Reminder: Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood Summer Promos Have All Started - Register Now
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Now that we're a day into May, I wanted to take the chance to remind readers that the Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood summer promos have all started, so if you haven't registered yet, remember to do so now. Here's a rundown of what each entails.
Two weeks ago, Hilton announced its summer promo running May 1 - July 31 called Double Your Points. Here's how it works:
You can earn either double points or double miles on eligible (paid) stays at participating properties. The bonuses are on the base points or miles you would normally earn. So if you earn points, you'll be earning the normal 10 base points plus another 10 bonus points and then if points is your Double Dip choice, you'll earn another 5 points on top of that and whatever level elite bonus you normally earn (15% for Silver, 25% for Gold, 50% Diamond), which is also calculated just off base points. So you're earning at least 25 points per dollar.
Hilton recently changed its mileage-earning option to discontinue the Fixed Miles option, so now with Points + Variable miles, you earn 10 HHonors points per dollar + 1 mile per dollar at Waldorf-Astoria, Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites, and 5 HHonors points per dollar and 1 mile per dollar up to 100 miles per stay at Home2Suites. So with this promo, you're earning 2 miles per dollar instead.
Once you make your earning selection, you cannot change it, so think carefully before you register for the promo. You just have to register before the check-out of your first stay. There is a list of non-participating properties, so be sure to check it before making reservations.
I'm not too impressed by this promo, but I like the simplicity of it: just plain, simple bonus points/miles without tiered bonuses or having to stay at multiple brands.
Hyatt Triple Airline Partner Miles
Hyatt released the details of its summer promo on Tuesday. From May 1 - August 31, Hyatt Gold Passport members can earn triple miles (instead of hotel points) with eight of the program's airline partners including American and United after their second stay. Here are the registration pages for the individual participating airlines:
So after your second stay, you earn 1,000 bonus miles per stay up to a total of 14,000 bonus miles (for 15 stays maximum). To earn miles with your stay, you need to give your frequent flyer number at check-in for eligible stays, and by earning miles, you will not be earning Hyatt Gold Passport points. Personally, I value Hyatt points pretty highly for hotel stays, so I don't think I'll change my earning preference for this promo, but if you need to top up for an award and you have a lot of short, cheap stays (since the bonus miles are based on stays, not nights) coming up, this could be worth it for you.
Starwood Double and Triple Points
Back in mid-April, Starwood's launched its "Earn Away Get Away" summer promo, which runs May 1-July 31, 2014. You must register to earn double Starpoints on stays at participating hotels and resorts, and triple points on stays that include a Sunday night (Saturday night for hotels in the Middle East). To be eligible for the promotion follow this link, enter your SPG number and email address and hit "Register" by midnight on June 30, 2014.
The bonus points are earned on the base points you would normally earn. Starwood Preferred Guest members normally earn 2X base points per $1, spent so with this promotion you will instead earn 4X points per $1 on stays that do not include a Sunday (Saturday in the Middle East), or 6X points per $1 spent if a Sunday is included in the stay (Saturday in the Middle East).
Gold or Platinum members will earn the same 1X bonus point per $1 they normally would (75-night Platinums get 2 extra points per $1), and cardholders of the Starwood Preferred Guest Amex and Starwood Preferred Guest Business Amex who pay for their stay with their co-branded card will earn the extra 2 points per $1 too but no bonus above that.
Just note that there is a long list of non-participating properties, including high-end properties in NYC and London, so just be sure to double check it before planning your stays.
Again - though I'm not overwhelmed by this promo, I do appreciate its simplicity and the chance to earn triple points (and up to 10 points per dollar depending on your elite level and whether you have a co-branded Amex) on stays through July. Don't forget to register before your first stay!
How have these promos affected your summer plans? Which ones do you plan to take advantage of?
