EXPLORE HOTELS ETC. MEMBER BENEFITS
Originally published October 4, 2014 | Updated August 2026
Hotels Etc. is more than a hotel discount program. Eligible members can access participating travel, entertainment, recreation and lifestyle offers through a private membership environment, giving members multiple categories of benefits to explore both while traveling and closer to home.
What Does Hotels Etc. Offer?
Hotels Etc. is a private travel and lifestyle membership program that has been serving members since 1996.
Depending on current participating providers and availability, membership benefits can extend across categories such as:
Hotels & Lodging
Search participating accommodations for destinations and travel dates.
Rental Cars
Explore participating transportation options for vacations, business trips and road travel.
Cruises
Explore participating cruise vacation opportunities and sailing options.
Theme Parks & Attractions
Look for participating attractions and experiences when planning family travel.
Entertainment
Explore participating entertainment and event-related benefits.
Dining
Check participating dining benefits while traveling or closer to home.
Recreation
Explore participating recreational activities and experiences.
Shopping & Lifestyle
Depending on current benefits, members can explore additional lifestyle savings categories.
Important: Participating providers, benefits and availability can change. Members should always check the current Hotels Etc. platform for available offers and applicable terms.
Hotels and Lodging Benefits
Hotels remain one of the most recognizable parts of Hotels Etc., but the membership should not be viewed as simply another public hotel website.
Eligible members can search participating lodging offers based on their actual destination, travel dates and availability.
When comparing accommodations, consider more than the initial room rate.
Review:
- Property and location
- Room type
- Travel dates
- Cancellation terms
- Refundability
- Taxes and applicable fees
- Included amenities
- Overall reservation value
Rental Car Benefits
Transportation is often one of the largest components of a trip after accommodations.
Members planning a vacation, business trip or road trip can check current participating rental car options as part of their overall travel research.
When comparing vehicles, look at more than the initial offer.
Consider vehicle class, pickup location, airport versus off-airport locations, applicable fees, mileage terms and cancellation conditions.
Cruise Travel
Cruises combine transportation, accommodations, dining and entertainment into a different type of vacation experience.
Hotels Etc. membership materials include cruise travel among the categories available to members.
Before booking a cruise, travelers should compare:
- Itinerary
- Sailing dates
- Cabin category
- Port location
- Included amenities
- Taxes and port-related charges
- Cancellation terms
- Transportation to and from the port
Theme Parks and Attractions
For many families, the attraction is the reason for taking the trip in the first place.
Hotels Etc. membership benefits can include participating theme park and attraction opportunities.
This makes it possible to think about the vacation as a complete experience rather than simply finding somewhere to sleep.
Planning a Theme Park Vacation?
Stay: Research accommodations.
Travel: Determine transportation needs.
Play: Check participating attraction benefits.
Eat: Consider dining expenses.
Explore: Look at other entertainment and recreation near the destination.
The goal is to plan the entire experience, not just one reservation.
Entertainment Benefits
Entertainment can be part of both travel and everyday life.
Depending on current participating providers, members may find opportunities involving entertainment and event-related categories.
This can make membership relevant even when someone is not planning a traditional vacation.
Dining Benefits
Food is an unavoidable part of most trips, and dining can become a significant expense for families and groups.
Participating dining benefits can give members another category to explore while planning their travel activities.
Dining benefits can also potentially be useful closer to home when participating offers are available.
Recreation and Experiences
Travel is often about what you do after you arrive.
Depending on current participating benefits, recreational opportunities may complement vacations centered around:
- Golf
- Skiing
- Outdoor recreation
- Family activities
- Water attractions
- Entertainment
- Special experiences
Shopping and Lifestyle Benefits
Hotels Etc. also extends beyond traditional travel categories.
Current Hotels Etc. resources include shopping and lifestyle benefits as part of the broader membership ecosystem.
This is an important distinction because the potential usefulness of membership does not necessarily begin when a traveler leaves home and end when the vacation is over.
Travel Benefits vs. Lifestyle Benefits
| Travel Planning | Lifestyle & Experiences |
|---|---|
| Hotels & lodging | Entertainment |
| Rental cars | Dining |
| Cruises | Recreation |
| Vacation-related benefits | Shopping & lifestyle |
| Theme park travel | Local experiences |
Why Does Hotels Etc. Use a Membership Model?
Hotels Etc. operates as a private membership program.
Some participating offers may require membership, authentication or another form of eligibility before they can be accessed.
This creates a different environment from an unrestricted public website where anyone can view every offer without logging in.
What Is a Closed User Group?
A Closed User Group, commonly abbreviated as CUG, is a defined group of eligible users who can access certain offers within a restricted environment.
Membership or authentication generally distinguishes the private environment from unrestricted public access.
If you want a detailed explanation of how this relates to hotel distribution and rate parity, read:
What Is Hotel Rate Parity? Public Rates, Private Member Rates & Closed User Groups Explained
Does Membership Mean Every Offer Is Always Better?
No.
A private membership provides eligible users access to participating benefits. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every available offer will always outperform every alternative.
Travel inventory, supplier availability and booking conditions change.
The smart approach is to check the benefits available to you and determine which ones make sense for your particular plans.
How to Get More Value From Hotels Etc.
A membership has little value if someone forgets to use it.
Before spending money on travel or a participating lifestyle category, develop the habit of checking your available benefits.
The “Check Before You Buy” Habit
Before booking a hotel — check Hotels Etc.
Before renting a vehicle — check Hotels Etc.
Before planning attractions — check Hotels Etc.
Before purchasing certain entertainment — check Hotels Etc.
Before planning recreation — check Hotels Etc.
The objective is simple: know what member benefits are available before making the purchase.
Hotels Etc. Has Been Serving Members Since 1996
Hotels Etc. has operated as a private travel and lifestyle membership company since 1996.
Over the years, travel booking technology and consumer purchasing habits have changed dramatically.
The core idea behind membership, however, remains straightforward: provide eligible members access to participating benefits they can consider when making travel and lifestyle purchases.
What Should New Members Do First?
If you are new to Hotels Etc., spend some time learning what is available before your first trip.
- Review the current benefit categories.
- Understand how to access the membership environment.
- Explore the travel categories relevant to you.
- Look at lifestyle categories you may use closer to home.
- Check current terms and eligibility requirements.
- Develop the habit of checking membership benefits before purchasing.
The Bottom Line
Hotels Etc. should not be thought of as only a hotel discount program.
The membership is designed around a broader collection of participating travel, entertainment, recreation and lifestyle benefits.
The more members understand the categories available to them, the easier it becomes to identify where membership may fit into their travel plans and everyday activities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hotels Etc. Benefits
What does Hotels Etc. offer?
Hotels Etc. provides eligible members access to participating travel and lifestyle benefits that can include hotels, rental cars, cruises, attractions, entertainment, recreation, dining, shopping and other categories depending on current providers and availability.
Is Hotels Etc. only for hotels?
No. Hotels are one part of a broader travel and lifestyle membership program.
Does Hotels Etc. include cruise benefits?
Current Hotels Etc. membership materials include cruises among the travel categories offered to members.
Can Hotels Etc. members access theme park benefits?
Theme parks and attractions are among the categories represented within Hotels Etc. membership benefits. Current availability and terms should always be checked before purchasing.
Can membership benefits be used close to home?
Potentially. Depending on participating offers, lifestyle categories such as entertainment, dining, recreation and shopping may be relevant even when a member is not traveling.
Are Hotels Etc. offers available to the general public?
Certain participating offers are available through the private membership environment and may require membership or authentication before access.
How long has Hotels Etc. been in business?
Hotels Etc. was founded in 1996 and has served members for decades.
Explore More Hotels Etc. Resources
See the current Hotels Etc. benefit categories:
Explore What Hotels Etc. Offers
Learn how travel membership clubs work:
Travel Membership Clubs Explained: How Private Member Travel Savings Work
Learn how to access private Hotels Etc. member offers:
Hotels Etc. Membership: How to Access Private Travel Offers and Compare Savings
See how membership can fit across an entire trip:
Travel Club Discounts: How to Save Beyond Hotels with a Private Travel Membership
About Hotels Etc.
Hotels Etc. is a private travel and lifestyle membership company founded in 1996. Eligible members can access participating travel, entertainment, recreation and lifestyle benefits through the membership environment.
Visit Hotels Etc.
for current membership information.
Travel discounts, Travel Tips 
By far the cheapest hotel rates. I have saved a lot of money with hotels etc membership club. I recommend to every one to join