If you love luxury hotels but hate the price tag, you’re not alone. The good news? You can still wake up in a five-star suite without draining your savings. From loyalty programs and credit card points to hidden booking tricks, these travel hacks make it easy to find, book, and pay for luxury stays at a fraction of the usual cost, making them more affordable. Here’s how we do it — and how you can too.
1: Use Google Hotels with Flexible Dates
Google Hotels aggregates listings from across the web, letting you compare luxury hotel prices from sites like Booking.com, Expedia, and direct hotel websites. Some listings allow direct booking through Google or link to third-party platforms.
To find the best deals, make the most of the search filters. Set your max budget (under $100, for instance), select four & five-star properties, and activate the “offers” tab. Also, when choosing your dates, switch between midweek and weekend options to see if the price drops considerably, which it often does.
For last-minute deals, Google Hotels lists the best prices 24-48 hours before check-in. The sweet spot for longer-term bookings is six to ten weeks in advance, particularly if you’re traveling to tourist hot spots during peak seasons.
How to find cheaper luxury hotel prices on Google Hotels
When searching for luxury stays, start by typing the hotel’s name in Google Hotels. Then:
Check cancellation policies — free cancellation lets you lock in a low rate now and keep searching for better deals.
Use filters — set your budget limit, choose your star rating, and turn on the “Offers” filter to highlight discounts.
Compare across platforms — check all booking sites listed, as prices can differ by $50–$100+ for the same room.
Be flexible with dates — shift your stay by a day or two (midweek often costs less).
Look at the map view — nearby luxury hotels may offer similar quality for less.
2: Become a Genius
Booking.com operates one of the world’s best free hotel loyalty programs, Genius. You qualify by booking and completing stays at Booking.com properties, as follows:
- Level 1 = 2 bookings (10% off selected hotels)
- Level 2 = 5 bookings (15% off selected hotels)
- Level 3 = 15 bookings (20% off selected hotels + free room upgrades)
When you reach Level 3, you unlock a world of exceptional discounts, often unmatched elsewhere on the internet. To find luxury hotels as a Level 3 genius, filter your search to show hotels with a superb rating (9.0+) or search by star. Then, set your dates and scroll through your booking options.
Often, the listing will show the standard price alongside your Genius Level 3 price. Where available, you will also see the banner “free room upgrade,” enabling you to book the best possible room at the lowest possible price.
The Genius loyalty program is 100% free, and once you reach Level 3, you can’t drop down the levels. Another perk is that Level 3 Geniuses get the best customer support via Booking.com, which is handy if you experience any issues during your travels.
3: Put Your Eggs in the Hotels.com Basket
The loyalty program at Hotels.com undoubtedly rivals the Genius program at Booking.com, but it’s notably different. The scheme is known as One Key, but it truly comes into its own when you apply for and start using a One Key Mastercard. This unique proposition in the world of travel hacks lets you earn and redeem points from a third-party provider, which guarantees some of the best rates on luxury hotels.
We recommend the Key+ Mastercard, which costs $99 annually. When you sign up and spend $3,000 in your first three months, you will receive $600 in OneKeyCash. Then, each year, you will receive a $100 anniversary bonus.
Then, for your everyday purchases, you will receive 2% to 3% in OneKeyCash that you can later put towards luxury hotel stays. Depending on your planned vacation, you can book these stays across Hotels.com, Expedia, or Vrbo.
Impressively, $1 in OneKeyCash qualifies for $1 off eligible travel, including hotels, flights, and other travel activities. You can use some or all of your points for upcoming bookings, giving you complete flexibility regarding when to dial into these impressive savings.
4: Get Strategic with Credit Card Loyalty Points
It’s the worst-kept secret in the travel world: credit card loyalty programs are perfect for accessing free hotel stays and heavily-discounted rates at expensive properties.
Here are the top credit card loyalty points schemes that Locals Insider writers use to access free stays and discounted rates at some of the world’s top hotels:
| Credit Card | Annual fee | Points Earned | Hotel Redemptions | Hotel Partners |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred | $95 | 5x on travel via Chase 3x on dining 2x on other travel | Book via the Chase portal or transfer to hotel partners | Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, IHG |
| Amex Platinum | $695 | 5x on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel 1x on general spending | Book via Amex Fine Hotels & via resorts and hotels directly | Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy |
| Capital One Venture X | $395 | 10x on hotels via Capital One Travel 2x on all purchases | Redeem miles for hotel purchases or transfer to partners | Wyndham, Accor, Choice Privileges |
| Wells Fargo Autograph | $0 | 3x on travel, gas, dining, streaming, and phone plans 1x on other purchases | Redeem points for hotel bookings through Wells Fargo rewards portal | No direct hotel partners for points transfers |
The four options above let you earn points via your everyday expenditures, when you buy flights, pay for hotels, or make other travel reservations. Then, you can redeem your points to book into luxury hotels via the card provider’s dedicated travel portals.
Alternatively, as with Chase, Amex, and Capital One, you can transfer your points to the hotel chain loyalty program, offering exceptional value at Marriott Bonvoy, Hyatt, IHG, and Hilton properties.
You must get strategic with your credit cards to make the most of these travel points and lock in great hotel discounts with your points. Use them to buy groceries, top up the gas in your car, pay for streaming services, and then settle your bill at the end of the month. You can then use the points to book into luxury hotels during your vacation at a fraction of the price.
5: Sign Up for Hotel Rewards Schemes
In addition to your credit card loyalty program, sign up for a hotel’s dedicated rewards scheme to maximize your potential savings. Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, SLH Club, Hilton, and IHG are among the most prominent rewards schemes in the USA. As shown above, these are also linked to many popular credit cards, so it makes sense to match them up accordingly to boost your deals.
Here’s an overview of the top hotel rewards schemes offered by the major chain hotels, with information on how you can earn and redeem points for discounted luxury stays:
| Program | Hotels Included | How to Earn | How to Redeem |
| World of Hyatt | Hyatt, Andaz, Park Hyatt, Thompson, Alila | 5 points per $1 spent at group hotels | Free stays begin at 3,500 points |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, Westin | 10 points per $1 spent at most hotels (some exclusions apply) | Free stays begin at 10,000 points |
| Hilton Honors | Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, DoubleTree | 10 points per $1 spent at most hotels (Some exclusions apply) | Free stays begin at 20,000 points |
| IHG One Rewards | InterContinental, Kimpton, Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza | 10 points per $1 spent | Free stays start at 10,000 points |
For example, an optimal strategy would be combining the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with the Hyatt, Marriott, or IHG bonus programs. You can transfer points between the two and get a great selection of discounted hotel options via the Chase booking portal. This travel hack could be yours for just $95 per year, via the Chase credit card.
While expensive hotels don’t open their doors for free, there are many legitimate ways and travel hacks to access heavily discounted, more affordable or even free stays at some of the world’s most luxurious retreats.
You must strategize, plan accordingly, and use loyalty points to your advantage to benefit from this. One or a combination of the above five hacks will help you save money as you sleep in lavish properties worldwide.
Last-Minute Booking Apps for Luxury Resorts in the U.S.
- Kayak – A top-tier metasearch engine that compares rates across booking platforms instantly—perfect for last-minute intel.
- HotelTonight – Built for spontaneity. Best for deep discounts on upscale stays when booking at the last minute.
- Secret Escapes – Members-only platform offering heavily discounted rates on luxury hotel stays. Exclusive flash deals make it a go-to for high-end travellers.
- ResortPass – Not for overnight stays, but for day access to resort amenities like pools and spas. Great for trying luxury before committing fully.
- Hotwire (Hot Rate® deals) – Reveal the name of the hotel only after booking. This “opaque” model helps you score steep discounts, even on high-end properties.
- Expedia & Booking.com – Massive inventory and flash deals make these staples useful for tracking luxury rates. Bundling options (like flight + hotel) can unlock further savings.
