The Best Hotel Rewards Programs & How to Get Free Stays Every Year

Imagine booking luxury hotel stays for free—oceanfront resorts, ski lodges, city escapes, and even entire vacation homes. That’s the power of Travel Hacking when you know how to maximize hotel rewards programs.

Most people don’t realize how valuable hotel points can be. They think Travel Hacking is just about flights, but hotels are often the most expensive part of a trip—and they’re just as easy to cover with points.

In this post, I’ll break down the best hotel rewards programs, how they compare, and how you can start getting free nights every year just by using the right strategies.

The 4 Best Hotel Rewards Programs for Free Stays

Not all hotel points are created equal. Some programs offer insane value, while others require tons of points for a single night. Here’s a breakdown of the top 4 hotel rewards programs and how to get the most out of them:

1. Hyatt - The Best Value for Hotel Points 🏆

Why Hyatt? Because their points go the farthest.

• Point Value: ~1.7 cents per point (highest among major hotel programs)
• Best Cards to Earn Points: Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, World of Hyatt Credit Card
• Free Night Example:
  • Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa – Normally $2,280 per night, but just 35,000 Hyatt points!
  • Hyatt Ziva All-Inclusive Resorts – Luxury beach resorts for 21,000-25,000 points per night.

💡 Pro Tip: Hyatt has no resort fees on award stays, so you’ll never get hit with a surprise charge when booking with points.

How to Earn Hyatt Points Fast:

• Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.
• Use the Hyatt Credit Card to earn 4x points per dollar on Hyatt purchases.

2. Marriott Bonvoy - Huge Hotel Network & Luxury Stays 🌍

Why Marriott? Because they have the biggest selection of hotels worldwide.

• Point Value: ~0.8 cents per point
• Best Cards to Earn Points: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant
• Free Night Example:
  • St. Regis Maldives – Normally $1,600 per night, but 85,000 points per night.
  • JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa – 50,000 points per night instead of $600.

💡 Pro Tip: Marriott allows you to top off award nights with a mix of points and cash, so you don’t need the full amount in points.

How to Earn Marriott Points Fast:

• Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards to Marriott.
• Get a Marriott Bonvoy Credit Card and earn 3-6x points per dollar on Marriott stays.

3. Hilton Honors - Best for Free Nights with a Credit Card 🏖

Why Hilton? Because you can rack up tons of points fast, even without staying at hotels.

• Point Value: ~0.6 cents per point
• Best Cards to Earn Points: Hilton Honors Surpass, Hilton Honors Aspire
• Free Night Example:
  • Waldorf Astoria Maldives – Normally $2,000 per night, but 120,000 Hilton points.
  • Conrad Bora Bora Nui – 100,000 points per night instead of $1,500.

💡 Pro Tip: The Hilton Honors Aspire Card gives you automatic Diamond status, free breakfast, and a free night certificate every year—making it one of the best hotel credit cards out there.

How to Earn Hilton Points Fast:

• Hilton cards earn 14x points per dollar on Hilton stays.
• Get free night certificates by holding certain Hilton credit cards.

4. Wyndham Rewards - The Best for Vacation Rentals & Large Families 🏡

Why Wyndham? Because they offer vacation homes, cabins, and condos, not just hotels.

• Point Value: ~1.1 cents per point
• Best Cards to Earn Points: Wyndham Earner+ or Wyndham Business Card
• Free Night Example:
  • 3-Bedroom Oceanfront Condo in North Carolina – Normally $10,300 per week, but just 15,000 points per night!
  • Smoky Mountain Cabin Rental – 15,000 points per night instead of $500.

💡 Pro Tip: Wyndham lets you book Vacasa vacation rentals using points—so you can skip hotels and book full homes instead!

How to Earn Wyndham Points Fast:

• The Wyndham Earner+ Card gives 6x points on gas, dining, and groceries.
• Transfer Capital One Miles to Wyndham at a 1:1.5 ratio for extra value.

How to Get Free Hotel Stays Every Year

✅ 1. Pick the Right Hotel Loyalty Program
Choose a program based on where you actually want to stay. If you love luxury resorts, Hyatt is your best bet. If you travel with family, Wyndham’s vacation rentals are perfect.

✅ 2. Sign Up for a Travel Credit Card
All of the best hotel credit cards offer massive welcome bonuses that can get you 5+ free nights right away.

✅ 3. Use Points for Maximum Value
Avoid redeeming points for low-value redemptions like gift cards. Instead, always book hotel stays with them for 2-10x more value.

✅ 4. Leverage Free Night Certificates
Many hotel cards offer 1-2 free nights per year, making them worth keeping even if you don’t use them often.

✅ 5. Stack Bonuses & Promotions
Always check shopping portals, special hotel promos, and credit card multipliers to maximize your points.

Final Thoughts: Never Pay for Hotels Again

If you travel often, hotel points will save you thousands every year. Even if you only take one big trip per year, knowing how to earn and redeem the right hotel points can cover your entire stay for free.

✅ Hyatt = Best overall value
✅ Marriott = Biggest selection of hotels
✅ Hilton = Easiest points to earn
✅ Wyndham = Best for vacation rentals

Start Travel Hacking your hotel stays now, and soon, you’ll be booking luxury resorts, beachfront villas, and city getaways without spending a dime.

🚀 Ready to learn how to maximize every point? My Launch Into Travel Hacking Course teaches exactly how to earn & redeem travel rewards for dream vacations—without extra spending.