A fifth night free sounds like a simple 20% discount. In practice, the value depends on the program, nightly award prices and whether five nights suit your trip. Start with the stay you actually want, then test whether the award benefit lowers its total cost. Program terms checked October 27, 2026.
Marriott: the lowest-point night matters
Marriott Bonvoy makes Stay for 5, Pay for 4 available to members booking five consecutive award nights using eligible Standard Redemption or PointSavers awards under one reservation. The lowest-point night is free, which need not be the fifth night on the calendar. Cash + Points and promotional free-night certificates do not qualify for this offer.
Hilton: status and room type matter
Hilton offers every fifth night free on eligible all-points Standard Room Reward stays to Silver, Gold, Diamond and Diamond Reserve members. Log in before searching so your status is recognized. Premium Room Rewards and Points & Money should not be treated as interchangeable with an eligible all-points standard-room stay. Check the final booking summary rather than assuming every five-night search receives the benefit.
Compare totals, not point currencies
Illustration only: suppose a Marriott stay shows nightly prices of 40,000, 50,000, 50,000, 60,000 and 60,000 points. The undiscounted total is 260,000. Removing the lowest 40,000-point night produces a 220,000-point total—a reduction of about 15.4%, rather than 20%. These figures are hypothetical, not available rates.
Do not compare that total directly with a Hilton point total and declare the smaller number better. The programs have different currencies. Compare the cash price you would otherwise pay, the points you already hold and the other uses you would give up.
The fifth night can still increase your spending
A longer stay may add meals, parking, transportation and time away from work. If your original plan was four nights, compare the four-night and five-night totals in both cash and points. A free award night does not make the rest of the day free.
Also consider location. A property that requires an expensive commute may deliver less usable value than a better-located hotel with no award-night discount. Include mandatory charges shown in the reservation.
Before you confirm
Keep eligible consecutive nights under the reservation structure the program requires. Review room occupancy, cancellation terms and the complete point deduction. If you later shorten or modify the stay, check the repriced total; Hilton expressly notes that dropping below five nights removes its fifth-night benefit.
Our approach: use the benefit to improve a trip you already want. Do not stretch a stay just to achieve a redemption statistic. Save the confirmation and final price so any later change can be compared with the original booking.
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