hotel booking (Less costly, work related) - suggestions needed

[cardio_guy]

As part of my job, I have to attend many conferences, classes, and seminars in different places.
These days, I have been traveling mostly once a month for official purposes. Most of the hotel stays are for just 1-2 days.
I pay for these stays myself, they are not company sponsored.

When looking at hotel options, I see that there is a cheaper local hotel near the conference place, and there are branded hotels like Taj, Mariott Courtyard, Novotel, etc. a little farther away.
Usually, I book a less expensive, decent hotel (like daily rent less than 2k-3k per night approx) near the conference place (within 1-2 kms) based on google reviews and makemytrip reviews .

My basic thought is - I don't want to spend 10-20k for a 2-night stay in a luxury hotel, especially when I go for official work-related travel.
I will only be spending the night in the room, the rest of the day time I will be in the conference.

For this kind of requirement, is it feasible to get a travel-based card?

None of the Axis Atlas or Platinum Travel kind of cards seem to help with these unbranded hotel bookings, I guess.

Another option is to book a cheaper lower variant hotel in hotel chains like Ibis by Accor (or Lemon tree or Ginger). What other hotel chains have cheaper options?
Do I get any membership benefits by booking these lower variants?

For this kind of requirement What should be the hotel booking strategy? Which card should I use for hotel bookings and which platform should I use?

Usually, I book via Amazon Pay and use the Amazon Pay ICICI card. I am looking for suggestions.

In short these are the questions:

• Which card, which platform to use? Currently using Apay ICICI on Amazon Pay.
• Which are the lower variant hotels?
  • IHCL - Ginger
  • Accor - IBIS
  • Lemon Tree- Redfox, Keys Select
  • Any other?
• Any membership or tier benefits for staying in the lower variants?

Thanks in advance.

 

[helloworld]

my advice, take platinum travel and spend as you see fit (means like you do now) because it serves two things for you:

- ur usual routine not disturbed, can book through amzn, mmt and can book cheaper hotels. (Only thing that hotel should accept AMEX but based on query assuming all are somewhat metros and its a valid payment there).
- milestone benefits + Taj voucher.

So, once a year you can stay one night in a taj property for free! (If required additional payment on that day: 10K + ur usual local hotel budget helps you get 1 night easily).

Takeaway: Ur not loosing anything but staying at Taj with same spends.

-----------------------------------

Same goes for Atlas but no Taj but with an alternatives you should plan with those edge miles.

Platinum Travel: 4L // annual spends needed, otherwise don't
Atlas: Atleast 5L needed, otherwise dont'

Ref:

Travel: https://www.technofino.in/community...ex-gold-vs-amex-travel-vs-amex-reserve.30606/
Atlas: https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/axis-atlas-vs-hdfc-regalia-gold-vs-axis-horizon.26500/

 

[cardio_guy]

Followup question for hotel chains (like Accor or IHCL) -

1. To get membership benefits, do I need to book via their app or website itself or can I book using third party sites or apps and it will fetch my booking automatically based on my mobile number or email ID?
For example, if I have a Accor ALL membership and I booked an IBIS via Amazon or MMT, will it be counted in the membership benefit program? How do I link accor-to-partner app?

 

[cardio_guy]

my advice, take platinum travel and spend as you see fit (means like you do now) because it serves two things for you:

Thanks @helloworld
I think platinum travel will fit my need. I am not comfortable with Axis (at least for now 🙂)

 

[sahilgulati5]

Followup question for hotel chains (like Accor or IHCL) -

1. To get membership benefits, do I need to book via their app or website itself or can I book using third party sites or apps and it will fetch my booking automatically based on my mobile number or email ID?
For example, if I have a Accor ALL membership and I booked an IBIS via Amazon or MMT, will it be counted in the membership benefit program? How do I link accor-to-partner app?

No u have to book directly with them to get the benefit. Third party booking is not counted

 

[vinrey287]

No u have to book directly with them to get the benefit. Third party booking is not counted

Accor doesn't credit status points and reward points if booked through third party?

 

[cardio_guy]

take platinum travel and spend as you see fit (means like you do now)

Sorry but a noob question - Does Amex points expire? What is the validity of amex points?

Also I have seen Amex points can be transferred to MB. And MB points will expire in 2 years if we do not have any activity in MB.
Also what about Accor points - when do Accor points exipre?
Apart from that, any other catch to take care?

 

[sahilgulati5]

Sorry but a noob question - Does Amex points expire? What is the validity of amex points?

Also I have seen Amex points can be transferred to MB. And MB points will expire in 2 years if we do not have any activity in MB.
Also what about Accor points - when do Accor points exipre?
Apart from that, any other catch to take care?

According to expired in 1yr. But if u do any activity in both the hotel chain they get extended by a yr.

 

[salisburry44]

Sorry but a noob question - Does Amex points expire? What is the validity of amex points?

Also I have seen Amex points can be transferred to MB. And MB points will expire in 2 years if we do not have any activity in MB.
Also what about Accor points - when do Accor points exipre?
Apart from that, any other catch to take care?

Amex points won’t expire till your card is active

 

[helloworld]

Sorry but a noob question - Does Amex points expire? What is the validity of amex points?

no expiry as of today. can keep multiple years

Also I have seen Amex points can be transferred to MB. And MB points will expire in 2 years if we do not have any activity in MB.

all it needs transfer 1 point and it extended another year, something doable imo.

Also what about Accor points - when do Accor points exipre?
Apart from that, any other catch to take care?

Same like mb, maintain activity and continue. its like credit card, if you do not use for a year then it will be closed. all you need 10rs. transaction. Same rules.

 

[helloworld]

Accor doesn't credit status points and reward points if booked through third party?

no hotel or airline do that, afaik. applies all

let me know if any one support this..

they only provide if we spend there

 

[malavkarkar]

Midscale/economy hotels will have little to no membership benefits, especially in early tiers. So you'll be better off staying at whichever hotel makes more sense to you cost and distance wise, rather than any branded midscale/economy hotel of a particular brand.

Most people use work travel to upgrade their status in loyalty programs, but since your company isn't paying for your accommodation, it doesn't make sense to spend so much on premium hotels.

 

[nomad]

Followup question for hotel chains (like Accor or IHCL) -

1. To get membership benefits, do I need to book via their app or website itself or can I book using third party sites or apps and it will fetch my booking automatically based on my mobile number or email ID?
For example, if I have a Accor ALL membership and I booked an IBIS via Amazon or MMT, will it be counted in the membership benefit program? How do I link accor-to-partner app?

Third party booking is not counted.

But here's a small hack. Call the respective hotel directly and ask for reservation offer.
Hotels like any other businesses also has targets and the reservation team would be willing to throw some offer your way which is going to be much better than any third party aggregator can throw your way.
I tried this with my recent booking and for the price of without taxes, I was able to get the same room and amenities including tax. The rate itself was a member rate after discount, and I was able to clinch 18% further discount on top of it along with some additional discount for F&B.
Additionally, since the booking was done directly by the hotel, I was able to get the points as well.

Also, if you do have a Membership for a chain, and you are getting the cheaper ones near your conferences, then it helps you in completing your milestones and getting the membership benefits.
Membership benefits can range from free breakfast, free room upgrades, early check-in/late check-out, etc.
Some of these benefits could be very useful when you are already tired from travel and networking/learning.

 

[S U D O]

decent hotel (like daily rent less than 2k-3k per night approx) near the conference place (within 1-2 kms) based on google reviews and makemytrip reviews

since you are using mmt, why not use smartbuy with HDFC RG or DCB etc?

 

[cardio_guy]

since you are using mmt, why not use smartbuy with HDFC RG or DCB etc?

1. I don't have RG and DCB.
2. I use MMT only to see reviews, booking done through Amazon pay with apay card. Overall price after apay cashback is better than booking directly through mmt.
3. Yet to explore smartbuy.

 

[S U D O]

Overall price after apay cashback is better than booking directly through mmt

i recently booked a 2 night hotel costing avg 3.5k per night on various platforms
Here's the pricing (actual values) i got from these 3 specific platforms for the same room choice from same hotel:
1) Apay with APay ICICI - Rs 6398
2) MMT app with coupon discounts - Rs 6651
3) MMT via Smartbuy - Rs 7021 but using RG i am getting approx 1840 RPs which at 0.5Rs value is equivalent to Rs 920. So effective price = Rs 6100

 

[S U D O]

Yet to explore smartbuy

sure give it a try, it is good if it aligns with your spends

 

[cardio_guy]

Accor doesn't credit status points and reward points if booked through third party?

So we can't use atlas on travel edge or
dcb on smartbuy to book these chain hotels? We won't get membership benefits?

 

[helloworld]

So we can't use atlas on travel edge or
dcb on smartbuy to book these chain hotels? We won't get membership benefits?

you'll get either card points or membership points, not both.

so, pick one and choose accordingly..

if you pick smartbuy or travel edge then card points.

if you pick hotel official websites then membership benefits.

 

[nh124001]

what would be the cheapest option between mmt/cleartrip/yatra/goibibo?