Hotel loyalty programs are a fantastic way to turn points into memorable stays. However, travelers often make mistakes that reduce the value of their points.
In this guide, we’ll look at 15 common hotel points errors people make when redeeming hotel points—and how to avoid them. By the end, you’ll know smart tips to get the most out of your hotel loyalty points strategy, from timing your bookings right to understanding reward charts.
With these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to maximizing hotel rewards and making every point count.
1. Missing Out on Free Night Bonuses
Before diving into the best ways to use hotel points, learn a few strategies to maximize your rewards and overall travel experience. Most hotel loyalty programs offer a “stay longer, save more” benefit. Through this benefit, you can earn a free night when you book several consecutive nights using points.
For example, IHG One Rewards gives cardholders a free fourth night on award stays. So, if you book four nights at a property like the InterContinental London Park Lane, you pay for only three, saving 25% on points. Similarly, Hilton Honors offers a fifth night free on award stays for elite members, a perk that works well at high-end hotels like the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.
If you skip these bonuses, you might book a shorter stay or split your stay between hotels, missing some savings.
2. Skipping Cash and Points Redemption Options
Skipping cash and points redemption options is one of the mistakes when using hotel points because it can limit your flexibility and potentially cost you more in the long run. In many hotel loyalty programs, combining cash and points for bookings offers advantages.
- When you don’t have enough points for a full award stay, cash and points options allow you to still use your points partially.
- These options can help you stretch your points further, especially for longer stays.
- Sometimes, cash and points redemptions offer better value can often offer better value than using points or cash alone.
For example, World of Hyatt offers Points + Cash rates where you pay 50% of the points required plus 50 to 70% of the standard cash rate. This is helpful if you’re short on points or want to save some for future stays.
Similarly, Hilton Honors allows you to customize your booking with Points & Money options, starting at 5,000 points. Marriott Bonvoy also offers Cash + Points rates, which is helpful for stays with high cash rates but similar point requirements.
3. Redeeming Points Prematurely
Using points too soon often lowers the value you get from your loyalty program. This happens when travelers rush to redeem points without considering the potential benefits of waiting.
One reason to hold off is that points may gain value over time. For example, Marriott Bonvoy points have increased in value thanks to hotel category changes and special promotions. A hotel that costs 35,000 points per night could cost 50,000 later, making your points worth more if you wait.
Waiting also lets you take advantage of limited-time offers. Hilton Honors, for example, runs “Points Unleashed” promotions that discount award nights during specific periods. By waiting, you could book a luxury Conrad or Waldorf Astoria stay for fewer points.
4. Using Points for Non-Travel Rewards
Using points for non-travel rewards is often a big mistake. It gives you lower returns than redeeming for hotel stays or travel. Many programs, like Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG One Rewards, allow you to redeem points for gift cards, merchandise, or experiences. However, these redemptions lower the point value.
For example, if you have 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. Redeeming them for a $100 gift card gives you just $0.002 per point. However, using the same points for a luxury hotel stay worth $300 increases the point value to $0.006 per point.
Similarly, redeeming 100,000 Hilton Honors points for merchandise could buy items worth $200 to $300. However, those points could also cover several nights at mid-range hotels or one night at a high-end resort, offering more value.
5. Letting Points Expire Before Booking
Letting points expire leads to lost rewards. Many hotel loyalty programs have point expiration rules, ranging from 12 to 24 months of no activity.
For example, Choice Privileges points expire after 18 months of inactivity. IHG One Rewards points expire after just 12 months for regular members. Major chains like Hilton, Marriott, and Hyatt have expiration policies ranging from 15 to 24 months.
Losing points to expiration is frustrating but avoidable. Most programs reset your expiration date with any account activity, like earning or redeeming even a few points. For example, you can transfer 1,000 points from a credit card to Marriott Bonvoy or make a small purchase through IHG’s shopping portal to reset expiration.
6. Transferring Points to Airlines with Poor Value
Many hotel programs, like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards, let you transfer points to airline partners. However, these transfers usually offer poor value. For example, transferring 10,000 Hilton points typically earns you only 1,000 airline miles. That’s a 90% drop in value.
Here’s another example: transferring 60,000 Hilton points (worth around $360) to United Airlines would get you just 6,000 miles, worth about $81. This is a loss of more than 75% of your points’ value. Similarly, transferring 60,000 IHG points (worth $300) to United gives you only 12,000 miles, worth about $162—about a 50% drop.
To avoid this mistake, always check the value of your hotel points for stays compared to their value as airline miles. Generally, using points for hotel stays or redeeming them through the hotel’s portal will yield better value.
7. Overlooking the Actual Value of Your Points
Many travelers don’t check the true value of their points, which can lead to less valuable redemptions. To avoid this, always compare the cash cost of a room to its point cost.
For example, if a room at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok costs $257 or 8,000 points, that’s a value of 3.2 cents per point. This is great since Hyatt points are typically worth around 1.5 cents each.
On the other hand, using 25,000 points for a $376 room at the Park Hyatt Bangkok gives you only 1.5 cents per point. In this case, paying cash might be a better choice, letting you save points for a higher-value stay. Some hotels offer even better deals. For instance, the Park Hyatt in Chennai, India, can give you a value of up to 4.4 cents per point, demonstrating just how effective how to redeem hotel points correctly can be for enhancing your travel experience.
8. Not Adjusting Travel Dates
Inflexibility with travel dates when using hotel points can greatly lower the value of your rewards. Many loyalty programs have dynamic pricing, meaning the points needed for a stay can change depending on your dates.
For example, a stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in peak summer might cost 80,000 points per night, whereas off-season rates can be as low as 60,000 points. Similarly, the Hyatt Regency Paris Etoile might offer rooms for 25,000 points during quiet times, but costs jump to 35,000 points during big events like Paris Fashion Week.
Being flexible with dates—even by a few days—can give you much better value. This is especially true for popular places or during major events. For instance, moving your stay at the Marriott Marquis in New York by a week could save you thousands of points and avoid New Year’s Eve rates. Always check different dates to get the best deal on your points.
9. Booking Too Close to Your Travel Date
Booking last minute can cost you availability and higher point requirements. Most major hotel programs, like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and IHG One Rewards, use dynamic pricing, so the points needed for a room increase with rising demand.
For instance, booking late may limit options if you want to stay at the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel. You could even see point costs jump from 78,000 to 115,000 or more.
The same trend happens in popular cities like New York and Paris. Book a stay at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square months in advance, and you might spend around 50,000 points. However, waiting until the last week might mean spending 70,000 points or more.
10. Overlooking Room Upgrade Opportunities
Many hotel chains let you use points for upgrades. However, many travelers miss out. For example, Hilton Honors members can book premium rooms or suites with points. World of Hyatt offers upgrades, from club access to premium suites. By utilizing these, you can significantly upgrade your experience.
Imagine a family booking a Marriott resort. They might use points for a basic room, not realizing that a few additional points could provide a spacious suite with enhanced amenities. Missing this could make the trip less comfortable.
Business travelers, too, often settle for standard rooms at IHG hotels. Yet, an upgrade to club-level rooms can offer perks such as free breakfast and evening drinks. These upgrades can also reduce dining expenses.
11. Not Comparing Different Redemption Options
Not comparing hotel points redemption options can lead to missed chances for better value. Many hotel programs offer different ways to use points, such as standard rooms, premium rooms, points + cash, or even unique experiences.
For example, a Hilton hotel might offer a standard room for 50,000 points, while a premium room could be 80,000 points. If the cash difference between these rooms is small, that premium room might be worth it. At Hyatt, combining points + cash (say, 12,500 points + $100) can sometimes be a better deal than using 25,000 points for one night.
Some programs also reward longer stays. Marriott Bonvoy, for example, gives you the fifth night free on award stays. By not comparing, you could miss this 20% savings.
12. Not Combining Points with a Partner
Not combining points with a partner can be a big mistake. It can waste value and limit your travel options. Many hotel programs let you share or transfer points, especially for couples or families planning trips together.
Take Hilton Honors, for example. Members can pool points with up to 10 others. This makes it easier to save up for big redemptions. Couples could combine points to book an overwater villa in the Maldives—a stay that might otherwise feel out of reach.
World of Hyatt offers a similar benefit. Members can transfer points to anyone. This lets friends or family combine points for group trips, making dream vacations easier to plan.
Marriott Bonvoy also allows point transfers. This is particularly useful if one partner has elite status. Pooling points in the elite member’s account means everyone can enjoy the perks. A Platinum Elite member, for instance, could use combined points to book the St. Regis Bora Bora. That way, the whole family enjoys room upgrades and free breakfast.
13. Booking Rewards Stays That Don’t Contribute to Elite Status
Many hotel loyalty programs—like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt, and Choice Privileges—count award nights toward elite status. When you redeem points for a stay, you’re getting a “free” night and progressing toward elite status.
That said, some situations may prevent these award nights from counting. Certain promotional rates may exclude them from elite qualification, and bookings through third-party sites or package deals can also prevent status progression. Occasionally, specific properties within a chain might follow unique policies that don’t align with the brand’s general approach.
To sidestep these issues, always book directly through the hotel’s official site and carefully review the terms of your reservation.
14. Failing to Use Hotel Partner Benefits
Many hotel loyalty programs partner with airlines, car rental companies, and other travel services to offer additional perks or ways to earn points. For instance, Marriott Bonvoy’s partnership with United Airlines, RewardsPlus, grants Marriott elite members United MileagePlus Silver status, with perks like priority check-in and complimentary upgrades. World of Hyatt members can earn bonus points when renting cars through Avis, which boosts their points balance during travel.
Hilton Honors has a partnership with Lyft, allowing members to earn points on rides and redeem points for ride credits. Meanwhile, IHG One Rewards collaborates uniquely with OpenTable, where members earn bonus points simply for booking restaurant reservations.
Overlooking these partnerships means missing out on chances to earn extra points or enjoy unique travel perks. To get the most from your loyalty program, it’s worth learning these partner benefits and using them whenever possible.
15. Purchasing Hotel Points
Generally, buying hotel points isn’t a good deal. The cost per point is often higher than the value you get when redeeming them. For example, Marriott Bonvoy points might cost 1.25 cents each to buy, but they’re typically worth only 0.8 cents when used. So, you’re losing value upfront.
However, there are times when buying points can be worth it. Hotels sometimes run promotions with bonuses that make points cheaper. Hilton Honors, for instance, often offers 100% bonus deals, cutting the cost per point in half. If you’re short on points for a booking, these promotions can help bridge the gap.
Buying points can also make sense for luxury stays. Some high-end hotels, like the Waldorf Astoria Park City during ski season, charge almost $2,000 per night. However, with Hilton points bought on sale, you might get the same room for closer to $380 per night.
Takeaway
Maximizing your hotel points takes a bit of savvy and strategy. By avoiding common pitfalls, you can stretch those points for more luxurious stays. It’s all about smart timing, understanding the full perks of your program, and staying flexible to make your trip more rewarding. With these tips in mind, you’re well on your way to mastering the art of hotel loyalty.
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