I'm sure this question has been asked before, but I couldn't seem to find a thread. Between Hyatt, Starwood, Hilton, and Marriot, which program earns free nights faster. I travel widely for work, so don't really prefer one chain over the others. Thank you for your insight.

At this point, Hyatt would be your best program as they offer 1 free night for every 2 paid stays (not nights mind you) until August 31 at least. You may also be able to get in on the 50k promo with Hilton HHonors for 4 stays during a 90 day period.

Unfortunately, Hyatt is not always the best priced or lacks in locations and variety of places. Best to have a backup program like Hilton or Starwood. Can't comment too much on Marriott as I had always been disappointed with their program and found the rooms to be very boring. That being said, do the Hyatt promo for the free nights you can still use after August and do the other programs depending on your preferences- Hilton allows you to double dip with airline miles and Starwood offers great 500 points per online booking and has better conversion rates of points to miles although many of us have visted the Hilton Cleaners to laundry miles.

Starwood without a doubt. It's the only one that treats their points as cash. No blackouts whatsoever which trumps every other program.

I would agree with Starwood, but it would also depend upon your travel schedule. Yes, Starwood is great, but if your travelling takes you to places with no *woods it doesn't help much

Travel Buzz?

No not travel buzz. "Program".

If you travel widely, give Hilton four stays and see if you like them. That will net you 54,000 HH points in bonuses alone, plus they will give you Gold Status. (Gold is not super-elite because they give it to anybody, but it gets you an occasional upgrade and free breakfasts in some places.)

HH can get you to 100,000 points quickly with a few stays, which translates into 6 nights in almost any property in the world. (I'm sure there are a few exceptions, but not many.) That's *probably* your fastest way to a big award. I have no input to give on availability of awards other than the fact that I got my desired Hawaii dates with a 9-month advance booking on a 100K award.

Marriott seems to me to be the slowest way to earn a big award. I have accumulated about 150,000 points through the years, and never redeemed once. That's because MR delivers a LOT less bang-for-the-point at low levels. At the 250-300K range, you get into some very nice rewards that include 100,000 FF miles. Bonuses are tighter and MR doesn't give their mid- and high-elite levels away for nothing. A hardcore business traveler probably likes Marriott more than I do for these reasons.

One upside to MR and HH is that they have a good range of properties, from roadside motels (for college football weekends, of course!) to five-star resorts.

I have little experience with Hyatt and Starwood because the don't have properties everywhere I go. I have heard good things about both chains, and stayed in a nice Hyatt and a nice Westin from time to time. I just don't use them enough to become active in their programs.

HH/SPG --> Hyatt --> Marriott --> Priority Club

i have no idea what this means.

You sing it to the tune of "The head bone's connected to the neck bone...(etc...)"

I like Hilton's, as they really are everywhere with Hilton / Embassy / Doubletree / Hampton - in all the price ranges and in big cities and in the hinterlands. You also get points and airline miles for each stay, giving you the most in my opinion. Being a gold and soon to be diamond I've gotten my fair share of upgrades, and especially like the free snack and bottled water that you get a gold level
at the Hamptons, and the breakfast coupons at Hiltons is a nice touch also.

Marriott also has a wide variety of properties, Marriott, Courtyards, Fairfield, also available in the larger cities and smaller towns, but they are not as free with bonus points as Hilton, and it seems like I constantly don't get points credited to my account. I find the upgraded rooms at large city Marriotts to be nicer than the rooms at Hilton.

So you can see I split my stays, putting me in the mid level elite program to get extra benefits wherever I stay. Between Hilton and Marriott I can always find a property where I am going.

Oops!!

1st Choice : HH/SPG
2nd Choice : Hyatt
3rd Choice : Marriott
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Just a quick personal experience about what people mean about Starwood being flexible and easy to use award.

I arrived in Atlanta one night at 11:00, and didn't want to fly home to LA that night. From the airport I called main Sheraton number - and within 20 minutes I was in my completely free room at the airport Sheraton.

My first choice, SPG, second, HH, third, HI.

(1) SPG is the best program going, but in some markets they are poorly represented (if at all) and in others (primarily Europe) are typically too expensive.

(2) Hilton - a decent selection of properties, and decent treatment as a mid-tier elite.

(3) Holiday Inn - if (1) and (2) aren't available or too expensive, at least I can earn a few points. After 3 years, I have enough for a free night in Europe.

I am a member of (No particular order): RediCard(Red Roof), Priority Club(Holiday Inns), Gold Crowne Club(Best Western), Guest Privileges(Choice Hotels), Marriott, Radisson Gold rewards, Wingate U1, Hilton Honors. I work an alternate work schedule (4/10 hour days a week) about 75 miles from my home. I pay for three nights a week out of my own pocket. I am always looking for a better price with something free.

I recently signed up and stayed at Hampton Inn for 4 nights to earn the 50K promo. It cost me out of pocket, $40.00 additional over a rate I have at a Fairfield. I expect to earn six nights free. It depends on who has the best price and gives the most rewards. This year it was Hilton and their 50k promo. Last year it was Marriott and their stay 3/5k bonus.

I have changed my reservations to take advantage of a more fruitful promotion. IE-two motels about the same rate, one offers triple reward points/miles. In the last two days, I found a rate that was $10.00 less a night at a Red Roof Inn than the one I had at an Econo Lodge that offered 300 AA Miles. Plus I get enough points for about 1/10 of a night free. My 'Rewards' are about equal, the quality is about the same and I save over $10.00. I plan to use a Hilton card and get 3 points for each $ spent.

I am not what you would call a power traveler for miles, but I have received over 8 tickets w/AA in the last three years and over 20 nights free. For me, this is entertainment to try to get a better deal and get something for "nothing".