Marshall Fitzgibbons on Travel - Lodge Elite Status Progress Assess and Thoughts For all of those other Year.

I recently wrote about my periodic progress pay attention to earning and maintaining air carrier elite status. Typically, I can do the same meant for my progress towards hotel elite status. This year I haven't found myself as dedicated in maintaining elite status using a particular hotel chain. Frankly, I've never been as attracted to hotel elite programs when i have that of this airlines. Perhaps I'm unique, or maybe it's because I recently see a hotel being place to sleep and just don't value the perks of status with hotels as highly when i do an airline. Surely, I place some price on hotel elite position, but I used to "care" even more about it than I now. What happened?

I do believe the biggest change for me within the last few year was the Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card. You might ask why? For a $95 $ annual fee, I get Hilton Gold status which includes points bonuses, the photo at room upgrades, breakfast if not upgraded to a location with lounge access, together with complimentary wi-fi. In short-term, I can get mid-level status instead of set foot in a Hilton property. Of course, I wouldn't bother together with the card if I do not ever stayed at Hilton friends and family hotels. Hilton has turn into a nice backup plan in my situation, if you will, just because of Reserve Card.

In other words, I can experiment along with different hotels that appeal to my tastes ( see Kimpton and more Kimpton) and not bother with losing a respectable amount of elite benefits with your chain that has properties just about everywhere. As quite possibly the last travel blogger on earth to join the Hyatt bandwagon, it may be time to try these too. I've had fantastic experiences with Marriott, and will stay with them when it feels right, but I'm probably planning to loose my Marriott Rewards Gold status after that year. Hmmm….. wonder if perhaps Hyatt will status go with me?

In summary, I don't feel the same about elite status with hotels as i do with airlines, and in my event the Hilton Reserve card account changed the game just a bit. As a result, it's not likely that you're travelling to find me on any sort of mattress runs this year to verify I maintain status or purchase a higher level of status by having a particular hotel family. I'm sure many you feel differently regarding this than I do. Would enjoy hear alternative points of view inside the comments.

CONNECTION: Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Reserve Card (Disclosure: If you apply for and receive a card through the link provided in this post, I will receive a commission. As always, I appreciate your readership whether buy my links or not really. )