Guides
The best-kept secrets in hotel award charts
A few standing rules that consistently return outsized value — each one confirmed against a real booking on this site, not just theory.
IHG 4th night free
Holding an IHG co-brand card makes every 4th night of an award stay free — no extra points required. The real sweet spot is booking in multiples of four: 8 nights returns two free, 12 nights returns three, where a 5- or 6-night stay only ever catches one.
Marriott 5th night free
Any Marriott Bonvoy award stay of 5+ nights includes the 5th night free automatically — no card or status required, just booking the stay with points in the first place.
Wyndham cardholder discount
Certain Wyndham co-brand cardholders get a standing discount on award redemptions. Terms shift over time, so it's worth confirming the current cardholder benefit before counting on it for a specific stay.
Hilton 5th night free
Every 5th consecutive night on a standard-room award stay is free — same idea as Marriott's version, but with a real catch: it requires Hilton Honors Silver status or higher, not available to basic members. The no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Amex grants Silver status automatically, which is the easiest way in if you don't already have status.
Hyatt Category 1-4 free night
A different mechanic from the others here — not a stay-length discount, but an actual annual certificate. The World of Hyatt Credit Card issues one free night at any Category 1-4 property every cardmember anniversary, plus a second if you spend $15,000 on the card that year — redeemable at real properties like Andaz Savannah or Hyatt Regency Mexico City.
More sweet spots get added here as they're found and tested.