At first glance, a 35k certificate might not sound like much, but it goes farther than you’d think, especially since you can add up to 25,000 points and stretch it to a 60k stay. That little detail has opened up some incredible options for us over the years.

There are creative, family-friendly ways to save, some of which can be more flexible (and sometimes more valuable) than using hotel loyalty points.

Did you know you can get hotel status without staying there just by holding the right credit card?

Hotels at Disney can really mean the difference between being able to take the vacation… and not. Here’s a list of great options for both Disneyland and Disney World.

When we first started using points, I remember staring at our balance of 100,000 and wondering: how far can this actually take a family of six?

I had seen people use that many points for one first-class flight or two nights at a luxury hotel. But I knew there had to be a better way—especially if I wanted to stretch those points into real family vacations. And the good news? There absolutely is! We’ve used 100k points for a full week of hotel stays, roundtrip flights for four, or two rooms at a resort where my husband and I got our own room. That’s the magic of smart redemptions.

There’s something really satisfying about checking into a hotel where you’re staying for free—especially when it’s somewhere you’d never want to pay cash for. IHG One Rewards points can make that happen, and while they don’t always get as much attention as some other hotel points, they can still unlock great value—especially when you know how to get the most from IHG points with kids.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about Hilton Honors: how to earn and redeem points, the best credit cards to maximize your stays, and how to get the most out of Hilton’s elite perks. Let’s dive in so you can start planning your next family getaway for nearly free!

Who doesn’t love a free upgrade? Whether it’s a bigger room, a suite, or lounge access, getting upgraded at a hotel can make your stay feel extra special—without paying extra. And while elite status can definitely help, you don’t need to be a top-tier loyalty member to score a better room.

If you’ve got a Hilton Free Night Reward, you’re sitting on one of the best hotel perks out there. Unlike some hotel free night certificates that have a points cap, Hilton’s Free Night Rewards can be redeemed at almost any Hilton property worldwide—as long as there’s standard award availability. That means you can use them for stays that would otherwise cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars per night.

What if I told you there’s an easy way to get a free hotel stay every year—without even thinking about it? Many hotel credit cards offer free night certificates just for holding the card or hitting a spending threshold. And if you travel even a little, this benefit can easily offset the card’s annual fee and save you money on family vacations.