Quick Tips: Enjoy your fourth or fifth night free on hotel award stays

Using points for complimentary hotel stays is an excellent way to cut travel costs. Even better, you can optimize your redemptions to secure an award night without spending any points.

It may seem unbelievable, but it’s true. Many prominent hotel chains offer the chance to receive the fourth or fifth night free on award stays; you just need to know the booking process.

Claiming a complimentary night on extended award stays

Three leading hotel programs provide a complimentary night for extended award stays:

• Marriott Bonvoy
• Hilton Honors
• IHG One Rewards

In simple terms, if you redeem your points for four or five consecutive nights at a single hotel, you'll receive an additional night free.

The specifics of this benefit differ among programs. Generally, to qualify for the free night, you need to stay at one hotel for the entire duration and pay entirely with points — this benefit is not available when using free night certificates or points-and-cash combinations. Fortunately, the discount is applied automatically, so you won't need to work with an agent or manage any rebates.

Marriott Bonvoy

With Marriott Bonvoy, enjoy a complimentary fifth night for every four consecutive nights booked with points. This benefit is accessible to all members and is valid at all Bonvoy locations. Plus, this offer applies to every fifth night, with no cap on the number of free nights you can earn.

The discount is automatically applied when you book an award stay for a minimum of five nights online. Keep in mind that if the rates for different nights vary, Marriott will cover the cheapest night instead of the actual fifth night. Additionally, if you reserve an upgraded room, the fifth-night-free benefit only applies to the standard award rate, so you’ll need to pay extra or use a Suite Night Award (SNA) for the higher-category room for all nights.

Hilton Honors

Hilton's fifth-night-free benefit functions similarly to Marriott's but comes with a few more restrictions. You’ll receive a complimentary fifth night when redeeming points on stays of up to 20 nights. However, this benefit is exclusive to Hilton Honors elite members.

Fortunately, obtaining Hilton status is quite straightforward. You can achieve entry-level Silver status simply by having the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (check rates and fees). Higher tiers of status can be unlocked through Hilton's other cobranded credit cards or The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment is required).

Once again, the discount is automatically applied online, but you must be logged into your account to view the reduced rates. Additionally, this benefit is restricted to standard room bookings.

IHG One Rewards

IHG's complimentary night benefit is the most generous and exclusive. With IHG, you earn a free night when you book four consecutive nights — not five. However, this offer is only available to holders of the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, or IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card. Thus, having IHG One Rewards elite status alone does not guarantee access to this perk.

You can redeem the fourth-night reward an unlimited number of times each year. The discount will be automatically applied online as long as you're logged into the account associated with your card.

In summary

If you're planning a three or four-night award stay with Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, or IHG One Rewards, there's no reason not to include an extra night (if it fits your travel schedule). This benefit allows you to prolong your vacation or secure early check-in or late checkout at no extra points. Additionally, you'll earn one more night towards achieving elite status.