Accruing hotel points is not a minor thing; they can be precious and valuable. You will, however, only find them useful if you remember their benefits and limitations. Your hotel points can earn you the VIP program that you keep brushing off because of the cost! Make the most of your rewards by avoiding any of these common mistakes when redeeming hotel points. Keep this on bookmark so as not to miss out on any VIP Programs.
Booking Through a Third Party Site
There are so many third party sites that can help you book your hotel stay but, did you know that this can cost you your hotel loyalty rewards? Most hotels recognize their loyal clients and reward them with loyalty points that can get them a free night, meals, or other amazing rewards. Booking directly with the hotel multiplies the point value tremendously compared to booking through a travel agency.
Failing to Checkout for “Bonus Nights”
Some hotel chains reward you a “bonus” night once you stay for a certain length of time. The “bonus” could be a free night or even discounted redemption rates. These discounts automatically pop up when you redeem your points online. If you are aware that the hotel you’re booking will give you a “bonus” night after a three-night stay, you won’t need to plan for a four-night stay, and as such, you’ll have saved. Most first time travelers make this mistake only to realize when it’s too late.
Hurriedly Swapping Points
If your hotel loyalty program allows you to transfer your points to another loyalty program, make sure you are getting the same or a better value. Find out what your points mean in the new program and compare it with what they currently mean before doing the swap. You could be getting lesser value! Earning hotel points takes time, and you do not want to lose them just to anything.
Ignoring the Cash Plus Points Option
It’s common to hear people say, “I don’t have enough points,” but have they ever researched past that? Most chains give you the option of redeeming your few points and topping up with some cash to enjoy your hotel stay. Always check out for such options. You could land a very nice deal.
Failing to Check Out the Resort Fees
Always pay attention to the resort fees when redeeming your hotel points. Not all hotels waive these fees during award stays. Make sure you find out how much you’ll be expected to pay before your stay is ruined by being hit with a bill you never planned for. Most hotels will list the resort fees at some point during the booking process.
Not Knowing the Rules
When it comes to hotel awards, playing by the rules will take you a long way in ensuring you reap maximum benefits. Understand the terms and conditions of redeeming your points and learn the award program rules. That way, you will not miss out on terrific redemptions or find yourself with so many points that you cannot redeem them in time.
Paying with Points
Before you jump into paying with points for certain products and services, calculate each point’s value in relation to whatever you are buying. As much as the offers may be tempting, they might not be offering as much value. Divide the cost of the purchase with the number of points you’ll be expected to redeem. For example, if the cost is $30 and you have 3,000 points, each point will be worth $0.01. In this case, paying with your card to continue earning rewards, which you can later use on something else with a higher value will be a better option.
Always keep an open mind when redeeming your points. If what the hotel offers as a reward for the points does not work for you, try to find out more. You may land on a great deal that was not so obvious at first. Also, do not let your points expire. Most hotel points expire after a year or so. If the expiry date is approaching and you have no plan of redeeming them, extend the expiration date by doing some activities. For example, you may earn some points and extend the expiry date of your previous points by filling up an online survey form.
