10 Times Better than Marriott Rewards

With a phone call to Marriott Rewards we set up a typical situation for earning a free-night. Take a $209 room at Marriott Suites. This would earn traveler 627 points in their reward program. Of the seven levels to earn a free night in the Marriott program, the lowest requires 7,500 points. With the sample price of $209 a night, it would require a little more than 11.9 nights at a total price of $2,500 to compile enough points to earn your free stay.

Now we'll check how travelers can earn a free stay at B&Bs nationwide, in addition to a few other B&B-related values. Bed and breakfasts are hard to beat when it comes to unique lodging, hospitality and what you can get for your hard-earned dollar. If you are interested in making your money work better for you, take into consideration a couple of items:

Right now you can get a free night at any one of 1,560 bed and breakfast inns when you purchase the first night at the regular rate. Why do the do this? Simple. B&Bs and country inns are smaller than your average hotel and they have smaller advertising spends. By offer a free night during certain times of the year, they can incent guests and earn additional exposure for their property.

The site that runs this free-night program, travelers can save $140 on an average two-night stay. Think about the numbers above that we quoted from Marriott Rewards. How much more can you stretch your travel dollar than using it to spend 11.9 nights in order to get that free night?

The Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free reward gives you an immediate free night for only one night's expense. The savings can be up to $650 depending on the B&B you choosing.

You can save even more when you take into consideration your meal expense. The bed and breakfast, after all, comes with breakfast. But many inns also take it a step further an offer various free business services and such items as free drinks or snacks (and not with a mini-bar price).

Get More For Your Dollar and More From Your Travel Experience With a Bed and Breakfast

Understanding that you can stretch your dollar further at a bed and breakfast, let's look at a California bed and breakfast, this Craftsman-style B&B in the heart of Monterey Peninsula -- the Inn at Seventeen Mile Drive.

Choose from rooms with views of the sea or garden in the main house of this three-building bed and breakfast. Or, enjoy the oak and redwoods in the chalet and cottage rooms. Unwind in the spa beneath the towering trees or the gardens whose guests also include the occasional deer and monarch butterfly. Maybe sip some champagne near the fountains and koi ponds. With the Buy-One-Night-Get-One-Night-Free program, guests will save anywhere from $145 to $290 at this lovely property.

A stellar experience to go with a great savings. So, take a look at options like that California bed and breakfast and the more than 1,500 other inns in the free-night program the next time you are looking to earn rewards.