Enhancing Your Stay: Tips for Making the Most of Your Points

Maximizing Rewards with Credit Card Points

Upgrading your hotel using your travel card is an affordable way to have a great stay! Photo by Freepik.

Hotel Upgrades: Travel credit cards are a popular choice for many users. They provide a range of advantages, such as substantial savings, flight and hotel enhancements, exclusive access to airport lounges, and more.

This is due to the fact that users of travel credit cards can channel their daily expenditures through the card, continuously earning points. These points can pile up and later be exchanged for the various rewards mentioned.

What Does a Hotel Upgrade with Points Entail?

Understanding Upgrades with Points

Upgrading your experience, be it for a flight or hotel stay, means using your earned points to claim rewards. This is a widely accepted practice and an effective way to save cash.

This practice makes it increasingly possible to secure enhanced, and in some cases complimentary, accommodations. Travel cards often collaborate with hotel brands, providing extra benefits to cardholders.

Advantages of Upgrading with Points

By utilizing your points for upgrades, you can relish larger rooms, options with bathtubs, breathtaking views, upscale room designs, and so much more.

This allows you to experience your journey in a far more memorable way, creating lasting memories.

How Does Upgrading to a Hotel Room with Points Work?

Loyalty Programs that Provide Upgrades

Many loyalty programs enable members to upgrade their accommodations using points. Here are some of the top options:

Marriott Bonvoy: With over 7,000 hotels, Marriott Bonvoy lets you use points for suite and premium view upgrades. Platinum members and above have better chances of complimentary upgrades, subject to availability.
Hilton Honors: Provides automatic upgrades for Gold and Diamond members, featuring larger rooms, enhanced views, and executive lounge access. Points can guarantee upgrades as well.
World of Hyatt: Members can redeem points for room upgrades, and Globalist members receive automatic upgrades when available, including suites and higher categories.
IHG One Rewards: Points can be used for upgrades to premium rooms. Platinum and Diamond members get priority for complimentary upgrades at check-in, which may include suites.
Accor Live Limitless (ALL): Allows members to redeem points for room upgrades, and depending on the hotel, provides access to VIP lounges and other benefits.

These loyalty programs provide a mix of automatic upgrades and points-based upgrades, especially for those with elite status.

Upgrading Guidelines

When aiming for a hotel upgrade, be sure to consider a few important points. It’s essential to verify availability upon check-in since many upgrades depend on it. Moreover, having a loyal status can ease your chances of obtaining an upgrade.

The points required for an upgrade vary by hotel chain, room type, length of stay, and whether it’s peak or off-peak season, along with other factors. Additionally, be aware of promotional rate conditions, as bookings made via online travel sites might not be eligible for upgrades.

Top Credit Cards for Earning Points and Securing Hotel Upgrades

Chase Sapphire Preferred: 2x points on travel, transfers to major hotel programs.
The Platinum Card from American Express: Earns points transferable to Hilton and Marriott, plus Gold status.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass: 12x points on Hilton stays, includes Gold status for upgrades.
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 6x points on Marriott stays, offers Silver Elite status for upgrades.
World of Hyatt Credit Card: Up to 9x points at Hyatt, includes Discoverist status for potential upgrades.
IHG Rewards Premier: 10x points at IHG hotels, includes Platinum Elite status for free upgrades.