If you're one of those families who books regular weekend breaks or business trips, this news from Hotels.com might just put a smile on your face – and some extra cash back in your pocket. The booking platform has completely overhauled its loyalty scheme, ditching the old "free night" system for something much more straightforward: book ten nights, get £100 back to spend on your next stay.
The old system left many travellers scratching their heads. Your "free night" reward was based on the average cost of your ten qualifying stays, which often meant uncertainty about what you'd actually get back. If you'd booked a mix of budget and pricier hotels, working out your reward value felt like doing homework. Now, it's refreshingly simple – complete ten nights and you'll receive a £100 voucher, regardless of how much you've spent on those stays.
This change could be particularly brilliant news for families who typically opt for budget-friendly accommodation. Under the old system, if your ten nights averaged £50 each, your free night was worth £50. Now, even if you're savvy enough to find great deals at £40 per night, you'll still pocket that full £100 reward. For regular travellers, that's a genuine win.
Of course, it's worth remembering that loyalty schemes are only valuable if the base prices are competitive in the first place. Always worth doing a quick price comparison across different booking sites before clicking "confirm" – that £100 voucher is lovely, but not if you're paying over the odds to begin with.
Getting started couldn't be easier. Simply make sure you're logged into your Hotels.com account when booking, and your nights will automatically count towards the ten-night target. Once you've completed your tenth stay, the £100 voucher lands in your account, ready to take the sting out of your next hotel bill.