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7 options I'd consider before booking a work-from-hotel package
Katie Genter is a digital nomad who has traveled full time since June 2017. She writes and edits stories about points and miles, and loyalty programs, often letting her personal experiences color these stories.
November 4, 2020 • 12 min read
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Quick summary
Work-from-hotel packages have emerged as an alternative for remote workers seeking a change of scenery, but their value varies widely.
Many packages include perks like early check-in or workspace access, but often come at a premium compared to standard rates or alternative lodging.
The author finds most work-from-hotel packages less appealing due to higher costs and redundant perks already available through hotel loyalty status.
Alternative options such as booking award stays, leveraging hotel promotions, negotiating long-stay rates or choosing vacation rentals may offer better value and flexibility.
What to consider
Some work-from-hotel packages can be booked with points, but most require cash and may not include all desired amenities.
Hotel loyalty programs may offer free nights on extended award stays, with specific terms varying by brand and membership level.
Long-stay discounts, vacation rentals and RV rentals can provide cost savings and amenities not found in typical hotel packages.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of seven alternative strategies for remote work travel, including maximizing loyalty benefits and creative lodging solutions.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Working remotely from a resort sounds like a dream. Rounds of golf, walks on the beach, frozen drinks by the pool, new Zoom backgrounds and -- oh yeah -- work.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, some employees are working from home indefinitely. As a result, numerous hotel brands have unveiled work-from-hotel packages to help fill empty rooms. These packages are all the rage with travelers looking to break out of a stressful work-from-home situation. And they can make it easy to work and play.
But, none of the work-from-hotel packages have compelled me to book. So, today I'll describe how to decide whether a work-from-hotel package is right for you and why I don't expect to book one anytime soon. I'll also describe seven alternate options for working remotely while traveling that are more appealing to me.
What makes a work-from-hotel package different from a standard rate varies. It's worth considering how much value the package provides and how much -- if any -- of a surcharge you're paying. For example, if you need silence to work, you may not want to use a shared coworking space. If you have children and the hotel offers schooling help, this may be worth a lot.
If cost is your primary concern, a remote work package may not be for you. After all, you can find lodging with a good workspace in most destinations for less than these packages cost. And, since you'll spend a lot of your time at the hotel or resort working rather than relaxing, it may be hard to justify splurging.
I've looked at many of the work-from-hotel packages and haven't been impressed. By nature, I'm a budget traveler who strives to get good value from my points, miles and cash. And, frankly, most of the packages I've seen cost more than I'm willing to pay and don't provide excellent value.
Sure, many packages include extra perks. But, I'd get perks like early check-in, space-available upgrades and breakfast as an elite member in multiple hotel loyalty programs. And, I could purchase other perks such as massages and pool cabanas as needed.
Now, stay with me as I share seven alternative possibilities for taking a remote work trip that I'd consider before booking a remote work-from-hotel package.
Hotel Indigo Birmingham Five Points South – UAB (Photo by Katie Genter/The Points Guy)
I have plenty of points and miles in my accounts but no trips booked for the rest of 2020. So, it would be tempting to book a workcation with points to conserve cash.
Some work-from-hotel packages, such as World of Hyatt's Work from Hyatt package, can be booked with points. But, most work-from-hotel packages aren't.
Everything I need to work remotely -- high-speed internet and a comfortable place to work -- is already provided by most hotels. Since I don't need most of the perks included in remote work packages, I'd consider booking an extended award stay at the destination of my choice.
Hilton Honors: Silver, Gold, and Diamond members get every fifth night free when redeeming Hilton points for a standard room on stays of five nights or more. Hilton subtracts each fifth night as the average number of points needed per night on your stay. But, it's only possible to get up to four free nights per stay.
IHG Rewards Club: Cardholders of the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG Rewards Traveler Credit Card get a fourth reward night perk when they redeem IHG points. This benefit makes every fourth night on reward stays of three nights or longer cost zero points.
There are ample options in Mexico to maximize lucrative promotions while staying at upscale hotels. So, I'd likely go to Mexico if I wanted to maximize promotions.
Even if you're not ready to travel internationally yet, there are some excellent options for maximizing promotions in the U.S. For example, you could use Choice Hotels' stay twice, get 8,000 bonus points promotion while staying at surprisingly inexpensive Cambria hotels in many downtown areas, including Denver and Dallas. Or, you settle into a domestic Courtyard by Marriott property and earn 2,000 bonus Marriott points every day of your stay when you book using the 53M promo code.
Some hotels offer a long-stay discount or quarantine package when booking online. For example, I’ve seen 10-40% discounts for stays of three or more nights. So, I'd check to see what type of long-stay rates are offered online before booking a work-from-hotel package.
At some hotels, it's possible to negotiate a long-stay rate with the hotel manager. Usually, it's easiest to do this in-person after staying with the hotel for a short time. But, I'd make sure to negotiate that my long-stay rate would earn points in the hotel's loyalty program.
A view from an Airbnb near Joshua Tree National Park (Photo by Chris Dong/The Points Guy)
Another way to get an excellent long-stay rate is by booking an Airbnb or other vacation rental. For example, many Airbnb rentals offer lower rates for more extended stays. But usually, you'll need to stay at least a week to see these discounts.
Some vacation rentals also offer less expensive monthly rates. It's also possible to negotiate a lower price with Airbnb hosts in some situations. However, doing so can be controversial and may not be well-received by the host. So, I generally avoid negotiating the rate unless I have a compelling reason to do so.
One benefit of booking a vacation rental for your remote work trip is home-like amenities. For example, in a vacation rental, I often enjoy having:
Temporarily moving to Bermuda is one out of the box option. (Photo by Cavan Images/Getty Images)
Since my work and living situation is extremely flexible, I'd also consider a few outside-the-box options. For example, I'd consider a high/low travel strategy where I work during the week and splurge on the weekend. Using this strategy, I could work during the week from a hotel or vacation rental that provides just the basics at a great value. On weekends I could splurge on a resort or luxury hotel for rest and relaxation. A bonus of this strategy is that I could maximize multiple hotel promotions.
One final option I considered was temporarily moving to a country that would let me work remotely abroad. Although this is an appealing option, moving abroad is a big commitment. And, some remote work visas are difficult or expensive to obtain. So, although I decided not to move abroad during the pandemic, it might be a feasible option for you.
Work-from-hotel packages are certainly popular now. And, booking a work-from-hotel package may be the right choice for you. But, I'd consider other options first.
After all, I've had success working from various lodging types in my last three years as a digital nomad. And, there are plenty of current hotel promotions and inexpensive rates that are more appealing to me. Plus, some of the alternate options described in this guide would provide me more value or a better experience.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
