Sep 29, 2019, 1:24 pm
Last edit by: mia
Discussion of the previous version of this benefit (July 2017 - August 2019) is HERE.
Effective September 1, 2019 bookings for the 4th night benefit must be made exclusively by visiting thankyou.com or calling 1 800 THANKYOU. Citi Concierge will no longer handle new 4th night benefit bookings but will continue to support bookings made prior to September 1, 2019. To utilize your benefit through our online travel site, and/or have the option to use your ThankYou points, please visit thankyou.com, select travel in the top menu bar, select hotels, choose hotel designated as “Complimentary 4th Night Eligible”, book at least 4 nights, see savings at checkout.
Effective September 1, 2019 bookings for the 4th night benefit must be made exclusively by visiting thankyou.com or calling 1 800 THANKYOU. Citi Concierge will no longer handle new 4th night benefit bookings but will continue to support bookings made prior to September 1, 2019. To utilize your benefit through our online travel site, and/or have the option to use your ThankYou points, please visit thankyou.com, select travel in the top menu bar, select hotels, choose hotel designated as “Complimentary 4th Night Eligible”, book at least 4 nights, see savings at checkout.
Citi Prestige 4th night free hotel benefit September 2019 and beyond
Jan 10, 2020, 10:06 am
#136
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
The Citi 4th free benefit for new bookings now is relevant only when staying at some hotel that:
1) doesn't really discount their rates ever
2) offers little or no benefit for a direct booking (i.e. no meaningful rewards program)
3) is available for OTA booking at ThankYou.com
I recently priced out a boutiquey property in Provincetown on ThankYou.com that offered a legit 25% savings with no downsides. Even CheapTickets ongoing discount codes for 16% off were not working at this property. Exceedingly rare scenario all around.
1) doesn't really discount their rates ever
2) offers little or no benefit for a direct booking (i.e. no meaningful rewards program)
3) is available for OTA booking at ThankYou.com
I recently priced out a boutiquey property in Provincetown on ThankYou.com that offered a legit 25% savings with no downsides. Even CheapTickets ongoing discount codes for 16% off were not working at this property. Exceedingly rare scenario all around.
Jan 10, 2020, 5:33 pm
#137
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: AA PLT; UA PLT
Posts: 120
This is my first time using the TYP portal to book a 4NF hotel (RIP concierge bookings!), and I'm looking in Las Vegas in early April, but the strange thing is that a number of options are showing $0 in tax, just the base rate. From my non-lawyerly reading of the T&Cs, it seems like Connexions is on the hook for whatever taxes are (I understand that resort fees are separate and I'll owe those directly to the property when I arrive). Is this the case, meaning whatever I prepay now is my final cost except for resort fees and incidentals on property? If so, the TYP portal is a better deal than direct booking. If not and if I also have to pay taxes when I arrive, booking direct is a better deal.
Even stranger is that some hotels have an option for $0 taxes as well as options with taxes on the same room types... The UI for looking at room types is confusing and terrible, but it seems like a number of posters have commented on that already!
Even stranger is that some hotels have an option for $0 taxes as well as options with taxes on the same room types... The UI for looking at room types is confusing and terrible, but it seems like a number of posters have commented on that already!
Jan 10, 2020, 7:29 pm
#138
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 42
When you all book the 4th night free perk, what does your receipt show? Do you literally get a free night that shows up as $0, or do you get a credit on your account, or does the three night cost average out among four night? How does the accounting work when the dust settles? Thanks!!
Jan 11, 2020, 10:03 am
#139
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 26
I think the answer is no. Before Citi changed to require booking through their online portal you could call the concierge and request any hotel anywhere. But now we can only select from those hotels available through the ThankYou.com booking engine. I searched French Polynesia / Tahiti / Moorea / Bora Bora and for something in the price range of The Brando only the St Regis Bora Bora and Four Seasons Bora Bora showed up.
DAK
DAK
Jan 12, 2020, 9:47 am
#140
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 3
Hey all, longtime lurker and it feels good to become a part of finally! Starting to plan an engagement trip in 2021 and narrowing down places. Part of the Amex and chase program with the CSP and Amex Gold and looking into the Citi Prestige for the 4th night free benefit. Is there anywhere I can look to see what hotels are offered and the possible pricing BEFORE committing to the big annual fee?
Jan 12, 2020, 10:48 am
#141
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 6,546
my advice is to use Expedia.com and take off 25% of the pre-tax amount shown (on a 4-night stay) to approximate.
see my earlier post number 136 - you are seriously unlikely to find value here. better to stay a chain and earns points in their rewards currency. or stay in a non-chain & use a CheapTickets 16% off code plus TopCashBack. or stay in a non-chain luxury property & use AMEX FHR or Virtuoso (self-service at ClassicTravel). or Hotel.coms with their in-house rewards program combined with a CapitalOne card and TopCashBack. or Hotwire/Priceline.
see my earlier post number 136 - you are seriously unlikely to find value here. better to stay a chain and earns points in their rewards currency. or stay in a non-chain & use a CheapTickets 16% off code plus TopCashBack. or stay in a non-chain luxury property & use AMEX FHR or Virtuoso (self-service at ClassicTravel). or Hotel.coms with their in-house rewards program combined with a CapitalOne card and TopCashBack. or Hotwire/Priceline.
Jan 12, 2020, 1:06 pm
#142
fomerly known as LandingGear (not Landing Gear)
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 833
Found the answer to my question. "The biggest downside to booking through the ThankYou portal is that you won’t be able to apply your hotel loyalty membership. For most hotels, you also won’t be able to receive your elite status perks – including late checkouts or free breakfast. Since you are limited to rates available on the ThankYou Travel Portal, you can’t utilize any additional promotions, such as AAA or military discounts."
Jan 12, 2020, 1:52 pm
#143
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
You can use the concierge to change previously made bookings. I made about 20 before the switchover, as long as the confirmation number remains the same, I will still get the 4th night free (as well as elite credits). I just changed the dates successfully for one, but I couldn't use an updated rate now that it dropped $50 (that would involve cancel and rebooking and therefor not eligible for fourth night free).
They usually request the folio from the hotel (or from me), that will show the middle night if they are looking for it. Question is whether they will look for it.
If I get the 4th night free, it's on a reservation at $359 per night. If I cancel it and rebook (to take advantage of the lower rate), I will pay four nights at $311 (plus tax). So it's an extra cost of $58 per night for four nights if it isn't honored (call it $232, ignoring tax), vs. saving ($358-3x$57=$187 ignoring tax).
They usually request the folio from the hotel (or from me), that will show the middle night if they are looking for it. Question is whether they will look for it.
If I get the 4th night free, it's on a reservation at $359 per night. If I cancel it and rebook (to take advantage of the lower rate), I will pay four nights at $311 (plus tax). So it's an extra cost of $58 per night for four nights if it isn't honored (call it $232, ignoring tax), vs. saving ($358-3x$57=$187 ignoring tax).
Thanks
FDW
Jan 12, 2020, 2:29 pm
#144
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
Based on a recent change I did for Aman Venice, my guess is the answer is yes. I changed the rate type, but not the dates, but the agent was adamant that any change which kept the same confirmation # would be fine. She worked directly with the hotel to ensure the conf # did not change.
Jan 12, 2020, 2:49 pm
#145
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Baltimore MD
Posts: 3,457
Based on a recent change I did for Aman Venice, my guess is the answer is yes. I changed the rate type, but not the dates, but the agent was adamant that any change which kept the same confirmation # would be fine. She worked directly with the hotel to ensure the conf # did not change.
thanks
Jan 12, 2020, 3:21 pm
#146
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 2,028
Jan 12, 2020, 4:25 pm
#147
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Western US
Programs: Costco Executive Member, Amazon Optimus Prime
Posts: 1,251
This is my first time using the TYP portal to book a 4NF hotel (RIP concierge bookings!), and I'm looking in Las Vegas in early April, but the strange thing is that a number of options are showing $0 in tax, just the base rate. From my non-lawyerly reading of the T&Cs, it seems like Connexions is on the hook for whatever taxes are (I understand that resort fees are separate and I'll owe those directly to the property when I arrive). Is this the case, meaning whatever I prepay now is my final cost except for resort fees and incidentals on property? If so, the TYP portal is a better deal than direct booking. If not and if I also have to pay taxes when I arrive, booking direct is a better deal.
Even stranger is that some hotels have an option for $0 taxes as well as options with taxes on the same room types... The UI for looking at room types is confusing and terrible, but it seems like a number of posters have commented on that already!
Even stranger is that some hotels have an option for $0 taxes as well as options with taxes on the same room types... The UI for looking at room types is confusing and terrible, but it seems like a number of posters have commented on that already!
Most of the time all the glitches go against us, when we have pre paid stays, and the hotel then bills us again after checking out.....
Jan 15, 2020, 7:34 am
#149
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Delta DM, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 1,495
If it's Marriott, just go ahead and change the rate yourself (assume date remains the same) via Marriott app or website. I have done this a number of times and always gets 4th night reimbursed without issue (except for longer delay sometimes). This trick also works for scenarios where you filed Best Price Guarantee claim(or LNF as per Marriott) , or if you want to upgrade to Breakfast rate. The best thing about BRG scenario is that SOMETIMES Citi will reimburse you pre-BRG rate 
Jan 15, 2020, 12:43 pm
#150
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 35
so with the fact the 4th night booking is via the citi site. Has anyone had any luck at getting their member benefits applied to a booking?
Marriott?
Hilton?
ihg?
Hyatt?
Others?
I want to book, but with citi's change, I feel there's no point doing it with a hotel I have status with, but that sorta nixes most of my bookings.
Marriott?
Hilton?
ihg?
Hyatt?
Others?
I want to book, but with citi's change, I feel there's no point doing it with a hotel I have status with, but that sorta nixes most of my bookings.