Thank you!

Can you clarify what this means? TIA

When I first went to book with points and brought up my hotel and dates and selected my room type, the default tab was package and it came up as non-refundable only. The tab next to this was called something like standard and when I clicked on this it gave me several options including flexible stay, stay with breakfast etc.

It must not be offered at my hotel as I see no such option. Thanks!

I had to go in through my account and then go to my points and select book with points before searching for my hotel and dates first.

QuidCo (in the UK) gets 10% (often 15%) cashback on Accor bookings. That's something to take into account also.

This is not very clear from the website. When I actually click on the option to use my points, it takes me to a page to create a new booking that is bug-ridden at best, and even when I try to click through these options to book using points, it's still not clear how to actually use the points as there's no actual point to apply points. I'm booking a flexible reservation (paid at time of check-out), so is that why there's no option to redeem the points in advance?

I wasn't expected Accor's loyalty program to be very generous, but it's even more cumbersome and more of a dumpster fire than I could have imagined.

It is complicated but it worked for me (with help from this thread and persistence). Make sure you can use points for this stay as not all Accor hotels will. Firstly, sign in to your account and then choose book with points before starting the process. Once you've added in your dates and chosen you room type, look for a tab near the top - the default seems to be package but toggle to standard. This gives more options including booking a flexible stay with points. I'd post pictures but you need points to do so and I've just used mine up booking a stay earlier this week. Good luck.

Thanks, and I don't seem to be seeing that option, but I'd clicked through the exact same approach a few times, and once it did show the option to use points (but it didn't pull my corporate rate ID). Seems like the corporate rate ID for a chain discount or negotiated rate overrides the option to use points, as even if I filter on hotels where I can use points, it still doesn't show the option as long as the corporate rate ID is attached.

These points are worth even less than I thought. Similar to what margarita girl is seeing, it looks like I'd have to forego any negotiated rate or discount in order to actually use the points, so the points are actually worthless on the booking I'm looking at.

Guilty as charged. I'm failing to understand the awesomeness and user-friendliness.

Why are you guys insisting on using points via the website?
Your negotiated rates, which are certainly the same concept as my corporate negotiated rates with AH are all "pay at hotel"
The function of negotiated rates in the online system is different because it allows you to book on BEHALF of someone else too (hence not allowing you to use your points).

But if you are staying, why don't you redeem your points upon checkout on your "pay at hotel" rate?
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Because it's not clear on the website how it works, as this isn't presented as an option. Sounds like many long-time Accor members know this, but if you navigate to the section for "Use Your Points", it takes you to make a new booking; it doesn't present other ways to use them on a hotel booking.

So if I'm using a corporate negotiated rate, seems like I can't use my points in advance, but I can redeem them on checkout? Again, not clear on the website.

Its very clear in the terms and conditions, note the stay must be booked at accor.com, if its prepaid you cannot use points on checkout, and some hotels dont allow use for food:

10.REDEEMING REWARDS POINTS

Members can use their Rewards Points to obtain Rewards, which notably include:
- the opportunity to pay less for an eligible stay in a participating hotel;
- benefits from certain Partners, notably by converting Rewards Points into points for other Partner loyalty programmes (such as air miles);
- products or services obtained via the Programme's online store ("La Collection by Le Club AccorHotels") in countries where this is available.

The use of Rewards Points to obtain a reduction on the amount of the invoice issued for an eligible stay at a participating hotel is subject to compliance with the following rules:
- Rewards Points can only be used for eligible stays to gain Le Club AccorHotels points pursuant to article 7 of the general conditions of the Programme, which means for an eligible stay comprising accommodation and on-site expenses, or for an eligible stay comprising accommodation only, with the exception of Day use bookings;
- Rewards Points can only be used for reservations at participating hotels made through the AccorHotels.com, website, the websites of participating AccorHotels brand hotels (with the exception of the website www.mamashelter.com the AccorHotels mobile application, the AccorHotels telephone reservation centre, or by booking directly with a participating hotel. Rewards Points may also be used directly at the reception desk of a participating hotel during an eligible stay.

Rewards Points can only be used in multiples of 2,000 Rewards Points: 2,000 Rewards Points entitle the Member to a reduction of 40 euros on the price (including tax) of accommodation or on-site expenses. A Member cannot use a number of Rewards Points that would entitle them to a reduction of an amount greater than the total price of the accommodation or on-site expenses concerned. The Member must use the means of payment normally accepted online or at the hotel to pay the remaining price not covered by the reduction obtained;
- Reservations at a rate which is subject to prepayment (where cancellations and changes are not permitted) cannot be made using only Rewards Points and must include a part paid by credit or debit card.

- when a reservation is made on the AccorHotels.com, website, the websites of participating AccorHotels brand hotels (with the exception of the website www.mamashelter.com

or the AccorHotels mobile application, it is possible to use up to 1,000,000 Rewards Points, in increments of 2,000 Rewards Points;
- when a reservation is made through a channel other than those listed in the previous point, all the Member’s Rewards Points eligible for use in a given reservation are automatically taken into account when the reservation is made, in multiples of 2,000 Rewards Points up to the limit of 1,000,000 Rewards Points per reservation (e.g. if the reservation amount is 110 euros, and the Member has 5,540 Rewards Points on their account, then 4,000 Rewards Points will be used);
- Rewards Points may be used directly at the hotel at any point during a stay, between the Member’s Check-in and Check-out. The Member’s presence at the hotel and the presentation of the Member’s card are obligatory;
- using Rewards Points to obtain a reduction in the price of accommodation or an expense charged in a currency other than euros, will entail the application of the AccorHotels group’s exchange rate of reference, as taken from the “Multicurrency” database (database of monetary and financial information from Reuters bank). This rate shall be applied:

- upon Check-out for the use of Rewards Points in a reservation which does not require pre-payment;
- upon payment for the use of Rewards Points in a reservation which requires pre-payment;
- upon request for the use of Rewards Points directly at the hotel during a stay;
Rewards Points used by a Member can only be recredited to the Member’s account in the following cases:
- automatic cancellation of a reservation as a result of payment failure or payment refusal;
- cancellation of a reservation by the Member before Check-in for rates where cancellations and changes are permitted;
- change of reservation by the Member entailing a reduction to the number of Rewards Points used when making the original reservation, for rates where cancellations and changes are permitted (unless the member has already checked in);
- Member’s failure to arrive at the hotel for rates where cancellations and changes are permitted (the amount of the first night will still be charged);
- Rewards Points will not be recredited in the event of a Member’s request to change or cancel a reservation at a rate where changes and refunds are not permitted;
- Rewards Points used directly at a participating hotel during a stay cannot be recredited if the Member has authorised the hotel to use their Rewards Points;
Some participating hotels do not accept Rewards Points to reduce catering expenses. The list of hotels concerned is available on the following site: https://www.accorhotels.com/leclub/u...index.en.shtml .

Actually I never have a problem with the website showing rates that allows points payment even when I searched from the front page of the website, although I haven't been actually using that for my last few bookings that slide bar to use points was always there if I'm choosing a rate that allows point payment.