Staying at a hotel for free is easier than you think. Just requires some planning and strategic purchasing. Use these next seven tips to grab yourself some free hotel stays, trust me the bed will feel even comfier.
- Take advantage of credit card free night offers
Some travel credit cards offer deals, sign-on bonuses, and annual hotel credits. The smart move would be to get one of these cards to save money with a free night’s stay. Do your research on which credit card has the best perks and apply before a planned vacation to capitalize on their offers. (Read: Best Travel Credit Cards) Many travel cards typically offer extra cardholder benefits like gaining immediate elite loyalty status, extra miles or points, or a high percentage off reservations, these will help to cut the cost of hotels, equaling one to two nights free.
- Book hotel rooms on points
It’s always a good idea to use your hotel points rather than save them. Booking rooms on points versus using cash is certainly a smart way to save money. Loyalty points and reward programs allow you to get a free night or two. For example, Marriott Bonvoy points will you get one free night. Hilton has a similar policy where members with at least Silver Elite membership will receive the fifth night free when booking on points. There are various ways to accumulate hotel points: hotel-specific credit cards, airline cards, general travel credit cards, and hotel loyalty programs.
- Cash-Back Credit Card Rewards
Using your cash-back credit card to pay for your hotel stay even if it’s for one night will be worth it. Suggestion: use your cash-back credit card all year for grocery shopping, gas, and bills. Save up those cash-back amounts and use them as a check to pay for hotels. Easy!
- Look for BOGO-type deals
Many hotels and resorts have “buy x and get y for free”. It’s not exactly buy one and get one free but for every four nights booked, you get the 5th night free. That sounds like a deal when you were already planning to stay at a resort for 5-6 days. With Marriott Bonvoy, you’ll get a fifth night free for every four consecutive nights you book with points. IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Cardholders will receive the 4th night free. Four Seasons Hawaii “complimentary fifth night with every four consecutive paid nights”. Opal Key Resort & Marina “enjoy five nights for the price of four along with a one-time, $100 resort credit to help you relax even further in the Florida Keys.”
- Cross-use airline miles
You may be a loyal AA flyer, but did you know you can use your American Airlines frequent flyer miles to stay at a Hyatt hotel and not just to redeem free flights and upgrades? Yes! There are a lot of airline–hotel partnerships where you can use your airline miles to book stays at your favorite hotel or their sister/partner hotel. For instance: you can transfer miles earned with Hawaiian Airlines or Virgin Atlantic at a 2:3 ratio for Hilton stays. United MileagePlus members can transfer their miles to be used under their Marriott Bonvoy account at a 1:1 ratio. The best part is that majority of the time hotel points may even be transferred or used as miles. Check out Smart Travelers Fly for Free blog post for those tips.
- Travel Website: Loyalty points and deals
Similar to the tips mentioned above, travel websites have their own points, perks, and discounts. Booking.com has the Genius loyalty program, Orbitz has Orbucks where $1 Orbuck = $1 off your hotel stay, Hotwire has HotRates, Hopper uses Carrot Cash, you get the point. Check out Best Travel Discount websites to learn how to snag cheap or even sometimes free hotel nights.
- Become a Social Media Influencer, Travel Blogger or try Affiliate Marketing
This tip is not guaranteed and takes more time and energy however, it is an option. By becoming a profitable social media influencer you can work with hotels and resorts to get comp hotel nights. A travel blog works the same way, securing partnership brand deals may allow for complimentary stays. Lastly, affiliate marketing, this is a bit more straightforward and on the easier side. To provide an example, join Booking.com’s Affiliate Partner Program and start earning commission on bookings made through your website. Earning commission will result in money to use towards your travel adventures and trips.
- Honorable mention: Find a Sugar Daddy
Disclaimer: CityVibes is not endorsing or encouraging any particular lifestyle. One way to secure a free hotel stay or vacation is to get “flewwed out” by a travel companion or “sugar daddy”. Although this is a travel blog, free is free and many people travel and stay at luxury hotels by securing a wealthy partner. Do you boo!
