I stay in hotels maybe 4-5 times a year for work trips, mostly chains like Marriott or Hilton. I keep getting emails about joining their loyalty programs but I'm not sure if the points and perks actually save me money or if it's just marketing. Has anyone actually gotten real value out of these programs?
You don't actually need to pay to join - most loyalty programs are free and that's where the real question is 🏨 At 4-5 stays a year you're probably hitting enough nights to get some decent perks like room upgrades, late checkout, or occasional free nights, especially if your employer books through the same chain consistently. The points themselves aren't a huge money-saver unless you're strategic about redeeming them for high-value stays, but the free stuff (lounge access, status benefits) does add up if you actually use it. Honestly just sign up for free and see if you hit elite status naturally - no reason to pay for it at your frequency, but it costs nothing to let the points accumulate.
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