Getting free hotel stays can be easy if you use the following tactics to your advantage. Based on my own experience as a frequent traveler, here are four ways to get free hotel stays. While these tactics won’t always work, they can significantly increase your chances of getting free hotel stays if used correctly and consistently enough.
To get free hotel stays, you can:
- Enroll in loyalty program
- Earn points on your card
- Participate in social media campaigns
- Take advantage of special deals
Let’s take a look at them in detail now!
1. Enroll in loyalty programs
There are plenty of online travel loyalty programs out there, many of which give you miles for your stay at hotels, airlines, and car rental services. Earning enough miles to redeem for a free night or weekend getaway may take some time, but it’s not impossible.
If you fly often with a particular airline, for example, consider joining its loyalty program; if you prefer one hotel chain over another, you might be able to earn points toward upgrades and vacation packages by joining its rewards program. Car rental companies also offer similar perks when you book through their affiliated websites.
And don’t forget about credit card rewards—many cards offer cash back on purchases, as well as frequent flyer miles that can help you reach your next freebie faster.
2. Earn more points
Earning more points is an easy way to enjoy free nights at hotels. You can use one credit card for pretty much everything, so there’s no harm in getting a card that rewards you for things you’re already buying. If you don’t have a credit card with bonus points, take the time to apply for one of these cards.
Remember, though, to always pay your bill on time. Most cards charge an annual fee and late payments can damage your credit score—and they’ll cost you money too! Don’t worry about carrying a balance; it will only hurt your finances and chances of earning extra points.
If you do carry a balance, consider switching to a card without an annual fee or interest charges; then, every month after paying off your bill in full, Put the remaining amount from your new account into another savings account earmarked for saving up for trips.
3. Participate in social media contests
Participating in social media contests is a surefire way to rack up air miles, hotel points, and airline miles. There are tons of social media contests going on all day, every day; if you keep an eye out for ones that match your profile and interests, you’ll be sure to find something you want to enter!
You can also sign up for daily emails from popular brands with exclusive discounts and offers. Just be sure to read terms carefully—sometimes they have caveats or restrictions on entry or only offer prizes to certain regions. If you do win a contest, make sure to verify that it’s legitimate before sharing any personal information. Otherwise, congratulations: you just won yourself some more travel goodies!
4. Take advantage of special deals
From time to time, travel companies offer deals for hotel rooms. The most popular are last-minute deals that allow you to stay at a highly sought-after location for cheap—or sometimes even for free. Just because you’re not planning doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of these promotions and save a bundle while doing so.
Sites like Jetsetter and TravelZoo help travelers find great deals on hotels around the world. Sign up for their newsletters to get updates on when they have special offers available. You might also consider signing up for a service like HotelsTonight or Hotel Tonight, which sends out last-minute deals directly to your phone.
And if you want to go old school with your booking process, don’t forget about sites like Priceline and Hotwire, which provide deep discounts on hotel rooms from major chains. But be sure to do your research before you book: If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Conclusion
But when it comes to finding a way to get into your favorite hotel for no charge, you should look at your options. In certain cases, some strategies will allow you to stay in hotels at no cost. Whether you’re looking for a strategy that can be used every day or one that requires a one-time payment, you have options. Take a look and see what works best for your travel style so you can find an easy and effective way to get free hotel stays.
FAQ
Can you live permanently in a hotel?
Essentially a long-term living arrangement in some cases, one can live in a hotel for long periods and remain as a paying guest. You may stay as long as the hotel has no limitations on how long you may remain as a paying guest.
What is free in a hotel room?
Anything complimentary is complimentary for you to grab and is made available to you such as the small bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, coffee, packets of creamer and sugar, and other amenities from the bathroom.
What is the difference between a motel and a hotel?
Hotels usually have hundreds of rooms and take up several floors, whereas motels only have one or two floors and access their rooms from the outside.
