Everything But Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood: Hotels Presentation at Frequent Traveler University

Everything But Hilton,
Hyatt and Starwood
FTU Advanced DFW 2015FTU Advanced DFW 2015
Stefan Krasowski
Rapid Travel Chai

Itinerary
A Bed for the Night
Sleeping in Chains
Quick Points Tips
How Many Ways to BookHow Many Ways to Book
Savings Boost
Quick Tips
Hotwire and Priceline
Making Memories
©Stefan Krasowski, All Rights Reserved

Intro

Ground Rules
No hotel customer service stories
Moldy Welcome Amenity, Radisson Decapolis, Panama City

…But Let Me Tell You About the Prior Guest’s
Room Service at Radisson Blu Edwardian
Kensington that Wouldn’t Go Away
Just kidding - no hotel customer service stories!

Who am I in Hotel Terms?
Alone I target ≈$50/night mom and pops and quirky hotels
With my wife I use my points or Priceline 3.5* and up
I have moderate business travel hotel point earning
I only go for hotel status I can get free or from credit cardsI only go for hotel status I can get free or from credit cards

Quirky – Hotel Braavo, Tallinn, Estonia $38

A Bed for the Night

Chasing Free Breakfast Nearly Ruined
Our Aruba Vacation
Hilton Aruba So-So Breakfast Buffet

Do We Really Need Welcome Amenities?
Embassy Suites Charleston Airport

It Doesn’t Need to a Competition to
Find a Bed We Enjoy
Hotel Casablanca, Dominican Republic, $50

Don’t Stress Over All the Options
Good or Bad Hotels They May Be, They’re All in Paris

Sleeping in Chains

Use Hilton if You MS

Use Hyatt if You are a Banker or Leisure

Use SPG if You are a Consultant

But I Said No Hilton, Hyatt and
Starwood, Here’s for the Rest of UsStarwood, Here’s for the Rest of Us

Use IHG if You Go Everywhere

Redeem Crowne Plaza, not Intercontinental
If You Want that Breakfast, Try Crowne Plaza

IHG PointBreaks are Golden

Chase IHG is the Best Hotel Card

Chase Fairmont is the Second Best

Use Choice Privileges for Preferred Hotels
and Cheap Europe Awards
42 of the Travel & Leisure Top 500 Hotels in the World

Use Club Carlson for Scandinavia and More

Use Marriott for Small Town US
and Middle East

Those Marriott Hotel and Flight Awards Rock

Best Western Gets You to the National Parks
…and Lots of the World
Amex Transfer Ending 12/31/15

Wyndham’s New Fixed Awards Prices
Act Before They Change the Program Again

Auto-transfer Accor to Iberia Avios

All Those Small Chains Might Work for You

Alliances Can Be Juicy for Cash Stays

Double Stay Credit Promos at Leaders Club
2.5 Stays = Free Night

Quick Points Tips

Stays are the Hardest Way to Get Status

Extended Stay Brands Often Earn Less

Hotels Often Allow Points Transfers

5th Night Free Hilton, Marriott & SPG Awards

Don’t Forget to Use all Your Certs

How Many Ways to Book

Booking.com for Local Hotels

Hotels.com for 10 Nights = 1 Free Night

Orbitz for Orbucks

Luxury Programs

Travel Bureaux Still Exist and Can Be Useful
Chuuk: World’s Best Wreck Diving & United Island Hopper

Sharing for All Kinds

Tools to Try
So Many I Lose Track

Savings Boost

Cashback Portals

MasterCard EasySavings Hotel Network 4%

American Express Open Savings at Hyatt

Costco for Hyatt

Discount Codes Galore

Corporate Codes

Hotel Employee Friends & Family
Don’t Try it at Radisson Blu Phuket

SPG Pay Your Age

Citi Prestige 4th Night Free

Quick Tips

Subtract 1 Star in Europe, Add 1 in Asia

Request Specific Amenities in Europe

Find a Hotel With Self-Laundry

Sort Out Airport Hotel Shuttle in Advance

Hotwire and Priceline

The Hotwire and Priceline Tradeoff
Why to Not Use:
No changes, no refunds*
Unpleasant surprises*
Why to Use:
Save Money
No elite status recognition*
No miles and points*
*There are always exceptions and luck

Hotel Star Ratings Generous by ½ to 1 Star
Stick to 3.5* and Up

Resort Fees in Frequent Offender Markets
“This hotel charges a resort fee of about $25.00 per room per night”

Check the Forums or Trip Advisor to ID

Priceline Re-Bid With Low Balance Gift Card

Priceline Hotel Freebies

Making Memories

B&Bs Across US & Canada
Knox’s Dam B&B, Prince Edward Island, $90, now retired

Casa Particulars in Cuba
Be treated like a grandchild for a day

Ranches in Argentina & Uruguay
Estancia Finca Pedra, Uruguay, off-season $65

French Cuisine & Lemurs in Madagascar
Vokano Forest Lodge, Andasibe, $100

Sleep at a Buddhist Temple
Mt Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar

Camping on a Volcano
Virunga, D.R. Congo

Ryokan in Japan
Dinner in Bed, Tokiwa Bekkan, Kinosaki Onsen, $200

Love Hotels in Japan
Anna Sui Room, Rose Lips, Osaka, $120 overnight

And So Many More Out There!

Give These a Whirl

Thank You
stefan@rapidtravelchai.com
@rapidtravelchai
rapidtravelchai.com

Everything But Hilton, Hyatt and Starwood: Hotels Presentation at Frequent Traveler University

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