How do you mostly pay for your hotel stays?

Hello Everyone!

I’m curious about how everyone usually pays for their hotel stays since it’s not always as simple as it seems outside of our hobby/game/whatever.

Do you mostly use a credit card, points, free night awards, or a mix of these (and if so, how)?

If you use points, do you mostly get them from sign-up bonuses, credit card spending, transferable currency cards (like Amex, Chase, Capital One, Citi, Wells Fargo), buying them, or a mix of these (and if so, how)?

If the date is locked in, I’ll book through the Amex portal—it’s usually the same as hotels.com, but you can’t cancel.

I just downgraded my Amex Gold to Green, so now I get 3x points on any hotel stays, even if I don’t book through Amex.

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I pay entirely with points. Last year, I earned 1.2 million points through Chase cards, which I can use at Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG. I got them through welcome bonuses, category bonuses, referrals, shopping portals, and everyday spending. :wink:

Most travelers use credit cards to pay for hotel stays. Credit cards allow you to make payments without carrying cash and offer added security. Transactions are deducted from your credit limit, simplifying payment and managing expenses.