Difference between revisions of "Low category hotels"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{Title|low category hotels}}}}
 
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{{seo|description=Tips and tricks for stretching your award points by booking free nights at less expensive hotels.}}
 
{{seo|description=Tips and tricks for stretching your award points by booking free nights at less expensive hotels.}}
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You’ll get more value from your hotel points, by booking multiple free nights at less expensive hotels, than you would by booking fewer nights at higher-end hotels.
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You’ll get more value from your hotel points by booking multiple free nights at less expensive hotels than you would by booking fewer nights at higher-end hotels.
 
</blockquote>  
 
</blockquote>  
  
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For example, with Hilton, 95,000 points will get you a single night at one of their most expensive hotels, and 70-80,000 points will get you a night at most of their properties in New York City; but the same number of points can get you 14-19 nights at their least expensive hotels. With Marriott, 85,000 points will get you a single night at one of their most expensive hotels (100,000 points during peak season); or 11.33 nights at their least expensive hotel (17 during off peak times); 50,000 Marriott points might get you a single night at most of their New York City hotels, but the same number of points could get you 2-6 nights somewhere else.  
+
For example with Hilton, 95,000 points will get you a single night at one of their most expensive hotels and 70-80,000 points will get you a night at most of their properties in New York City; but the same number of points can get you 14-19 nights at their least expensive hotels. With Marriott, 85,000 points will get you a single night at one of their most expensive hotels (100,000 points during peak season) or 11.33 nights at their least expensive hotel (17 during off peak times); 50,000 Marriott points might get you a single night at most of their New York City hotels but the same number of points could get you 2-6 nights somewhere else.  
  
−
Of course, with a limited amount of vacation time, you may primarily choose to spend your nights at nicer hotels, or more expensive destinations. But, if you have an opportunity to book an award at a low category hotel, you’ll almost always get great value per point.  
+
Of course, with a limited amount of vacation time, you may primarily choose to spend your nights at nicer hotels or more expensive destinations. But if you have an opportunity to book an award at a low category hotel, you’ll almost always get great value per point.  
  
 
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!colspan="2"|Award "room rate" for a
 
!colspan="2"|Award "room rate" for a
 
|-
 
|-
−
!style='width: 0.75in;'|Cat 1 Room
+
!style='width: 1in;'|Cat 1 Room
−
!style='width: 0.75in;'|Cat 2 Room
+
!style='width: 1in;'|Cat 2 Room
 
|-  
 
|-  
 
|Hilton||{{Value|Hilton}}||${{#expr: 50 * {{Value|Hilton}}}}||${{#expr: 100* {{Value|Hilton}}}}
 
|Hilton||{{Value|Hilton}}||${{#expr: 50 * {{Value|Hilton}}}}||${{#expr: 100* {{Value|Hilton}}}}
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
|Hyatt||{{Value|Hyatt}}||${{#expr: 50 * {{Value|Hyatt}}}}||${{#expr: 75 * {{Value|Hyatt}}}}
+
|Hyatt||{{Value|Hyatt}}||$61 - 114||$114 - 166
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
|IHG||{{Value|IHG}}||${{#expr: 100 * {{Value|IHG}}}} (${{#expr: 50 * {{Value|IHG}}}} PointBreaks)||${{#expr: 150 * {{Value|IHG}}}} (${{#expr: 50 * {{Value|IHG}}}} PointBreaks)
+
|IHG||{{Value|IHG}}||${{#expr: 100 * {{Value|IHG}}}}||${{#expr: 150 * {{Value|IHG}}}}  
 
|-  
 
|-  
−
|Unified Marriott / SPG||{{Value|Marriott}}||{{Value|Marriott|5000}} - {{Value|Marriott|10000}}||{{Value|Marriott|10000}} - {{Value|Marriott|15000}}
+
|Marriott||{{Value|Marriott}}||{{Value|Marriott|5000}} - {{Value|Marriott|10000}}||{{Value|Marriott|10000}} - {{Value|Marriott|15000}}
 
{{/Table}}
 
{{/Table}}
  
−
These are ridiculously low prices for a Category 1 Hilton, IHG 5000-point PointBreaks, or Marriott / SPG Category 1 off-peak night.
+
The award prices for Category 1 Hilton and Marriott 1 off-peak nights are ridiculously low.
  
−
=== Staying on the outskirts of cities, or by the airport ===
+
=== Staying on the outskirts of cities or by the airport ===
  
−
One of the ways to take advantage of cheaper point redemptions is to stay at a hotel on the outskirts of town, or out by the airport, rather than a hotel in downtown. If you are sightseeing by car anyway, it may not make a big difference to your trip, and you’ll usually save even more money by avoiding expensive overnight parking.
+
One of the ways to get more value from your points is to stay at a hotel on the outskirts of town or out by the airport, rather than a hotel in downtown. If you are sightseeing by car anyway, it may not make a big difference to your trip and you’ll usually save even more money by avoiding expensive overnight parking.  
−
 
 
−
“Cash” rates for these less expensive hotels may be only half the rate of a hotel downtown, but points-based rates are usually even a smaller fraction. For example, the [//www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/minnesota/hilton-minneapolis-MSPMHHH/index.html Hilton Minneapolis] requires 40,000 points, but the [//www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/minnesota/hilton-minneapolis-bloomington-MSPBWHF/index.html Hilton Minneapolis Bloomington] gets a 4.5 rating on TripAdvisor and only requires 20,000 points. The [//www.wminneapolishotel.com/ W Minneapolis] requires 12,000 Starpoints per night, but the [//www.starwoodhotels.com/fourpoints/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3654&language=en_US Four Points by Sheraton Mall of America] only requires 3,000 points per night, and the 4.5 rated [//stpaul.place.hyatt.com/ Hyatt Place St Paul Downtown] only requires 5,000 Hyatt points.
 
  
 
{{Image|HiltonBloomington.jpg|full}}
 
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=== Traveling in less expensive countries ===
 
=== Traveling in less expensive countries ===
  
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The other opportunity for low cost redemption is when you are traveling in less expensive countries. For example, the [//hamptoninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/poland/hampton-by-hilton-krakow-KRKHXHX/index.html Hampton Inn Krakow] is only 5,000 Marriot points, the [//hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/vietnam/hilton-garden-inn-hanoi-HANOPGI/index.html Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi] is only 10,000 Hilton points, and the [//www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1817&language=en_US Le Meridien N’Fis] in Marrakech is only 2,000 Starpoints on a weekend night.  
+
The other opportunity for low cost redemption is when you are traveling in less expensive countries. Just a few of many examples, the [//hiltongardeninn3.hilton.com/en/hotels/turkey/hilton-garden-inn-konya-turkey-KYAGIGI/index.html Hilton Garden Inn Konya] in Turkey is only 5,000 Hilton points, the [//www.hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/malaysia/hyatt-regency-kuantan-resort/kuakt Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort] in Malaysia is only 5,000 Hyatt points, and the [//www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ptgra-protea-hotel-polokwane-ranch-resort/ Protea Polokwane Ranceh Resort] in South Africa and [//www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/vllan-ac-hotel-palacio-de-santa-ana/ AC Hotel Palacia de Santa Ana] are only 4,500 Marriott points on off peak nights.  
  
 
{{Image|MeridienNFis.jpg|full}}
 
{{Image|MeridienNFis.jpg|full}}
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<ul class="bulletlist">
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
  
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<li>'''Use one of the award hotel search tools, when you are looking for a specific trip'''. If you know your destination, you can use one of several tools that are designed to help you find hotels that participate in the various reward programs. Then you can filter or sort the list to show just the lower-priced options. Unfortunately, each of these tools has significant flaws. {{Link|finding hotels}}.</li>  
+
<li>'''Use one of the award hotel search tools'''. If you know your destination, you can use one of several tools that are designed to help you find hotels that participate in the various reward programs. Then you can filter or sort the list to show just the lower-priced options. Unfortunately, each of these tools has significant flaws.</li>  
  
 
{{Image|AwardMapperDallas.jpg}}
 
{{Image|AwardMapperDallas.jpg}}
  
−
<li>'''Browse lists of all the low category hotels'''. If you are motivated, you can scan through each program’s low-end category list to see what is available in destinations near your house, or where you may be headed in the future. For example, we are based in Seattle, and can see what is available in Washington State, up by Vancouver B.C., or down in Portland.</li>  
+
<li>'''Browse lists of all the low category hotels'''. If you are motivated, you can scan through each program’s low-end category list to see what is available in destinations near your house or where you may be headed in the future.</li>  
 +
 
 +
We've also included links to a set of maps from [//travelisfree.com/complete-maps/ Travel is Free]. But they are not completely up to date.
  
 
{{List|logo}}
 
{{List|logo}}
−
 
−
{{LogoLabel|Choice Logo}}
 
−
No Published List
 
−
 
−
{{LogoLabel|Radisson Logo}}
 
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[//www.clubcarlson.com/fgp/hotelcategory/displayhotels.do?category=1 Category 1], [//www.clubcarlson.com/fgp/hotelcategory/displayhotels.do?category=2 Category 2]. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1vZoSVxPmS1Av6-OIiXCl9gNfjbU Map].
 
−
 
 
{{LogoLabel|Hilton Logo}}
 
{{LogoLabel|Hilton Logo}}
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[//hhonors.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/search_result_reward_levels.jhtml?hhonorsRewardLevel=1 Category 1], [//hhonors.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/search_result_reward_levels.jhtml?hhonorsRewardLevel=2 Category 2]. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Zwe2pTn4bzZsz5vaC9sW8EnO3XQ Map].
+
Go to [//pointsexplorer.hiltonhonors.com/list Hilton's Points Explorer] and push the slider to the left. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Zwe2pTn4bzZsz5vaC9sW8EnO3XQ Travel is Free map].
  
 
{{LogoLabel|Hyatt Logo}}
 
{{LogoLabel|Hyatt Logo}}
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[//www.hyatt.com/gp/en/awards/hyatt_category_display.jsp?_DARGS=/gp/en/awards/hyatt_category_display.jsp Category 1]. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1AaH49PDqNdUWoQQSXTb7LYVD2Wg&usp=sharing Map].
+
[//www.hyatt.com/explore-hotels/?categories=1&regionGroup=0-All Category 1]. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1AaH49PDqNdUWoQQSXTb7LYVD2Wg&usp=sharing Travel is Free map].
  
 
{{LogoLabel|IHG Logo}}
 
{{LogoLabel|IHG Logo}}
−
No published list. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1iRDsky2ttuHWGGP8kL95G_Pf1VY Map].
+
No published list. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1iRDsky2ttuHWGGP8kL95G_Pf1VY Travel is Free map].
  
 
{{LogoLabel|Marriott Logo}}
 
{{LogoLabel|Marriott Logo}}
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[//www.marriott.com/hotel-search/Category1.hotels.Category2/ Category 1 and 2 hotels]. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1bBTtWmVWReA034sLCprVB1fQV0U&usp=sharing Map].
+
[//www.marriott.com/hotel-search.mi Marriott Hotel Directory], you can filter by category. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1bBTtWmVWReA034sLCprVB1fQV0U&usp=sharing Travel is Free map].
  
−
{{LogoLabel|Wyndham Logo}}
+
{{LogoLabel|Choice Logo}}
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All hotels cost the same number of points.
+
No published list. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1TaIuT23Fuyt7tx-UuyHZYHI4IS2-Ed3S&usp=sharing Travel is Free map].
  
 +
{{LogoLabel|Radisson Logo}}
 +
[//www.clubcarlson.com/fgp/hotelcategory/displayhotels.do?category=1 Category 1], [//www.clubcarlson.com/fgp/hotelcategory/displayhotels.do?category=2 Category 2]. [//www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1vZoSVxPmS1Av6-OIiXCl9gNfjbU Travel is Free Map].
 
{{/List|logo}}
 
{{/List|logo}}
  
−
At Le Club Accor, your points are redeemed for a fixed value per point—there are no hotel categories at all.  
+
At Accor Live Limitless, your points are redeemed for a fixed value per point—there are no hotel categories at all.  
 +
 
 +
<li>'''Travel is Free’s Unbelievably Cheap Hotel List'''. Travelisfree.com has put together a slightly out of date [http://travelisfree.com/2016/11/28/cheap-points-hotels/#more-16830 compilation of attractive low-category hotels] around the world. It is not a great place to find super-cheap award nights in the United States, and it is really out of date, but it highlights some of the more interesting options in other countries.</li>
  
−
<li>'''Travel is Free’s Unbelievably Cheap Hotel List'''. Travelisfree.com has put together a [http://travelisfree.com/2016/11/28/cheap-points-hotels/#more-16830 good compilation of attractive low-category hotels] around the world. It is not a great place to find super-cheap award nights in the United States, but it highlights some of the more interesting options in other countries.</li> </ul>
+
He has more recently published a revised list of [//travelisfree.com/best-category-1-2-hilton-honors-hotels/ Good Category 1 and Category 2 Hilton hotels].  
 +
</ul>
  
 
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{{Next|Award Nights 101}}
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{{Next|cash & points trick}}
 
{{Next|Hotel Program List}}
 
{{Next|Hotel Program List}}
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{{Next|5th night free}}
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{{Next|buying hotel points}}
 
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Latest revision as of 00:52, 19 February 2021

  Award Nights 101: Using Your Hotel Points, Hotel Strategies

CourtyardMarriott.jpg

There are only a limited number of hotel points that you can easily acquire.

You’ll get more value from your hotel points by booking multiple free nights at less expensive hotels than you would by booking fewer nights at higher-end hotels.

For example with Hilton, 95,000 points will get you a single night at one of their most expensive hotels and 70-80,000 points will get you a night at most of their properties in New York City; but the same number of points can get you 14-19 nights at their least expensive hotels. With Marriott, 85,000 points will get you a single night at one of their most expensive hotels (100,000 points during peak season) or 11.33 nights at their least expensive hotel (17 during off peak times); 50,000 Marriott points might get you a single night at most of their New York City hotels but the same number of points could get you 2-6 nights somewhere else.

Of course, with a limited amount of vacation time, you may primarily choose to spend your nights at nicer hotels or more expensive destinations. But if you have an opportunity to book an award at a low category hotel, you’ll almost always get great value per point.


“Award Room Rates” at low category hotels

We like to calculate an “award room rate” that represents the cost of using your points to book a hotel room (versus using them for a different hotel or trip). The following table shows the award room rates for Category 1 and Category 2 hotels in the largest hotel programs. Even in less expensive locations, these are usually great rates (especially because they include taxes).

Program CPP Award "room rate" for a
Cat 1 Room Cat 2 Room
Hilton .45 $22.5 $45
Hyatt 1.7 $61 - 114 $114 - 166
IHG .5 $50 $75
Marriott .7 $40 - $70 $70 - $110

The award prices for Category 1 Hilton and Marriott 1 off-peak nights are ridiculously low.

Staying on the outskirts of cities or by the airport

One of the ways to get more value from your points is to stay at a hotel on the outskirts of town or out by the airport, rather than a hotel in downtown. If you are sightseeing by car anyway, it may not make a big difference to your trip and you’ll usually save even more money by avoiding expensive overnight parking.

HiltonBloomington.jpg

Traveling in less expensive countries

The other opportunity for low cost redemption is when you are traveling in less expensive countries. Just a few of many examples, the Hilton Garden Inn Konya in Turkey is only 5,000 Hilton points, the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort in Malaysia is only 5,000 Hyatt points, and the Protea Polokwane Ranceh Resort in South Africa and AC Hotel Palacia de Santa Ana are only 4,500 Marriott points on off peak nights.

MeridienNFis.jpg

Finding redemption opportunities at low category hotels

  • Use one of the award hotel search tools. If you know your destination, you can use one of several tools that are designed to help you find hotels that participate in the various reward programs. Then you can filter or sort the list to show just the lower-priced options. Unfortunately, each of these tools has significant flaws.
    • AwardMapperDallas.jpg
  • Browse lists of all the low category hotels. If you are motivated, you can scan through each program’s low-end category list to see what is available in destinations near your house or where you may be headed in the future.

    • We've also included links to a set of maps from Travel is Free. But they are not completely up to date.

    HiltonLogo.png

    Go to Hilton's Points Explorer and push the slider to the left. Travel is Free map.

    HyattLogo.png

    Category 1. Travel is Free map.

    IHGLogo.png

    No published list. Travel is Free map.

    BonvoyLogo.png

    Marriott Hotel Directory, you can filter by category. Travel is Free map.

    ChoiceLogo.png

    No published list. Travel is Free map.

    RadissonLogo.png

    Category 1, Category 2. Travel is Free Map.

    At Accor Live Limitless, your points are redeemed for a fixed value per point—there are no hotel categories at all.

  • Travel is Free’s Unbelievably Cheap Hotel List. Travelisfree.com has put together a slightly out of date compilation of attractive low-category hotels around the world. It is not a great place to find super-cheap award nights in the United States, and it is really out of date, but it highlights some of the more interesting options in other countries.

    • He has more recently published a revised list of Good Category 1 and Category 2 Hilton hotels.




PointsandCash.png
Get Cheap IHG and Choice Points Using the Cash & Points Trick
HotelBrands.png
Hotel Loyalty Program Reference Guide
BuyStarpoints.jpg
Get a Discounted Room Rate by Buying the Points for an Award Night
Send comments or suggestions to editor@travelstrategies.com or leave a comment below.



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