I've reviewed this helpful thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=529890&page=1

but I'd like to know which Frequent Stayer program would offer the best benefits for me?

I'm currently a Hilton member, but I don't like their program because earning enough points for a free stay never seems to happen.

I'm intrigued by Starwood, because a free weekend night can be as low as 2000-3000 points, even at places I'd actually want to stay at. Of course, that can range up to 25,000... but with all the earning opportunities of the SPG AMEX card, it seems like a good option. There are thousands of points available as bonuses right now, too.

Don't know much about Marriott and Hyatt.

I have somehow earned a few TripRewards points, but only enough for a Burger King gift cert. :D

So here's our stay pattern:

2-3 times a year in an mid-to-upscale hotel, for 3-4 nights, for a conference (Sheraton, Le Meridien).

2-3 times a year in a low-to-midscale hotel for 3-6 nights for vacation (Hampton Inn).

5-10 times a year at budget to low-end properties for 1 night for vacation.

Can anyone make some recommendations? Is it even worth making the effort at loyalty with this pattern? Our goal is free weekend nights at mid-range hotels.

I have had a Starwood Amex card for the past 2 years and have been completely content with it. Many hotels only need 2000 points for a free night... the more upscale hotels need up to 7000-10000 or so but there are also a lot of promotions/deals each month. I've been completely content with this program and can always find a hotel. I'd highly recommend it! ^

Since you posted this in the Budget Travel forum, I have been satisfied with my stays in the Choice Hotels (Comfort, Quality, Sleep, etc.). When travelling on my own dime, they are usually quite a bit less than the Hilton options. I don't usually spend a lot of time in the hotel, so the amenities are not an issue. You still earn airline miles for stays and their frequent guest program for free stays is reasonable. They currently have a promotion where 2 stays gets you a free night.

I am a fan of the Marriott chain. That aside, I do recall reading in Consumer Reports (or some other type of equivalent review) that it has the best hotel rewards program around. I wish I could cite the article for you, but I cannot. Good luck. ;)

I am a fan of the Marriott chain. That aside, I do recall reading in Consumer Reports (or some other type of equivalent review) that it has the best hotel rewards program around. I wish I could cite the article for you, but I cannot. Good luck. ;)

why Marriott? How difficult is it to earn a free stay, either with points from stays or points from the credit card?

why Marriott? How difficult is it to earn a free stay, either with points from stays or points from the credit card?No more difficult than with any other program. Their free nights start at 7500 points/night, and as you add more nights to the stay (up to 7) the nights get progressively cheaper.

Availability can be an issue, especially with the more popular, high-end properties. Platinums have to wait in line along with everybody else.

Up until recently, their Signature Visa card was sort of lame, but they've just added the Premier card, which provides 5 points/$ (at Marriotts, as opposed to the previous 3 pts/$), plus 2 pts/$ (IIRC) on certain other spend. Plus, you get a 15,000 point bonus for signing up and 15 nights credit per year. That means that as long as your account is in good standing you will always be at least a Silver.

Of course, the higher-end properties are more expensive in terms of points, but that's true in any program. Marriott runns promos at least twice a year. Frequent stayers have no trouble picking up another 50,000 points or so with these deals, but with your pattern you may only be able to get 10-20,000.

Marriott seems to be more consistent with respect to quality across the board, and their lower end properties (Fairfield Inns) are quite acceptable and provide a very nice free breakfast and are more likely to have pools and fitness centers.

On the other hand, your stay pattern is nowhere near enough to qualify for top level in Marriott rewards, but think about this: the new card will give you 15 nights credit per year, and Marriott Gold will still guarantee you the best room in the house and access to any lounges. With 15 nights "in the bank", you would only need an additional 35 to qualify for Gold, and that might very well be good enough for you.

Or, as you know, it only takes 28 stays to get to Diamond level with Hilton, and Hampton Inns count as much as any other Hilton. Priced very similarly to Marriotts, too. The advantage of Diamond is an additional point bonus and, most importantly, NO BLACKOUT DATES for awards. You want to stay at a particular property? No problem, the Diamond desk will make it happen.

So, do the right thing (like you're doing here), figure out what's really important to you, and then go for it.

I just added Marriott again last year and have been very satisfied. They have had many promotions in conection with their Visa. This all started for me when HP gave me 3x$100 Marriott Bonus Bucks where each apply to a 2 night stay. They award points by $ spent and when I saw that this bonus buck payment even earned points I was even more pleased.

They had a 3 month promotion where when you paid with any Visa you earned double points and then the 15000 points bonus for their own Visa. They have then had a promotion in the mid-Atlantic states for members where each 1 night stay earned $50 bonus buck for future use at any of their brands of hotels or 2 night stay earned $100 for use at Marriott hotels. They did not restrict use of bonus buck on this rate so a DC stay at $99 a night for 4 nights cost me only $198 using one bonus buck I allready had and they allowed me to use the one I just earned on the first 2 nights by checking me out and then back into the same room. (I dont think I would have expected that type of service in Europe)

Frequent weekend availability of 33% point savers with for example a spring hill suite for 10000 points.

I search for value and have been very satisfied using some of their rate codes such as LPR for Local Promotional Rates and M11 for Marriott rewards. If you get the Visa you are automatic Silver which opens up elite special offers as well.

I like new feature where they email your folio within 72 hours of check-out for your records.

I don't do much personal travel these days (pesky job schedule + attempts to save for downpayment on condo in a pricey market), so this thread is enlightening- I was quite unaware of these programs.

I was quite unaware of these programs.
<<STUN>> :D

thanks for all the thoughtful replies. Obviously some Marriott fans here! Looking at my stay pattern, elite status seems pretty hard to attain. Low level elite status at a hotel program doesn't offer the same kind of benefit ratio that low level elite status at NW offered - especially free unlimited upgrades. Mostly I'd be looking at some bonus points on earning, as I can see it.

Think of me as the guy who asks, "Which airline should I fly if I know I won't earn elite status, but I want the ability to earn miles that aren't worthless and can actually be redeemed for an award that I want?" I don't need a free F ticket to SYD - just a coach ticket to visit the folks!

Between an SPG credit card, SPG Gold status (comped b/c of NW Elite status)(4 points/dollar at Starwood properties with credit card), free nights on weekends starting at 2000 points, and no blackout dates/capacity controls, I'm leaning toward SPG right now. I'll probably never earn a free night at the St Regis Grand Hotel in Rome (!) but if I can earn a few weekend nights I'd be happy...

A free weekend night at SPG for a hotel I can use will be 2k-7k points. At 4 points/dollar that requires 500-1750 dollars in spending at Starwood properties. That seems attainable. Is that kind of accessibility there with the Marriott program? I look forward to your further thoughts.

Between an SPG credit card, SPG Gold status (comped b/c of NW Elite status)(4 points/dollar at Starwood properties with credit card), free nights on weekends starting at 2000 points, and no blackout dates/capacity controls, I'm leaning toward SPG right now. I'll probably never earn a free night at the St Regis Grand Hotel in Rome (!) but if I can earn a few weekend nights I'd be happy...

A free weekend night at SPG for a hotel I can use will be 2k-7k points. At 4 points/dollar that requires 500-1750 dollars in spending at Starwood properties. That seems attainable. Is that kind of accessibility there with the Marriott program? I look forward to your further thoughts.

You indicate much of your personal travel is in low-to-mid-tier properties. Are you sure that Starwood offers the types of properties that meet that crtieria? Just curious, as Starwood has a relatively low number of properties and their brands largely cater to business or top-tier travelers.

You indicate much of your personal travel is in low-to-mid-tier properties. Are you sure that Starwood offers the types of properties that meet that crtieria? Just curious, as Starwood has a relatively low number of properties and their brands largely cater to business or top-tier travelers.

I guess the thinking is, use the work-paid nights at Sheraton or Westin to pay for the vacation/weekend nights at Four Points. We just stayed at the Sheraton in Arlington for $700 for 2 nights incl taxes (yikes - definitely on the company dime). At 4 points/dollar, that would have been 2800 points - and a cat 1 w/e night is 2000, while a cat 2 w/e night is 3000. That's pretty fast earning. From my reading, only Choice would have offered a free stay as quickly. Still thinking, though - no decisions yet. I am educating myself more about the Marriott program.

Let me start off by saying that I am a huge Starwood fan and I stay at their hotels frequently. (Im SPG Plat) Normally I would say go with Starwood but based on your description of your travels I would think twice about this.

Starwood is a great chain and has some very nice properties (better than Marriott and IMHO Hilton can't even come close) but they are lacking in the lower end hotels like Courtyards, Fairfield Inns, Hampton Inns, etc. Sure they have 4 Points by Sheraton but I haven't been too happy with most of them unless they are new properties. Based on what you said you would use the points for (mid to low end properties for vacations), Marriott and Hilton definitely have more options/locations to chose from than *W. I would probably go with Marriott since they have remodeled a large number of their lower end hotels recently.

IF your thoughts change and you where to look at collecting points to redeem at higher end resort type properties, then I would say go with *W. They have great locations and no blackout dates. I personally would not look to redeem hard earned points for low end properties. I want a nice relaxing luxury vacation if I'm using my hard earned points. I'm using points for 5 nights at the Westin Kierland ($489 rate during my days) and the St. Regis Monarch Beach, CA ($500 rate) this year alone.

Hope this helps! Probably confused you even more! One thing I would definitely do is apply for a SPG AMEX card. I think most people on FT agree that it is the best card out there right now. If you decide to go with *W then you can get points quickly if you charge a lot and also stay at their hotels. I bet you won't be using those points for low end properties once you claim a nice luxury award and your wife/significant other gets used to vacationing in style! :cool:

I've just started with the Choice chain -- Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Comfort Inn. They are definitely a mid-tier chain, but so far the accomodations have been pretty much equivalent to, say, Fairfield Inn.

My biggest problem seemed to be that even though they had properties all over the world, they were all about the same level, and I like to spend my points on European vacations at upscale digs.

Then, I discovered they are in league with the Preferred chain (http://www.preferredhotels.com) which has some very nice properties in the UK, France, Italy, and so on. The bonus promos Choice runs means that, with some creative hotel-hopping, I can scarf up a significant amount of points.

For example: I joined the program about 3 weeks ago. By the end of this week, I should have about 30,000+ points. They're currently running a 1000 point bonus for booking on the website with their cc. I looked at my schedule and I think I can gather about 90,000 points by August, which means I can turn them in for 3 days at a very nice upscale all-suite property in London.

Your needs and travel patterns may be different, but if you're concentrating on the lower tiers it might be worth a look.

PS - I'm still maintaining my Marriott and Hilton memberships and elite levels, so the hotel-hopping does get ... interesting. :)

I'm with Priority Club - most of my travel is also in the lower-end hotels like Holiday Inn Express, which I've generally found pretty good. Plus, I've always got points, even on my dicounted rates, and membership lets you check out an hour later.