Hotels.com has always been a staple in my travel routine. Recently, they notified customers about an update to their redemption options.
They further explain the reward night and how to redeem the free night.
They also added a few tips.
From a business perspective, this is understandable. There might be an underlying or operating cost that has to be absorbed in order to offer customers a free night. Also, this might be a tactic used to increase the number of app users.
From a travelers perspective, it means you pay more for redemptions when using the computer. If you're like me, you prefer to use the computer as it provides a better user experience with more options than the app.
A solution, research the hotels on your computer first. Once you have made a choice, switch to the app. There you can select and pay for the hotel to help avoid the redemption fee.
Overall, the $5 redemption fee is not going to burn a hole in your pocket, especially when compared to the price tag of $100 or more for a night in a hotel.
Editor’s Note: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any parties mentioned. None of the entities mentioned has reviewed, approved or endorsed the content listed in this post.
