Originally Posted by
kamel123
Could anyone on this forum comment on actual experiences with their LHW unlimited membership, especially regarding free night redemption?
FootballFan, you seem to have had positive experiences, but the reason I am asking the question is the system appears very unsophisticated: "4 stays at a LHW hotel will give 1 free night" is all it says on the LHW website, and I cannot find more detailed T&Cs.
This system looks like it can be gamed very easily: So I do 4 one night stays at a cheap LHW hotel - there are quite some options even below 150 USD/night - and I get one night at Laucala which is >3,500 USD? Add to this the $1,200 cost of the unlimited membership, and I am still slightly ahead. And doing 12 one night stays at a total cost of ~ 1,800 USD, I get to redeem 3 nights at Laucala valued at 11,500 USD? Can this be true?
Not that I would do it (echo the sentiment that expressed here that it wouldn't make me feel good), but others would for sure try - the ultimate mattress run.
Only obvious way for LHW to control it would be to dramatically limit availability of free nights, but again the website does not state anything about blackout dates/exclusions etc. I am sure there are limitations, which would make the claim of 4-to-1 however a bit of an empty promise
Earning Stay Credits and Free Nights
4 stays at minimum 2 different hotels = 1 free night
Promotions
There are minimum two times per year promotions with 1 stay = 2 stay credits. 4 stay credits mean 1 free night. The additional stay credits you get credited later. That means you stay 2 nights, get 2 stay credits credited. 2 or 3 weeks later you get the additional stay credits credited, and you have got 4. The no. of hotels participating is limited but sufficient in Central Europe, and also in the US as far as I can remember, but I am not sure. Another promotion was with suites and double stay credits. An actual promotion till Nov. 18th to book is (one time for one member) stay one night at best available rate in any LHW hotel till Dec. 31st and get double stay credits, or stay 4 consecutive nights and get 3 stay credits.
Redeeming
I had a redemption in August, 3 free nights at Grand Hotel Heiligendamm, Baltic Sea (Ostsee), Germany. Wonderful Seaside Resort. I called LHW Office Frankfurt/Main, Germany. I wanted to book one room for two persons for a longer weekend including a nationwide holiday, the hotel was already nearly full for paid stays, cheapest rate 450 Euros. LHW officer told me while using his booking code that redemption seemed blacked out for that dates, but he could override it with another code as long as free rooms were available, and it worked. I got 3 certificates to present at checkin, hotel already had them in their system so no need. Instructions to hotel written on the certificates: Full LC Unlimited benefits apply. I got daily free comp breakfast, daily 2 bottles of water, daily newspaper, welcome gift, free internet, other benefits which I can´t remember anymore. Ah, comp. room upgrade at time of booking - deluxe room with seaview! And late checkout. Everything like at a paid stay! Just make sure at a 3 free nights stay that stuff recognizes it not as 3 stays with one night each (in fact it is booked like this: 3 certs = 3 stays!). They may welcome you with "You stay one night, right, our system shows it!", or disactivate your key card daily ("Listen, I stay three nights, not one"), or drive your car in front expecting you to leave, or do not clean your room as you appear daily on the cleaning stuff´s checkout list. Well, I got over it
. Maybe it was hotel related also.
Deutsches Computerprogramm? 
Stay at cheap hotels and redeem at expensive ones
Yes it works in general. Practically it is not always possible, as most time you have to find hotels where you do business and not find business where the cheap hotels are. I have a mix of many low, some medium and some higher rates in my history. The cheapest rates in Germany are from around 100-120 Euros on, for 2-3 hotels, but at certain months only. Many medium rates with 150-200 Euros per night. Also redemption will not be possible when the hotel is booked out. Try to book Byblos in Saint Tropez, it is even impossible for paid rates months before many high season dates in summertime, but I will try for next year.
I am very happy with the loyality program. Right, only 3 nights one time, but you can switch to the next hotel for 3 free nights, or pay some, it pays off even if you pay some nights.