Traveling doesn’t have to drain your bank account—especially when you can use hotel loyalty programs to score free nights. Brands like Hilton, Marriott, and IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) offer fantastic opportunities to redeem points for stays, and the cherry on top? Their “fifth night free” or “fourth night free” perks can slash the cost of your trip even further. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to use hotel points for free nights to your advantage, focusing on that sweet free-night bonus, and share the best ways to rack up points through stays and co-branded credit cards. Let’s dive in!
Why Hotel Points Are Your Travel Superpower
Hotel loyalty programs—Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG One Rewards—let you earn points that can be redeemed for free nights. The real magic happens when you book multiple nights with points and unlock a free night as a reward. Hilton and Marriott offer a fifth night free on award stays, while IHG gives you the fourth night free under certain conditions. This perk effectively reduces the average cost per night, making longer trips more affordable. Imagine a five-night beach getaway where you only pay points for four nights—or a four-night city escape where the last night’s on the house. That’s the power of strategic point redemption!
Hilton Honors: Fifth Night Free on Every Stay
How It Works: With Hilton Honors, if you book five consecutive nights using points, the fifth night is free. This applies to all members with Silver elite status or higher (which you can easily snag with a co-branded credit card—more on that later). There’s no cap on the number of points for the stay, so whether you’re booking a budget-friendly Hampton Inn or a luxurious Waldorf Astoria, the fifth night costs zero points.
Example: Let’s say a Hilton property costs 40,000 points per night. A five-night stay would normally cost 200,000 points, but with the fifth night free, you’re down to 160,000 points. That’s a 20% discount on the total cost—pretty sweet, right? Plan your trips in five-night blocks whenever possible to maximize this perk.
Earning Points:
- Stays: Earn 10 base points per dollar spent at most Hilton brands (5 points at Home2 Suites and Tru). Elite status bonuses can boost this further.
- Co-branded Credit Cards: Cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (annual fee: $150) earn 12X points on Hilton purchases, 6X at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations, and 3X on everything else. Plus, you get automatic Silver status for that fifth-night perk. New cardholders often snag a welcome bonus (e.g., 130,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first six months), enough for several free nights.
Pro Tip: Pair this with a promotion (Hilton often runs double or triple points offers) to stack points fast and redeem them for a five-night getaway.
Marriott Bonvoy: Fifth Night Free for All
How It Works: Marriott Bonvoy keeps it simple: book five nights with points, and the fifth night is free—no elite status required. The catch? Point values vary widely depending on the hotel category and season (off-peak, standard, or peak pricing). Still, this perk shines for longer stays at properties ranging from Courtyard to Ritz-Carlton.
Example: A Category 4 Marriott might cost 25,000 points per night during standard pricing. Five nights would typically run 125,000 points, but with the fifth night free, you’re paying just 100,000 points—effectively 20,000 points per night. Stretch your points further by targeting off-peak dates when rates drop (e.g., 20,000 points per night, bringing your five-night total to 80,000 points).
Earning Points:
- Stays: Earn 10 base points per dollar at most Marriott brands (5X at Element, Residence Inn, and TownePlace Suites). Elite status (from stays or credit cards) adds a bonus—up to 75% more for top-tier members.
- Co-branded Credit Cards: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card from Chase ($95 annual fee) offers 6X points on Marriott purchases, 2X on everything else, and a free night award (up to 35,000 points) each year after your account anniversary. Welcome bonuses often range from 75,000 to 100,000 points after meeting spending requirements.
Pro Tip: Check Marriott’s PointSavers deals for discounted award rates, then tack on the fifth-night freebie to stretch your points even more.
IHG One Rewards: Fourth Night Free (With a Card)
How It Works: IHG One Rewards offers a fourth night free, but it’s tied to their co-branded credit card—the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. When you redeem points for a stay of four nights or more, the fourth night (and every fourth night thereafter) costs zero points. This applies to brands like Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, and upscale InterContinental properties.
Example: Suppose a hotel costs 30,000 points per night. A four-night stay would normally be 120,000 points, but with the fourth night free, you pay just 90,000 points—a 25% savings. Book an eight-night stay, and you’d get two nights free (eighth night free too!), dropping the total from 240,000 to 180,000 points.
Earning Points:
- Stays: Earn 10 base points per dollar at most IHG brands (5X at Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites). Elite status bumps this up—Platinum (from the Premier card) gives a 50% bonus.
- Co-branded Credit Card: The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card ($99 annual fee) earns 10X points at IHG hotels, 5X on travel, gas, and dining, and 3X on everything else. It also comes with a free night (up to 40,000 points) annually and a welcome bonus (e.g., 140,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months).
Pro Tip: Use this perk for shorter trips (four nights) compared to Hilton and Marriott’s five-night minimum, making it ideal for long weekends.
How to Leverage Free Nights on Most Stays
To make the most of these programs, plan your trips around the free-night thresholds:
- Hilton & Marriott: Aim for five-night stays. Even if you don’t need all five nights, consider adding a night to hit the threshold—the savings often outweigh the extra time.
- IHG: Target four-night stays with the Premier card. It’s perfect for shorter escapes or splitting a longer trip into two four-night blocks for double the savings.
- Mix and Match: Combine points from stays and credit card bonuses to hit these sweet spots faster. A welcome bonus alone can fund a free-night-eligible stay!
Final Thoughts: Stack Points, Save Big
The key to affordable travel with Hilton, Marriott, and IHG lies in their free-night perks. By earning hotel points for free nights through branded stays (boosted with elite status) and co-branded credit cards, you can stockpile enough for multi-night redemptions that unlock those fifth or fourth nights free. Start with a card’s welcome bonus, stay loyal to one brand for a trip, and watch your points turn into savings. Whether it’s a week-long vacation or a quick getaway, these programs make every point count—especially when one night’s on them!
Discover how we leveraged Hilton’s Fifth Night Free perk for an Overwater Bungalow stay at Hilton Moorea in French Polynesia here.
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