Hotels.com or a loyalty program

[Longtoo]

I have been using Hotels.com for most of my stays. Basically, it gives me 10% in return as credit for my private booking and they are not limited to any hotel chain. On the other hand, i know that I could get a better rate and QFF points by dealing directly with the hotel. The number of nights i am away would easily make me Gold if i stick to a loyalty program. I am an QF SG and soon will become platinum, thus, status match might be an option as well?

Should I stick with hotels.com or start a hotel loyalty program?

Many thanks for your advice in advance.

 

[Cynicor]

Way too many variables here. Maybe search as this has come up a bit, too.

Basically, it depends what hotel alliance you are looking at, where you currently stay and what sort of places you like.

I get probably better than 10% return because not only do I get points but also the various loyalty rewards- breakfast, free exec lounge, upgrades, generally "decent treatment" when things are needed.

 

[Longtoo]

Way too many variables here. Maybe search as this has come up a bit, too.

Basically, it depends what hotel alliance you are looking at, where you currently stay and what sort of places you like.

I get probably better than 10% return because not only do I get points but also the various loyalty rewards- breakfast, free exec lounge, upgrades, generally "decent treatment" when things are needed.

Thanks Cynicor,

I have just enrolled in IHG and booked a few nights. For now, I will probably stick to a combination of Hotels.com (which offers more choices including good locations and cheap nights) and IHG. I will also investigate the Ambassador membership, just not sure if it is worth the enrollment fee.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

+4.8% rebate when booking hotels.com via Cash Rewards.

 

[Dr Ralph]

Stick with hotels.com.

 

[straitman]

I have been using Hotels.com for most of my stays. Basically, it gives me 10% in return as credit for my private booking and they are not limited to any hotel chain. On the other hand, i know that I could get a better rate and QFF points by dealing directly with the hotel. The number of nights i am away would easily make me Gold if i stick to a loyalty program. I am an QF SG and soon will become platinum, thus, status match might be an option as well?

Should I stick with hotels.com or start a hotel loyalty program?

Many thanks for your advice in advance.

You really need to work out your stay pattern and which hotels service where you stay. For example Hilton Diamond gets you executive lounge access (drinks and canapés) and free breakfast. That's worth a lot but only if the hotels are where you need them.

 

[elan]

For me, hotels.com is perfect. As I'm unable to stay loyal with one particular chain due to lack of accommodation in a variety of locations. Recently booked 10 free nights in Hong Kong for the family and in the past have received free or cheap nights in the US. Rates are reasonable as well.

 

[leadman]

It never hurts to start a loyalty programme, most are free anyway. But for me its the loyalty programme by far as it is now paying off big time. I joined MR about 15 years ago and now Pt life, to me worth more than any airline programme as I never loose it. I get the cheapest room rate, then 99% of the time I'm upgraded (the suite last week in BKK), access to lounge, breakfast free, very early/late check in's/out's, etc, etc,. I worked out with a mate that the value of the benefits is generally around 25% value of the bill. The rewards points now stand well into seven figures and with the SPG group merging, looking forward to a great travel retirement!

 

[JohnK]

There is never a one size fits sll.

For me hotel stays are totally depended on price. I am loyal to hotel chains where price is reasonable but the rest of the time I use Agoda unless another OTA has better price.

e.g. Eastiny Place Pattaya for 7 nights in June in Superior twin room without breakfast is ~$215 with Agoda or ~$256 with Hotels.com. The free night with Hotels.com is based on amount paid so with the 7 nights I don't quite have enough for 1 x $25 free night. Agoda currently has HAPPY10 promotion in April with 10% off bringing that rate down to ~$199 for 7 nights and one can earn some points in say Velocity for even the cheapest rate and also accumulate Agoda Rewards on total spend.

I am sure some hotel rates can go the other way but I find Agoda slightly cheaper and easier to use. I just wish they didn't bombard me with so many emails everytime I do a search.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

There is never a one size fits sll.

And my size continually changes - booking to booking - sometimes hotels.com - sometimes direct with web site - I never chase hotel status - if it comes via a CC well and good - apart from that I just book best deal I can find - but as always we all see things differently.

 

[Longtoo]

Thank you all. Many great advices. As mentioned, I have enrolled in IHG and made some bookings. Just got an email from IC Singapore about my upcoming booking. Long email, difficulty to understand, full of grammatical errors (most likely not from a template), essentially asking me to pay for an upgrade but it sounds like they offer me an upgrade....fine print... if I pay more.

I am most interested in upgrade and freebies when traveling with family. Thus, a bit of status won't hurt. By myself for business, sleep, eat, work and I won't even care to look at the view. I guest there are many people like me here.

 

[Steady]

Thank you all. Many great advices. As mentioned, I have enrolled in IHG and made some bookings. Just got an email from IC Singapore about my upcoming booking. Long email, difficulty to understand, full of grammatical errors (most likely not from a template), essentially asking me to pay for an upgrade but it sounds like they offer me an upgrade....fine print... if I pay more.

I am most interested in upgrade and freebies when traveling with family. Thus, a bit of status won't hurt. By myself for business, sleep, eat, work and I won't even care to look at the view. I guest there are many people like me here.

Gotta laugh at those grammatical errors - aye Longtoo......
There is a gramma thread on AFF you would probably enjoy

 

[yld200]

I book where ever I can find the cheapest rate on a reliable site. Most of the time its with hotels.com which accepts amex and often have discount promo codes available.

I also keep an eye out on Qantas which sometimes has a ppd bonus - the last time I did this they had a 9ppd bonus and were the same price as hotels.com

I often end up with multiple tabs open looking at expedia, hotels.com, hotelscombined, agoda and will also look at the hotel site direct to confirm I'm getting the best deal.

90% of my travel is for leisure so obtaining / chasing hotel status for me isn't much a big deal.

 

[JohnK]

90% of my travel is for leisure so obtaining / chasing hotel status for me isn't much a big deal.

Interesting how we all have different experiences. In my experience Agoda is cheaper than hotels.com more than 90% of the time. In fact I generally use HotelsCombined and Agoda is the cheaper option and provides full cancellation without fees.

 

[codash1099]

Hotels.com has the advantage that you pay in $A and can use Amex. Additionally, if you are travelling in Australia or NZ, you avoid the dreaded credit card surcharge, which can turn a good direct booking sour.

The downside of Hotels.com is how they value the earned "free" nights. I haven't been able to work out their mechanics, but the free nights I currently have are way down in value in relation to the cost of the rooms that went to earn them.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The downside of Hotels.com is how they value the earned "free" nights. I haven't been able to work out their mechanics, but the free nights I currently have are way down in value in relation to the cost of the rooms that went to earn them.

I haven't tried to redeem a 'free night' as yet but reading their web site I thought it looked pretty clear:



Am I missing something?

 

[JohnK]

The downside of Hotels.com is how they value the earned "free" nights. I haven't been able to work out their mechanics, but the free nights I currently have are way down in value in relation to the cost of the rooms that went to earn them.

Taxes are not included when calculating redeemable loyalty value.

 

[There'sOnlyOneJimmy]

I haven't tried to redeem a 'free night' as yet but reading their web site I thought it looked pretty clear:

View attachment 95874

Am I missing something?

I've redeemed many free nights, and the process is pretty seamless.
The free nights accumulate at the weighted average price of the 10 nights you paid to create them.
You can redeem (say) a $200 free night against a $250 night, and just pay the extra $50.
A couple of items to keep in mind:
1. Not all hotels will allow you to earn free night credits;
2. Not all hotels will allow you to redeem free nights;
3. If you redeem a free night against a lesser value room, then the balance is lost (e.g. You have a $200 free night credit, but apply it to a $180 room, then the $20 balance is lost);
4. Many (most, maybe all...) of the special offers in the incessant emails include terms that say something like 'no free night credit earn'.

But if you pay attention & play by their rules, you can usually bank on an effective 10% off the best available internet price (keeping in mind the price promise guarantee).
J

 

[codash1099]

I haven't tried to redeem a 'free night' as yet but reading their web site I thought it looked pretty clear:

View attachment 95874

Am I missing something?

Still can't work out why rooms I booked at a minimum of $200 have earned free nights at less than $150.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Still can't work out why rooms I booked at a minimum of $200 have earned free nights at less than $150.

Have you called to ask? I have actually found their call ctr reps quite easy to talk to if you call during Australian working hours.