.Booking hotels on points is a great way to get started with using your points! It is generally simpler than booking flights (because there are fewer variables), so makes a great way to get started. Once you book your first trip, you’ll feel more confident and ready to take on more points bookings.

Many trips start with a specific destination in mind, flights are planned first, and hotels come next. There are some trips where the resort itself is the destination, and with those I typically book the hotel and then plan flights.

Ways to book hotels with points

• Transfer points to hotel partners (ex transfer Citi Thank you Points to Choice or Bilt Points to Hyatt)
• Use points earned with hotel brand from spend on a credit card or staying nights with that brand
• Free night certificates
• Portal bookings- brands not available to transfer to, using card-specific credits (like $300 Venture X, $50 CSP), Rove
• Booking with cash and using cash “credits” from specific credit cards (The Edit, FHR, Bilt hotel credit...)

Order of operations:

• Any free night certificates
• For shorter stays- Any credits that need to be used – FHR, The Edit, Bilt hotel credit. Skip these for longer stays in general unless piecing a few together
• What transferrable points chain hotels are available- Rooms.aero- Hyatt, Hilton, Marriot, IHG, Choice hotels, NO Wyndham
• Consider what points I have available and which I’m willing to part with
• Consider Portal bookings- brands not available to transfer to, using card-specific credits (like $300 Venture X, $50 CSP), Rove
  • Sign up here to earn 500 bonus Rove miles!
• If all else fails, Expedia through Rakuten or hotel site through Rakuten

Rooms.aero map view- Hyatt, Hilton, Marriot, IHG, Choice hotels

European Hotels that sleep a family of 4 -Click Here!

Booking a hotel is a great way to get started on turning your points into free travel! There are many ways to do this, but booking directly through a partner is my favorite way to get the best value. Cancellation fees are typically none (but check fine print), so it’s easy to book speculatively and then cancel or adjust plans after the fact if needed. Let me know how you have used your points to book hotel stays! Happy booking!