How to Save Money on Hotels and Rentals with Points (2026)

Trying to make the most of save money hotels rentals? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.

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• Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to stay in a wide range of accommodations , from luxurious five-star hotels to comfortable, family-...

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Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to stay in a wide range of accommodations , from luxurious five-star hotels to comfortable, family-friendly vacation rentals , all by strategically using loyalty points and rewards programs. 

This guide will teach you how.

To provide a practical example, we’ll be exploring the process of booking a six-night stay in Maui, demonstrating how to effectively utilize points to secure not only the best hotels but also other accommodations that may better fit your needs.

Table of Contents

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• The First Step: Earning Points
• Fixed-Value vs. Hotel Loyalty Program Bookings
• How to Book Hotels With Fixed-Value Rewards
  • Using the Chase Travel Portal to Find Available Hotels
• How to Book Hotel Stays Through Hotel Loyalty Programs
• Loyalty Program Transfer Partners
  • Hotel Co-Branded Credit Cards
• Comparing Loyalty Program Options
  • Hyatt
  • Hilton
  • Wyndham
• Reviewing Our Options For Lodging
• Tips for Maximizing Your Points When Booking Hotels
• Hotel Points Booking FAQs: Your Questions Answered
• Taking That First Step

The First Step: Earning Points

Booking a free hotel starts with having points to use in the first place.

If you have a lot of points in your account as of today, this guide will walk you through how to get the greatest value from those points. If you’re starting from zero, this guide will help you work backwards to see the best strategy for achieving your specific travel goal. 

The fastest way to earn points is through credit card welcome bonuses. In fact, one bonus could be enough for high-end lodging for an entire vacation. 

Aside from credit card bonuses, you can also earn points by staying at participating hotels and using co-branded credit cards. Everyday spending on credit cards that allow you to transfer points to hotel programs is another excellent way to accumulate points.

Read our in-depth guide on all the ways to earn points and miles to learn more, and check out my travel hacking case studies article to see examples of some of the best free trips I’ve booked over the years.

Fixed-Value vs. Hotel Loyalty Program Bookings

Once you have points in your account , whether that’s an account with a credit card issuer like Chase or American Express, or directly with a hotel loyalty program , you have two options for booking a hotel. 

1. Hotel loyalty programs. These programs allow you to earn points by staying and spending at participating hotels within the program. You can also earn points by spending on a hotel chain’s co-branded card. Points can also be transferred from a credit card issuer, such as Chase or American Express, to one particular hotel chain’s loyalty program. 
2. Fixed-value rewards. In these programs, points have an assigned value (e.g., 1 cent per point) and can be redeemed through a travel portal provided by credit card issuers like Capital One, Citi, Chase and American Express. 

While both options have advantages, hotel loyalty programs generally offer greater redemption value than fixed-value points (with redemption value being defined as the dollar value you receive for each point).

In hotel loyalty programs, the value of points can vary depending on the hotel, the time of year and availability, but they can frequently be worth more than 1 cent per point. With fixed-value rewards, each point has a set redemption value (typically 1 cent per point), and they don’t fluctuate based on the hotel or travel dates.

Hotel loyalty programs offer advantages when it comes to earning points, especially since numerous hotel chains partner with credit card companies. This means you can earn points for hotel stays regardless of how frequently you travel. 

For instance, Hyatt is a transfer partner of Chase. So, if you have a Chase credit card that earns transferable points, anytime you use your Chase card you’re earning points that can potentially be used within the Hyatt loyalty program.

With all that said, there are still situations where fixed-value rewards can be helpful, such as:

1. When your destination of choice does not have any hotels offering award stays.
2. When award availability is limited or nonexistent at hotels that accept award stays in your destination.
3. When you need a wider range of redemption options, such as vacation rentals (which are ideal for large families or unique travel experiences).

In this guide, we’ll first explore the options for fixed-value rewards. But, spoiler alert: only a few options are available due to the high prices of accommodations in Maui (which we’re using as an example to illustrate the process). 

Your trip might present different opportunities, however. So understanding both fixed-value rewards and hotel loyalty programs is essential for making the most of your points.

How to Book Hotels With Fixed-Value Rewards

Booking hotels with fixed-value rewards is a flexible option for those who want to avoid being tied down to a particular hotel chain.

The value of your rewards, in addition to how you can use your rewards, is dependent on the type of credit card for which you’re earning your points.

Here’s an overview of each major travel credit card company’s fixed-value rewards programs:

Credit Card CompanyFixed-Value Redemption RateFeaturesCiti1 cent per pointCiti ThankYou points can be redeemed for travel through the Citi Travel Center or used to book flights directly with airlines.Chase1 to 1.5 cents per pointChase Ultimate Rewards points vary in value depending on the card. For example, Chase Sapphire Reserve offers 1.5 cents per point when redeemed through the Chase travel portal.Capital One1 cent per pointCapital One miles can be redeemed for travel expenses, such as flights and hotels, through the Capital One travel portal, or as a statement credit for travel purchases.American Express0.6 to 1 cent per pointAmerican Express Membership Rewards points can be used to book travel through the Amex travel portal or as a statement credit for eligible travel purchases. Redemption rates vary by card type and how the travel is purchased. 

Using fixed-value awards with Citi, Chase and American Express is similar to booking accommodations through travel sites like E

Final Thoughts

The bottom line: a little research on save money hotels rentals goes a long way. Compare your options, watch for seasonal offers, and never pay full price when a better deal is one click away.

Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.