All the recent airline double elite miles promotions probably have people looking for hotel deals around the world. Finding a great hotel rate is often a matter of finding the right Web link to a special offer page buried on the Internet.
Hotel loyalty for me is a balance between the comfort and amenities I desire when staying in hotels and what I can balance with my bank account. Hotel occupancy rates and room rates are dropping over most of the world according to recent industry data. Hotel discount rate Web links stretch the travel dollars even more.
Recently, I was asked to update a post I placed on FlyerTalk two years ago for Starwood Hotels and Resorts Exclusive Discounts Web links. These links provide discount rates on stays from two to six nights at participating hotels. (I originally posted the links in early 2007 due to my inability to locate the Free Night links on the Starwood Hotels’ sites.) The links have been active for years and currently the offers expire Dec. 31, 2009.
Starwood Exclusive Hotel rates
http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?1541
Starwood Exclusive Resort rates
http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?1542
Some guests find significant savings with these Starwood links. You still should compare these rates with other special offers once you pick a hotel. The discounts are not always the lowest rates, but I have found some incredible deals around the world the past couple of years.
InterContinental Hotels Group “2 Nights for the Price of 1” in Europe
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/exclusive
Intercontinental Hotels Group has a special offer “2 nights for the Price of 1” Web page for participating hotels in Europe. This is one of my favorite links for 50 percent hotel discounts in Europe.
At the time of writing, April 2, the IHG page stated offer “expires March 31, 2009.” The posted expiration date is rarely an impediment to booking the 2-for-1 rate. This link has been active for years. Try a location for your dates in Europe and see which hotels come up.
Got Miles? Hilton HHonors Miles to Points Exchange
Hotel programs allow you to earn miles rather than points and some will exchange your hotel points into airline miles. HHonors lets you earn points and miles for hotel stays. And only Hilton HHonors allows members to exchange airline miles into hotel points.
Miles to points is one of my favorite HHonors loyalty program features. You can exchange miles from six airline programs and Amtrak into Hilton HHonors points: http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?1543
5,000 American Airlines miles exchange to 10,000 HHonors points. One long-haul international trip on AA can earn upwards of 25,000 miles for an elite flyer. Exchange AA miles for HHonors points and you are 50,000 points closer to a 175,000 point, six-night VIP elite award for a Category 6 Hilton Resort property. Go for elite VIP rewards of six nights or more for best redemption value on your HHonors points.
Hilton VIP Rewards: http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?1544
VIP Silver elite requires only four stays in 2009. Check the Hilton HHonors forum in FlyerTalk for complimentary elite opportunities.
Hyatt Gold Passport — G Bonuses and the Big Welcome
Always check the Hyatt Gold Passport Bonus Offers links when making a Hyatt reservation.
G bonuses are available through: http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?1546
There are regional tabs for Americas, Asia/Pacific and Europe/Africa/Middle East participating hotels.
Make your Hyatt reservations online using the G bonus “Book” links for an easy way to earn 1,000 to 2,000 more points per Hyatt stay. Current offers run through May 31, 2009.
Hyatt Gold Passport published some exciting changes April 2, 2009 with a new “No Blackouts” policy for hotel stays using points. All the major hotel loyalty programs discussed here now have a No Blackouts policy.
250 words are all that stand between you and 365 free Hyatt Hotel nights and 1,000,000 air miles. Check out Hyatt’s “Big Welcome” essay contest. Entries need to be in by May 13, 2009. Details at http://www.TheBigWelcome.com
Marriott Rewards — 3 for 2 Resort Redemption Special
Marriott Rewards unveiled a spring/summer redemption promotion — 3 for 2 Resort Redemption Special through Sep 7, 2009 at 55 select resorts. The offer is three nights for the price of two in points. Marriott basically has discounted select resort hotels in Category 4-7 by 33 percent on a three-night stay. Redemption rates are lower than 2008 levels. Take advantage of this deal if you can.
Three nights at a Category 7 Resort for just 70,000 points makes this one of the best hotel program redemption values currently available.
http://insideflyerus.wpengine.com/link/?1547
Will the hotel loyalty programs follow the airlines with double stays to elite in 2009?
Time will tell.
