Travelers constantly fret about getting enough value out of their rewards credit cards. With so many choices and such high annual fees – it’s fair enough! But one credit card can more than cover it’s annual fee in just a single hotel booking. The Citi Prestige 4th night free benefit is one of the most lucrative credit card benefits out there – so here’s a step by step guide to booking your free fourth night, anywhere in the world.
Step One: Prestige
This benefit is only available to Citi Prestige cardmembers. No other Citi credit card offers this benefit, nor does any other on all hotel bookings. You must hold a Citi Prestige credit card and have online account access to book this benefit with ease.
Step Two: Thank You
Navigate yourself to ThankYou.com. This is Citi’s dedicated website for ThankYou credit card rewards points. Once there you’ll find an option to “book travel”. The fourth night free benefit only works on stays of four nights, and cannot be used on any shorter stays. If you’re only staying two or three nights – check out the Mastercard free night offers.
Step Three: Search Hotels
Virtually every hotel in the world is eligible for fourth night free. As a rule of thumb: if it’s on other booking sites, it’s probably on Citi’s ThankYou.com website. Search any hotel while logged in to find rates automatically plugged in. The price per night you’ll find is taking into account the fourth night free discount. You can even use points to cover these fourth night free stays, though we do not suggest it.
But Wait
There’s no question that the convenience of booking online is lovely. But you may be missing out on extra savings AND loyalty points. Calling the Citi Prestige Concierge can unlock special free night offers you’ve found online, which can be combined with the fourth night free offer from Citi Prestige. For example: if Starwood hotels are offering a buy 2 get one free, you can combine this offer to effectively get four nights for the price of two. You can reach the Citi Prestige Concierge by calling 1-561-922-0158 or by emailing Concierge@YourConciergeCenter.com with the last 4 digits of your card.
Step Four: Compare
Fourth night free is a lucrative and exciting benefit – but only if prices are on par with other booking sites. Be sure to search prices direct with the hotel, or on TripAdvisor to see if the fourth free night is really being paid for by inflated rates on all the other nights. This is generally not the case – and if you call, Citi will often even price match to the lowest prices you’ve found. Just be sure to always compare to ensure you get the very best deal.
This is indeed a great benefit. The Prestige card AF ($450) gives a $250 airline credit, leaving the consumer to pay $200 per year for the card. Stay at any 3* or higher hotel once and this card costs nothing, and you can actually turn a profit on it if you book higher end hotels. But, the best part is that the 4th night free offer is easily stackable. While in London at the Park Lane Sheraton, SPG ran a promotion for a free night after paid days, which I stacked with the Prestige benefit. The end result was a 40% discount off my five night stay. You can even get a better deal than that!!! For example, the Ritz in Madrid (during the winter months) gives you a third night free after paying for two nights. Stack that promotion with the Prestige card and you get a four night stay in a top notch hotel for half price, with no status necessary!! If you have status with Marriot, SPG, etc. you may even get a small suite upgrade.
How many rooms can I book with this deal? say my family and friends are going somewhere, can I book extra rooms for them get the the 4th night free?
Hey Fred – You can only book one room with and receive the 4th-night free benefit. Make sure you call Citi’s concierge (Aspire Lifestyles) at 561-922-0158. Doing so will allow you to earn points with the hotel’s rewards program and, if you have elite status of any kind, you’ll get your status perks during the stay. Booking online, your status won’t be recognized as it will be a 3rd party booking. The concierge team will actually book directly with the hotel for you though.
Or just call the Citi Prestige Concierge and give them the hotel and dates. Simple.
Most of the better rates shown online are not discounted/refundable, such as AAA/AARP. Those are available by calling in. For chain hotels, always search the hotel’s own website first, Citi’s concierge can probably book those rates.