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Credit card, airline, and hotel loyalty programs are treasure chests for frequent travelers. Accumulating points and miles to redeem for free nights at hotels, seats on flights, and upgrades to premium products are just the beginning of the rewards. Being a member can get you things like elite status and its associated perks as well.
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand how these programs work, but maximizing their value isn’t always obvious, either. If you’re totally new to travel rewards programs, you can get started by signing up for the right ones. Then, doing things like tacking on their credit cards and status matches can take your earnings and redemptions to the next level.
All of that leads to more travel, and that’s why you’re here, right? Best of all, most of it should be free travel if you play your cards right (pun intended)! Below, we’ll list some of the best travel rewards programs out there for hotel stays, flights, and general multi-purpose travel, as well as what to know about each of them.
TL;DR
| Best… | Program | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Loyalty Program | World of Hyatt | Reliable room upgrades, great points value, exceptional service |
| Airline Loyalty Program | United MileagePlus | Fair miles value, excellent network, many credit card earning options |
| Credit Card Rewards Program | American Express Travel | Use points on any hotel or airline, transfer points to another program, great range of credit card options |
| Booking Site Rewards Program | Expedia One Key | Redeem OneKeyCash on Hotels.com and VRBO besides Expedia, many earning opportunities |
Hotel Rewards Programs
We’ll start with hotel loyalty programs, as using hotel points to get free nights is one of the most popular travel rewards strategies. But even beyond that, being a member of these programs can get you elite status benefits, free upgrades, bonus points, and much more. Enjoying the view from your giant suite that you didn’t pay for is a feeling like no other.
1. Marriott Bonvoy
Some Hotel Brands Under the Marriott Umbrella: Sheraton, Westin, Le Méridien, The W, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis…
In my opinion, Marriott Bonvoy is the most rewarding loyalty program in the hotel business, even if they have eroded the…
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