Fourth and Fifth Night Free Hotels
Getting a fourth or fifth night free on hotel award stays is an easy way to stretch your points. IHG One Rewards, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy offer these benefits on eligible points bookings, but each program has different requirements. IHG requires an eligible credit card, Hilton requires Silver elite status or higher, and Marriott makes its benefit available to all Bonvoy members. Here is how fourth and fifth night free hotels work, who qualifies and how to book them.
Fourth and Fifth Night Free Hotels at a Glance
Here’s a quick look at how fourth and fifth night free hotels vary, sorted by program. We’ll dive deeper into each one below.
| Program | Benefit | Who qualifies? | Eligible booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| IHG One Rewards | Every fourth reward night free | Eligible IHG Chase cardholders; spending requirement coming for the no-annual-fee card | At least four consecutive standard-room reward nights at one property, booked with points |
| Hilton Honors | Every fifth reward night free, up to four free nights per stay | Silver status or higher | At least five consecutive Standard Room Reward nights at one property, paid entirely with points |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Stay for 5, Pay for 4; lowest-priced award night free | All Bonvoy members | Five consecutive eligible points nights at one property under one reservation |
IHG Fourth Night Free: Eligibility and Booking Requirements
IHG’s benefit removes the points charge for every fourth night on qualifying standard-room award stays. You must book at least four consecutive nights at the same property as one reward stay. Unlike Marriott and Hilton, IHG elite status alone does not qualify you. The benefit comes from an eligible Chase IHG credit card linked to your IHG One Rewards account. Eligible options in the refreshed lineup include:
- IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card
- IHG One Rewards Premier Select Credit Card
- IHG One Rewards Business Credit Card, formerly Premier Business
- IHG One Rewards Credit Card, formerly Traveler, subject to the upcoming spending requirement
As covered in our IHG credit card refresh, the no-annual-fee card will require $5,000 in spending after December 31, 2026, to unlock this perk. Existing cardholders should review their change notices for applicable transition dates. The other listed cards retain the benefit without that spending requirement Our IHG credit card guide can help you compare your options.
How Much Can You Save?
Suppose four nights cost 40,000, 40,000, 40,000 and 60,000 points. An eligible cardholder pays 120,000 points instead of 180,000 because the fourth night costs zero points. IHG waives the actual fourth night, even if it is the most expensive. An eight-night eligible stay gets nights four and eight free. There is no annual limit on using the perk. Book while signed into the account with the eligible card benefit and confirm the discount before completing your reservation. Paid nights and anniversary free night certificates do not replace the required points nights. Must be used on a qualifying points-only booking.
Hilton Fifth Night Free: Eligibility and Booking Requirements
Hilton offers its fifth-night-free benefit to Honors members with Silver status or higher. Book at least five consecutive nights at one property as an all-points Standard Room Reward stay. The benefit covers nights five, 10, 15 and 20, with a max of four free nights per stay. You can use it on an unlimited number of eligible stays annually. Premium Room Rewards, paid stays and Points & Money bookings don’t qualify. Look specifically for Standard Room Reward availability for your full stay. For example, if a Standard Room Reward costs 60,000 points each night, five nights cost 240,000 points with the benefit instead of 300,000. Your effective nightly cost falls to 48,000 points. That is a 20% points saving when the nightly prices are equal.
Credit Cards That Provide Hilton Status
You do not have to earn status through hotel stays. These cards provide qualifying Hilton status:
| Card | Included Hilton status |
|---|---|
| Hilton Honors American Express Card | Silver |
| Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card | Gold |
| Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card | Diamond |
| Hilton Honors American Express Business Card | Gold |
| The Platinum Card from American Express | Gold, enrollment required |
| The Business Platinum Card from American Express | Gold, enrollment required |
Even Silver status unlocks the award benefit. You do not need an expensive premium card just to qualify. If using a Platinum card’s status benefit, enroll and confirm that Gold status appears in your Hilton account before booking. At ToP, we recommend prioritizing Chase opportunities while under 5/24 rather than opening a personal Amex Platinum. Also review Amex family rules, since your card history can affect welcome offer eligibility.
Marriott Fifth Night Free: Stay for 5, Pay for 4
Marriott’s benefit is available to all Bonvoy members, with no elite status or credit card requirement. Redeem points for five consecutive nights at the same property under one reservation using eligible Standard Redemption or PointSavers awards. Despite often being called “fifth night free,” Marriott removes the lowest points-priced night. It does not necessarily waive the fifth night. For example, nightly prices of 50,000, 50,000, 40,000, 60,000 and 60,000 points total 260,000. Marriott removes the 40,000-point night, leaving 220,000 points to pay.
Separate reservations do not qualify, even if the dates are consecutive. Cash + Points awards and free night certificates do not satisfy the five-night requirement. Four points nights plus a certificate will not unlock another free night. For longer eligible stays, you can receive multiple free nights. The discount covers the standard-room redemption cost; any premium-room upgrade charges still apply to the free night. Nightly Upgrade Awards also require an award for every night, including the complimentary night.
Earning Marriott Points With Credit Cards
Marriott cards can help build your balance, but they are optional for this benefit. Explore our reviews of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Credit Card and Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, along with our reviews of the Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card. Check whether a welcome offer awards points or free night certificates. Both can be valuable, but certificates cannot trigger Stay for 5, Pay for 4.
Fourth and Fifth Night Free Hotels: ToP Thoughts
One more night, zero extra points? That’s a perk worth checking before you book. IHG’s fourth night free and Hilton and Marriott’s fifth-night benefits can turn your points balance into a longer getaway. The trick is making the savings work for your trip. Book the qualifying nights together, confirm the discount and compare the total with cash rates. Certificates won’t count toward the required points nights, and meals, parking and other expenses still add up. A free night is a great deal when it’s a night you actually want. Where have you stretched your points with fourth and fifth night free hotels? Share your favorite redemption in our ToP Facebook group.
