Hotel Credit Cards?

[Marcus Diaz]

So last year I found myself staying about a week's worth of nights in a hotel after a chase. The main reason I keep finding myself in hotels is because, if anyone has chased with me before, I have a very bad habit of falling asleep during a drive (day or night). I couldn't deal with "roughing" it in a tent mainly because I'm not exactly a small guy, so a comfortable bed assures me I wake up without too many aches and pains. I'm thinking about getting a Marriott card, since I seem to find myself in one more times then not. The benefit I'm seeing is the point rewards system that can get you a free night. Plus they give you a free night once a year for being with them. My rule with credit cards is to pay back as soon as possible, and to use them sparingly, since I do enjoy seeing my credit score stay high (in the 700s). So I'm wondering if anyone else has considered, or actually has, a credit card specifically for hotels? If so, what's the positives and negatives? What's the average interest rates? And what are some things to watch out for if I get one?

 

[Bryan Stokes]

Marcus,

My wife and I both have Priority Club Rewards credit cards. (Holiday Inn & Holiday Inn Express.) They have been extremely beneficial for storm chasing and we each received 6 free nights during our first year, plus another 2 nights just from the charges we put on each of our cards. That's a total of 16 free nights and they never expire.

To help facilitate free nights, we charge everything we possibly can to these credit cards, and I do mean everything. Honestly, I have no idea what our interest rate is because we always pay it off every month. There were no annual fees the first year, but we do have to pay an annual fee of $60 each year thereafter, but we get a free night every year for keeping the card. That more then covers the $60 a year fee, especially since we're getting to stay in Holiday Inn Expresses, which run from $100-$130 a night. Also, by owning this card, we automatically become Platinum Priority Club members, which gives us automatic upgrades to a better room if one's available. We also receive a welcome bag when checking in that contains a bottle of water, chips, candy, etc. And here's the best perk of all: as Platinum members, we can request a late check-out of 2pm and they will give it to you every time with no questions asked. This is huge on days where you're already in your target area or you just have a down day and only have a few hours to drive for the following day's target.

Here's the best advice I can give you for the Priority Club Rewards Visa:

1) There are lots of offers to sign up for 50,000 points, but if you hold out long enough, you'll eventually find an offer where you'll receive 80,000 points for signing up and then another 10,000 bonus points after you spend your first $1,000 on the credit card. Most of the Holiday Inn Expresses on the Plains charge 15,000 points for one night, so that's 6 free nights earned. A few charge 20,000 points, but I usually avoid these places so I can maximize my points.

2) Make sure the interest rate is one you can live with. If not, have the discipline to only charge what you can pay off each month.

3) Watch out for high annual fees. The best ones are like the deal I got. Free for the first year and then $60 a year after that, but make sure you get a free night each year for keeping the card.

And that's about all I can think of. For me, hotel credit cards are superior to airline credit cards and I've been reaping the benefits for the last couple of years.

Bryan

 

[STexan]

If you find yourself often in larger markets at the end of the day, rewards card programs might work out, but for me, I've found that in the end, you're cheaper by not tying yourself to a particular rewards system and staying at the independent motels when/where it makes sense. My standards are not terribly high, although there are some motels I will not stay at based on "poor curb appeal". Many of the chains will negotiate a rate 15-20% less than the night's "going rate", but then you throw down the rewards card and they say they can not do the discounted rate offered AND apply the stay to a rewards card, too.

Plus, there are many requirements in order to take advantage of a "free night" ... have to make plans commitment ahead of time which is next to impossible as a storm chaser, and in general, they don't make it easy to take advantage of any accrued points. I use my American Express Gold card. They require monthly payment in full, have a decent points system and Amazon allows AMEX points to be used there as cash. Any motel that doesn't take AMEX probably is a little too seedy anyway, and this allows me to be much more flexible in hotel choice, especially in the smaller towns that do not have any chain hotels.

 

[Sean Ramsey]

Another strategy would be to take get a normal credit card (no annual fee) with cash rewards and use it on an everyday basis for everything, and pay it off at the end of the month. If you pay bills, buy groceries, etc with 1% -2% cash back, save the rewards at the end of each month and use them to stay at the hotels (where you can also use your card and earn more rewards). Over a year, you could have a reward savings as much as $360 ($30 a month) which could get you maybe 5 free nights a year or more depending on where you choose to stay, but maybe more importantly gives you flexibility in where you want to stay. This takes a lot of discipline, but if done correctly it will meet your needs during chase season and maybe more.

 

[Paul Knightley]

We're on the rewards programs of most of the chain motels, and have had several free nights in the process, despite being over for just 2 weeks per year. It's free to register online with all the major motels and it's worth it!

By this I mean just the rewards - not a credit card.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

We're on the rewards programs of most of the chain motels, and have had several free nights in the process, despite being over for just 2 weeks per year. It's free to register online with all the major motels and it's worth it!

By this I mean just the rewards - not a credit card.

x2

Finally a subject I can contribute to without it being about cellular . As a few of you know I spent over 20 years on the road as a tour manager in the entertainment industry . Where as a rewards credit card can reap you great benefits , join every hotel frequent stay program you can . Most of these programs not only let redeem your points for free nights but also free merchandise . There are some great ones . To name a few Super 8 . Holiday Inns , La Quinta , Choice hotels etc. . Take a few minutes when you check into each hotel and see if they have a rewards program . Sign up , there is no penalty for not using enough and points do not usually expire with these . If you find a good rewards credit card to use in conjunction do so and double your point gathering.

 

[ericjkelly]

I am a huge Hilton guy! I use my Hilton AMEX almost everywhere! It gives you a nice bonus on GAS bought.

I use the points to stay at Hampton Inn's They are super consistent, free breakfast and internet