The best hotel discounts for military members

With just north of 3,000 hotels between them, budget chains La Quinta Inn and Super 8 together rank as the best hotel chain. Their parent company, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, offers a 12- and 15-percent discount, respectively, off the best available rate and up to 20 percent off through programs like VetRewards and Armed Forces Vacation Club.rnrnAdditionally, if you’re a military member who signs up for Wyndham’s reward program, you’ll instantly receive gold-level membership plus 1,000 bonus points after completing your first qualifying night. The benefits are available to active and retired military and their spouses, as well. rnrnHowever, there are a couple of drawbacks to the Wyndham military discounts. According to the fine print, they only apply to La Quinta Inn and Super 8, which rank at the bottom of customer satisfaction surveys. However, the Wyndham Rewards Program applies to all 22 Wyndham hotels, which include budget, mid-tier, and luxury brands.rn

Extended Stay America ranks as the best hotel discount because when you book through programs like VetRewards, you can save up to a whopping 45 percent off. Plus, the company will honor Defense Department rates at or below 75 percent off per diem if you stay longer than a month. rnrnAdditionally, Extended Stay offers a host of amenities like standard suites equipped with kitchens, on-sight laundry, free breakfast and Wi-Fi, and they’re pet-friendly facilities. Also, where available, guests will have access to pools, fitness centers, and van parking. rnrnDespite the generous discount, Extended Stay does have a few drawbacks. First, it only has about 550 locations across the country. Second, the rewards program is more of an email with promotions, meaning you don’t earn points or anything. And finally, it isn’t ranked in either of the customer satisfaction surveys we reviewed.rn

With more than 6,000 locations worldwide and a minimum five percent military discount rate, IHG Hotels & Resorts ranks as the best for veterans. The British company owns 17 brands, ranging from midscale to luxury, and offers a generous rewards program. rnrnAccording to the fine print, the military discount applies to all military personnel, veterans, and their families. While the discount starts at five percent, it varies by hotel and availability. Also, it’s only offered by participating hotels and does not apply to IHG Army Hotels, which are the 40 on-base hotels across the country. rnrnAs a company overall, IHG rates as one of the highest for customer satisfaction. It received high marks on both ACSI and JD Power surveys in 2021 and 2022. IHG brands like Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites, and Crowne Plaza are also ranked as some of the best hotels.rnrnIHG also ranks in the top five for rewards programs. You can earn reward points on hotel stays and credit cards, and use points on booking hotels and air travel.

All over the country, Red Roof Inn routinely offers one of the, if not THE, cheapest hotel rates. You’ll often see prices less than $50. Therefore, we rank Red Roof Inn as the best budget for military hotels. rnrnRed Roof Inn offers a flat 10 percent discount rate to military members on leisure or official travel, along with their friends and family. All you have to do is go to the company’s website for the discount code. Also, if you book a room through VetRewards, you could save up to 20 percent on your rate.rnrnAdditionally, Red Roof has a loyalty program, dubbed RediRewards, where you can earn points for not just hotel benefits, but also other travel and lifestyle discounts, as well as gifts. Plus, the program and military discount apply to all Red Roof brands, including Red Roof Inn, Red Roof Plus, The Red Collection, and HomeTowne Studios. rnrnHowever, there are some drawbacks to Red Roof. If you’ve ever driven by one, it’s usually a wide open parking lot and there’s no shortage of crime stories set in a Red Roof Inn. Still, Consumer Affairs reports that the brand earned a 3.9-star rating from reviewing customers.

The Armed Forces Vacation Club sells available condo weeks (think timeshare) to members of the armed forces at rates starting at $379 for the week. That works out to be around $54 for the night before taxes. That’s pretty sweet, especially considering you’re renting a condo with a full kitchen, living room, and other resort-like amenities. rnrnAvailability is good, especially in popular destinations that have an overabundance of timeshares (we’re looking at you, Orlando, Branson, and Las Vegas). There are also resort weeks available in locations like Maui for $999 for the week. rnrnThe biggest downside is the property you want may not be available for the dates you need (due to the space available nature of the discounted condo weeks). It’s also worth noting that many of the properties may be past their prime. Before you book, take a good look at the pictures and the reviews online, as some of the properties can be quite dated. rnrnMembership is free to members of the armed forces. There is a premium version available that claims to unlock more discounts and availability, but it’s not necessary. You’ll likely be able to find something with the free version.

American Forces Travel is the only official Morale, Welfare, and Recreation leisure travel website. It is powered by Priceline and discounts can range between 40 and 60 percent on certain properties. The website isn’t limited to hotel deals, either. Members of the military can also access deals on airfare, car rentals, packages, and cruises. rnrnUnlike Veterans Advantage, you do not have to pay a membership fee to access these discounts. You do have to be eligible to use MWR programs to access the site. You’ll be asked to verify your ID through the Department of Defense the first time you use the site. After that, you’ll be able to search and book deals through the website. rnrnOne downside you may notice is many of the deals you’ll see are also available to members of the public on other websites. This is due to the sheer number of search results you’ll see, most of which aren’t exclusive deals for members of the armed forces. It’s still worth searching, and you can even use your Military Star card on purchases made through the site.rn

Caesar Properties ranks as the best military discount for a hotel in Las Vegas. With the Caesar Rewards program, you can get up to a 30 percent discount plus other perks at 10 hotels on the strip in Sin City and more across the country. rnrnWhen you sign up for the Caesar Rewards Salute Card, you’re automatically upgraded to receive “platinum” status, which opens you up to things like valet parking, discounts at gift shops, and complimentary stays. It’s a free program for active or retired military, as well as their spouses and dependents. rnrnWhile the discounts and perks are great, they do have some drawbacks. Mainly, Caesar Properties include some of the poorest rated hotels and casinos in Las Vegas. They’re great if you’re in your 20s and want Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but not so great if you want to be wine and dined.