For as long as I've been collecting points and miles, I've been surprisingly noncommittal when it comes to hotels.
While many of my colleagues here at TPG have a favorite hotel loyalty program, I've always been happy to stay wherever the location, price and redemption value make the most sense. Some trips call for a Hyatt, others for a Marriott, and sometimes an independent hotel is the better fit. There have even been periods where I wasn't staying in hotels much at all — over the years, I've booked more than 50 Airbnbs.
That flexibility is part of why I've gravitated toward transferable rewards currencies like Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Rather than committing to a single hotel program, I've preferred earning flexible points and deciding later how to use them.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on The Points Guy Articles.
