Solo Travellers

The Best Hotel Rewards Programs in the World

Published

4 days ago

August 6, 2025

This story is part of The New Era of Work Travel, a collaboration between the editors of Condé Nast Traveler and WIRED to help you navigate the perks and pitfalls of the modern business trip.

Joining a hotel’s rewards program can feel like being admitted to an exclusive club. By frequently staying at a particular brand’s hotels, you can accrue points that are redeemable for all kinds of perks, including free or low-cost room upgrades, a meal on the house, and even a free night’s stay.

Choosing the best hotel rewards program for you depends on a variety of factors, most importantly, where and how often you travel. But just as crucial is your travel style: Are you content with small comforts like free breakfast, or do you expect top-tier service and exclusive upgrades?

Keeping these nuances in mind, we’ve carefully evaluated all the major hotel groups to highlight the best loyalty programs that deliver meaningful perks, seamless upgrades, and genuine benefits in exchange for your loyalty. Whether you’re hopping between business hubs or seeking boutique luxury escapes, this guide breaks down the nine standout hotel rewards programs that consistently elevate the travel experience worldwide.

How do hotel rewards work?

Hotel rewards programs allow members to earn points or credits during eligible stays and while spending at participating hotels. These points can typically be redeemed for free nights, room upgrades, dining, and experiences, or transferred to airline miles. Most programs have tiered status levels that unlock additional perks like late checkout, lounge access, and priority upgrades, rewarding frequent guests with enhanced benefits.

What are qualifying nights and base points?

A qualifying night is any night that you stay at a participating hotel and pay an eligible rate—meaning the booking was made through the hotel directly or an approved partner. Base points are the standard points you earn on eligible spending before any bonuses are applied, and they often determine your progress toward elite status tiers.

How do I earn points faster or reach elite status quicker?

You earn points primarily by booking stays and spending money at hotels within the program’s portfolio. Many programs also offer bonus points for spending on services at the hotel, like dining or spa treatments, or through cobranded credit cards. To reach elite status faster, frequent travelers can accumulate qualifying nights or base points quickly, often accelerated by promotions or “elite challenges,” where you can earn status faster over a condensed period. Booking with a hotel’s preferred credit card or during promotional periods can help you earn more points than you normally would.

Are hotel points worth collecting, or should I just book the cheapest hotel each time?

If you travel regularly—especially for business or extended leisure—hotel loyalty points can add significant value. However, if your travel is infrequent or primarily price-driven, the value of points might be limited. It’s best to choose a program aligned with your travel patterns and preferred brands to maximize rewards without sacrificing convenience or comfort.

Jump to:

World of Hyatt

For business travelers who toggle between boardrooms and boutique stays, World of Hyatt offers a loyalty program that’s both intuitive and indulgent. What sets it apart isn’t just its sense of discreet luxury or its polished properties—it’s the way the program streamlines status, upgrades, and rewards into a system that feels more like a relationship than a transaction.

Elite tiers are remarkably attainable, especially for those who log regular, if not relentless, miles: Discoverist kicks in after just 10 nights, while Globalist—Hyatt’s top-tier status—unlocks at 60 nights and delivers standout perks like 4 p.m. late checkout, free parking on stays booked using points, suite upgrades, and access to Hyatt’s Club Lounges where the free snacks and Wi-Fi make layovers feel like retreats. Then there’s Milestone Rewards, which adds flexibility to the tier structure and kicks in as early as 20 nights, offering confirmed suite upgrades, Guest of Honor bookings (which let your colleagues, clients, or family enjoy your elite perks), and valuable free night awards. Points go further than you’d expect, with off-peak redemptions starting at just 3,500 points and access to aspirational brands like Park Hyatt, Alila, and Andaz. The portfolio leans quality over quantity, but spans everything from high-functioning business hubs like Hyatt Regency Greenwich in Connecticut and Thompson Washington, DC, to design-forward accommodations perfect for off-the-clock decompression.

Marriott Bonvoy

With a staggering portfolio of over 8,500 properties across 30 brands in over 130 countries, Marriott Bonvoy promises global coverage. For business travelers whose calendars swing between red carpets and red-eyes, Bonvoy offers the kind of flexibility and depth that turn routine trips into upgraded experiences at the drop of a hat. The tier system is expansive but attainable: Silver Elite kicks in at 10 nights, Gold at 25, Platinum at 50, and Titanium at 75. Once you begin to earn, expect guaranteed 4 p.m. late checkout, lounge access, suite upgrades, and 50% bonus points—plus Annual Choice Benefits like confirmed suite nights or the ability to gift elite status benefits to another person. The system feels vast but navigable, whether you’re checking into a minimalist Moxy in Munich or a legacy-rich Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo.

Bonvoy’s points are as adaptable as its portfolio. Redeem for free nights, flight upgrades, or unforgettable “Marriott Bonvoy Moments” that range from VIP access to concerts and Formula 1 races to culinary masterclasses. Dynamic pricing means point values fluctuate, but elite members get priority on upgrades and availability windows. Cobranded Amex and Chase credit cards accelerate point-earning potential, and often provide automatic elite status, making them a powerful tool for even occasional travelers.

Hilton Honors

Hilton has a footprint of over 7,600 properties across 20+ brands, from the name-brand Conrad and Waldorf Astoria to business-leaning stalwarts like Hilton, DoubleTree, and Canopy. The tier system of the Honors program is refreshingly straightforward: Silver status arrives after just 10 nights, Gold at 40, and Diamond at 60 nights or 120,000 base points. The points earn you things like room upgrades, executive lounge access, premium Wi-Fi, and the rare but golden fifth night free on stays booked with points. The most alluring feature, Hilton’s elite Diamond tier, can also be reached more quickly if you have a cobranded credit card. Redemption is flexible, too—points can be used not just for rooms but for Amazon purchases, Lyft rides, concert tickets, and even charitable donations, though the highest value still comes from free nights, especially during peak conference seasons. Thanks to dynamic pricing, savvy travelers can still find exceptional value with a little research. Members using points sometimes benefit from lower redemption rates than non-members paying cash, making the rewards program a strategic advantage.

Alex Green

IHG One Rewards

With a refreshed tier system, stronger elite perks, and a global portfolio that includes InterContinental, Kimpton, Crowne Plaza, and Vignette Collection, IHG now plays in the same league as its flashier competitors but with a quieter, more down-to-earth charm. The new rewards structure, ranging from Silver at 10 nights to Diamond at 70 nights, delivers tangible benefits fast. Platinum, unlocked at 40 nights or 60,000 points, is the sweet spot for frequent flyers, offering perks like 2 p.m. late checkout and reward night discounts, which range from early access deals to a percentage off the points required to redeem a free night’s stay. If you’re a Diamond member, you can add free breakfast to the list of perks.

What sets IHG apart is its Milestone Rewards program, where travelers can choose from benefits like confirmed suite upgrades, food and beverage credits, or annual lounge memberships, making the loyalty program customizable rather than a cookie-cutter list of options. The point redemption game is flexible, too: dynamic pricing means deals if you’re savvy, and free nights start around 10,000 points. Plus, IHG’s cobranded credit cards make it possible to rack up points even when you’re not on the road.

Choice Privileges

Encompassing over 7,000 properties globally, including brands such as Cambria, Ascend, Comfort, and the recently acquired Radisson, Choice is a good fit for individuals who want to stay at reliable, often well-located hotels with just enough personality to keep things interesting. The program shines not through luxury add-on perks, but through ease: elite status can be earned quickly (Gold at just 10 nights), and rewards kick in right away. Platinum arrives at 20 nights, Diamond at 40, and the perks are practical and consistent: room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout, and dedicated customer support.

Source link

Solo Travellers

‘I’ve travelled alone for 25 years – this is how I got over my fear of solo holidays’

Published

2 hours ago

August 10, 2025

Parul Sharma

Tracee Ellis Ross, 52, has been solo travelling since her early 20s and now the Black-ish actress is sharing her top tips for those looking to dip their feet into the exciting world of solo travel.

The actress’ new docuseries, Solo Travelling with Tracee Ellis Ross, premiered on July 25(Image: AP)

Actress Tracee Ellis Ross, 52, has been solo travelling around the globe since her early 20s, and now she’s sharing pearls of wisdom about the experiences and lessons she’s gained along the way with the world.

In fact, the Girlfriends actress is so passionate about the concept, she’s now the host of her very own travel show — a docuseries titled Solo Travelling with Tracee Ellis Ross, which premiered on The Roku Channel on July 25.

Spread over three episodes, Tracee’s travel docuseries follows the Black-ish actress as she jet sets off to Marbella (Spain), Cancún (Mexico), and Marrakech (Morocco) under the watchful eye of cameras. It comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.

Tracee Ellis Ross is doling out top-tier solo travel tips(Image: Getty Images for The Business of)

Speaking to the BBC, Tracee shared: “I’ve been solo travelling since I was, like, 24 or 25. And I think my first solo trip went so well that it just… stuck.

“Some people solo travel for adventure. Some people solo travel to meet people. Some people solo travel to get away from their families and their lives… I solo travel as a way to be with myself out in the world.”

So what does the actress, producer, and beauty brand CEO do during her travels? “I decompress. [I] let the dust settle… I learn a lot about myself but mostly I gain this emotional muscle of how to hold space for myself even when things don’t go according to plan. I can do uncomfortable things and find joy.”

Appearing on the TODAY Show, Tracee shared some tips for those contemplating dipping their feet into the solo travel game, advising: “If you’ve never solo travelled you might be afraid, the first thing to do is see if you can go to dinner by yourself. Start with a Tuesday night at 6pm when the restaurant opens. If you can do that, move to a Friday or Saturday at 8pm.

For more stories like this subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Weekly Gulp, for a curated roundup of trending stories, poignant interviews, and viral lifestyle picks from The Mirror’s Audience U35 team delivered straight to your inbox.

“If you can do that and you still feel nervous about checking out a trip, go to someplace that you’ve been with other people — but go by yourself, and then you can start adventuring.”

In a conversation with The Associated Press (AP), Tracee also advised solo travellers to ask themselves: “Are you going on a solo trip because you’re single and want to meet other people? Are you going on a solo trip because your life is overwhelmed with your children, your dogs, your cats, your job, your life, your survival, all the things, and you’re going to have a moment to sort of recharge and get away by yourself? Or are you going for an adventure?”

Upon deciding the kind of experience you’re seeking out of your solo trip — that’s when you can begin carving realistic plans to achieve your travel goals safely.

The Reed Between the Lines star also encourages due diligence and caution. During her TODAY Show appearance, Tracee advised: “This is really important for solo travelling in terms of safety. Some of the things that we have of ourselves that are the most empowered, beautiful, special parts of ourselves and our identity — we need to ask ourselves the question: are those things going to leave me vulnerable out in the world?”

Tracee is the daughter of legendary singer Diana Ross(Image: GC Images)

Tracee tells AP: “You might not feel vulnerable, but depending on where you’re going, it might leave you vulnerable. That’s a very specific distinction and something to plan for in order to have a good experience.”

And social media users can’t agree more, with one Redditor commenting on Tracee’s solo travel tips and writing: “Everything she said here is 100% on point. I frequently travel by myself and LOVE traveling by myself. I’m not waiting for my bf or bffs to travel with me if they can’t do it. I have things to see and experience. It was an easy thing for me to begin doing because I have always done things by myself, such as going to the movies or eating out by myself.”

Another user shared: “As someone with anxiety, this is GREAT advice. I’ve been doing more and more stuff solo and it’s absolutely helped my confidence and self-esteem”.

While a third Redditor couldn’t stop gushing over the actress: “Tracee Elis Ross is literally the pied piper of “you don’t need a man or kids to make your life meaningful.” I wish I could personally thank her for being the spokesperson for this movement.”

Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We’d love to hear from you!

Source link