How to Book Hotels With Points: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Where you stay for your theme park vacation matters. Whether you stay at an official theme park resort or an off-site hotel, lodging costs can be expensive. Fortunately, rewards can help.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to book a hotel with points, even if you’re brand new to rewards. You’ll learn the three main ways to do it, how to compare your options, and how to avoid the most common (and frustrating) mistakes.

Planning Disney? Start here → Disney With Rewards
Planning Universal? Start here → Universal With Rewards
Brand new to rewards overall? Read this first → How to Plan a Theme Park Vacation Using Rewards

Quick Summary

Here are your three main ways to book hotels with rewards:

  1. Hotel points (like IHG/Marriott/Hyatt) → book directly with the hotel program

  2. Credit card points in a travel portal (Chase/Amex/Citi/Capital One) → book using points

  3. Cash booking / reimburse with rewards → pay cash rate, then reimburse yourself with rewards

Best beginner move: compare at least two options before you book.

Step 1: Decide what matters

Before you start searching for hotels, answer these quick questions:

  • Are you okay with staying off-site or do you want on-site perks?
  • Do you need free breakfast, multiple beds, or a kitchen?
  • How important is location vs saving the most money/points?
  • Do you want a budget hotel, moderate accommodations, or a deluxe resort?

On-site hotels are owned and operated by the theme park company and are often situated closer to the parks. Some are within walking distance or are a relatively short ride away using theme park transportation. Many on-site hotels offer special perks for guests that can’t be had elsewhere. Because of this, these hotels often cost the most.

An off-site hotel is generally located outside the immediate property of a theme park and is not owned or operated by the theme park company. Some have partnerships that allow them to offer a few theme park benefits to guests. These hotels can be less expensive than staying on-site, offer a wider range of room types, and are often conveniently located near budget-friendly shops and restaurants. 

Only you can decide what matters most for your trip. The “best deal” on paper isn’t always the best experience when you add commute time, parking fees, and tired kids. If you’re planning a short trip and want to maximize your time in the parks, taking advantage of on-site perks like early entry can add value to your trip even if it costs more. Alternatively, if you’re planning an extended trip and won’t visit the park every day, you may not need on-site perks and will save money/points staying elsewhere.

Another option to consider is a split-stay where you move hotels partway through your trip. Although it can be a slight hassle to change accommodations, it can stretch your theme park budget and allow you to experience multiple hotel types during your trip.

Step 2: Choose your booking path

Option A: Book using hotel points (booking direct)

This is the classic method: you earn points in a hotel program and then book award nights.

How it works

  • Join the hotel’s loyalty program (free)
  • Earn points staying at hotels, spending on the hotel brand’s credit card, transferring flexible rewards, or other rewards programs like shopping portals and surveys
  • Search award nights on the hotel’s website
  • Book using points

When this is a great choice

  • There are chain hotels near your destination
  • Award pricing is reasonable
  • You value flexibility (many award bookings can be canceled)
Want to see an example of a stay booked with hotel points?
Check out this post on how to I used Marriott Bonvoy points at Walt Disney World. Read the full article here →

Option B: Book with credit card points through a travel portal

This is often the easiest approach for theme park trips because you can use points like “travel money.”

How it works

  • You search a hotel in your card’s travel portal
  • You pay with points at checkout (sometimes at a boosted value)

When this is a great choice

  • You want to book an on-site or specialty hotel that’s listed in a portal
  • You can’t or don’t want to transfer flexible rewards to a hotel rewards program
  • There is a promotion that makes it the best price for the hotel you want

Beginner note: portal prices can vary. Always compare the portal price to booking direct.

Want to see an example of a hotel stay booked through a travel portal?
Check out this post about a Universal Studios vacation booked with points. Read the full article here →

Option C: Pay cash and reimburse yourself with rewards

Sometimes the “points price” is high compared to the cash price. In that case, it can make more sense to pay the cash rate and reimburse yourself with rewards.

How it works

  • Pay with a card that earns the most for your purchase, or a card that lets you erase travel purchases
  • Redeem rewards, flexible or cash back, to offset the cost 

When this is a great choice

  • Award nights are overpriced
  • There’s a good deal on a cash booking
  • The hotel you want isn’t bookable with points
  • You’re still building points and don’t need a full reimbursement

Beginner note: Hotels often offer both refundable and non-refundable rates. Make sure you know which rate you’re booking.

Method What it is Best for Pros Cons / Watch-outs
Hotel Points (book direct) Use points from a hotel's loyalty program (IHG, Marriott, etc.) to book award nights on the hotel’s website. Trips where a nearby chain has good award pricing (often great for off-site Disney-area stays). Can be a great value; often flexible cancellation; no “portal middleman.” Award nights can sell out; some properties charge resort/parking fees; you’re limited to that brand’s locations.
Credit Card Portal Points Book through a bank travel portal (Chase/Amex/Citi/Capital One) and pay with points like travel credit. Simple booking; when theme-park-area hotels show up in the portal; when you want an easy checkout. Beginner-friendly; lots of hotel choices; sometimes boosted point value. Portal prices can be higher than booking direct; changes/cancellations can be harder; always compare cash price.
Cash Booking / Reimburse With Rewards Pay cash rate for the hotel, then use rewards to offset the cost. When award pricing is bad or you want a hotel not bookable with points; when you need maximum flexibility. Works almost anywhere; easy to understand; allows for partial reimbursement. You need cash upfront; redemption timing varies by card; some cash rates aren't refundable.

Best beginner choice: If you already have hotel points (or you’re earning them now), booking direct with hotel points is usually the simplest. You search on the hotel’s website and book like a normal reservation. If you don’t have enough hotel points for your destination, the next easiest fallback is using a credit card travel portal or paying cash and covering it with rewards.

Step 3: Compare value

You don’t need to be a points expert to make a smart decision. Here’s a simple comparison method:

Ask these three questions

  • What would this cost in cash?
  • How many points does it cost?
  • Would I rather save my points?

If a hotel at your destination is $200/night and it costs 20,000 points, that’s roughly 1 cent per point in value. Maybe your points would be worth more elsewhere, but that doesn’t really matter if your goal is to use them to book this specific hotel for this vacation. Only you can decide what’s right for your trip budget.

Important: value isn’t everything. Location, cancellation policies, and fees matter too.

Step 4: Watch out for “hidden costs”

These can make a “cheap” points stay more expensive than you expect:

  • Resort fees (sometimes charged even on award stays)
  • Parking fees
  • Shuttle fees / transportation costs
  • Non-refundable rates (extra risky if plans change)

Before you book, read the terms, review the final total, and confirm:

  • cancellation deadline
  • total fees due at check-in
  • parking cost (if needed)

Step 5: Book a refundable rate and recheck prices often

Vacation plans can change. Hotel prices go up and down, and not in a way that’s predictable. 

If you can, book a refundable rate. Then set a reminder to recheck that rate:

  • 7 days after booking
  • weekly, or at least twice a month
  • 7–14 days before travel (if still refundable)

If you find a better deal:

  • modify your reservation, or cancel and rebook (if allowed)
  • or call customer service if needed

Disney vs Universal notes

If you’re planning Disney

If you’re planning Universal

Common mistakes (so you can avoid them)

  • Booking the first option you see without comparing it to other options
  • Forgetting to check for additional fees
  • Using points for a hotel when cash prices are low
  • Booking non-refundable rates
  • Ignoring distance/transportation (time is money at theme parks)

What to read next

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About the Author

Written by H. Kinney, author of How to Plan a Free Theme Park Vacation. She writes about using points, miles, and cash-back rewards to reduce the cost of theme park travel.
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