Time to Re-Think Our Free Weekends

Time to Re-Think Our Free Weekends

When Starwood introduced the first of the free weekend promotions a few years back, it was different and certainly motivated a lot of us road warriors to stay and play. After a year, other hotel programs decided it was a good idea and have since joined in the fray. Which brings us to the problem. While Starwood Preferred Guest was out early and got many members started on the way to a nice relaxing time at a Starwood Hotel, Marriott trumped them and made free weekends even that much better. But with Hyatt extending the dates for which members can earn free nights faster, it’s very clear there is a new winner in town. In the rush for bonus nights, rather than bonus points, the Hyatt Free Nights Faster promotion is clearly the best promotion to date — maybe ever. It really doesn’t matter which frequent guest program you participate in — earning a free night for every two nights you spend at a hotel is simply wonderful.

You need to register for this promotion and can earn these unlimited free nights until Sept. 2 and then redeem them until Oct. 31. The good news is that as fast as you earn them, you can use them.

Fine Print: A minimum of a three-night stay is required for redemption in non-resort hotels during mid-week. Mid-week is defined as Monday through Thursday. One- or two-night stays at non-resort hotels are available on weekends only. A weekend is defined as Friday through Sunday. “Weekend” may conform to local custom and practice in certain countries. Only one credit will be given per member, per stay, regardless of the number of rooms. A stay is defined as one or more consecutive nights at any participating hotel, whether or not the guest checks out and back in during such period. Back-to-back stays at a single Hyatt are considered one stay.