Recently, I stayed at a hotel for a weekend getaway. When I checked out, I was never charged for my stay. I assumed that the hotel had made a mistake, so I called customer service to inquire about the error. It turns out that the hotel never charged me because I had booked my stay using a travel rewards credit card.
What are Travel Rewards Credit Cards?
Travel rewards credit cards are credit cards that offer points, miles, or cash back on purchases made through the card. These cards are typically associated with a specific airline or hotel chain. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve card offers 3x points on travel and dining purchases and 1x point on all other purchases. These points can be redeemed for travel expenses like airfare and hotels stays.
How Do Travel Rewards Credit Cards Work?
When you use your travel rewards credit card to book a hotel stay, the charge goes onto your credit card like any other purchase. However, since you are using a rewards card, you may be entitled to special perks like free room upgrades or late checkout. You also earn points or miles with each purchase that can be redeemed for future travel expenses.
In my case, I booked my hotel stay using my Chase Sapphire Reserve card. Since this card offers 3x points on travel purchases, I earned triple the usual amount of points. These points can be redeemed for cash back, gift cards, or travel expenses like airfare and hotels stays. Since I booked my hotel stay with points, I was never charged for my stay!
Conclusion:
If you’re a savvy traveler, then you may want to consider using a travel rewards credit card next time you book a hotel stay. Travel rewards credit cards offer points, miles, or cash back on purchases made through the card. These cards are typically associated with a specific airline or hotel chain. In my case, I used my Chase Sapphire Reserve card to book my hotel stay and I was never charged because I used points to pay for my stay!
