The La Quinta Returns Visa Card now offers Gold status after your first purchase with the card, which offers 20 percent more points with La Quinta stays and two free room upgrade certificates per year. Card members will now also receive two points per qualifying $1 spent on dining, gas and car rental expenses.

The card comes with 20,000 bonus points after your first purchase and a further 20,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 within the first 12 billing cycles after the account is opened. The card carries no annual fee with no limit to the points you can earn. Visit http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?11550 to apply for the card.

Bottom line: Gold status is typically earned after 10 qualifying nights in a calendar year. The highest tier, Elite, is offered after 25 nights in a calendar year and comes with automatic room upgrades upon check-in and other benefits.