We're biased, but we're confident Thrifty Traveler Premium is the best flight deal service out there, period. Whether you just want a cheap flight or want to redeem your credit card points or airline miles for a fancy business class seat overseas, we do the legwork for you, sending instant alerts you can book straight to your inbox … but then what about hotels?
We've heard from countless travelers over the years who also struggle to find savvy ways to use their hotel points or credit card perks. It's our most-requested feature by far.
Thrifty Traveler Premium Hotel Alerts are officially here. For an additional $24.99 a year, Premium members can opt in and start getting alerts to book some of the best properties in the U.S. and across the globe using their Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, or Marriott points – or transferrable credit card points from banks like Chase and Amex. At launch, we're not sending alerts for discounted paid rates … but we're already thinking of how to make this service even better.
We scour the world for award availability at top-rated hotels, brand-new properties, and all-inclusive resorts near and far, sending an alert when you can book them with points. Hotel Alerts subscribers can expect one or two hotel deals a week at launch.
This is a new add-on service that's only available to Thrifty Traveler Premium members – it's not sold separately. Current Premium members can opt-in by logging into their online account and selecting “Hotel Deals” in the main menu. First-time subscribers will see the option to add Hotel Alerts to their plan after signing up for Flight Alerts.
We're just getting started, but we've already sent some sizzling hotel alerts to members. That includes peak season availability at the notoriously hard-to-book Conrad Bora Bora Nui you could book for 120,000 Hilton points, one of the best all-inclusive resorts in Mexico bookable from just 25,000 Hyatt points a night, and a beloved New York City property bookable for just 34,000 Bonvoy points – a third of what Marriott is charging now!
Hotel alerts cost another $24.99 a year for Premium members. Just as with our Premium Flight Alerts, members who sign up now at the introductory rate will lock in that price for life: Even if that price eventually increases, yours won’t!
So what will you get by opting in for Hotel Alerts? Take a closer look.
More Hotel Alerts We've Sent
We're searching day in, day out for hard-to-book award availability at some of the best properties here in the U.S. and abroad that you can book using points from the big four hotel programs: Hilton, Hyatt, IHG, and Marriott. And we keep finding gems.
Just yesterday, for example, we started hunting for some deals after Hilton folded nearly 400 Small Luxury Hotels of the World into its program. We found the ultimate unicorn: Canaves Oia Suites on the coast of Santorini – one of the most sought-after hotels in the Greek Islands and a prized redemption back when it was bookable through Hyatt – was suddenly available to book with Hilton points or free night certificates.
And not just for a few dates here and there. No, our members could book the Canaves Oia Suites this summer and fall … plus wide-open availability every day from April 1 through July 15 next year!
Get deals like this in your inbox – add Hotel Alerts to your Thrifty Traveler Premium membership for $24.99 a year!
But Hilton's loss was Marriott's gain earlier this summer when Marriott officially took over the fan-favorite Conrad New York Midtown, a property with massive suites (at least by New York standards…) just blocks away from Central Park. For weeks, the reflagged Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown wasn't bookable with Marriott Bonvoy points … until a few weeks ago, when we spotted award nights had opened for just 34,000 points a night!
Finding the award availability to book these top-notch properties can be a struggle, and that's what Hotel Alerts are here to solve. But our emails go beyond that: Every alert also includes in-depth booking instructions, pointers for transferring credit card points, recommendations for nearby restaurants and sights, and next-level tips to help travelers make the most of their trips.
For example, we tipped off our Hotel Alerts subscribers with a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card to use their free night certificates to book the Conrad in Bora Bora … then use one of the twice-a-year, $200 resort credits to pay for the spendy boat transfers from the airport to the resort and back. Oh, and free breakfast for two thanks to the instant Hilton Diamond status will save you a cool $100-plus a day, to boot.
Plus, we let you know when you might want to consider transferring points from American Express, Chase, or other banks to top off your account for a special booking. You might shy away from transferring valuable credit card points to a hotel chain … but if that means you can book five nights for the price of four, it could be well worth it.
So when we say we do the legwork for you, we mean it. We've done it for years finding flights, and now we're doing it with hotel awards.
Bottom Line
At long last, Hotel Alerts are here for Thrifty Traveler Premium subscribers!
Current members and first-time sign-ups can now add Hotel Alerts to their subscription for an extra $24.99 a year. Expect one to two Hotel Alerts a week bookable with points from the big four hotel chains … for now: Hotel Alerts will only get better from here.