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It’s that time of the year. In just more than a week’s time, the Cincinnati Bengals are set to square off against the Los Angeles Rams. While the Rams — and their fans — don’t have to travel far, as the game’s being held at the team’s home stadium, Cincinnati fans will need to make the trek to LA to see the game in person.
Of course, you can always watch the game from home with your favorite party foods close by, but it’s more exciting to see and experience the game in person.
On what is widely considered the biggest night in sports, the game is typically an expensive event to attend. But it’s not all bad news. We’re seeing some deals that could help you save on travel to Los Angeles — and where to stay while you’re there — for the big game. Here are some of the best travel deals we’ve found.
On what is sure to be a busy weekend, it’s a bonus that Los Angeles is a city filled with plenty of hotel options.
While there are some cash deals to be had over weekend, you can also get some terrific value by using loyalty points and miles to redeem for a free stay. Instead of using cash, consider splurging for a free stay by using your points. Use that cash you’re saving on all of the best food and drink that Los Angeles has to offer.
Tommie Hollywood
This property, which is part of the World of Hyatt program, is charging just 15,000 Hyatt points per night for a free stay over the weekend. For a three-night stay, you’ll have to pay 45,000 Hyatt points. Alternatively, the hotel is charging more than $1,000 per night. For the same three-night stay, it would cost you $3,421.13, meaning you’d be getting tremendous value out of your hotel points.
The best way to earn Hyatt points is through co-branded World of Hyatt credit cards. For example, the World of Hyatt Credit Card comes with a sign-up bonus of up to 60,000 points — you’ll get 30,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months of opening the card. Then you’ll earn up to 30,000 more points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months on purchases, on up to $15,000 spent. If you had the Hyatt card and received the sign-up bonus, you’d have more than enough points for this tremendous redemption for the weekend, saving you nearly $3,500.
You can book this stay for just 60,000 Hilton Honors points per night over that weekend. A three-night stay from Friday to Monday will run you 180,000 points in total. If you were to pay cash for the same three-night stay, it would cost a whopping $3,285.60.
doubletree by Hilton hotel Los Angeles downtown
Hilton co-branded credit cards are the quickest way to earn Hilton Honors points quickly for great redemptions like this in the future. The Hilton Honors American Express Card, for example, comes with a welcome bonus of 80,000 Honors points after you spend $1,000 in the first three months, putting a redemption like this well within reach in the future.
W Hollywood
This 4-star hotel in Hollywood is the perfect way to splurge on that weekend by using your points to get a stay for free. The hotel is a member of the Marriott Bonvoy program, meaning you can use your points for a three-night stay over the weekend, which will cost a total of 180,000 points. While that may seem like a lot, the hotel is charging more than $1,400 per night on the same dates — $4,280 in total for the same three-night stay. That represents terrific value from your Marriott Bonvoy points. In fact, more than double what they’re worth, according to The Points Guy’s valuations.
You can quickly earn Marriott Bonvoy points to use on redemptions like this in the future by considering one of the co-branded American Express cards. For example, the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card currently comes with a welcome bonus of 150,000 Bonvoy points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. That bonus alone will put you well on your way to a redemption like this.
Residence Inn Los Angeles Pasadena/Old Town
This property, located in Pasadena, offers great value for your points. As part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio, you can redeem your points for a free stay — 80,000 points for a two-night stay over the weekend. On those same nights, you would need to pay $779. Ultimately, this is a good deal and one that could save you some cash that you can spend on souvenirs at the game.
The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card currently comes with a sign-up bonus of three free nights (up to 50,000 points each) after spending $3,000 in the first three months. Card holders also receive one Elite Night Credit for every $5,000 in spending.
Hilton Los Angeles Airport
If you don’t mind staying close to the airport (think: easy access to and from LAX for your short weekend trip), this is a great option for using your points. A standard night will cost you 40,000 points, meaning a two-night stay from Saturday to Monday costs 80,000 Honors points, or paying cash will cost you a whopping $1,162.56 for the same two-night stay. You’ll be getting about 1.45 cents per point in value, which is much more than Honors points are typically valued at — 0.6 cents per point, according to The Points Guy’s valuations.
The welcome bonus from the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card is currently 130,000 Honors points after spending $2,000 in the first three months of holding the card.
Hyatt Place LAX/Century Blvd
This property, which is also located close to LAX — ideal for a quick weekend trip — is also part of the World of Hyatt loyalty program. On the weekend of the game, you can redeem 12,000 points per night for a free stay. So, for a two-night stay, it would cost you 24,000 Hyatt points. Alternatively, the same two-night stay costs $1,952.68 — meaning you’re getting more than 8 cents per point in value from this terrific redemption. That’s some of the best value you can get from Hyatt points.
The sign-up bonus of up to 60,000 points — 30,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months and up to 30,000 additional points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first six months on purchases, on up to $15,000 spent — on the World of Hyatt Credit Card means you could get a stay like this for free in the future.
this article is originally published at CNN.com
