Hotel Cards for a road trip.

[ptatohed]

I'm enjoying my IHG card, despite the $95 annual fee. In fact, for Mother's Day, I sent my wife to a StayBridge in Temecula CA using my free anniversary night. It was a very nice studio suite with a full kitchen. 2 nights: Thurs = 20,000 points + Friday = 40,000 points - 40,000 (exact anniversary allowance) = 20,000 points for 2 nights. I love the Platinum status - I've taken advantage of the early checkin and late checkout. Other than my wife's StayBridge stay, I've only used the card/points to stay at Holiday Inns and Holiday Inn Expresses. I find the points to average about 0.5c each but can vary 0.4c to 0.6c. I've already seen the devaluation of points in my first year as the same room at the Holiday Inn Express in Valencia CA used to be low/mid 20k points, now it is mid/high 20k points. I still have about 90,000 points from my elevated welcome offer last year! I usually do cash + points to spread out the points.

[AlbertoJadenz]

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@FicoMike0 wrote:

Hampton is hilton. Amex has three cards. I have the free card, 80,000 point sub, $2000'spend in 6 months. Might check the fee cards if you plan a lot of nights.tubidy

https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/?eep=28810&utm_cmpid=430098504&utm_adid=&utm_mcid=&u...

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Nice, that 80,000 point sub sounds like a solid deal for a no-fee card. Definitely makes sense to look into the higher-tier ones too if the trip includes multiple stays. Appreciate the reminder!

[redpat]

@AyaMai 

Waiting for your response because it appears you have all the Hotels cards and tons of IHG points to boot.

So, which 2 cards would you use?  Lol, you should know, Brilliant, Aspire , IHG or take all three?

[KatzNDawgs]

A little hidden gem is the Bilt card. No annual fee, 2x all travel, several nice transfer partners. Does require 5 swipes/mo, but that can just be on gum/coffee. And if you rent, you can rack up points like crazy.

[FicoMike0]

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@Varsity_Lu wrote:

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

It's easy to earn Hilton points, but unfortunately they're not worth that much. I have found them to be worth about four tenths of a cent.

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0.4 CPP is my calculation, too.  My thinking with the Hilton Card was this: 1. I got the no AF card with a SP approval so I'm not out anything, 2. They gave me a 100,000 point SUB which is like $400 toward hotel stays, and 3. I already like Hilton hotels anyway. Since I am already using them, I might as well get more point by using the free card. It's a win win win and I didn't have to wear shirt with baby's playing saxaphones!

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That was exactly my thinking, a sub with no hp.  I just got a cli on it to $5900, which is ok for the little I spend on it.

[redpat]

When I was on the Marriott and Hilton hamster wheel the only way to get some real value was to booking award nights getting 5 nights for 4 award nights.  The 5th is free.  Only thing it has to be consecutive nights booked.

Now everyone has gold, platnum or diamond status, so even getting upgrades have been so watered down.

I've been getting late check outs by just asking and most Hotels will let you check-in early anyway.  You just need to be nice....

Hotel points and status is no longer a value proposition.

[AyaMai]

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@FicoMike0 wrote:

If you want cash back, rather than nights, maybe a travel card. I have the usb connect, pays 5x points for hotels booked through them. Haven't tried it. The points can be redeemed for cents, to card balance or checking. I have done that, no problem. Offering 20000 points, $200, sub, $2000 spend in 4 months. They were giving away $500 when I applied, won't see that again.

as I've complained before, don't expect a cli from usb, I've been trying for over a year in two cards.

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I was in the middle of the process applying for this card, then decided not tothis shows everytime I open my US Bank account "Finish your application". Then few months later applied for U.S Bank Altitude Go & U.S. Bank Shield approved with 20K limit each but was denied for limit increase on Cash + 1K limit 

[AyaMai]

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@ptatohed wrote:
I'm enjoying my IHG card, despite the $95 annual fee. In fact, for Mother's Day, I sent my wife to a StayBridge in Temecula CA using my free anniversary night. It was a very nice studio suite with a full kitchen. 2 nights: Thurs = 20,000 points + Friday = 40,000 points - 40,000 (exact anniversary allowance) = 20,000 points for 2 nights. I love the Platinum status - I've taken advantage of the early checkin and late checkout. Other than my wife's StayBridge stay, I've only used the card/points to stay at Holiday Inns and Holiday Inn Expresses. I find the points to average about 0.5c each but can vary 0.4c to 0.6c. I've already seen the devaluation of points in my first year as the same room at the Holiday Inn Express in Valencia CA used to be low/mid 20k points, now it is mid/high 20k points. I still have about 90,000 points from my elevated welcome offer last year! I usually do cash + points to spread out the points.

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My stay in Hampton Inn & Suites Temecula in October was a disappointment but my stay at Hampton Inn Irvine Spectrum Lake Forest was great in April. I have Platinum status through IHG InterContinental  Ambassador, which I booked a weekend this month at the new InterContinental Bellevue at the Avenue with 4:00 PM check out. I am locked out till January 2026 to apply for my first Chase card.

[AyaMai]

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@redpat wrote:

@AyaMai 

Waiting for your response because it appears you have all the Hotels cards and tons of IHG points to boot.

So, which 2 cards would you use?  Lol, you should know, Brilliant, Aspire , IHG or take all three?

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Do note that I do not have any Chase cards in my name which include IHG and World of Hyatt. Yes I have Hilton Aspire though my stays at Zachari Dunes on Mandalay Beach, Curio Collection by Hilton "OK", Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort and Spa "Terrible" & Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, "great location, outdated feeling, Menu breakfast terrible". Next April will stay at Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort to use my semi annual $200 credit. SInce I do not fly, hotel and tranferable points cards are most I am interested in besides cashback. 

[AyaMai]

What's your opinion about Key+ by Wells Fargo, do you think it is better than Autography Journey.