualified annual spend

IHG Spire:

  • 75 nights
  • or 75,000 base points

As you can see above, Hyatt Globalist and Hilton Diamond are the easiest to obtain elite status. Meanwhile, the hardest status to obtain is Marriott Ambassador because of the 100 nights needed and the $20,000 in qualified spend. Luckily, all programs mentioned above allow award nights (nights that you redeem points on) to count as an elite night. 

You might have noticed some programs are achievable via base points. Think of base points as money you spend at a property. For example, at Hyatt properties you earn 5 points per dollar you spend. So, if you are a big spender, but cannot spend enough nights, all you have to do is spend $20,000 with Hyatt to become Globalist. Programs like IHG, Hilton, and Hyatt all allow you to obtain status via spend, but unfortunately Marriott doesn’t.

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

Ways to achieve via credit cards

You might not think obtaining top elite status is possible via a credit card, but it’s very possible with certain credit cards.

Amex Hilton Aspire (automatic Hilton Diamond status)

Hilton Aspire Bonus

You can get automatic Hilton Honors Diamond status with the American Express Hilton Aspire. The Aspire is one of the most loaded premium cards in terms of benefits. Here’s a look at everything the Hilton Aspire card has to offer:

  • 14X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio worldwide
  • 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on flights booked directly with airlines or amextravel.com, car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies and at U.S. restaurants
  • 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases
  • Complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond status
  • One weekend night at any hotel or resort in the Hilton portfolio (upon opening account and on account anniversary)
  • Weekend night after spending $60,000 on the card within a calendar year
  • Unlimited Priority Pass membership
  • $250 airline incidental fee statement credit
  • $250 Hilton resort statement credit
  • $100 on property credit at Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts when booking the exclusive Aspire Card package
  • $450 Annual Fee

It’s an expensive card if you only look at the annual fee, but beyond the annual fee the card holds many benefits like automatic Diamond status, an annual free weekend night certificate valued up to 120,000 points for a standard room, airline incidental credit, and Hilton resort credit. It’s a beast of a premium card and one shouldn’t pass up those benefits.

World of Hyatt Chase Card (spend your way to Globalist)

  • Complimentary 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
  • Anniversary free night certificate valued up to category 4 (second free night certificate after spending $15,000 within the anniversary year)
  • 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
  • $95 annual fee

For Hyatt lovers, the World of Hyatt Chase Card is for you. By holding the card, you get a free night certificate valued up to category 4 and also receive five qualifying night credits. Then you have the option to gain two additional qualifying night credits with every $5,000 you spend. *All* you have to do is spend $140,000 a year on this card to gain Globalist status without ever stepping foot into a Hyatt.

Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card (automatic 15 elite nights)

  • $300 in Marriott statement credit
  • Bonus earning:
    • 6x at Marriott properties
    • 3x at U.S. restaurants and on flights booked directly with airlines
    • 2x on all other purchases
  • Each calendar year you can receive credit for 15 nights towards the next level of Elite status. Limit one 15 Elite Night Credit per Marriott Loyalty Program member.
  • Priority Pass Select membership
  • Receive a statement credit every four years after you apply for Global Entry ($100) or TSA Pre√® ($85) with your Card.
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Free, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi at more than 1,000,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide.
  • Annual free night

The Marriott Brilliant card sports decent benefits, even for its high annual fee. I for one love the annual free night worth up to 50,000 points. That means you can stay at a category 6 property on a standard award. Plus, the $300 Marriott statement credit is pretty flexible and can be used during any time you use the card at a Marriott property. The Brilliant card then automatically adds 15 elite nights to your Bonvoy account allowing you to be 15 elite nights closer to top tier status.

Status challenges and matches

Status challenges are great for fast tracking yourself to elite status. Sometimes hotel loyalty programs will have a fast track to their top tier elite status and while matching you to it, but not all will have a status challenge or match to top tier elite status.

I will keep these up-to-date for any new challenge and/matches in the future. Sometimes there are targeted challenges, but those won’t be open to the public. 

Hilton Diamond status challenge and match

Currently, Hilton has a status challenge and match that allows you to match to Hilton Gold for 90 days. During those 90 days you can stay 18 nights at any Hilton property in the world to extend your status till March 31, 2021.

This type of promotion could be within reach of people who have a big trip coming up and plan to stay in Hilton properties. All you will need is another status from another hotel loyalty program and a stay with that other hotel loyalty program. If you already have IHG Platinum status (which is easy to obtain via a low annual fee credit card) then you could use that to match while also using your free night from the IHG credit card as the proof of stay at IHG.

During your Hilton status challenge, any type of qualifying night will count towards the 18. So, you could stay for free and it will count towards the challenge.

Top tier hotel status benefits

Each hotel loyalty program will offer different benefits for their top tier status. Some hotel loyalty programs will offer benefits exceeding other programs, but the real world performance of the program will also be different from the spec sheet.

See, many different factors come into play regarding benefits handed out at a property. Some properties will go above and beyond for elite benefits, but other properties might do the bare minimum. It all comes down to a few factors:

  • The region or country
  • Resort or hotel
  • Occupancy
  • Brand

I will try to touch on these below from my experience traveling and staying at different brands from all around the world.

Return on spend (points earned per dollar)

Each hotel loyalty program values points differently. Some hand them out like candy, aka Hilton and IHG, while others are more conservative, aka Hyatt. Below you will see how many points you earn when you stay with each hotel loyalty program without adding any elite status earning bonus:

  • Hyatt: 5 points per dollar
  • Hilton: 10 points per dollar
  • Marriott: 10 points per dollar
  • IHG: 10 points per dollar

Now, let’s add on elite bonuses:

  • Hyatt Globalist: 7.5 points per dollar (30% elite bonus)
  • Hilton Diamond: 20 points per dollar (100% elite bonus)
  • Marriott Ambassador: 17.5 points per dollar (75% elite bonus)
  • IHG Spire: 20 points per dollar (100% elite bonus)

Using our WalletFlo points valuations (which will be built into our cheatsheet on WalletFlo) we have the following return per dollar spent:

  • Hyatt Globalist: 11% return
  • Hilton Diamond: 10% return
  • Marriott Ambassador: 13% return
  • IHG Spire: 11% return

These do not factor in any credit card bonuses or promotions for individual hotel loyalty programs.

Redeeming points

Redeeming points for each hotel loyalty program becomes a different story. Programs like Hyatt (March 2020) and Marriott use an on and off peak redemption chart. Hilton doesn’t have a redemption chart, allowing properties to change their redemption cost at any moment without any advance notice. IHG has changed to dynamic pricing depending on the season.

In my personal experience, I found Hyatt and Marriott very easy to use points with, as I can easily know which category I need to search for, while IHG and Hilton are a little confusing at times as redemptions costs do change for properties I would personally use points for.

Upgrades

Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador, and IHG Spire all offer unlimited complimentary upgrades to standard suites, based on availability. In other words, when you check-in, you can get upgraded up to a standard suite (which is decided by the property).

However, in the real world, upgrades to suites depend entirely on the property. For example, the Andaz Tokyo (a Hyatt brand) has no standard suites, just premium king rooms that are upgradable. Luckily, their premium king rooms are fabulous, but if you want to be upgraded to a suite, knowing the standard suites at each property is key.

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

Standard suites are hard to figure out sometimes

Finding out what is and isn’t a standard suite at a property can be hard depending on the program. There is only one hotel loyalty program that lists on their website what a standard suite is and it’s Hyatt. Right under the rooms description, you can find the wording “this is a standard suite” or “this is a premium suite”. Hyatt making it clear if suites are standard or premium at booking makes it easier to determine your chances of an upgrade.

Other hotel loyalty programs don’t put in writing if a suite is standard or premium. You can of course call or ask via chat (if the property offers chat), but in most cases you just have to use your best judgement. I usually figure the lowest suite is standard and any suite above that is premium. 

Suite upgrade awards & suite night awards

Hyatt and Marriott are two hotel loyalty programs offering suite upgrade awards or suite night awards. Hilton and IHG do not offer certificates or awards to upgrade you to a suite before arrival.

Hyatt suite upgrade awards can be applied to reservations at the time of booking, even a year in advance to secure a suite for reservations as long as seven days, covering the whole reservation with one award. Think of this as a guaranteed way to upgrade your room right after you made the booking and once the award is applied. Plus, Hyatt suite upgrade awards are available at any hotel that has suites.

Marriott on the other hand isn’t guaranteeing you a suite upgrade. You can apply the suite night awards after you made your reservation. Each suite night award is good for one night to standard or premium suites (again, decided by the property.) Once the suite night award is applied to the reservation, it will only be confirmed five days before check-in. Meaning, you actually have no way to confirm a suite a year in advance like Hyatt. Plus, Marriott suite night awards aren’t available at every Marriott brand.

If you wanna learn more about Marriott suite night awards, you can read more here.

Upgrades in reality

In reality, upgrades with Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador, and IHG Spire can be common throughout the world. I found upgrades are best in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Oceania, but in North America and Japan, upgrades are less frequent. However, they do still happen.

Each program performs well with upgrades, maybe the best one for upgrades has to be Marriott Ambassador. With Marriott Ambassador, I’ve gotten some of the most amazing suites and villas ever. They were premium suites or villas, which the property doesn’t have to upgrade you to, but they still upgraded me.

Breakfast

Hyatt Globalist and Hilton Diamond offer at least continental breakfast at every single brand in their loyalty program, besides residence/vacation club properties.

IHG Spire doesn’t offer any breakfast benefit at any brand.

However, Marriott Ambassador offers breakfast at almost every brand with a little bit a confusion. Some brands might offer a full breakfast buffet or menu, but regions like North America will offer continental breakfast. Here are the brands from Marriott that offer breakfast:

  • AC Hotels by Marriott
  • Aloft
  • Autograph Collection Hotels
  • Bulgari
  • Courtyard by Marriott
  • Delta
  • Design
  • Element
  • Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott
  • Four Points by Sheraton
  • JW Marriott
  • Le Meridien
  • Marriott Hotels
  • Moxy Hotels
  • Protea Hotels
  • Renaissance Hotels
  • Residence Inn by Marriott
  • Sheraton
  • Springhill Suites by Marriott
  • St. Regis
  • The Luxury Collection
  • TownePlace Suites by Marriott
  • Tribute
  • Westin
  • W

Breakfast in reality

While Hyatt and Hilton breakfast are more consistent, sometimes instead of a full breakfast buffet you might be stuck with a continental breakfast. Luckily, more often than not you can find full breakfast buffets or order off the menu for breakfast.

For Marriott, breakfast has been given at properties that aren’t part of the list above — an example would be Ritz Carlton.  Usually these properties are outside North America.

IHG is interesting. Some properties might randomly give you breakfast. However, it’s not consistent and you won’t know till you arrive if the property feels like giving you breakfast.

The rule of thumb, breakfast in Asia and Middle East will typically be better than North America. While Europe breakfasts are still an upgrade above North American breakfasts, but not as good as Asian breakfasts.

Club lounge access

Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, and Marriott Ambassador all grant club lounge access for every brand. (The exception would be Ritz Carlton properties that will not grant Ambassador elites access to the club lounge.)

IHG Spire doesn’t offer club lounge access at any brand.

Club lounge access in reality

In reality, club lounge benefits via Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, and Marriott Ambassador are super consistent. There might be times where Ritz Carlton properties give Marriott Ambassadors club lounge access, but there are few that I know that do offer it to Ambassadors.

IHG properties might sometimes offer club lounge access to Spires, especially Holiday Inns. However, this is more rare than the norm. Again, in Asia, usually IHG properties will add on club lounge access randomly.

Waived resort & destination fees

Hyatt Globalist is the only hotel loyalty program that waives resort & destination fees on any rate you booked.

Hilton and IHG will waive resort & destination fees on award bookings.

Marriott will charge resort and destination fees on any rate you book.

Resort & destination fees in reality

Hyatt Globalists consistently get any resort or destination fee waived on any rate booked. Hilton is also consistent for waiving resort or destination fees on award bookings. IHG can be spotty for waiving resort fees on award stays, but it’s part of the policy so keep an eye on your folio.

Marriott on the other hand will sometimes, more rare than usual, waive such things as destination fees. You claim how you already get the same benefits as an elite or refuse the resort fee entirely. Sadly, some properties don’t like to budge, but you can always try.

Milestones

Programs that have milestones can be important for elites to keep staying as you get a feeling of accomplishment reaching milestones and receive awards. These milestones usually offer bonus points after reaching a certain amount of nights.

Hyatt, Hilton, and Marriott all offer milestones at different levels. Each of the milestones offered are based on nights. Hyatt and Hilton milestones go beyond their top tier status, while Marriott milestones are before top tier status.

However, the milestones offered by Hyatt and Marriott do offer a free award night. Hyatt though has an edge when it comes milestones, as Hyatt gives out a category 7 certificate, which makes it good at any Hyatt branded property in the world.

IHG doesn’t offer any milestones.

Milestones in reality

I love the milestones offered by Hyatt and Hilton as they keep rewards beyond their top tier status. Marriott and IHG need to add milestones beyond their top tier status to keep elites staying.

Personal assistant

There are two hotel loyalty programs that offer a personal assistant, or someone that always works with you directly when you call corporate.

Hyatt Globalist gives you My Hyatt Concierge and Marriott Ambassador gives you an Ambassador. Both can help you out with special requests, room preferences beyond the default booking preferences, problem solving, and throwing in special goodies.

My Hyatt Concierge in reality

My Hyatt Concierge is somewhat like the knock off version of Marriott Ambassador. Don’t get me wrong, some My Hyatt Concierge agents are amazing at what they do with some of their Globalists, but mine is definitely not as nice as my Marriott Ambassador. When I tried to contact My Hyatt Concierge, she tends to answer half of my questions.

Nonetheless, I’ve only had My Hyatt Concierge for a month. So, I will give it more time before I write her off completely. It’s most likely a consistency issue between each Concierge agent as some of my friends have an amazing concierge.

Marriott Ambassador in reality

My Marriott Ambassador is amazing. She goes above and beyond. We are like friends, always emailing and she has even surprised me on many of my stays with little goodies, beyond the upgrades she has secured for me. She is the reason why I love Marriott so much.

However, I am well aware of some Marriott Ambassadors liaisons tending to be absent or not helpful. Some of my friends have a less than helpful Ambassador. Maybe I am lucky, but consistency is also an issue with Ambassadors, even though I have a great one.

St. Regis Bali Ambassador birthday surprise

What is the best hotel top tier elite status?

This is a very subjective question and in reality, you determine what status is worth for you. However, if I had to decide one mainstream top tier elite status, it would be Hyatt Globalist.

Hyatt Globalist works for most, especially travelers in North America.

Hyatt Globalist is great for the benefits it offers. From waived parking on award stays, waived resort and destination fees on any stay, to its simple breakfast policy. Hyatt Globalist works for most, especially travelers in North America.

See, Hilton, Marriott, and IHG all are great programs outside North America. I prefer Marriott properties when traveling abroad over Hyatt properties anyday, but in North America, Hyatt benefits are very standardized so that properties don’t try to skip out on some benefits.

Properties go above and beyond for Marriott Ambassadors outside North America, but within North America the status is as good as Platinum or Titanium.

I have had some of the best upgrades and service experiences being a Marriott Ambassador over the two oceans. Properties go above and beyond for Marriott Ambassadors outside North America, but within North America the status is just as good as Platinum or Titanium. While Hilton and IHG are fine, being Diamond or Spire isn’t anything special most times. Yet, being Ambassador or Globalist, properties treat you very differently.

So, maybe if I had to summarize my answer, it will depend where you travel. Marriott for abroad and Hyatt for domestic. Those would be the best top tier elite statuses out there.

However, elite status is great and all, but chasing promotions is key. If you can get double or triple points when you stay at a hotel because of a promotion, go for it. However, if the promotion is like the Marriott targeted promotions that only give you 2,000 points per two stays, then it’s not worth it.

I personally hold Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Ambassador, and IHG Spire. While my go to is usually Marriott and Hyatt, I still will chase Hilton and IHG promotions when they are fabulous. Because at the end of the day, the benefits you receive at certain hotels aren’t worth as much as you might think.

Final word

While each program might differ, some do shine more than others because of certain benefits like breakfast and club lounge access. However, I still think chasing promotions can be worth more than benefits in the long run as those promotions can help you achieve free nights faster.

World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards: Everything You Need to Know [2020]

Good loyalty programs will have milestones. World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards is a perfect example of rewarding continuing guests, no matter what elite status they have. You can earn free nights, suite upgrades, bonus points, club access, and gift cards. Most will be given once you reach the milestone and then some might be a choice award. 

In this article, I will go over Milestone Rewards and how to reach them while explaining each one. Then I will go over what happens when you reach the milestones and how to select choice awards. 

What are Hyatt Milestone Rewards?

Each year Hyatt has ten milestones you can reach called Milestone Rewards. Some milestones won’t give you a choice for the award, but Hyatt is one of the easiest programs that allows you to hit milestones and get rewarded.

Some of the milestones will offer you bonus points, suite upgrades, a free night award, a gift card, or club lounge access awards. Each one has a different use case, but some of the choice awards can be really valuable.

I explain more down below.

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

How to reach Hyatt Milestone Rewards

Out of the ten Hyatt Milestone Rewards, nine Hyatt Milestone Rewards are based on the number of elite nights or base points you earn within a calendar year. One Milestone Reward is only based on the number of different brands you have tried.

The ten Milestone Rewards:

  • Stay at five different brands
  • 20 elite nights or 35,000 base points
  • 30 elite nights or 50,000 base points
  • 40 elite nights or 65,000 base points
  • 50 elite nights or 80,000 base points
  • 60 elite nights or 100,000 base points
  • 70 elite nights
  • 80 elite nights
  • 90 elite nights
  • 100 elite nights

You might have noticed that 30 nights or 50,000 base points is Explorist status. While 60 elite nights or 100,000 base points is Globalist status. 

Any elite nights and base points earned between January 1st and December 31st will count towards the milestones that require elite nights or base points. For the five brands, they count any brands you have stayed at since March 1, 2017.

Ways to gain elite nights

The best way to gain elite nights or base points is by staying at Hyatt properties. Stay one night in a Hyatt property on cash or points, and you will earn an elite night for each night you actually stay at the property.

Base points are based on the cash you have spent at the property. So, spend $1 at any Hyatt or SLH property and you will have 5 base points. Spend $1 on any FIND experience and you will have 10 base points. (Elite bonus points do not count towards base points.)

If you want elite night short cuts, you could hold the World of Hyatt credit card.

World of Hyatt Chase Card

  • Complimentary 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
  • Anniversary free night award valued up to category 4 (second free night certificate after spending $15,000 within the anniversary year)
  • 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
  • $95 annual fee

For Hyatt lovers, the World of Hyatt Chase Card is for you. By holding the card, you get automatic Hyatt Discoverist status and five qualifying night credits. Then you have the option to gain two additional qualifying night credits every $5,000 you spend. So, you could spend $140,000 a year on this card to gain Globalist status and hit five milestones without ever stepping foot into a Hyatt.

Plus, with the card, you also receive an anniversary free night certificate a year valued up to a category 4 property. That means you could use the free night certificate at the Park Hyatt Istanbul and earn an elite night from your stay using the certificate. 

Hyatt Milestone Rewards

As there are ten Hyatt Milestone Rewards, you have many opportunities to gain many benefits without much effort, even low tier elites have opportunities for reaching a few milestones. 

The Milestone Rewards are:

ActivityMilestone Rewards or Tier Status
Stay at five different Hyatt brands and pay an eligible rate after March 1, 2017 Free night award in a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort, Small Luxury Hotels of the World hotel, or M life Rewards destination
Stay 20 qualifying nights or earn 35,000 Base Points in a calendar yearTwo club lounge access awards
Stay 30 qualifying nights or earn 50,000 Base Points in a calendar yearFree night award in a Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort, Small Luxury Hotels of the World hotel, or M life Rewards destination

&

Two club lounge access awards
Stay 40 qualifying nights or earn 65,000 Base Points in a calendar yearYour choice of 5,000 Bonus Points, a $100 Hyatt Gift Card or save 10,000 points on a FIND experience.
Stay 50 qualifying nights or earn 80,000 Base Points in a calendar yearTwo suite upgrade awards
Stay 60 qualifying nights or earn 100,000 Base Points in a calendar yearStay 60 qualifying nights or earn 100,000 Base Points in a calendar year

&

Two suite upgrade awards

&

Access to My Hyatt Concierge agent for reservations and personalized service
Stay 70 qualifying nights in a calendar year Your choice of either 10,000 Bonus Points or a suite upgrade award
Stay 80 qualifying nights in a calendar year Your choice of either 10,000 Bonus Points or a suite upgrade award
Stay 90 qualifying nights in a calendar year Your choice of either 10,000 Bonus Points or a suite upgrade award
Stay 100 qualifying nights in a calendar year Your choice of either 10,000 Bonus Points or a suite upgrade award

As you can see, some milestones are choice awards. That means you can only pick one award out of several options. I explain more about each Milestone Reward under “which Hyatt Milestone Rewards is the best” section.

Which Hyatt Milestone Rewards are the best?

As there are a total of eight awards in the Milestone Rewards, some might hold greater value over others.

Category 1-4 free night award

This Milestone Reward is given when you stay at five different brands. It’s also given at 30 elite nights or 50,000 base points.

As this Milestone Reward is not a choice award, you automatically get this category 1-4 free night award when reaching either of these milestones.

This award is super easy to use as Hyatt has some great category 4 properties in the world. Some category 4 properties will usually be $300+ a night. One great use would be the Park Hyatt Istanbul as it’s a category 4.

Category 1-7 free night award

This Milestone Reward is given when you reach 60 elite nights or 100,000 base points.

Similar to the category 1-4 free night award, you will automatically receive this award when you reach the milestone. You can check out our list of Hyatt category 7 properties here. 

You could use this free night award at any Hyatt branded property in the world. That means you could use it at the Park Hyatt Maldives or Ventana Big Sur, an Alila Resort, both of which can go be $1000+ a night.

Suite upgrade awards

This Milestone Reward is given when you reach 50 elite nights or 80,000 base points and 60 elite nights or 100,000 base points. Then it’s a choice award at 70 elite nights, 80 elite nights, 90 elite nights, and 100 elite nights. 

Suite upgrade awards can be super valuable for confirming suites during peak travel seasons.

What makes Hyatt suite upgrade awards better than Marriott Suite Night Awards is the fact that Hyatt suite upgrade awards are confirmable at the time you apply the suite upgrade award. 

Each suite upgrade award works for stays up to seven consecutive nights for a standard suite. You can sometimes apply two suite upgrade awards for an upgrade to a premium suite. (When searching for available rooms, suites will be labeled as standard or premium suite.)

I think suite upgrade awards can be super valuable when it’s given to you automatically, but when it’s part of the choice award I would pick bonus points over the suite upgrade award. It’s because complimentary suite upgrades are easy to come by during low and mid travel seasons. 

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

Club lounge access awards

This Milestone Reward is given when you reach 20 elite nights or 50,000 base points and 30 elite nights or 50,000 base points.

Again, club lounge access Milestone Reward is not a choice award, so when you reached one or both of the milestones, you will receive two club lounge access awards. 

Club lounge access allows you to access the lounge for you or other rooms on your reservation. So, for Discoverist and Explorist elites, club lounge access can be super handy as both those status tiers don’t receive complimentary club lounge access.

For Globalists, this award is harder to use as Globalists receive complimentary club lounge access. Globalists could use this award for other rooms on their reservation. Sadly, you cannot use it for other people’s reservations. 

Each club lounge access award works for stays up to seven consecutive nights.

I think these can be super valuable for lower-tier elites or Globalists that have multiple rooms wanting to have everyone in their party to access to the club lounge. 

Bonus points

This Milestone Reward is a choice award when you reach 40 elite nights or 65,000 base points, 70 elite nights, 80 elite nights, 90 elite nights, and 100 elite nights. 

Out of all of Hyatt’s choice awards, this is by far the best choice. Points are easy to use at Hyatt properties. No matter if the bonus points are 5,000 points or 10,000 points, you can easily find a free night at a category 1 or 2 property. Heck, you can find a category 1 Park Hyatt in Chennai, India. 

Bonus points are certainly the best and easiest choice award. Other choice awards like the Hyatt Gift Card and FIND experience are much harder to use as they have limited use cases.

$100 Hyatt Gift Card

This Milestone Reward is a choice award when you reach 40 elite nights or 65,000 base points.

You might have thought the $100 Hyatt Gift Card would be a good choice award, but in reality, the gift card is restricted to use at certain properties.

You can find the list of participating properties here. The gift card is great if you want to use them within North America, Central America, and the Caribbean, but you cannot use it at all outside of those regions. So, you cannot use the gift card in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, or South America.

I think the Hyatt Gift Card should be global, similar to Marriott Gift Cards, to make them more valuable. However, if you are always traveling at one of these participating properties, the gift card could be a good choice.

Save 10,000 points on a FIND experience

This Milestone Reward is a choice award when you reach 40 elite nights or 65,000 base points.

FIND is a recently introduced experience program, similar to Marriott Moments. So, saving 10,000 points on a FIND experience is certainly a big savings.

Some experiences are worthwhile, like a half-day spa experience for multiple people, helicopter rides, private transfers, etc. Some of them, in fact, cost $500+ for multiple people for less than 10,000 points.

If you found a FIND experience you want to do, this choice award could be very valuable. However, it’s not in every city.

Access to My Hyatt Concierge agent

This Milestone Reward is given when you reach 60 elite nights or 100,000 base points.

Think of My Hyatt Concierge as a Marriott Ambassador, but less personable. My Hyatt Concierge is known to be unresponsive or not proactive. Sometimes the My Hyatt Concierge can only do basic things like change reservations. So, when you compare Marriott Ambassador and My Hyatt Concierge, My Concierge would be less useful. 

This is more like a gimmick in my eyes. I found no use of My Hyatt Concierge.

When do I receive or select Hyatt Milestone Rewards choice award?

Once you reach one of the milestones, you will automatically get an email confirming you reached the Milestone Reward with your award. If it’s a choice award, you can select it up to 90 days after you received the milestone email.

So, make sure you select the choice award 90 days or less from the email that was sent. 

Where do I select my Hyatt Milestone Rewards choice award?

Once you reached a Hyatt Milestone Reward, you will get an email. For choice awards, you have to select your award via the link given in the email. 

So, all communication and the selection link will be in the email sent to you.

Final word

Hyatt Milestone Rewards are one my favorite thing about Hyatt.

I love how many milestones there are, especially beyond their top tier elite status. It’s easy to rack up free nights or suite upgrades when staying frequently, but also easy for less frequent travelers to gain access to club lounges and free nights.

I just hope other programs (looking at you Marriott) adds more milestones.

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