Our 2024 Travel Recap: How We Made the Most of Free Nights and Loyalty Points

by joeheg

We’re finished with our travels for 2024. That means it’s time to look back at our travels over the last 12 months and see which hotels we spent the most time at. For the first time in a while, Marriott is not our number one hotel brand. We didn’t travel as much in the past year as we had in previous years, and many of our stays were focused on using up free night certificates.

Here’s a look at our stays in 2024, separated by our travels together and solo trips:

Hilton

Hilton retook the number 1 spot for the first time since 2019, when I spent over 20 nights at Hilton properties for work trips. We stayed for 10 nights at Hilton hotels, and my wife, Sharon, stayed for an additional 4 nights.

a room with a bed and a television

Marriott

We only spent 3 nights at Marriott hotels this year, which is a far cry from the 14+ nights in 2023. I used three free nights at the Moxy Times Square.

a store front with a pink neon sign

Wyndham

We stayed at a Wingate by Wyndham for 3 nights, using points earned with the Wyndham Earner Business card.

a building with a tree in front of it

IHG

Our only visit to an IHG hotel this year as a couple was a pre-cruise night at the Intercontinental Miami. I also spent 2 nights at IHG hotels in London and Sharon stayed for a night at a Holiday Inn.

a city skyline with many tall buildings and a body of water

Hyatt

Our hotel stays didn’t align with Hyatt this year, as only Sharon spent one night at a Hyatt Place.

a parking lot with a building and cars in the background

  • Hyatt Place – 1 night (Sharon)

Caesars

On my quick trip to Las Vegas, I spent 2 nights at the Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace.

a hotel sign in a room

Independent Hotels

Another hotel stay of mine in 2024 was at the Hotel Portmeirion in Wales.

a group of buildings next to a body of water

Year in Review

In 2024, we had a combined total of 23 nights each in hotels, plus an additional 5 nights on a Virgin Voyages cruise. While we traveled less than in previous years, we made memorable stays at a variety of hotels across different brands:

  • Hilton reclaimed the top spot with 14 nights total, including 10 nights together and 4 nights by Sharon.
  • Marriott stays dropped significantly to 3 nights, all at the Moxy Times Square, using free night certificates.
  • Wyndham stays totaled 3 nights at a Wingate property, redeemed with points.
  • IHG stays included 4 nights, split between the Intercontinental Miami, Kimpton Fitzroy London, Hotel Indigo, and Holiday Inn.
  • Hyatt was represented with just 1 night by Sharon at a Hyatt Place.
  • Caesars saw a 2-night stay at the Nobu Hotel in Las Vegas, which was my nicest hotel experience this year.
  • My 2-night stay at the Hotel Portmeirion in Wales was another highlight.

Overall, it was a year focused on maximizing free night certificates and loyalty points, with fewer stays in luxury properties and more time at functional properties that met our needs. One standout was The Intercontinental Miami, which also left a strong impression as one of the standout hotels of the year.

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