Triple Crown: Fact or Fantasy?
 

Mileage runs are well-documented on this board. The best ones are those that pay for themselves, i.e., generate miles and/or certificates whose value is arguably higher than the total fare paid.

Is there any equivalent with hotels or car rentals? Normally, the tangible benefits of reward programs in these industries fall far short of those found in airline programs. But occassionally, juicy promotions pop up to change the equation drastically. I'm sure some of you have some inspiring tales of free beds.

Has anyone ever pulled off a "Triple Crown" -- a trip with airline, hotel, and car rentals that paid for themselves through reward benefits earned on the same trip?

Note: Any benefits earned previously, or outside the trip, are not really "free" and don't count. Examples: comped casino rooms, previously earned hotel points, etc

In 2001-2002, HHonors frequently had 4-stay-for-50,000 bonus codes. Eight Hampton (or other cheap) nights equaled one week in a large oceanfront Executive Level floor on the Big Island. Factoring in common Priceline rates for both Hampton Inns and the Hilton Waikaloa Village, it was more profitable to pay the eight points-earning Hampton rates.

Between Hilton's recent devaluation and the scarcity of 4-for-50K bonus codes, this scenario is no longer quite as juicy. The HHonors program has been reset to benefit the highest-end business traveler for whom Priceline isn't an option.

Some of the other stay X times to earn Y free nights (e.g., Hyatt's FFN) can possibly be profitable if you know you have an expensive upcoming stay for which free rooms are available (iffy proposition in some chains) - and you can knock out the requirements of the promo at a cheap property.

Car rentals: Only unusual thing I've done: in late 2000 I swapped out Hertz cars in December to both pile up Marriott points (1000 rental with a 2x code) and achieve 40 rentals (President's Circle status). They were business rentals, I was staying next to an airport, and the swapping didn't affect my corporate rate. Wasn't intended to be profitable in the way that a MR is: just earned some future perks.

I did a hotel run a while back with Starwood. When counting the free weekends (depending on where you use them) and the points, it was well worth it. Fortunately there are like 6-8 or whatever Starwood hotels in NJ within driving distance to make it worthwhile.

Also, unlike a mileage run, you can speed it up by driving faster and streamlining your "check-in" process at the hotels. So, it was a bit more exciting.

d

I didn't do this, but it could have easily been done. Southwest had an Amex promotion where you would earn 2 RR credits per segment. Tied into the double RR for online booking, you could get 6 credits per round trip. Round trips from LA to Phoenix or Vegas were about $55 including tax. 8 trips, tied into 8 Hampton Inn stays (1/2 RR credit each), would yield the 100,000 + Hhonors points - and 8*6 = 48 + 4 = 52 Rapid Rewards Credits. With 16 you can get a ticket that can easily (though against the rules) be sold for about $300, or used for airfare that is sometimes over $600. That would probably have paid for the flight, cars and hotels - and the Hhonors points would have been gravy.

So checking in and out of the same hotel each day wouldn't work?

I'm aware of the Hilton 50K deal -- used it myself once last year -- but a little confused about the details of your "play". Didn't know you could earn the bonus multiple times. Your eight Hampton stays earned 100K points by nabbing the bonus twice, right? Also, not sure whether you used Priceline stays at Hampton to qualify (Hilton credited my Priceline stays last year).

BTW, how is the Waikaloa Village? I'd been tempted to spend my HH points on it.

Hi,

In Alexandria VA there are a Hampton Inn, an Embassy Suites and a Hilton all within a block of one another. I have been known to switch among them to get more HHonors points/miles when staying multiple nights. Also sometimes the Govt. Rate or lower is not available at one or the other for the entire duration of my stay so I have to switch anyhow.
I like the Embassy Suites the best of the 3 even though being an HHonors Gold doesn't get me anything special.

Steve

No. Unfortunately the hotels are wise to this trick. You only get miles per non-consecutive stay.

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