Credit card spends: Did you know you could avail free hotel accommodation for your vacation?

Vijay loves enjoying two short vacations of one week each with his family every year. He explores different cities and stays at 3 star and 5 star hotel properties. However, Vijay doesn’t pay for hotel accommodation from his pocket.

His credit card benefits/reward points take care of the hotel accommodation. Would you also like your credit card benefits/reward points to sponsor your stays at luxury hotels?

Hotel loyalty programs

Various hotel groups in India offer loyalty programs through which they provide various benefits to their members. Some of these include:

  1. Marriott Bonvoy: The hotel loyalty program that provides access to 8000+ hotels worldwide.
  2. NeuPass: Earlier known as Taj Innercircle, the Tata group loyalty program got merged into Neupass.

    It includes access to Taj Hotels and other brands within the Tata group.

  3. Club ITC: The loyalty program by ITC Group Hotels.

Apart from the above, there are other hotel loyalty programs like Accor Live Limitless (ALL), IHG One Rewards, etc. All these hotel loyalty programs allow you to either:

  • Transfer your credit card reward points to the hotel loyalty program and then redeem the loyalty points for hotel stays, or
  • Redeem credit card reward points for purchasing hotel chain gift vouchers and then redeem the vouchers for hotel stays.

Now that we have an idea of the various hotel loyalty programs let us understand how credit card benefits can help you earn hotel gift vouchers or reward points that can be transferred to hotel loyalty programs. READ MORE: 10 valuable benefits of using a credit card

Credit card benefits: Hotel gift vouchers or reward points

Annual spend-based milestones

Some credit cards have annual spend-based milestones, which, when achieved, reward the cardholder with either hotel gift vouchers or bonus reward points.

You can use the reward points to purchase hotel gift vouchers or transfer them to a hotel loyalty program. For example, the American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card provides 15,000 bonus reward points on spending Rs.

1.9 lakhs in a year. When the cardholder spends Rs.

4 lakhs in the same year, they get an additional 25,000 bonus reward points plus an Rs.

10,000 Taj Hotels gift voucher. In the above scenario, the 40,000 bonus reward points can be redeemed for Taj Hotels gift vouchers worth Rs.

20,000 or transferred to the Marriott Bonvoy hotel loyalty program. You can then use the Taj Hotel gift vouchers to settle stay bills during Check-out, or Marriott Bonvoy points to book hotel accommodation for your vacation.

The SimplyCLICK SBI Card provides Rs.

2,000 Cleartrip vouchers on annual online spends of Rs.

1 lakh and an additional Rs.

2,000 Cleartrip vouchers on annual online spends of Rs.

2 lakhs. You can use the Rs.

4,000 vouchers to book a hotel of your choice through Cleartrip.

Regular spend-based offers

Some credit cards provide regular spend-based offers (spanning over a month or two) from time to time. Cardholders are given specific spending targets against which they get specified gift vouchers or reward points.

Booking accommodation and paying with reward points

Credit cards, such as IDFC FIRST Bank and American Express, allow you to pay for your online transactions with credit card reward points.

So, you can book hotel accommodation directly on the hotel website or an online travel aggregator (OTA) website and pay with your credit card reward points. Most cards will give you a redemption value of Rs.

0.25 per reward point.

Redeeming reward points for booking hotel accommodation directly on the bank portal

Some banks provide you with portals for booking hotel accommodation. For example, HDFC Bank provides the SmartBuy portal for booking flights, hotel accommodation, and buying other products by redeeming reward points.

You can book hotel accommodation on the SmartBuy portal and pay with your credit card reward points. When you book through a premium credit card, such as HDFC Infinia, you get a redemption rate of Rs.

1.00 per reward point.

Redeeming reward points for hotel or OTA gift vouchers

In the above section, we saw how you could use the SmartBuy portal for booking hotel accommodation using your HDFC Bank credit card. If you don’t have an HDFC Bank credit card, you need not worry.

You can redeem your credit card reward points to buy gift vouchers of the hotel brand or an OTA. You can then use the gift voucher to book your hotel accommodation.

Transferring reward points to hotel loyalty programs

In the first section of this article, we saw the various hotel loyalty programs offered by different hotel groups. You can use your reward points to either:

  • Convert them into gift vouchers of specific hotel brands or
  • Transfer them to the hotel loyalty program.

Various banks have tied up with hotel loyalty programs to allow their cardholders to use their reward points.

  • HDFC Bank allows you to transfer reward points to Accor Live Limitless (ALL), IHG One Rewards, Wyndham Rewards.
  • Axis Bank allows the transfer of reward points to Marriott Bonvoy, Club ITC, and IHG One Rewards.
  • American Express allows the transfer of reward points to Marriott Bonvoy.

You can then use the hotel gift vouchers or hotel loyalty points to book hotel stays.

You can transfer credit card reward points to a hotel loyalty program like Marriott Bonvoy at a specified ratio. For example, you can transfer American Express reward points to Marriott Bonvoy in a 1:1 ratio. So, for every 1 American Express reward point transferred, you will get 1 Marriott Bonvoy point.

While booking a Marriott group hotel using loyalty points, the number of points required for per night stay is specified. The value per point is usually in the Rs.

0.50 to Rs.

2.00 range. In some rare cases, the value may go beyond this range.

Let credit card spends take care of your hotel stays

Are you a travel freak?

Also, do you use credit cards regularly for monthly spends? If you answer yes to both questions, consider a credit card that will reward you with free hotel stays. After all, why spend from your pocket for hotel stays when your credit card benefits/reward points can provide you with the same, free of cost!

Gopal Gidwani is a freelance personal finance content writer with 15+ years of experience.

He can be reached at LinkedIn

Article

5 Credit card myths to avoid

First Published: 25 Mar 2023, 09:32 AM IST

Topics to follow

Tags:

bumble-and-bumble listed on couponmatrix.ukdermalogica listed on couponmatrix.ukfootshop listed on couponmatrix.ukpro-direct-soccer listed on couponmatrix.uktapas-revolution listed on couponmatrix.ukvonhaus listed on couponmatrix.uk
bumble-and-bumble listed on couponmatrix.ukBumble and bumble is a popular hair care brand that offers a wide range of products for all hair types. They're known for their quality products and Bumble and bumble discount codes, which make them a great choice for those looking to save money on their hair care needs. Their Bumble and bumble discount codes can be used to save money on purchases made both online and in-store. So if you're looking for a brand that can offer you quality hair care at an affordable price, be sure to check out Bumble and bumble. Here at Groupon, we work hard to find the best discount codes and deals for our customers. We know that saving money is important to you, which is why we offer a variety of discount codes and coupons for Bumble and bumble products. Whether you're looking for a discount on shampoo, conditioner, hair treatment, or styling products, we can help you save big. Be sure to check back often for the latest discount codes and deals! Bumble and bumble's hair care products are some of the best on the market, and their shampoo is no exception. This top-performing product is gentle on the scalp and leaves hair feeling clean and soft. It's also affordable, thanks to Bumble and bumble coupon codes. So if you're looking for a quality shampoo that won't break the bank, be sure to check out Bumble and bumble. And don't forget to use a Bumble and bumble coupon code to save even more money on your purchase.
dermalogica listed on couponmatrix.ukYour skin never comes second with Dermalogica, the brand founded by experts to address skin ailments of every variety. With an aim to support skin health through a wide array of botanical ingredients, every customer is welcome to use a Dermalogica discount code to cut the cost of whatever dermatological treatments they deserve. Whether you’re looking to address your own dry patches or your teenage kid’s breakouts, Dermalogica is on hand to help soothe skin to perfection.
footshop listed on couponmatrix.ukKeep your feet in tip-top condition with a welcome break at Footstop, your local podiatrist and chiropodist. As experts in treating feet conditions, you can treat everything from a verruca to an ingrown toenail for a fraction of the price with the latest Footstop discount code from Groupon. There’s nothing quite as annoying as walking on a damaged foot, so address the problem at the first available opportunity with a treatment from Footstop today. We all know that sometimes life gets in the way of our scheduled routine, with the folks at Footstop being no exception. That’s why you won’t have to pay for an appointment you can’t make, provided you give at least 24 hours’ notice. Also, anyone working with a shoestring budget can opt to book a treatment with a foot health practitioner instead of a podiatrist, which – though less extensively qualified – can save you 10% of your booking price. Gradual wear and tear can happen to everything, with your feet being no exception. That’s why we’d recommend getting a routine chiropody treatment, available for less with the latest Footshop vouchers. Each check-up will see one of Footstop’s experts removing any hard or soft skin from your feet, whilst also touching up your nails for good measure. Keeping a strong stride is far easier with a little professional help, so ensure you’ve given yourself the treatment your two feet deserve at Footstop.
pro-direct-soccer listed on couponmatrix.ukTake your passion to the next level with Pro Direct Soccer. It’s your go-to for everything football - from team kits and replica shirts to boots and equipment, you’ll find all the gear you need from the best brands in the business. Make the most of a Pro Direct Soccer voucher code to save on your kit - no matter what age or stage you are in your football career, Pro Direct can help you be the best.
tapas-revolution listed on couponmatrix.ukIndulge in Spain’s top cuisine at Tapas Revolution, where spicy paella, tacos and calamares fritos top the menu. Tapas is meant to be shared with a group, so get the gang together and order a spread with shangri and cocktails all ’round! The Tapas Revolution discounts we have at Groupon can keep your celebration costs down, so check here for a percentage discount on your food bill or a free drink to quench your thirst. A Tapas Revolution awaits from Bath to Newcastle, so you won’t need to travel far to get an authentic Madrid experience.
vonhaus listed on couponmatrix.ukA person’s home is their castle, as the proverb goes, which makes Vonhaus the perfect place to visit when it’s time for a refresh! Whether you’re looking for the finishing touches or some Vonhaus furniture to transform your space, you can get it all for less with Groupon’s help. We’ve picked out the best Vonhaus discount codes available right now and other great ways you can save with free delivery, seasonal sales and special offers! Our page is updated regularly with the latest deals, so you should always check Groupon first.