I’ve solely twice thought of utilizing airline rewards for inns: after I redeemed 100,000 Southwest factors for an all-inclusive trip and after I thought my Malaysia Enrich factors would expire earlier than I might journey to Malaysia once more.

You may usually get the most effective worth out of your airline rewards whenever you redeem for flights. Nevertheless, many vacationers search for different methods to redeem their airline rewards.

On Wednesday, Air Canada Aeroplan launched a brand new possibility for resort redemptions that it says requires “as much as 30% fewer factors” than the earlier possibility. Aeroplan’s press launch goes on to notice:

HotelSavers presents the most effective member worth for Aeroplan factors exterior of flights. As well as, borrowing from the most effective of Aeroplan flight redemptions, there are aspirational “candy spots” to uncover the place worth on inns is even higher than the standard worth per level when buying flights.

The concept of aspirational candy spots to uncover is sufficient to pique my curiosity. So, here is what it’s best to learn about Aeroplan’s new HotelSavers redemption possibility.

Aeroplan HotelSavers

Aeroplan has partnered with choose resort manufacturers to supply its HotelSavers redemptions. At present, you may guide stays on the following 39 manufacturers by means of Aeroplan HotelSavers:

• Luxurious: Fairmont, Shangri-La, Taj, Small Luxurious Lodges of the World, InterContinental, Most popular, Kimpton, Sofitel, Six Senses, Regent, Faena and SLS.
• Premium: Le Germain, Omni, Noble Home, Swissotel Pullman, Lodge Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Outrigger, MGallery, Escad Lodge, Voco, 21c Museum Lodges, Hualuxe and Even.
• Midscale and financial system: Coast Lodges, Vacation Inn, Vacation Inn Categorical, Atwell Suites, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, Vacation Inn Membership Holidays, Avid, Novotel, Mama Shelter, Alt Lodges, Ibis and Ibis Types.

As you may see, you may guide many Accor Dwell Limitless and IHG One Rewards manufacturers by means of Aeroplan HotelSavers.

The next desk exhibits the eight HotelSavers classes and the variety of Aeroplan factors required per evening for inns in every class:

Nevertheless, earlier than getting too excited, observe that some HotelSavers redemptions value approach exterior their acknowledged class. For instance, take into account this Class 3 resort in Miami that ought to value 20,000 to 30,000 factors per evening:

Aeroplan’s press launch notes that every one HotelSavers redemptions embody taxes. You possibly can guide a refundable charge with all Aeroplan HotelSavers properties, however some additionally provide nonrefundable choices for even fewer factors. And you too can redeem utilizing a points-plus-cash charge to pay with half factors and half money for HotelSavers stays.

You possibly can even redeem extra factors to guide an upgraded room or a charge that features breakfast. Try this selection for the InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso.

If you initially seek for a HotelSavers redemption, it’s possible you’ll not see your required resort even when it belongs to one of many 39 collaborating manufacturers. For instance, the InterContinental Phuket and Keemala did not seem in a seek for Phuket, Thailand, however did seem after I searched extra particularly for Kamala, Thailand.

However regardless of looking out a number of methods, I could not get Six Senses Laamu within the Maldives or Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand to seem in search outcomes.

Lastly, you may nonetheless guide inns in different manufacturers utilizing Aeroplan factors. HotelSavers redemptions are denoted on the outcomes web page with a crimson HotelSavers banner. And HotelSavers outcomes appear to be listed first in the event you type the outcomes utilizing the Really helpful possibility.

Associated: The perfect methods to maximise Air Canada’s Aeroplan program

Backside line

It is at all times good to see a loyalty program provide a brand new redemption possibility, particularly one with the potential to supply good worth.

I will have to dig deeper into the HotelSavers choices by doing extra searches earlier than declaring how a lot worth is right here. However, one redemption that instantly jumps out to me is for probably the most aspirational IHG One Rewards properties: the InterContinental Bora Bora Thalasso in French Polynesia.

HotelSavers costs the bottom villa — which continues to be overwater — throughout the Class 8 band for the dates I checked. It is normally very tough to seek out award availability utilizing IHG factors at this resort, particularly if you wish to keep longer than only a evening or two. Redeeming Aeroplan factors for a keep might present good worth on some dates in the event you do not wish to guide a paid charge.

Particularly in the event you would take into account transferring Chase factors to IHG to guide a high-value redemption, now it’s possible you’ll wish to take into account transferring to Aeroplan if the award charge or availability is best. Nevertheless, you possible will not get elite perks and earnings with the resort loyalty program whenever you guide stays by means of Aeroplan. And within the case of redemptions of IHG inns, you will miss out on a fourth-night reward in case you have an eligible IHG Rewards bank card and choose to redeem Aeroplan factors as an alternative of IHG factors.

So, examine award charges with each and thoroughly evaluate your choices earlier than reserving. As a reminder, TPG values Aeroplan factors at 1.5 cents every, so you will usually wish to get at the least 1.5 cents per level when redeeming.