Guests can receive a $50 resort credit when staying a minimum of two consecutive nights at any Holiday Inn Resort location from Sept. 4 through Nov. 30, 2012. Stay longer than two nights, and you’ll receive an additional $25 credit per night, up to $250. The credit can be redeemed for food and drinks, local attractions and resort excursions or activities such as bike rentals. To be eligible to receive the hotel credit, you must make reservations at http://www.holidayinnresorts.com/extracredit and book the Extra Credit rate.

Bottom line: Be sure to compare different hotel rates and do the math before making reservations. For example, the Resort Extra Credit rate for two nights at The Beach House in Hilton Head, S.C. in mid-October was $189 per night for a standard room compared to $139.94 for the advance purchase, nonrefundable rate and $169 for the best flexible rate. You’d be better off booking the nonrefundable rate and saving $50 per night instead of getting a $50 credit for a two-night stay.