You may hope to earn status for the first time this year or chase a higher status tier. If you’re in that boat, you might be planning to get there through organic travel or are even considering a last-minute mattress run.

It’s often much easier to qualify for elite status with hotels than with airlines because award stays at major chains count towards hotel elite status.

However, if you risk falling a night short in earning status in 2023, do hotel stays from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 count toward earning status this year or next? TPG reader Hailey asks:

After accounting for all my work travel I’m going to be one night short of Marriott Platinum status this year. If I book an award stay over New Year’s Eve, would that count towards 2023 (when I check in) or 2024 (when I check out)?

Earning elite credits on New Year’s Eve stays

The short answer is that the four major hotel chains, Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton and IHG, all credit stays from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 to the previous year.

That means if Hailey books a one-night stay over New Year’s, it will push her over the threshold to earn Marriott Platinum elite status for 2024.

Things start to get a little more confusing if Hailey were to book a longer stay, for example, checking in Dec. 31 and checking out Jan. 3. Representatives from the three major hotel chains have shared with us that the official policy is that the nights would split — so the night of Dec. 31 would count toward Hailey’s 2023 qualification year.

The subsequent nights in January would count toward her 2024 qualification year.

A Hyatt agent we spoke to said that the default setting is for all nights to post to 2023, but if you call in, they have a process to adjust it manually.

Meanwhile, a Marriott agent explained that the nights would automatically split.

How to earn elite hotel status with a credit card

With the right credit card, you won’t need to worry about squeezing in an elite night on New Year’s Eve to earn elite status in your favorite hotel loyalty program.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card provides Platinum Elite status for all cardmembers. Alternatively, if you have both the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you’ll get 30 elite night credits just for holding these cards, more than half of the elite nights needed for Bonvoy Platinum status.

If you have the World of Hyatt Credit Card, you’ll automatically get five tier-qualifying nights yearly. You’ll also earn two tier-qualifying nights for every $5,000 spent on your World of Hyatt Credit Card. The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card provides five tier-qualifying nights for every $10,000 spent on the card each calendar year.

If you prefer Hilton Honors, the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card offers Diamond status if you have the card open.

The information for the Hilton Honors Aspire Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Finally, IHG Platinum Elite status is offered as a cardholder perk of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card.

If you hold the United Club Infinite Card, you can also register for complimentary IHG Platinum Elite status.

Bottom line

It’s risky to leave requalifying for status until the very last day possible, especially given how big of a gap there is in benefits between Marriott Gold and Marriott Platinum status.

That being said, Hailey will be able to earn her last elite qualifying night on Dec. 31, even if her stay stretches into January of the following year.

If you plan on using New Year’s travel to qualify for hotel elite status, keep an eye on your account for the first week of January to ensure your stay credits the way you expect it to.

If you truly want to maximize your points and miles, periodic transfer bonuses can offer lucrative opportunities for fantastic award redemptions. You can sometimes get significantly more value from your rewards by transferring them to a specific airline or hotel partner during one of these bonuses.

However, these are limited-time offers.

We’ve compiled the transfer bonuses for the major transferable rewards programs to make tracking these offers easier. Just note that transfer bonuses are sometimes targeted, so some may not be available.

American Express Membership Rewards current transfer bonuses

How to earn American Express Membership Rewards points

You’ll need Membership Rewards points to maximize Amex transfer bonuses. If you’re looking to earn Membership Rewards points, the following Amex cards could be useful additions to your wallet:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $8,000 on your new card in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
• American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $6,000 in your first six months of card membership. Terms apply.
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your card in the first three months of card membership. Terms apply.

Check the CardMatch tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher welcome offer (subject to change at any time).

You can also earn extra Membership Rewards when enrolling in Amex Offers and shopping with Rakuten.

Based on TPG valuations, Membership Rewards points are worth 2 cents each, and our tests indicate that they transfer instantly to most programs.

Related: Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards points for maximum value

Chase Ultimate Rewards current transfer bonuses

How to earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points

If you want to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points, the following cards could make good additions to your wallet:

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

If you have one (or more) of the above cards, you can combine your Ultimate Rewards points in a single account. Then, you can effectively convert the cash-back earnings on the following cards into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points:

• Chase Freedom Flex℠: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Use your card for all your purchases, and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned. There is no limit to how much you can earn.
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Earn a $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months after account opening.
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Earn a $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

According to TPG valuations, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents each when maximized with travel partners. Most Ultimate Rewards transfers will process instantly.

Related: How to maximize your Chase Ultimate Rewards points

Capital One miles

There are currently no transfer bonuses for Capital One miles.

How to earn Capital One miles

For a future transfer bonus, the following Capital One cards could make good additions to your wallet:

• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture X Business: Earn 150,000 bonus miles when you spend $30,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
• Capital One Spark Miles for Business: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

TPG’s valuations peg the value of Capital One miles at 1.85 cents each, and most transfers from Capital One will process instantly.

For more details, check out our guides to the Capital One transfer partners and how to transfer Capital One miles to airline partners.

Related: Tips and tricks to get maximum value from your Capital One miles

Citi ThankYou Rewards

There are currently no transfer bonuses for Citi ThankYou points.

How to earn Citi ThankYou Rewards points

These Citi credit cards could make useful additions to your wallet for earning Citi ThankYou points:

• Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 ThankYou bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
• Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 on purchases with your card within three months of account opening. Plus, earn a total of 5 ThankYou points on hotels, car rentals and attractions, excluding air travel, on the Citi Travel portal now through June 30, 2024. (Note: You must pair this card with a premium Citi ThankYou card to access a full-fledged, transferable ThankYou points account.)

Based on TPG’s valuations, Citi ThankYou points are worth about 1.8 cents each. However, note that some Citi transfers will not process instantly. So, factor in the transfer time if you’re trying to book an award with scarce availability.

Related: Is Citi ThankYou Rewards the most underappreciated and misunderstood program?

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy is not running any transfer bonuses at this time.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

If you’re looking to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points, the following Marriott Bonvoy cards may be of interest:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $5,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn three free night awards (each night valued at up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months of card membership. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn three free night awards after you use your new card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first six months of card membership. Redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for each bonus free night award at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after using your card to spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from account opening.

TPG’s valuations peg the value of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.84 cents each. Before transferring, review our tests of Marriott transfer times since some airlines take a few days (or even weeks) to receive the points.

Related: How to redeem points with the Marriott Bonvoy program

Should you transfer points?

We only recommend transferring points if you have a short-term plan to use them. After all, many programs have implemented devaluations over the last few years, so any speculative transfers could be a losing proposition.

Transfers are irreversible, and you don’t want to be stuck with thousands of points in a program you have little use for.

If you don’t have a specific redemption in mind but still want to earn miles, you’re likely better off earning rewards through credit card welcome bonuses and everyday spending.

Bottom line

When a transferable currency program offers a transfer bonus, running the numbers is important to see whether it is worthwhile.

Generally, you won’t want to transfer your points without a specific redemption in mind. After all, a large part of the value of transferable points comes from their flexibility — which you’ll give up the moment you convert them to a partner’s currency.

However, if you use the program frequently or plan to redeem soon, a transfer bonus can help you get more value from your points.

Did we miss any? Feel free to let us know by emailing tips@thepointsguy.com.

Even if you aren’t a Marriott loyalist, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is worth considering. It comes with a valuable welcome bonus, an annual free night and elite night credits but carries a lower annual fee than most other cards in the Marriott card lineup. Card Rating*: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Card Rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

Marriott offers a diverse credit card portfolio issued by both Chase and American Express. However, the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card from Chase stands out as the only entry-level, mid-tier personal Marriott Bonvoy card available to new applicants.

With an annual fee of $95 and a “good” recommended credit score, the Boundless lands just above the lowest-tier Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card. Even those who stay at Marriott properties infrequently can benefit from this card’s valuable welcome bonus, annual free night and elite night credits.

Let’s take a closer look at whether the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless might be a good addition to your wallet.

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless welcome offer

Let’s consider the most exciting part of any new credit card: the welcome offer.

New applicants can earn three free night awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points for a total of up to 150,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Based on TPG’s valuation of Marriott points at 0.84 cents each, this bonus is worth up to $1,260. It’s not the best offer we’ve seen on this card — that was a previous offer for five free night awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points), worth $2,100 — but this bonus is still a solid way to kick-start any vacation.

If you have Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite or higher status, though, this bonus can get you much more value than this points value alone. As a high-level elite, you’ll be able to leverage perks such as suite upgrades and free breakfast to maximize your stays even more.

Read more: What effect did Marriott’s changes really have on the value of Bonvoy points?

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless benefits

The Bonvoy Boundless comes with a $95 annual fee, but it should be easy to get several hundred dollars in value out of the card’s perks every year. Here are the major ones to consider:

Anniversary free night award

Each year on account renewal, you’ll receive a reward night certificate worth up to 35,000 points a night. You can also top off your certificate with up to 15,000 additional points, making it potentially worth 50,000 points.

TPG’s valuations peg the value of 35,000 Marriott points at $294, nearly three times the $95 annual fee. But it’s possible to get even more value if you’re selective about redeeming your reward night.

The Bonvoy Boundless also offers a path to Gold Elite status by spending $35,000 on purchases each calendar year. However, you’re probably better off earning higher status organically via the card’s complimentary 15 elite night credit as well as some stays booked directly with Marriott. If you want a card that provides complimentary Gold Elite status with Marriott, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment is required).

You’ll also get one elite night credit toward status for every $5,000 you spend on purchases with the Bonvoy Boundless, so this could be another pathway toward higher status.

15 elite night credits annually

Many Bonvoy credit cards share this benefit. But this perk can be immensely valuable if you’re aiming for a higher tier of status with Marriott Bonvoy.

You can get one set of elite night credits from a Marriott personal card and one more set of elite night credits from a Marriott business card. So with the Bonvoy Boundless alone, you’d only need to stay 35 nights (instead of 50) to earn Platinum Elite status. But, if you have the Bonvoy Boundless and a Marriott business card like the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card, you can get 30 elite night credits each year just from credit cards.

Related: Does it make sense to hold multiple Marriott Bonvoy credit cards?

Other perks

The above benefits represent a few hundred dollars in value each year and easily make up for the $95 annual fee. But the card also offers a few additional perks:

• Baggage delay insurance: If a passenger carrier delays your baggage for over six hours, Chase may reimburse you for essential purchases up to $100 a day for five days
• Lost luggage reimbursement: If a passenger carrier damages or loses your checked or carry-on luggage, Chase may reimburse you up to $3,000 per passenger
• Trip delay reimbursement: If you are delayed by more than 12 hours or required to stay overnight when traveling by a common carrier, Chase may reimburse you for select, otherwise unreimbursed expenses up to $500 per ticket
• Purchase protection: Chase covers most new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft, up to $500 per claim (capped at $50,000 per account)
• No foreign transaction fees: This perk makes the Bonvoy Boundless ideal for making purchases and booking hotel stays around the world

Related: Here are your odds of your bag being delayed or lost

Earning points on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card earns points at the following rates:

• 6 points per dollar on eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations and dining
• 2 points per dollar on all other purchases

Based on TPG’s valuations, these rates equate to a 5% return on Marriott purchases and 1.6% on other travel purchases.

On paper, you can do better using the Chase Sapphire Reserve for Marriott stays. After all, the Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar (for a 6% return based on TPG’s valuations) on travel purchases, including hotels.

But you should consider the value you can get from your Marriott points. Platinum and Titanium Elites get a much better return on their award redemptions thanks to a great set of elite benefits. So if you have a higher tier of status, you might want to pay for frequent Marriott stays with a Bonvoy credit card to earn 6 points per dollar instead of earning different types of reward points.

Related: 17 ways to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points

Redeeming points on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Of course, the most obvious way to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points is for stays at hotels. When it comes to maximizing your Marriott redemptions, there are a few strategies to keep in mind, but this is the most straightforward.

CHRIS DONG/THE POINTS GUY

You’ll want to take advantage of the fifth night free on award stays whenever possible. The fifth-night benefit is an easy way to get up to a 20% discount on your redemption and stretch your points further.

Transferring points on the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Don’t forget that Marriott also has over 35 airline transfer partners, including some interesting frequent flyer programs with otherwise hard-to-earn miles.

Points transfer to most airlines at a 3:1 ratio with 5,000-mile bonuses for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred. So, transferring 60,000 Marriott points to Alaska Airlines, for example, would net you 25,000 miles. However, note that most transfers take at least a few days, so if award availability is tight, the ticket you want to book may be gone by the time the transfer is completed.

Korean Air first class. ETHAN STEINBERG/THE POINTS GUY

TPGer Ryan Wilcox prefers Alaska Airlines, Korean Air and Japan Airlines, three excellent examples of highly flexible and valuable miles that are hard to earn in other ways. For instance, you could convert 195,000 Marriott points to 80,000 Korean Air SkyPass miles and book a first-class seat in the nose of Korean Air’s Boeing 747-8 one-way between the U.S. and South Korea.

Related: How to redeem points with the Marriott Bonvoy program

Which cards compete with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless?

If you want more Marriott Bonvoy perks or more flexible rewards, you may find one of these cards to be a better match.

• If you want more flexible rewards: The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has the same $95 annual fee as the Boundless but earns more versatile Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can transfer the rewards you earn on this card to Marriott as well as 2 additional hotels and 11 airline partners. For more details, check out our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
• If you want more Marriott Bonvoy perks: The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card (see rates and fees) and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful each come with more Bonvoy benefits like automatic Gold Elite status for a higher $250 annual fee. For more details, check out our full review of the Bonvoy Bevy and our full review of the Bonvoy Bountiful.
• If you want premium Bonvoy benefits:  The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is the highest-tier Bonvoy card. It comes with perks that include a dining credit worth up to $300, a Bonvoy property credit and complimentary Platinum Elite status. But you’ll pay a premium for these perks, with the card’s $650 annual fee (see rates and fees). For more details, check out our full review of the Bonvoy Brilliant.

For additional options, check out our full list of the best Marriott Bonvoy credit cards and best hotel credit cards.

Related: Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Related: 3 reasons the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless is worth the annual fee

Bottom Line

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card is in an interesting spot. One of two entry-level consumer credit cards in the Bonvoy program (the no-annual-fee Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card is the other), the Boundless makes sense for many Marriott travelers.

But strict bonus restrictions and fierce competition from other Chase cards mean you should think about which card will truly suit your needs before applying.

Still, if you’ve already built out your Chase trifecta and confirmed that you are eligible for this bonus, the Bonvoy Boundless can be an excellent addition to your wallet. You should have no trouble getting $200-$300 of value from your anniversary reward night certificate alone, which is a great return on the $95 annual fee attached to the Bonvoy Boundless.

Plus, the current welcome offer is a great way to boost your Marriott balance.

Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card with a welcome offer of three free night awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from your account opening

For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Amex, click here.

In 2020 and 2021, many major hotel companies offered some of their most generous promotions. That’s how some TPG staffers achieved top-tier Hyatt Globalist status with just 10 nights. But those days are far behind us.

Though hotel promotions aren’t quite as generous as they once were, they certainly should be on your radar. These promotions help you accrue additional points to earn elite status faster.

However, keeping track of the latest hotel bonuses can be difficult — especially if you’re juggling points and elite status with multiple programs. With that in mind, we’ve created this guide to track current promotions across the major hotel chains.

Most of these promotions require you to book directly with the hotel chain. Bookmark this page for regularly updated offers, links and other information about your favorite hotel programs. We’ll also discuss which offers will get you the most bang for your buck.

This article focuses on limited-time promotions, excluding ongoing offers like AAA and AARP member discounts. Further, the list doesn’t include ongoing offers on cobranded hotel credit cards, but you can check out the following links for details on these cards:

• The best Marriott credit cards
• Hilton Honors credit card bonuses
• World of Hyatt Credit Card
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

Related: Unexpected travel discounts that can save you money

Limited-time credit card hotel discounts

Amex Offers, Chase Offers and Citi Merchant Offers can offer significant hotel discounts. Here are a few targeted offers that TPG staff members found on their Amex, Chase and Citi credit cards — check your cards and see if you have them, too.

Amex Offers

American Express is currently offering several hotel promotions for select cardholders via its Amex Offers program, including:

• InterContinental and Kimpton: $75 back after you spend $300 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Waldorf Astoria, Conrad and LXR: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Small Luxury Hotels of the World: $100 back after you spend $300 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Cambria and Ascend: $100 back after you spend $300 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Marriott luxury brands: $150 back after you spend $500 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Loews Hotels: $60 back after you spend $300 or more (expires Jan. 1, 2024)
• Sunset Marquis Hotel: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires Jan. 21, 2024)
• Hyatt Latin America: $100 back after you spend $400 or more (expires Jan. 31, 2024)
• Hilton Latin America and Caribbean: $150 back after you spend $750 or more (expires Feb. 15, 2024)
• Terranea Resort: $200 back after you spend $1,000 or more (expires Feb. 16, 2024)
• Lotte Hotel Seattle: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires March 1, 2024)
• Hilton Las Vegas and Nevada: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires March 15, 2024)
• Staypineapple: $50 back after you spend $250 or more (expires March 23, 2024)
• Wynn and Encore Las Vegas: $60 back after you spend $300 or more (expires April 1, 2024)
• Expedia prepaid hotels: 10% back on purchases using the provided link, up to $100 back (expires April 12, 2024)
• Stein Erikson Lodge Deer Valley: $150 back after you spend $500 or more (expires May 11, 2024)
• The Ned MoMad Hotel: $100 back after you spend $500 or more (expires May 12, 2024)
• Lotte New York Palace: $150 back after you spend $750 or more (expires May 22, 2024)

This is not an exhaustive list, as Amex Offers are targeted and can differ across accounts. So, you should check your offers and enroll in any that interest you.

Related: Which is the best American Express credit card for you?

Chase Offers

There are a handful of hotel-specific Chase Offers in the accounts we checked.

• SpringHill Suites by Marriott: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $61.50 (expires Dec. 31)
• AC Hotels: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $57 (expires Dec. 31)
• TownePlace Suites by Marriott: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $63 (expires Dec. 31)
• Element Hotels: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $57 (expires Dec. 31)
• Aloft Hotels: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $57 (expires Dec. 31)
• Four Points by Sheraton: 10% back when you spend $100 or more, up to $57 (expires Dec. 31)

These offers from Chase are targeted and require enrollment in advance, so check your account to see what’s available to you.

Citi Merchant Offers

• Caesars Rewards: $30 back when you spend $150 or more (expires Dec. 31)
• Extended Stay America Hotels: 4% back, up to $670 back (expires Jan. 31, 2024)

Related: The best Chase credit cards

Accor Live Limitless

Accor Live Limitless has an ongoing promotion that might help you earn extra points.

Related: The award travelers guide to Accor Live Limitless

Best Western Rewards

Best Western has a winter promotion. You can also check this page for its latest offerings.

Related: Your ultimate guide to Best Western Rewards

Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges isn’t running any newsworthy promotions, but you can read more about its ongoing deals here.

Related: The best hotel credit cards

Hilton Honors

Hilton has been generous with its recent promotions, adding another sweet bonus points deal for 2024 to a current offer of up to double or triple points (registration required in advance at this link). For more details, visit this page.

Related: How to choose the best Hilton credit card for you

IHG One Rewards

IHG One Rewards has a noteworthy promotion running through the end of the year. You can refer to this page for its latest offers.

Related: 7 ways to earn more IHG One Rewards points for your next redemption

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy is offering a number of promotions to save money and earn points on stays. You can check out more about its offerings on this page.

Related: The award travelers guide to Marriott Bonvoy

World of Hyatt

World of Hyatt has an opportunity to earn up to 10,000 bonus points at an Inclusive Collection brand this winter. You can keep up with its latest offers here.

Related: The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards has multiple generous promotions. Here’s an overview.

When searching for a hotel, what matters most to you? Price? Location? Amenities?

Here’s a valuable tip: If you’re not booking through hotel loyalty programs, you’re missing out on great deals and leaving money on the table. These programs offer free upgrades, luxurious rooms, complimentary breakfast, access to exclusive lounges and even free nights once you accumulate enough points. Now the question is, which hotel program suits you best?

We’ve examined nine major hotel rewards programs around the world:

• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• World of Hyatt
• Wyndham Rewards
• IHG One Rewards
• ALL — Accor Live Limitless
• Choice Privileges
• Best Western Rewards
• Radisson Rewards

Let’s take a quick look at each loyalty program so you can more easily decide which one to invest in.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott is an international hotel mega-chain. Its portfolio features over 30 brands and nearly 8,700 properties across 139 countries and territories. No matter where you’re going, there’s bound to be a Marriott hotel nearby.

A key perk of the Marriott Bonvoy program is its fifth-night-free benefit. You’ll receive the lowest-priced night for zero points when you book five consecutive reward nights. This can save you a ton of points on expensive stays, especially if you redeem your points in a high-end destination like the Maldives.

Another notable benefit is that Marriott Bonvoy members can transfer points to its 40 airline partners. Its list of transfer partners includes some of the hardest airline currencies to earn, like Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan and Asiana Club.

In terms of elite status, there are five Marriott elite status tiers. Some benefits include room upgrades, Suite Night Award upgrades and executive lounge access. However, TPG staff has found benefits inconsistent, even at properties under the same brand.

There are several cards you can use to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, but six are available to new applicants — three from American Express and three from Chase:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Best for Marriott loyalists looking for perks
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Best for Marriott loyalists who travel for business
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Solid bonus with lackluster benefits
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Best for Marriott loyalists looking for a modest annual fee
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card: Best for Marriott loyalists looking for a no-annual-fee option
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Best for Marriott loyalists who value a solid sign-up bonus over benefits

The information for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Marriott is also a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, meaning you have plenty of ways to earn points.

Marriott Bonvoy is good for travelers who:

• Aren’t sure where in the world they plan to travel
• Want a huge collection of luxury properties
• Want a selection of unique, non-cookie-cutter hotels
• Frequently redeem points in five-night increments
• Want to book extended-stay hotel rooms
• Want to turn their points into airline miles

Related: When does it make sense to transfer Marriott points to airlines?

Hilton Honors

Hilton is another enormous hotel chain, with over 1.1 million rooms across nearly 7,400 hotels in 124 countries and territories.

Couple the hotel chain’s size with the relative effortlessness it takes to earn Hilton Honors points, and it’s clear that the Hilton Honors program may be the most all-around convenient hotel rewards option.

Hilton is an Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner. For every Amex point you transfer, you’ll get 2 Hilton points. Not to mention, you may occasionally find a transfer bonus.

The hotel group also has four cobranded credit cards, all issued by American Express. You can frequently find them offering welcome bonuses of 100,000 points (or more).

Cardholders of the following American Express cards automatically get Hilton Honors Gold status (enrollment is required) for as long as they keep their card account open:

• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: $150 annual fee (see rates and fees)
• The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: $95 annual fee (see rates and fees)
• The Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 annual fee (see rates and fees)
• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: $695 annual fee (see rates and fees)

Additionally, those with the Hilton Honors American Express Card can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold status through the end of the following calendar year by spending $20,000 on the card in a calendar year.

Like Marriott, Hilton offers the fifth consecutive award night free — but you must have Hilton elite status to unlock this benefit. Thankfully, you can achieve this simply by holding a Hilton credit card. With your Hilton elite status, you’ll enjoy benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast (or a food and beverage credit on U.S. stays) and bonus points.

Hilton Honors is good for travelers who:

• Collect Amex Membership Rewards points.
• Aren’t sure where in the world they plan to travel.
• Frequently stay in five-night increments.
• Want to book extended-stay hotel rooms.
• Are satisfied with a modest collection of (amazing) luxury hotels.
• Are road warriors.

Related: I transferred Amex points to Hilton to book 1 of the best hotels in the world

World of Hyatt

The World of Hyatt program is the favorite hotel loyalty program of most TPG staff.

More than 1,200 hotels participate in the World of Hyatt loyalty program in over 70 countries. Hyatt hotels are generally found exclusively in popular destinations and cities. If you’re looking for a stay in rural areas, Hyatt points likely will not serve you.

Hyatt’s award rates are relatively cheap compared to other hotels like Marriott and Hilton. For example, an upscale Hyatt hotel may cost 40,000 points, while a luxury Hilton hotel may cost 120,000 points. Perhaps most importantly, Hyatt still publishes award charts, making planning for your trip easy.

It’s true that Hyatt points aren’t quite as easy to accrue as Hilton points (Hyatt only offers two cobranded credit cards). However, Hyatt is a transfer partner of Chase Ultimate Rewards. You can also transfer Bilt Rewards points to Hyatt, which can be a great option for those who earn points on rent.

Hyatt Globalist elite status has been proven repeatedly by TPG staff and readers to be the most valuable hotel elite status. With free breakfast, waived resort fees and parking fees on award nights, consistent suite upgrades and more, it’s just about as VIP as you can get in the hospitality world.

Hyatt offers a personal credit card and a business credit card, which are both great ways to earn points.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card has a $95 annual fee and offers up to 60,000 bonus points. You’ll earn 30,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, you’ll earn up to 30,000 more points by earning 2 bonus points total per dollar spent on purchases that normally earn 1 point (on up to $15,000) in the first six months of account opening.

Meanwhile, the World of Hyatt Business Credit Card has a $199 annual fee and offers 60,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Bilt Rewards from the Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees) transfer to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 rate. You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio from cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.

World of Hyatt is good for travelers who:

• Collect Chase Ultimate Rewards points
• Earn points on rent with Bilt
• Want luxury stays in popular destinations
• Don’t often book hotels in smaller cities or remote locations
• Want a ton of all-inclusive hotel options

Related: What is World of Hyatt elite status worth?

Wyndham Rewards

For stays in small-town America, there’s no better hotel points currency than Wyndham Rewards. Wyndham has the most properties of any hotel chain on this list, with over 9,000 worldwide. While Wyndham offers some upscale properties, most are budget hotels.

Wyndham’s economical brands — such as Super 8, Days Inn and Microtel — are ubiquitous in areas where you won’t find a Hyatt or Marriott. If your travel goals revolve around visiting towns with populations under 10,000, this is a great program to focus on.

Wyndham also offers three cobranded credit cards, all issued by Barclays, to help you earn free nights in the Wyndham Rewards program quickly. The cards offer between 7,500 and 15,000 points for every card anniversary. Additionally, you can transfer Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards points to Wyndham Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

You can even use your points to book free nights at Vacasa properties, which charge 15,000 points per bedroom. If you look hard enough, you can find absolute steals.

Wyndham Rewards is good for travelers who:

• Travel to small towns
• Aren’t interested in luxury stays
• Want free Vacasa vacation rentals

Related: 17 ways to earn Wyndham Rewards points for your next redemption

IHG One Rewards

The IHG One Rewards program recently received a refresh, making it compete more with the most popular hotel programs. Due to dynamic pricing, IHG hotels are often a poor value for the points. However, they’re easy to use, and IHG hotels are in almost as many locations as Hilton properties. You can also frequently purchase IHG One Rewards points at a steep discount.

IHG offers three cobranded credit cards, all of which automatically offer the ability to receive the fourth consecutive award night for free. That’s unique among loyalty programs and a better value than Marriott and Hilton’s fifth-night-free policy.

• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card (no annual fee): 5 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts; 3 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery), at gas stations and on utilities, internet, cable and phone services, and select streaming services; 2 points per dollar spent on other purchases
• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card ($99 annual fee): 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts; 5 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery), at gas stations and on travel and hotels; 3 points per dollar spent on other purchases
• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card ($99 annual fee): 10 points per dollar spent at IHG hotels and resorts; 5 points per dollar spent at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery), at gas stations and on travel, hotels, social media, search engine advertising and office supply stores; 3 points per dollar spent on other purchases

You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points and Bilt Rewards points to IHG One Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, you can use IHG points to book some Six Senses resorts. These are extremely sought-after properties and a great win for IHG points collectors.

The program revamped its elite status tiers last year, too, meaning top-tier Diamond Elite members now get additional perks like free breakfast and a dedicated support line. Elite members can also earn Milestone Rewards by staying a certain number of nights in a calendar year. Some options include an annual lounge membership, bonus points and confirmed suite upgrades.

IHG One Rewards is good for travelers who:

• Are road warriors
• Are satisfied with a small collection of luxury hotels

Related: How to maximize redemptions with the IHG One Rewards program

ALL — Accor Live Limitless

Accor has many hotel brands (more than 40), with a slew of upscale and luxury options.

Points in the ALL — Accor Live Limitless program are some of the most valuable (and straightforward) rewards. You can redeem them in increments of 2,000 to receive 40 euros (or an equivalent amount in dollars) off your hotel bill.

There are two areas in which Accor underdelivers:

• The vast majority of its properties are concentrated in Europe or Asia.
• Accor does not offer a cobranded credit card to help you earn points quickly.

Yes, Accor is a transfer partner of both Capital One and Citi. However, the transfer ratio is an underwhelming 2:1 (2 Capital One miles or Citi ThankYou Rewards points equal 1 Accor point). Still, Accor can be a great place to earn your hotel points if you’re primarily traveling in Asia or Europe.

The program has four status tiers, with the top-tier Diamond elite level offering free breakfast on weekends (or every day in the Asia-Pacific region), suite night upgrades and executive lounge access. You’ll also find brand-specific benefits at each status tier, which may include perks like complimentary bike rentals at Fairmont properties.

ALL — Accor Live Limitless is good for travelers who:

• Travel to Europe and Asia often
• Want a huge selection of luxury properties
• Want a points redemption process that requires no expertise

Related: The dark horse of the hotel world: Why it’s time to pay attention to Accor

Choice Privileges

Choice places third behind Wyndham and Marriott for the number of properties it has worldwide. Its brands, such as Comfort Inn, WoodSpring Suites and Quality Inn, are no-frills experiences. However, the Choice Privileges program can serve you similarly to Wyndham Rewards in that its participating hotels are more prolific in smaller towns. It has also now integrated properties from the Radisson Rewards Americas program into its portfolio.

Choice is famously valuable for anyone staying in Scandinavia, as hotels in the region can be costly — but award stays at Choice Hotels remain extremely reasonable. Also, there are many properties to choose from, and the program regularly offers discounted redemption rates through its Sweet Spot Rewards promotion. Additionally, the brand intermittently offers notable promotions that allow you to earn enough points for a free night after completing relatively simple tasks.

In terms of earning points, Choice now offers two cobranded credit cards, and you can also transfer Amex points and Capital One miles to Choice at a 1:1 ratio. Citi points transfer to Choice at a better 1:2 ratio. This halves the price of Choice awards if you’re redeeming Citi points.

Unfortunately, Choice Privileges’ elite status tiers don’t bring much to the table. There are limited room upgrades and only a handful of brands that offer complimentary breakfast to top-tier elite members.

Choice Privileges is best for travelers who:

• Are road warriors
• Travel to Scandinavia
• Travel to small-town America
• Aren’t concerned about free stays in luxury hotels
• Don’t value extensive elite status perks

Related: The ultimate guide to redeeming Choice points

Best Western Rewards

Best Western has suffered due to low marks in its luxury hotel offerings and a relatively small hotel portfolio.

That said, the Best Western Rewards program’s top-tier elite status is easy to earn if you have even mid-tier elite status from a competing hotel chain. Historically, Best Western has offered status matches via email.

Best Western collaborates with First National Bank of Omaha to issue two credit cards. Like Choice, its elite status tiers bring very little value, with only minor benefits.

Best Western Rewards is good for travelers who:

• Want free breakfast without elite status
• Don’t care about free luxury hotel stays

Related: The best no-annual-fee hotel credit cards

Radisson Rewards

Radisson used to have an incredible loyalty program. Over the years, it’s stripped any noteworthy value from it.

Radisson has never offered a formidable number of hotels, and only a few of them are notable.

Until recently, there were two Radisson loyalty programs: Radisson Rewards Americas used to cover North and South America, but those properties have now joined Choice Privileges. The rest of the world uses the Radisson Rewards program.

This international bend means Radisson Rewards no longer offers a U.S. cobranded credit card and has no transfer partners. Your only way to earn these points is by staying at hotels. Even if you earn enough points for a free stay, the value of your redemptions will be minimal.

Radisson Rewards is good for travelers who:

• Limit their travels to Europe and other destinations outside North and South America
• Don’t care about free luxury hotel stays

Related: How to choose a hotel loyalty program

Bottom line

A hotel can be far more than just a place to rest your head. Loyalty programs can dramatically enhance your vacation — and even make it practically free.

We encourage TPG readers to sign up for all hotel loyalty programs, as there is generally no out-of-pocket cost to join. Even if you don’t think you’ll stay at a certain hotel chain, circumstances may dictate otherwise. You will be glad you enrolled beforehand and will fund your future vacations with minimal effort.

For rates and fees of the Hilton Surpass, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Business, click here.
For rates and fees of the Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Business Platinum Amex, click here.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.