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Memorial Day Weekend 2024 is fast approaching and, if you haven’t already booked, prices will already be creeping higher. Fear not; there is another way to make the most of your weekend without dropping an arm and a leg on sky-high rates—hotel points.
While availability may start dwindling in the next week or two, there’s still plenty of award space across the country (and beyond) waiting to be snapped up.
To help, we’ve found some of the best Memorial Day Weekend 2024 hotels to book with points. Combine these with a solid flight redemption and you’re looking at a cheap getaway.
Hyatt Place – St Petersburg, Florida
Location: St Petersburg, FL
Price: 15,000 points/ $270+
Vibe: Great value, greater location
The rundown: St. Petersburg is a classic Memorial Day getaway. The Florida staple is the quintessential beach town paradise—less rowdy college kids, but still plenty of fun to be had. Luckily, its popularity means there are a ton of excellent hotels you can stay at for nothing using points.
The pick of the bunch for a free stay during Memorial Day Weekend 2024 is the Hyatt Place in downtown. World of Hyatt’s value is unparalleled in most markets and it’s not different in this case. It’ll only set you back 15,000 points a night for a standard room, saving you anywhere from $810 for a three-night stay. It’s without a doubt one of the best Memorial Day hotels to book with points.
You can grab that bonus comfortably with a card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
- Best for: Beginner Travelers
- Annual Fee: $95
- Variable APR: 20.99% - 27.99%
- Reward Rate: 1X - 5X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
60,000 Bonus Points
Offer Details:
60,000 Bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Why we like it
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is the ultimate all-around travel credit card—it fits perfectly into almost any points-earner’s wallet. Points novices can enjoy a significant intro bonus and easy to grasp spending categories with an approachable annual fee. The more experienced can utilize its high value earning potential as a secondary card and also gain access to Chase’s strong travel booking portal.
Reward details
5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
2x on all other travel purchases.
1x on all other purchases.
Pros & Cons
PROS
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals, and cruises through Chase Travel℠.
The $50 dollar hotel credit for stays purchased on the Chase Travel Portal already cuts the already approachable $95 annual fee significantly.
A 10% annual points bonus is tacked on every year, adding a little more value.
A free year-long Doordash DashPass membership is also thrown in, which gives you free delivery and some extra discounts. It’s a solid perk if you order food delivery at least semi-frequently (Activate by 12/31/2027).
Along with all of the above, cardholders also have access to a string of travel protections like rental coverage, cancellation insurance, and purchase protection.
CONS
Maximizing the value of Chase points can still be complicated for complete novices.
Competing cards like the Capital One Venture have a better earning rate for non-bonused spend.
It’s subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule. So, if you’ve opened five cards in the last two years, you’re most likely not going to be accepted.
Sierra Sky Ranch, Yosemite National Park
Location: Oakhurst, CA
Price: 30,000 points/ $280+
Vibe: Rustic retreat
The rundown: Memorial Day is for remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the United States, so what better way to celebrate that freedom than enjoying the country at its most spectacular? A trip to one of the American National Parks, like the ever-wondrous Yosemite, can make for a tremendous Memorial Day Weekend 2024 getaway—especially if you’ve got some kids in tow.
There’s a tremendous historic hotel just a short drive from the entrance to the national park named Sierra Sky Ranch, bookable for just 30,000 points a night with Choice Privileges. Built on a cattle ranch that operated in the late 1800s, it’s retained its serene character and boasts remarkable views of the surrounding countryside. You might be tempted to skip Yosemite altogether. Amex, Capital One, and Citi all transfer to Choice Privileges, so opt to open one of those cards to grab your stay.
Spring Hill Suites, Colorado Springs
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Price: 38,000 points/ $200+
Vibe: Simple city center stay
The rundown: With the same concept in mind, Colorado Springs is a hub of activity during Memorial Day Weekend. The area is home to five military bases, so you know the atmosphere will be arguably the most sincere it can be anywhere in the country. It helps that the region is breathtaking too.
Spring Hill Suites are nothing to go crazy over, but you’re not in Colorado Springs to sit in your hotel all day—especially on Memorial Day Weekend 2024. Instead, it’s your bed to fall back on after a long day exploring the surrounding landscapes or soaking up the atmosphere in town later on in the day. For just 38,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, you’ve got yourself one of the best Memorial Day hotels to book with points.
Hyatt Regency, Merida
Location: Merida, Yucutan, Mexico
Price: 5,000 points/$119
Vibe: Cultural bargain
The rundown: Sometimes an escape is more than warranted, and where better than the Yucatan Peninsula? Instead of opting for the resort-burdened towns of Cancun and Tulum, head a little further afield to Merida and get a more authentic taste of Mexico. The city is one of the best places to understand Mexico’s past and is within striking distance of World Wonder, Chichen Itza.
Just 5,000 points are needed for a night in the Hyatt Regency, Merida. It’s a Category 1 hotel, putting it in the lowest redemption bracket. For the same price as one night in many other hotels on this list, you could stay for an entire week here. Why not do just that? Weekends are just a social construct—take a week, take two.
Hilton Quebec City
Location: Quebec City, Canada
Price: $250+
Vibe: The French Connection
The rundown: A transatlantic jaunt might be a little far for a weekend break (or maybe not?), but just across the northern border, you’ll find Quebec, arguably the most European-influenced city on the North American continent. Of course, its locals speak French, but the architecture and city planning echoes its origins across the pond in a fashion incomparable to anywhere in the US.
For one of the best Memorial Day Weekend 2024 hotels to book with points in Canada, opt for the Hilton Quebec City. At 38,000 Honors points, you can grab a weekend stay comfortably with a strong intro bonus like that of The Platinum Card® from American Express. If you can grab a high floor, you’ll be welcomed by stunning views of the city, priming you for exploration.
- Best for: Luxury Perks
- Annual Fee: $695
- Pay Over Time APR
- Reward Rate: 5X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
The Platinum Card® from American Express
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Offer Details:
80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in your first 6 months of card membership
Why we like it
The Amex Platinum was once the sole dominating force in the luxury credit card space. While it now faces some stiff competition, it still offers unbeatable perks like unprecedented airport lounge access, elite status at Hilton and Marriott, and some outstanding statement credits making the mammoth $695 worth it for some.
Reward details
5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
$200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
$240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
$155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
$200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
$200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
$199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
Cons
The $695 annual fee is brutally high. Too high for many that can’t, or don’t want to take full advantage of its benefits.
Points-earning rates are low unless spending directly on flights or with the Amex Portal.
Some of the benefits, like travel credits, are more limited and are harder to use than competing cards’ offerings.
Hyatt Place East End,The Hamptons
Location: Riverhead, NY
Price: 15,000 points/ $200+
Vibe: Waterside delight
The rundown: Another classic getaway, The Hamptons flood with New York’s finest at every hint of a national holiday. While you might not be able to stretch to one of its iconic beach houses, you’re not out of options thanks to the presence of some of the biggest names in the hotel industry.
The hard part is grabbing a high-value place on the beach. If that proves too tough, opt for a hotel a little back from the main Southampton area and grab a room at Hyatt Place East End for just 15,000 points a night. It’s a stunning Category 4 hotel facing the harbor (seriously check out the outdoor communal area),– and puts you as close to everything as you’d need to be. It’s one of the best Memorial Day Weekend 2024 hotels to book with points.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
