4 Hotel Rewards Programs That Can Save You Big Money on Your Next Trip
When it comes to travel, there are lots of rewards programs and money back options to choose from. Even during the research for this article, pop ups from Rakuten and Capital One boasted money back options through different sites.
Wading through it all can be tough, so MoneyLion checked out four programs to see what each one offers and how you can use them to save on your next trip.
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Each of these hotel rewards programs is free to join, and free nights start at 5,000 points for most brands. For each program, the rewards really stack up the more you stay. To earn and redeem hotel loyalty points, you need to book directly through the hotel’s site.
Hilton Honors
Hilton’s 28 brands include Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree, Embassy Suites and Hampton, with 9,400 properties to choose from. Hilton Honors has five member levels — Member, Silver, Gold, Diamond and Diamond Reserve — and you’re eligible for slightly discounted rates as soon as you sign up.
At the Member level, you earn 10 points per dollar you spend to use toward free nights, travel partners and more — stays at some Hilton brands only earn five points or three points per dollar, so if building points is part of your travel strategy, make sure you check. After 10 nights, you move up to Silver level and continue to move up the more you stay.
Gold and Diamond members get a daily food-and-beverage credit along with space-available room upgrades. Those in the Diamond Reserve tier get 120% bonus points per stay among other perks like confirmable upgrade rewards at booking and guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout.
Wyndham Rewards
Wyndham Hotels & Resorts span 25 brands with over 8,000 hotels, including Registry Collection Hotels, La Quinta, Wyndham Garden and Howard Johnson.
When you enroll in Wyndham Rewards, you earn 1,000 points for every qualified stay (or 10 points per dollar, whichever is more), and you can redeem discounted nights starting at 500 points plus cash.
Once you reach Gold, rewards include late checkout, accelerated points earning and preferred room choice. The more nights you stay, the more perks you earn as you work up through Blue, Gold, Platinum and Diamond member levels.
Wyndham Rewards also allows you to bid points in auctions for various experiences. For example, the winning bid of 27,500 points in one auction earned the winner an Austin Food Wine Weekend Access Package that included admission to the 2026 Austin Food & Wine Festival, access to cooking demonstrations and more.
IHG One Rewards
IHG Hotels & Resorts has 21 brands across 7,000 locations that include Holiday Inn, Regent, Staybridge Suites and Vignette Collection.
With IHG One Rewards, you earn 10 points for every dollar spent at most IHG Hotels and five points per dollar at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. When you become an IHG One Rewards member, you also unlock additional rewards for every 10 nights you stay, starting at 20 qualified nights. These bonus rewards include more points, food and beverage rewards and suite upgrades.
Member tiers start at Club Member and then move to Silver Elite after 10 stays and continue to move up through Gold Elite, Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite based on nights stayed or points earned.
There aren’t any blackout dates for reward nights, and you can use your points or Points & Cash to use existing points and then buy the remaining points needed to cover your stay. Starting at Silver Elite, the points don’t expire. At Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite, you unlock a welcome amenity at check-in along with early check-in. Every tier has access to a 2 p.m. late checkout benefit.
Choice Privileges
Choice Hotels has 7,100 properties across 21 brands, including Radisson, Country Inn & Suites, Quality Inn and Econo Lodge.
Free nights at Choice Hotels start at 8,000 points, but you get discounts between 10% and 24% as soon as you become a member. After just five nights, members move up to Gold, and continue moving up after 15, 35 and 55 nights. You can also move levels based on how many points you’ve earned.
Early check-in and late check-out perks start at the Gold tier along with a welcome gift, room upgrades and points that never expire. The top two tiers — Diamond and Titanium — offer 50% bonus points on stays, guaranteed room availability and complimentary breakfast for you and a guest.
This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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