Wednesday, October 10, 2012

How Can I Get Free Hotel Stays? Which credit cards can I sign up for to receive Free Hotel Stays?

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Drumroll please......

With credit card sign ups!!!

Here is a list of credit cards you can sign up for to receive free hotel stays. I have starred * the ones I recommend and MOST happen to be Chase Credit Cards, go Chase!! But I do recommend keeping all the American Express cards that have no annual fees to take advantage of the many amazing Amex promotions that one can get free stuff.
These are not referral links!


CREDIT CARDS FOR HOTEL STAYS:
Hilton:
  • Hilton HHonors Credit Card from American Express40K bonus points after spending $750, No annual fee and no blackout dates, free silver elite = access to Executive Lounge + 25% bonus points on stays, 2.7% foreign trans. fee. KEEPER, FOR FREE SILVER ELITE STATUS AND AMEX PROMOS!
  • Hilton HHonors® Surpass Card from American Express 60K bonus points with $3,000 spend, $75/yr. no blackout dates, free silver status=access to Executive Lounge + 25% bonus points on stays, complimentary Priority PassSM membership, 2.7% foreign trans. fee. GET FOR BONUS ONLY! OR IF YOU SAVE MUCH MORE THAN $75 WITH AMEX FREE MONEY PROMOTIONS!

    MY TAKE: The good thing about the Hilton CC from Amex is that there is no annual fee and for that, you receive free silver elite status at The Hilton and access to the Executive Lounge, plus bonus points on stays. This card is not at the top of my list, especially since it has foreign transaction fees, but if you don't have elite status with them, then why not get it for free? Also, this is a keeper just to take advantage of Amex's Promotions. You should only get The Hilton Surpass card for the bonus. If you value the lounge access and elite status, then go with the first Hilton Amex card that has no annual fee.
Starwood:
  • *Starwood Preferred Guest Card from American Express 25K Starpoints $5,000 spend in 6 months, $65 after 1st year, no blackout dates , 2.7% foreign trans. fee. 5,000 bonus for referralsKEEPER ONLY IF YOU GET 2-3 REFERRALS/YR. AND OR TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AMEX PROMOS FOR FREE MONEY, OTHERWISE GET THE BUSINESS CARD!
  • *Starwood Preferred Guest Business Card from American Express OPEN Savings Card, 25K Starpoints $5,000 spend in 6 months, $65 after 1st year, no blackout dates , 2.7% foreign trans. fee.  KEEPER FOR REFERRALS, OPEN SAVINGS & HOTEL STAYS AND AMEX FREE MONEY PROMOS!

    MY TAKE: The Starwood Credit Cards aren't too impressive since they have foreign transaction fees, come with a $65 annual fee and are Amex Cards, which aren't accepted everywhere. You also only earn the normal one point per dollar on purchases. The business card is the better deal, since it comes with the OPEN Savings Program to receive 10% back at certain stores. They require fewer points for redeeming free nights at Starwood Hotels and Resorts in comparison to other rewards programs, that is the real reason people LOVE the Starwood Credit Cards. And the fact that one receives 5,000 points per referral. Being able to stay at a Starwood category 1 hotel for only 2-3K is just amazing and something you don't see elsewhere! When I get my Starwood cards, I will place my referral link in this post. If you take advantage of Amex promotions where you get savings or even free money, then I recommend both of these cards for that purpose. You should also get as many authorized users per account to take full advantage of these cards. Each authorized user per account will receive their own credit card number.
Category 1 = 2K-3K points
Category 2 = 3K-4K points
Category 3 = 7K points
Category 4 = 10K points
Category 5 = 12K-16K points
Category 6 = 20K-25K points
Category 7 = 30K-35K points

Priority Club:
For UK Residents:

For US Residents:
  • *Chase Priority Club Select Visa 60k bonus points, Free Night every year, Platinum Elite status, No foreign transaction fees$49 fee after 1st yr., 2pts per $1gas, grocery and restaurants, when redeeming pts. receive 10% of those points back.  KEEPER, ALL AROUND GREAT CARD!
  • Priority Club® World MasterCard® from Capital One® 30k bonus pts. after 1st purchase, 2 pts. per dollar, 2.5% foreign trans. fee, Emergency Medical Insurance and Trip Cancellation Insurance, 5,000 bonus pts. for every $10,000 you spend, Gold Elite Priority Club status for life of the account, $120 annual fee. DON'T RECOMMEND!
  • Priority Club Platinum Mastercard from Capital One 15k bonus pts with first purchase, 2pts-Priority hotels, 5,000 annual bonus pts over $10,000 spend, Gold Elite Priority Club status for  first year, Travel and Car Rental Insurance, No annual fee.   KEEPER FOR FREE GOLD ELITE STATUS!MY TAKE: The Chase Priority Club Select Visa is a solid card. The free night every year, more than makes up for the $49 fee per year. This is a pretty good card since one can earn 2pts per $1 at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants even in foreign countries! This card has no foreign transactions fees! With this card, you no longer need the Chase Sapphire for the 2x earnings on restaurants, if you already have the Chase Ink Bold card for transferring points between cards and transferring points to airlines, hotels etc. On another note, if you don't have too many credit cards you might not be too concerned about the fact that Capital One checks your credit with all three credit bureau's. If that is the case, then get the Priority Club Platinum Mastercard from Capital One for the 15k bonus points and then keep your card for free and receive Priority Club Gold Elite Status. The Priority Club World Mastercard from Capital One is an overpriced card. I don't really understand why they think people will pay the high annual fee of $120.
I look forward to Priority Club getting more credit cards.

Marriott Rewards:
  • Marriott Rewards® Visa Signature® Card from Chase After 1st yr. fee $45, Silver Elite Status, 30k bonus points + 2 free nts. at Cat. 1-4, 3% foreign trans. fee  DON'T RECOMMEND!
  • *Marriott Rewards® Premier Visa® Signature Card from Chase 50k bonus pts. after 1st purchase, $85 after 1st yr., No foreign transaction fees, Receive free night stay upon account approval for category 1-4 hotels + free night stay in category 1-5 hotels each anniversary. 2pts. per dollar on airline, dining and rental car. Silver Elite Status every yr., Every $3,000 you spend earns you one additional night credit toward Elite status.  KEEPER FOR FREE NIGHT FOR $85! 
  • The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card from Chase $395/yr.  No foreign transaction fees 70K Bonus Pts. (enough for 1 nt.) after $2K spend in 3 months, 2 pts/$ at car rental agencies, airlines and restaurants, Gold Elite Status 1st yr, Comp. Airport Lounge access & $200 airline incidentals credit annually.  DON'T RECOMMEND!

    MY TAKE: The Marriott Signature Card costs $45 a year for the benefit of Silver Elite status. You will receive discounts on some stays, priority late check, among other benefits. You get much more for your buck with The Premier Card. With this card you get free Silver Elite Status, and one free night per year, all for $85. This card has no for. trans. fees. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Card is overpriced! Since you are getting $200 back, you are spending $200/yr. for Airport Lounge Access and Gold Elite Status. I don't recommend this card.
Best Western:
  • Best Western Rewards World Mastercard from Barclay 16K bonus pts.  after 1st purchase (enough for 1 free nt., level 3) + 5,000 bonus pts. for balance transfer , Elite Status for $6,000 spend, Avis Rental Rewards, No Annual Fee, 3% for. trans. fee, 15x for spend at BW.  DON'T RECOMMEND, UNLESS HAVE NO OTHER CARDS TO GO FOR!
  • MBNA Best Western MasterCard 20K Bonus Points after first purchase (approx. 8,000 pts. per free nt.). No annual fee.   Receive a one tier elite status upgrade when you spend $6,000 on your card within one year. Purchase Protection Extended Warranty. RECOMMEND FOR 2 FREE NIGHTS, IF ALREADY HAVE HIGHER END HOTEL CARDS!

    MY TAKE: The Barclay's Best Western Credit Card basically gets you 1 free night at a Best Western. This offer isn't very exciting and I wouldn't recommend going for it unless you are running out of credit cards to go for. The MBNA one is a bit more exciting since the sign up bonus is approximately 2 free nights.
Hyatt:
  • *The Hyatt Credit Card from Chase 2 Free Nights at a Hyatt (standard room), worldwide after 1st purchase. On card anniversary receive 1 free night at Cat. 1-4 Hotel. Annual Fee $75 (not waived 1st year), No foreign transaction fees, Smart Chip Card for Worldwide Purchases, HYATT GOLD PASSPORT PLATINUM MEMBERSHIP AND MAINTAIN PLATINUM STATUS FOR AS LONG AS YOU ARE A CARDMEMBER, benefits include a 15% point bonus on each room stay, complimentary in-room Internet access, and expedited check-in at a dedicated elite member area.  KEEPER, IF YOU WANT TO STAY AT A HYATT AT LEAST ONCE EVERY YEAR OR NEED CARD FOR SMART CHIP FOR USE WORLDWIDE!(Although, I have heard a rumor that soon, Amex will be using smart chip for all their cards.)

    The following are part of the Hyatt Corporation: Hyatt®, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place®, Hyatt HouseTM and Hyatt Gold Passport®.
    Hyatt Gold Passport Points needed per room per night.
    Hotel Category:
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    Standard Room:
    5,000
    8,000
    12,000
    15,000
    18,000
    22,000
    Regency/Grand Club:
    7,000
    10,000
    15,000
    18,000
    22,000
    27,000
    Suite:
    8,000
    12,000
    18,000
    23,000
    27,000
    33,0005  
    5 Night Passport Escape
    Includes 3 dinners for two
    60,000
    75,000
    95,000
    110,000
    125,000
    145,000
    7 Night Passport Escape 
    Includes 5 dinners for two
    90,000
    110,000
    140,00
    160,000
    180,000
    210,000
    Hotel Category:
    Studio:
    12,000
    One Bedroom:
    15,000
    Two Bedroom:
    23,000
    Three Bedroom:
    30,000


Fairmont:
  • Fairmont Visa Signature® Credit Care From Chase 2 Free Nights + breakfast for two, at a Fairmont, worldwide after $1K spend in 3 months. On card anniversary receive 1 free night with $12,000 annual spend. Annual Fee $95 (not waived 1st year), No foreign transaction fees,  Fairmont President's Club Premier status receive automatic upgrades, such as our exclusive Fairmont Fit program, 2 for 1 golf privileges, dining and spa certificates.  LOUNGE CLUB membership plus 2 free lounge visits each year, for access to over 350 VIP airport lounges in over 200 cities worldwide.  Earn 5 points for every $1 spent on Fairmont stays; 2 for every $1 spent on airline tickets purchased directly with the airlines, at car rental agencies, and on transit and commuting; and 1 for every $1 spent on all other purchases.  KEEPER, IF SPEND $12,000/YR ON CARD AND WISH TO STAY AT A FAIRMONT ONCE A YEAR, OTHERWISE JUST FOR BONUS!
Have I missed anything? Please let me know if I did!

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3 comments:

  1. Plastic cards available in different varieties very helpful in order t get smooth compilation of tasks...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for this breakdown. I'm sure some of the information is now not current but still, great breakdown!

    ReplyDelete

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