Summer Travel Savings are Sizzling! Get a $50 Gift Card from Choice Hotels & Bonus Points from Hilton

As the temperature climbs and Americans start planning those exciting summer getaways, hotel loyalty programs are seriously competing for your business. For smart U.S. travelers, this means great chances to get real value from your hotel stays. This summer, two deals really shine, promising to make your road trips, city adventures, and beach holidays even more rewarding: Choice Privileges® is bringing back its popular "stay twice, earn a $50 gift card" offer, while Hilton Honors™ is tempting folks with straightforward bonus points on every stay.

These aren't just quick deals; they’re solid ways to stretch your travel budget. Think an extra experience, a meal out, or just lowering the overall cost of your vacation. Whether you're a family heading out on a big multi-state adventure or a business traveler adding some fun days to your trip, getting how these deals work is key. Let's dive into these summer offers and see how you can use them smartly to get the best rewards.

Choice Privileges: Turn Two Stays into Real Rewards

Choice Hotels® is a name many U.S. travelers know, with a huge network of places to stay, from budget-friendly spots like Econo Lodge® and Rodeway Inn® to comfy midscale options like Comfort Inn®, Quality Inn®, and Cambria® Hotels. Their "stay twice, get a $50 gift card" promotion is a big hit for a simple reason – it's easy to understand and achievable for lots of people. Official Choice Privileges Promotion Page

Breaking Down the Choice Privileges Summer Offer:

• Core Reward: After you complete two separate qualifying stays at participating Choice Hotels, you’ll earn enough points (usually up to 8,000 Choice Privileges points) to grab a $50 gift card. These gift cards are for all sorts of useful places, like popular gas stations, restaurants, and online stores. Or, you can save these points for free nights later.
• Promotion Window: Mark your calendars! This great offer is for stays starting May 19, 2025, and ending on September 2, 2025 – perfect for peak summer travel.
• Essential First Step – Registration: This is super important: members must register for this promotion before their first qualifying stay. The registration portal was expected to be live around mid-May 2025; check the official Choice Privileges website to ensure you’re signed up. New members can join here: Choice Privileges Member Registration Link

Making the Offer Work: A U.S. Traveler Example

Imagine the Rodriguez family from Florida planning their yearly summer road trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway. They know they'll need to stop overnight in a few places. By smartly booking two separate one-night stays – say, at a Comfort Suites® near Asheville, NC, and then a Quality Inn® in Roanoke, VA – they hit the promotion's target (as long as they registered first!). Those bonus points can then become a $50 gift card for a national restaurant chain, covering a family dinner, or maybe a Target gift card for some travel snacks. This saving directly makes their vacation better, no extra hassle.

Why This Deal Clicks with Travelers:

• Huge U.S. Network: With thousands of Choice Hotels across the U.S., from city centers to convenient roadsides, finding participating properties for your travel plans is usually easy.
• Achievable Goal: Needing only two stays makes the $50 reward super accessible. This is great for long vacationers and also for those taking shorter weekend trips or a few quick business stops.
• Flexible Rewards: While the gift card is the headline, getting the reward as points gives you options. If a gift card isn't what you need right now, these points can go towards a free night later, which could be even more valuable.

Hilton Honors: Boost Your Points with Every Summer Stay

Hilton Honors, with its wide range of hotels from the accessible Hampton Inn® by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn® to the luxurious Waldorf Astoria™ Hotels & Resorts and Conrad® Hotels & Resorts, is also wooing summer travelers. Their upcoming promo helps you build up bonus points with every stay – a simple way to stock your points arsenal. Official Hilton Honors Promotions Page

Unpacking the Hilton Honors "Points Plus" Summer Deal:

• The Offer: Members can earn a flat 1,000 bonus Honors points for each qualifying stay at participating Hilton properties worldwide. Important note: this is per stay, not per night.
• Promotion Dates: This offer is good for stays booked and completed between June 1, 2025, and August 15, 2025.
• Registration is Key: Just like the Choice offer, Hilton Honors members must register for this promotion before their stay. You can usually do this with a quick click on the Hilton Honors website or their mobile app. Good news: existing bookings that fall within the promotion dates are typically eligible once you register. New members can join here: Hilton Honors Member Registration Link

How It Works for U.S. Travelers:

Think of Sarah, a freelance consultant from Denver. She has three separate client meetings in June and July, needing one-night stays in Phoenix, Salt Lake City, and Dallas. By registering for the Hilton Honors promo and picking spots like an Embassy Suites™ by Hilton for its roomy suites or a Tru by Hilton™ for its modern style, she’ll earn an extra 1,000 bonus points for each of these three stays. That’s an extra 3,000 bonus points on top of her usual earnings and any elite status perks, helping her get to that rewarding weekend getaway even faster.

Why This Offer is Attractive:

• Easy Earning: The beauty of this deal is its simplicity: 1,000 bonus points per stay. While it offers a bigger percentage boost on shorter, less expensive stays, it’s an easy win on any qualifying stay.
• Global Reach, Local Options: With nearly all Hilton Honors hotels worldwide participating, U.S. travelers will find plenty of choices, whether staying local or heading overseas.
• Stack Your Benefits: These promotional bonus points add on top of the base points you earn for spending, points from elite status, and any points from Hilton co-branded credit cards.

A Smart Move: "Buy Points" Promos for Specific Rewards

Besides deals that reward stays, watch out for "buy points" offers. Many big loyalty programs, including Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy®, and World of Hyatt®, roll these out often. They can be a clever tool if you're just a bit short of points for a specific high-value reward.

• Hilton Honors: For example, Hilton recently had a 100% bonus on purchased points (that specific offer ended May 29, 2025, but similar deals often pop up). Hilton Honors Buy Points Page - Check for current offers
• Marriott Bonvoy & World of Hyatt: These programs also regularly offer bonuses on point purchases, often from 20% to 50% or more. Check their websites for the latest deals. Marriott Bonvoy Buy Points Page / World of Hyatt Buy Points Page

A Financial Advisor's Tip on Buying Points (Is It Worth It?):

Buying points isn't always a great deal; you need to do the math. Always compare the total cost of buying points (even with a big bonus) against the cash price of the hotel stay you want. If buying points lets you book a room for effectively less than the retail cash rate, especially for fancy hotels or during busy times, it can be a smart financial move. Don't forget to consider the points you won't earn from a cash stay if you book with points.

Your Checklist for Summer Hotel Reward Success:

• Register, Register, Register! Can't say this enough. For both Choice Privileges and Hilton Honors promos (and most hotel deals), you must register beforehand. No registration, no bonus.
• Book Direct – The Golden Rule: To earn loyalty points and qualify for these deals, you almost always must book directly through the hotel's official website, their app, or their main reservations phone line. Bookings via third-party online travel agencies (like Expedia, Booking.com) usually don’t count.
• Know What "Stay" Means: Get familiar with how they define a "stay." Usually, consecutive nights at the same hotel count as a single stay for promo purposes, even if booked separately.
• Use Your Elite Status: If you have elite status with Choice Privileges or Hilton Honors, you'll often earn even more bonus points on top of these promotional offers.
• Smart Credit Card Use: Get the most out of your spending by paying for hotel stays with a co-branded hotel credit card (like a Hilton Honors American Express or a Choice Privileges® Mastercard®). Or, use a general travel rewards card that gives good bonus points on hotels, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or The Platinum Card® from American Express. This combo of stay promotions and credit card rewards is where you really unlock value.

The Bottom Line for U.S. Travelers This Summer

As you get ready for your summer 2025 trips, the hotel promotions from Choice Privileges and Hilton Honors offer exciting ways to get more value. Whether it's the real-deal $50 gift card from Choice after just two stays or the steady 1,000 bonus points per stay with Hilton, these deals are designed to make your loyalty pay off.

Before you book, always check the official program websites to read the full terms and conditions and, most importantly, to register. A little smart planning now can lead to big savings and more rewarding travels. Happy and savvy travels this summer!