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July 4th, 2024 might be a day to celebrate your freedom. But a hotel stay that day is anything but free.
As with most holidays, room rates soar and availability dwindles, putting the pressure on your wallet if you’re hoping to make a getaway for the fireworks. But don’t despair just yet, if you have a hoard of points burning a hole in your hotel account, there are plenty of outstanding waterfront properties to book for July 4th, 2024 for absolutely nothing.
That’s true freedom, no?
The best July 4th, 2024 hotels: Hilton
Casa Marina Key West, Curio Collection by Hilton
Location: Key West, Florida
Price: 92,000 to 140,000 points
Vibe: Key West classic
The rundown: A July 4th, 2024 at Casa Marina Key West couldn’t be more epic if you tried. This stunning 1920s hotel is located on a private strip of beach facing the Atlantic Ocean. Fully embracing its history but stepping firmly into the future with modern amenities, you’d half expect to see Ernest Hemingway sauntering through the bar door for a rum or five (he lived half a mile away).
As for the cost, Hilton’s points rates fluctuate regularly. The hotel ranges from around 92,000 up to sky-high rates of 400,000 in peak season. For July 4th, 2024, the rates are currently hovering around 119,000. Opening one of Hilton’s co-branded cards could get you more than enough points for that stay.
Hilton Garden Inn, South Padre Island
Location: South Padre Island, Texas
Price: 30,000 points to 70,000 points
Vibe: Simple location-centric property
The rundown: You won’t find too many Garden Inns with a beachfront location. But that’s what you’ll get on South Padre Island. Down on the Southern coast of Texas, just a stone’s throw from the Mexican border, is a slice of beach paradise. Better yet, it’s one you can get for free.
If you’re there in the off-season, you can grab rooms as low as 30,000 points a night. With rates that low, the American Express® Gold Card could grab you five nights there for free. On July 4th, 2024, it’s a good amount higher, but at 70,000 points you’d only need to transfer 34,000 American Express Memberships Reward Points to score the night there.
- Best for: Foodies
- Annual Fee: $325
- Pay Over Time APR
- Reward Rate: 1X-4X
- Recommended Credit: 670-850
American Express® Gold Card
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Offer Details:
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases within your first 6 months of card membership
Why we like it
The American Express® Gold Card takes your dining and grocery spending to the next level, offering an impressive 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year, and 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
To put this into perspective, if you spend $8,400 annually on dining and groceries, which aligns with the average American’s spending, you could earn enough points for a roundtrip flight to Hawaii. Meanwhile, the bonus alone is worth over $1,000, adding significant value to your everyday spending.
Reward details
4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
$120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
0% Intro APR for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.74% to 27.74% variable APR.
$84 Dunkin’ Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations.
Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year for dining at U.S. Resy restaurants or making other eligible Resy purchases. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys, totaling up to $120 per year. Enrollment required.
Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
Apply with confidence. Know if you’re approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you’re approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
Cons
$325 annual fee
No major travel perks like its bigger sibling, the Amex Platinum
The best July 4th, 2024 hotels: Marriott
Courtyard Virginia Beach Oceanfront
Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Price: 44,000+
Vibe: Center of the action value
The rundown: Like the July 4th festivities but hate people? The Courtyard Virginia Beach has you covered. Located on the boardwalk with ocean-facing rooms, it’s perfect for watching the fireworks from the comfort and calm of your own room. If you feel like venturing into the city, you are just a few blocks away from everything you’d need.
Rates here start at a wonderfully low 44,000 Marriott Bonvoy points a night, with little fluctuation. At the time of writing, there weren’t many rooms left for July 4th, 2024, so if you fancy grabbing a night here for nothing, you better act fast.
Sheraton Myrtle Beach
Location: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Price: 27,000 points+
Vibe: High value for a short walk
The rundown: This hotel might not be right on the waterfront, but the value it offers from just a few blocks back at one of the US’ most iconic beach locations makes it a more than worthy addition to this list. It’s a sprawling, and admittedly businessy, hotel, but its large rooms, excellent gym and close proximity to everything are winners.
Its rates start at an amazing 27,000 points, with July 4th, 2024 rates starting at just 46,000 points. That makes it one of the cheaper options on our list, and with The Platinum Card® from American Express, you’ve got that night covered easily.
- 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.
The best July 4th, 2024 hotels: Hyatt
Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Oceanfront
Location: Huntington Beach, California
Price: 21,000 points+
Vibe: Peak value perfection
The rundown: As usual, Hyatt waltzs in and steals the show. Arguably the best hotel on this list can be booked for just 29,000 World of Hyatt points on July 4th, 2024. That’s because of Hyatt’s tremendous award chart system. The brand categorizes each of its hotels from 1-8 and allots a predetermined low, normal, and peak season rate for each of those categories.
The wonderful Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach is listed as a Category 6, so off-peak rates are 21,000, normal comes in at 25,000, and peak times at 29,000 points. Those are unbelievable rates for one of the best towns to celebrate July 4th, 2024 at one of the coolest beach resorts out there.
Hyatt Place Ocean City
Location: Ocean City, Maryland
Price: 21,000 points+
Vibe: Fairground fantastical
The rundown: Ocean City is a solid example of a good old-fashioned beach getaway town. Its beachfront fairground is a winner with kids (big and small), while its city center is quickly building an excellent nightlife and restaurant scene.
The Hyatt Place Ocean City is another Category 6 hotel, so its rates clock in at the same 21- 25-, and 29,000-point rates depending on the time you book. July 4th, 2024 is peak time this year, so you’d be looking at a stellar 29,000 points to enjoy your Independence Day in Maryland.
- 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.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
