{"id":4132,"date":"2021-01-04T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-04T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/teachingmillionaires.com\/?p=4132"},"modified":"2021-02-23T12:16:02","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T17:16:02","slug":"how-to-get-free-hotel-rooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/teachingmillionaires.com\/newstag\/how-to-get-free-hotel-rooms\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Free Hotel Rooms?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"How
How to Get Free Hotel Rooms?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here’s an overview on how to get free hotel rooms by transferring American Express Membership Reward Points to Hilton Honors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What\u2019s Better Points or Cash Back?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a story about why earning transferable points is much more valuable than just having cash back.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a successful family road trip this past Columbus Day weekend, my thoughts went immediately to scouting a trip for next year.  What better place to visit around Halloween than Salem, Massachusetts?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some of the unmatched autumn beauty of New England – Mt. Washington, NH<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

I wasn’t surprised to find that most hotels in Salem were already sold out next year. Columbus Day weekend is a \u201clast hurrah\u201d for many of tourist locations in the Northeast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hampton Inn Salem Boston,<\/a> part of the Hilton brand, is one hotel that was still available and caught my eye.  This new, modern looking hotel is right in the heart of downtown Salem and walkable to shops, attractions, and restaurants<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For someone who will be traveling with small children the hotel is also equipped with a pool and comes with the most valuable perk of all … free breakfast.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hampton
Hampton Inn Salem Hotel<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With the price still hovering around $500 per night, I set to work figuring out how I can use the Hilton Honors program and stay three nights for free.  There was just one problem:  I am normally a Marriott or IHG guy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Hotel Credit Cards Worth It?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have accumulated a nice cache of points for both the Marriott Bonvoy and IHG Rewards Club loyalty programs.  This is mostly by having their co-branded credit cards in my wallet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Marriott Bonvoy, I hold the Chase<\/a> and American Express co-branded cards.  Each with an annual free night certificate and a healthy sign-up bonus.  The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant\u2122 American Express\u00ae Card<\/a> is a premium card, but don\u2019t let the high annual fee scare you, I have had no problem getting extra value from it each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"AMEX
AMEX Marriott Bonvoy<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

For IHG, I hold two Chase co-branded cards.  One of them is closed to new applicants, but the newly revamped IHG\u00ae Rewards Club Premier Credit Card<\/a> offers a free night certificate for an $89 annual fee.  There is also the no annual fee IHG\u00ae Rewards Club Travel Credit Card.  Both cards are offering large sign up bonuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To book the Hampton Inn Salem Boston for three nights, I needed a total of 150,000 Hilton points.  So how do I go about booking a Hilton property with having a total of zero points in my Hilton Honors account?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I immediately thought of credit card welcome offers also sometimes called sign-up bonuses.  This was a great place for me to start gathering the points I needed.  American Express offers three different co-branded personal Hilton credit cards: <\/p>\n\n\n\n