Originally Published: October 4, 2014
Last Updated: August 13, 2026
Restaurant and dining discounts can help Hotels Etc. members reduce the cost of eating out at home and while traveling.
Eating out is one of the pleasures of traveling, spending time with family and enjoying a night away from home.
It can also become one of the most expensive parts of a trip.
A family eating breakfast, lunch and dinner away from home can quickly spend hundreds of dollars on food during even a short vacation.
That is one reason Hotels Etc. has continued expanding benefits beyond hotel savings.
Hotels Etc. members can access restaurant and dining discounts along with savings opportunities involving travel, entertainment, recreation, shopping and other member benefits.
Quick Answer: Hotels Etc. members may have access to restaurant and dining discounts through participating providers. Available savings can include percentage discounts, buy-one-get-one offers and other special promotions. Specific offers, locations and restrictions vary.
What Are Hotels Etc. Restaurant Discounts?
Hotels Etc. is a private travel and discount membership program designed to help members find savings across multiple travel and lifestyle categories.
While hotel savings are an important part of the membership, Hotels Etc. benefits can extend beyond accommodations.
Depending on participating providers and available offers, restaurant benefits may include:
- Percentage-off restaurant discounts
- Buy-one-get-one dining offers
- Special member promotions
- Dining certificates or coupons
- Local restaurant savings
- Travel destination dining offers
- Special discounts from participating businesses
Specific discounts, participating restaurants and redemption requirements can vary by location and provider.
How Much Can Hotels Etc. Members Save on Restaurants?
Hotels Etc. currently promotes restaurant and dining opportunities with savings of up to 50% on participating offers.
That does not mean every restaurant provides a 50% discount.
Actual savings depend on the participating restaurant, location, provider, promotion and terms of the individual offer.
Some opportunities may provide a percentage discount, while others may use buy-one-get-one promotions, certificates, promotional codes or other member benefits.
Member Tip: Always review the individual restaurant offer before dining. Check the participating location, discount amount, purchase requirements, expiration date and redemption instructions.
What Was the Original Hotels Etc. Dining Dollars Program?
This article was originally published on October 4, 2014 and focused on a Hotels Etc. benefit known at the time as Dining Dollars.
The original program description included virtual currency, restaurant certificates and printable offers. The original article also promoted savings claims associated with the program available at that time.
A lot can change in more than a decade.
Hotels Etc. membership benefits, technology, participating providers and redemption methods have evolved since the original article was published.
For that reason, members should use current Hotels Etc. membership platforms and current participating offers rather than relying on redemption instructions or specific offers described in the original 2014 article.
We have updated this article to preserve its history while providing information that better reflects Hotels Etc. restaurant and dining savings today.
Saving on restaurant meals can help reduce the total cost of a vacation.
Why Do Restaurant Discounts Matter When You Travel?
Most travelers think first about airfare and hotels when planning a vacation budget.
Food can easily be overlooked.
But dining expenses can become a significant part of the total cost of a trip, particularly for families.
Consider how quickly breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks for several people can add up over a week.
Saving on those expenses can leave more of your vacation budget available for attractions, entertainment, shopping and experiences.
Can Hotels Etc. Restaurant Discounts Be Used Close to Home?
Potentially, yes.
Hotels Etc. membership benefits are not necessarily useful only when you are hundreds of miles away from home.
Depending on available participating businesses and offers in your area, members may find dining and other local savings that can be used during everyday life.
Those opportunities may help reduce the cost of:
- Family dinners
- Date nights
- Lunch outings
- Business meals
- Birthday celebrations
- Weekend activities
- Local entertainment
That can make a broader travel and lifestyle membership useful beyond the traditional vacation.
How Do Hotels Etc. Members Find Restaurant Discounts?
Available restaurant offers and redemption methods can vary depending on the membership platform and participating discount provider.
1. Access Your Hotels Etc. Member Benefits
Use the Hotels Etc. membership or benefit platform associated with your membership.
2. Look for Restaurant and Dining Offers
Search available restaurant, food, dining or local discount categories.
3. Search the Area
When available, search by city, ZIP code or travel destination to find participating offers.
4. Read the Offer Carefully
Check the restaurant location, savings amount, restrictions, expiration information and redemption instructions before making your purchase.
5. Follow the Redemption Instructions
Depending on the provider, an offer may use a digital certificate, coupon, promotional code, dedicated link, membership verification or another redemption method.
Restaurant Savings Are Only One Part of Hotels Etc.
One of the advantages of Hotels Etc. is that the membership is designed to provide savings opportunities across multiple categories rather than focusing exclusively on hotel rooms.
Depending on available benefits, members may find savings involving:
- Hotels and resorts
- Car rentals
- Cruises
- Vacation packages
- Restaurants and dining
- Theme parks and attractions
- Entertainment
- Shopping
- Golf and recreation
- Local discounts
If you want to understand why consumers use private travel membership programs, read:
Why Join a Travel Membership Club?
How Can Dining Discounts Help Lower the Total Cost of a Vacation?
Smart travel savings are rarely about finding one single discount.
The bigger opportunity can come from reducing expenses across several parts of the same trip.
For example, a traveler may save money on accommodations, transportation, attractions and restaurant meals.
Those individual savings can add up over the course of a vacation.
For more ideas on reducing overall travel costs, read:
How to Travel on a Budget With a Travel Membership Club
Why Can a Broader Discount Membership Provide More Value?
A membership that only provides hotel savings may primarily provide value when a member needs a hotel.
A broader membership can create additional opportunities to save throughout a trip and potentially throughout the year.
Dining, entertainment, attractions, shopping and other benefits can complement hotel and travel savings.
That is an important part of the Hotels Etc. model.
Learn more about the range of savings available through Hotels Etc.:
Explore Hotels Etc. Travel, Dining and Entertainment Savings
Can Restaurants Become Hotels Etc. Discount Providers?
Yes, qualifying businesses can apply to provide exclusive benefits to Hotels Etc. members.
A participating restaurant can potentially create a member-only discount or benefit that introduces the restaurant to additional consumers while providing more value to Hotels Etc. members.
The restaurant provides an exclusive member benefit.
Hotels Etc. provides another opportunity for the restaurant to reach potential customers.
Restaurant owners and other businesses interested in participating can learn more here:
Free Business Advertising: Promote Your Business With Hotels Etc.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hotels Etc. Restaurant Discounts
Does Hotels Etc. offer restaurant discounts?
Yes. Hotels Etc. includes restaurant and dining savings among its broader travel and lifestyle discount benefits. Available restaurants and offers vary.
How much can Hotels Etc. members save on restaurants?
Hotels Etc. currently promotes participating restaurant and dining savings of up to 50%. The actual savings depend on the restaurant, location, provider and individual offer.
Does every restaurant offer 50% off?
No. Offers vary. Some restaurants or providers may offer percentage discounts, buy-one-get-one promotions, certificates, coupons or other benefits.
Are Hotels Etc. restaurant discounts available everywhere?
No. Participating restaurants and available offers vary by location and provider.
Can members use restaurant discounts when they are not traveling?
Potentially yes. Depending on available participating businesses, members may find restaurant and other local discounts near home as well as in travel destinations.
Is Dining Dollars still the same program described in 2014?
The original article described Dining Dollars as it operated in 2014. Hotels Etc. benefits, providers and technology have evolved since then. Members should use current Hotels Etc. platforms and current offer information rather than relying on old redemption instructions.
Does Hotels Etc. only provide restaurant and hotel discounts?
No. Depending on the membership and participating providers, Hotels Etc. benefits may include savings on hotels, transportation, cruises, attractions, entertainment, shopping, dining, recreation and other travel and lifestyle categories.
Save on More Than Just Your Hotel
Your vacation expenses do not stop when you check into your hotel.
Dining, entertainment, transportation and attractions can represent a significant part of the total cost of traveling.
Hotels Etc. is designed to help members discover savings across multiple areas of travel and everyday life.
EXPLORE HOTELS ETC. MEMBER SAVINGS
Hotels Etc. — Helping members discover travel and lifestyle savings since 1996.
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