Lately, a third option has been catching on, including with a few major hotel brands. Instead of earning your way toward a reward, you pay a membership or subscription fee upfront and start saving right away. These hotel subscriptions may hand you a discount on room rates, fast-track you to a mid-tier elite status and sometimes toss in extras like late checkout, dining credits or a free welcome night.
If you already book the same hotel brand often, the discount alone could be enough to cover the fee. But some of the brands have small networks of properties, and others may offer you similar benefits through one of their credit cards — not to mention the chance to earn points on your purchases.
5 hotel subscription plans and what they offer
Benefits and access can vary significantly, depending on which hotel subscription you choose. In some cases, you may even get perks that go beyond hotel stays. Here are some of the options.
For $95 a year, Wyndham Rewards Insider gets you a long list of benefits. Here are some highlights:
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At least 10% off stays booked directly with Hotels by Wyndham.
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A 50% points boost on all qualifying stays.
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Various discounts on eligible flights, car rentals, cruises, theme parks, all-inclusive resorts, tours and activities.
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24/7 concierge service.
InterContinental Ambassador
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Guaranteed one-category room upgrades.
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Complimentary weekend night, valid on the second night of a paid weekend stay.
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Up to $20 in restaurant and bar credits with every stay.
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Single room rate for double occupancy.
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Guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.
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Extras like complimentary water and internet, as well as a dedicated check-in area.
While the IHG chain has a footprint of more than 6,600 properties worldwide, Ambassador benefits largely apply only at IHG’s luxury brand, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, which has just over 220 destinations.
The citizenM brand is part of the Marriott Bonvoy family, but it has its own subscription plan for people who love its tech-savvy and design-forward properties. A mycitizenM+ membership runs $170 per year and offers the following perks:
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15% off direct citizenM bookings and up to 30% off during member sales.
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15% off food and drink at citizenM bars.
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15% off meeting rooms.
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Free coworking at most properties.
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Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status.
The citizenM brand has only 37 hotels across more than 20 cities in the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific, making it a tough sell for that price, unless you’re a frequent citizenM guest. That said, the free coworking benefit could be a boon for remote workers who live near a citizenM location.
Minor Hotels Horizons Club
Horizons Club comes in two annual subscriptions: Standard at $205 (179 euros) and Elevate at $285 (249 euros). Here are some of the perks they offer:
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15% to 25% off public rates.
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A complimentary welcome night worth 150 Discovery Dollars.
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Minor DISCOVERY Gold tier.
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10% off bars and restaurants, plus 20% off the pet fee.
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Access to member offers of up to 50% off.
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50 Discovery Dollars back after your first stay.
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Complimentary late checkout and flexible cancellations.
The only difference between the two is that Elevate members also get access to perks with additional brands. Minor’s network runs to more than 350 hotels across more than 30 countries in Europe and the Americas, but it doesn’t offer perks with any other major hotel brands, so that’s it.
There is no Minor credit card either, which leaves the subscription as the only way to access these perks. As a result, it only makes sense if you’re fiercely loyal to the Minor brands.
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Negotiated rates at luxury hotels, some listed at 30% to 50% off.
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Complimentary elite status with hotel brands such as Hilton, IHG, Sonesta and Wynn.
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Upgrades, late checkout, welcome amenities and other VIP touches at many participating hotels.
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Complimentary elite status with select airlines and car rental companies.
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Preferred rates on airport lounge memberships, villa and resort experiences and more.
The catch is that you won’t be able to view the full slate of FoundersCard features unless you request an invitation or join. Also, some benefits require an upgraded Elite plan, which costs $995 annually.
This subscription may be worth it if you value elite status and other VIP perks across several brands instead of just one. But it may make more sense in addition to a travel credit card rather than as a replacement.
How to choose between a subscription and a hotel card
Whether you go for a hotel subscription or a branded credit card comes down to how you travel. Here are some things worth thinking about before you commit to either one:
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How you’d get value: A subscription generally offers a flat discount on the room rate, while a hotel credit card usually skips the discount and instead earns points on all your spending, not just hotel purchases. In some cases, the subscription may offer other travel perks you can’t get with a credit card, such as discounts on other travel expenses. While both may offer elite status, hotel cards also often provide welcome bonuses and an annual free night.
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How big the network is: A perk only works if you can actually use it. A subscription tied to a small brand can be hard to put to work, while a hotel credit card with a brand that has thousands of properties gives you a lot more flexibility.
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What happens if you cancel: If you cancel a subscription, you may still enjoy the benefits until the current term is up. Meanwhile, if you cancel a hotel credit card, you’ll lose all the perks upon closure (though you’ll still retain the points you’ve earned).
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Approval requirements: You generally need good or excellent credit and sufficient income to get approved for a hotel credit card, while there’s no credit check required to sign up for a subscription service. If you want VIP perks but don’t have great credit, a subscription may be the better choice.
Start by pulling up last year’s travel and counting how many nights you booked directly with the brand you’re considering. Next, check whether the brand offers credit cards, a subscription service or both.
Then, do some math to get an idea of what you could save with discounts and how much value you could get from a credit card. In some cases, it could even make sense to have both. For example, if you book a lot of cash stays, a subscription with a discount on rates and a credit card that offers great rewards on hotel purchases can help you maximize the value you get.
The information related to Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful™ Card has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card.
