What is the best rewards/ discount program for hotels?

Maybe it was explained to me wrong. I'm currently on week 3 of my stay at a choice hotel property, I would like to think I'm well versed by now. Maybe not

 

I guess maybe "earned free nights" is a different benefit then paying with points, and is treated differently.

 

Ya thanks, Nothing will be put on my rewards card until I finally checkout so I wont find out for a couple more days.

 

We use LaQuinta. We can bring the dog. Free upgrades. Often get the jacuzzi for a std king rate. Discounts vary between 15-25%. Points add up fast. We blow them for our vacations.

Not snooty tooty. But generally not bad, especially out by the airports. Rooms run $65-$100 after discount, depending on the city and what's going on there that week.

 

And the funny thing is, to use points for payment, you have to book (reserve/pay) out in the parking lot on the web site. You can't just walk into a hotel and pay with points at the counter

 

If your a OOIDA member you can get a discount on LaQuintas also...

 

Holiday Inn (IHG) has the option of using points and credit card to book a room. Meaning you can use fewer points, and kick in some additional cash to pay for a room. This is good if you're low on points, and don't want to pay full rate, either.

 

We get one through FedEx right now, but if you talk to them, they will usually try to swing something.
And unlike most hotels there is no extra charge for the mutt. No bogus "deposit" / "cleaning fee".

And dang, when we been running hard in the extreme cold.... a jacuzzi is a joint saver.

 

I know most (or all?) Red Roof Inns are small pet friendly and they seem to have a decent points system but not sure how many Red roof Inns are around that are truck friendly but I do stay at one in San Antonio maybe once a year.

Why Redicard | Red Roof
Free Nights Fast
* Free night certificates are just 7,000 points at every Red Roof location, the lowest brand-wide points requirement in the industry!
* Earn 10 points per dollar for every dollar in room rate paid.+

 

Do not bother with the CLC program. I used to run day cab car haulers, it works as a way to manage travel but it did not give me a discount over what I was already getting, in fact my average cost per night went up with the CLC card. On top of this they charge you a yearly access fee for the privilege of overpaying for your rooms. CLC makes a killing off their program, I saw the invoice they pay the hotel I used to stay at twice a week, the manager showed me to show me how much they mark up the stay, before having CLC I paid $66.75 a night for a Super 8 near the Newburgh NY auto Auction, on CLC I paid $74.30 a night but CLC only paid the Super 8 $50. So after the manager showed me that I agreed to meet him in the middle and have my own negotiated company rate of $57 a night which was a win-win as I got a discount and he got more than CLC pays.

They are not always the best but I tend to stay with Wyndham branded hotels (Super 8, Days Inn, Travelodge) as they are usually less expensive and mostly clean. I have had a few bad experiences but most are ok. Example, right now I am just outside LA and found a nice, clean, freshly remodeled Days Inn for $70 a night, not bad when everything else is averaging $100 a night or more this close to Disney.

Currently I get the best rates no matter which group I use, Wyndham, Marriott, Best Western by using the app on my smart phone to book my room at least an hour ahead of arrival, and most of the apps save my preference profile so the hotel automatically knows I like non-smoking, king, highest available floor overlooking the truck parking lot. I have something like 12 free nights banked on Wyndham and 3 or 4 on Marriott already this year since I have over 150 hotel nights (87 have been in the last 3 months alone).