When it comes to hotel points you can earn through paid hotel stays and spending on hotel credit cards, the most common lodging options that come to mind are traditional hotels and resorts. For example, earning Hilton Honors points makes it possible to redeem rewards for stays at more than 8,000 properties around the world with brands like Conrad Hotels and Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton and even small luxury hotels around the world.
But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find you can book properties with points that are completely outside the ordinary. Most people know that you can book all-inclusive resorts with points in some programs, but not that you can redeem them for glamping stays, campground hotels, overwater bungalows and vacation homes and villas around the world.
Unique properties you can book with hotel points
If you’re interested in redeeming rewards for something other than a regular hotel or resort, here are some programs and options to consider.
AutoCamp
The Hilton Honors program offers a selection of unique properties within its AutoCamp brand that let you vacation in peace and enjoy the great outdoors. Guests with a stash of points earned through co-branded Hilton credit cards can use this program to book Airstream campers, cabins and adventure tents in scenic locations like Zion, Utah, Joshua Tree, California and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Lodging options vary by destination and AutoCamp location, and so do costs per night. As an example, travelers who want to stay at AutoCamp Joshua Tree can use anywhere from 70,000 to 211,000 points per night to book an accessible suite, Airstream trailer or classic cabin on the property.
Under Canvas “glamping” tents
The World of Hyatt program began partnering with outdoor travel brand Under Canvas in 2024, which offers glamping (luxury camping) options in a range of scenic locations around the world. Outdoor enthusiasts can redeem World of Hyatt points for glamping stays in destinations like Acadia National Park, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park.
Glamping options and redemption amounts vary by location, time of year and other factors. For example, guests can redeem 38,000 to 103,500 Hyatt points per night for a stay in Zion National Park in anything from a deluxe canvas tent to an Angels Landing suite with sleeping space for up to six.
Overwater bungalows
Some hotel rewards programs let members use their points to book overwater bungalows in far-flung destinations around the world like Bora Bora and the Maldives. Award availability tends to be hard to come by for these options, and travelers may need a huge stash of rewards to book as well.
Major hotel loyalty programs that offer overwater bungalows in at least one destination include Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt. If you have earned points with a Marriott Bonvoy credit card, for example, you could book the Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa for as little as 78,000 points per night.
This redemption would get you an overwater bungalow with a lagoon view or lagoon access, a king-sized bed, indoor and outdoor living space and an overwater terrace.
All-inclusive resorts
You can also use points to book an array of all-inclusive resorts through programs and hotel credit cards that fall within the Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt programs. All-inclusive resort options you can book through each of these programs vary widely, but you can select from both family-friendly and adult-only properties. Whatever you decide, all-inclusive resorts include your lodging, food, drinks and entertainment all in one nightly rate.
As just one example, you could book Hilton Playa del Carmen, an all-inclusive resort in Mexico that’s adults-only starting at just 79,000 Hilton Honors points per night with double occupancy.
Another option is the Royalton Bavaro Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, which would set you back around 92,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night with double occupancy over select dates.
Vacation homes and villas
Finally, don’t forget that you can book condos and vacation villas through some credit card travel portals like Capital One Travel and Chase Travel℠, along with traditional hotels and resorts.
If you have a Chase travel credit card such as the card_name or card_name, you can even enjoy 25% or 50% more value for points when you book non-traditional properties (and other travel). As an example, you could book two nights in a two-bedroom condo at the SunDestin Beach Resort in Destin, Florida for 63,023 points (around 31,500 points per night) with the card_name over dates in October of 2025.
There are also some hotel loyalty programs that offer vacation villas you can book with points. For example, the Wyndham Rewards program lets you book vacation homes with points through its partnership with Vacasa.
The bottom line
While hotel credit cards can be a valuable tool when you’re planning a vacation with rewards, don’t forget to think outside the box when it comes to where to stay. You could use your points for an all-inclusive property, a glamping tent in a national park, an Airstream trailer or even an overwater bungalow in a destination on the other side of the planet. You can also book larger lodging options with points that work better for big families, including vacation villas, beach condominiums and even rental homes with some programs.
The sky is the limit when it comes to hotel points, so don’t be afraid to try something new.
