Hotels Etc. Membership Benefits: How Members Save on Travel, Dining, Entertainment and More

Originally Published: October 6, 2014
Last Updated: August 13, 2026

Hotels Etc. membership benefits can help travelers reduce costs across hotels, transportation, dining, entertainment and other travel expenses.

A Hotels Etc. membership gives members access to private travel and lifestyle discounts that can help reduce the cost of hotels, transportation, dining, entertainment, attractions and other expenses.

Travel can create some of life’s best memories, but hotels, transportation, food, attractions and entertainment can quickly turn a vacation into a major expense.

That is where a private travel membership can make a difference.

Hotels Etc. has been helping members discover travel and lifestyle savings since 1996.

The goal is simple: give members another place to compare prices and find savings before spending their money.

What Is a Hotels Etc. Membership?

Hotels Etc. is a private travel and discount membership program designed to give members access to savings that can extend beyond ordinary publicly advertised travel prices.

Depending on the participating provider and benefit, members may find private rates, member-only discounts or special offers across multiple travel and lifestyle categories.

Hotels Etc. is not simply a hotel booking website.

The broader purpose of the membership is to help members reduce expenses throughout a trip and potentially during everyday life as well.

What Are the Main Benefits of a Hotels Etc. Membership?

The exact benefits available can vary by provider, destination and membership platform, but Hotels Etc. offers savings opportunities across several major categories.

1. Private Hotel and Resort Discounts

Hotels and resorts are one of the largest expenses for many travelers.

Hotels Etc. currently promotes hotel savings of up to 70% on participating bookings.

Actual savings vary depending on the hotel, resort, destination, travel dates, availability, room type and specific offer.

Some rates may be available within a private membership environment rather than being displayed publicly in the same way as ordinary online travel rates.

That gives members another place to compare pricing before making a reservation.

2. Car Rental Savings

Transportation can add hundreds of dollars to the total cost of a vacation or business trip.

Hotels Etc. membership benefits may include discounted car rental opportunities through participating providers.

Members should compare the available member rate with other publicly available rental rates before booking.

3. Cruise and Vacation Package Savings

Members may also find savings opportunities involving cruises, vacation packages and other travel experiences.

Available cruise lines, destinations, packages and discounts vary based on participating providers and current offers.

4. Restaurant and Dining Discounts

Travel expenses do not stop when you check into your hotel.

Meals can become a major part of a travel budget, especially for families.

Hotels Etc. benefits can include restaurant and dining savings through participating providers and businesses.

Learn more about restaurant and dining savings:

Hotels Etc. Restaurant Discounts: Save Money on Dining at Home and While Traveling

5. Theme Parks, Attractions and Entertainment

Attraction tickets and entertainment can represent another major vacation expense.

Depending on current providers and participating locations, Hotels Etc. members may find savings involving:

• Theme parks
• Local attractions
• Entertainment
• Shows
• Recreation
• Golf
• Activities
• Other travel experiences

6. Shopping and Everyday Savings

Hotels Etc. membership benefits are not necessarily valuable only while someone is traveling.

Depending on available offers, members may also find savings on dining, entertainment, recreation, shopping and other everyday expenses.

That can create additional opportunities to use the membership throughout the year.

Hotels Etc. gives members another way to compare hotel and resort pricing before booking.

Why Can Private Membership Rates Be Different From Public Rates?

Public travel websites display rates that can generally be viewed by anyone.

Private membership programs operate differently.

Certain travel suppliers may make special pricing available inside closed or member-only environments where those prices are not displayed publicly to everyone.

This can provide members with additional opportunities to compare travel pricing.

It does not mean a private rate will always be the lowest available rate for every hotel or every travel date.

Members should compare the Hotels Etc. offer with the public rate for the same property, dates, room type and booking conditions.

For a deeper explanation of private travel memberships, read:

Why Join a Travel Membership Club?

Can One Membership Help Reduce Several Parts of a Vacation?

Yes. That is one of the biggest potential advantages of a broad travel membership.

Travel savings are not only about finding a lower hotel price.

A typical vacation can include expenses for:

• Hotels and resorts
• Rental cars and transportation
• Restaurant meals
• Theme parks and attractions
• Entertainment
• Shopping
• Golf and recreation

Finding savings across several of those categories can make a larger difference than focusing on one expense alone.

Who Can Benefit From a Hotels Etc. Membership?

Hotels Etc. may provide value for many types of travelers depending on how frequently they travel and how often they use the available benefits.

Families

Families often face higher travel costs because accommodations, meals, transportation and attractions must cover several people.

Savings across multiple categories can help families make their vacation budget go further.

Business Travelers

Business travelers may benefit from reduced accommodation, transportation and dining expenses, particularly when traveling frequently.

Frequent Travelers

People who travel several times throughout the year have more opportunities to compare and use member discounts.

Retirees

Retirees who have flexibility with travel dates and destinations may be able to compare different periods and locations to find attractive member offers.

Remote Workers and Digital Nomads

People who work remotely may also benefit from accommodation, transportation and lifestyle savings when traveling or staying away from home for extended periods.

Can Hotels Etc. Benefits Be Used Close to Home?

Depending on the available offers, yes.

Hotels Etc. is broader than a hotel discount program.

Dining, entertainment, shopping, golf, recreation and other local offers may provide members with savings opportunities even when they are not traveling.

That means membership benefits may provide value both while traveling and closer to home.

How Do You Get the Most Value From a Hotels Etc. Membership?

Compare Prices Before You Book

Always compare the member offer against publicly available pricing for the same product, dates and booking conditions.

Hotels Etc. is another tool in the comparison process.

Explore More Than Hotel Discounts

A broad membership provides more opportunities when members explore all available categories.

Look for savings involving transportation, dining, attractions, entertainment, recreation and other benefits in addition to hotels.

Check Benefits Before Every Trip

Travel prices, participating providers and available offers can change.

Search the current Hotels Etc. membership platform before making purchases rather than relying on an offer you may have seen months or years earlier.

Use Local Benefits Too

If dining, shopping, recreation or entertainment savings are available near home, using those benefits throughout the year can create additional membership value.

How Can Hotels Etc. Help Travelers Stay on Budget?

Traveling on a budget does not necessarily mean choosing the cheapest possible vacation.

It means making smarter decisions about where your money goes.

Reducing accommodation, transportation, dining and entertainment expenses may allow travelers to stay longer, travel more frequently or spend more of their budget on experiences.

For additional travel-saving strategies, read:

How to Travel on a Budget by Joining Membership Clubs Like Hotels Etc.

How Is Hotels Etc. Different From Simply Searching Public Booking Sites?

Public booking sites are useful for researching hotels and comparing publicly available rates.

Hotels Etc. provides another comparison opportunity through a private travel and discount membership environment.

The goal is not to tell members to stop comparing travel prices.

It is the opposite.

Hotels Etc. gives members another place to check before making a travel or lifestyle purchase.

Does Hotels Etc. Guarantee a Specific Amount of Savings?

No.

Savings vary based on destination, dates, availability, participating providers and the individual offer.

A claim such as “up to 70% off” describes the maximum savings available on certain participating hotel offers.

It does not mean every hotel, every destination or every booking will provide a 70% discount.

Members should always review current pricing, terms and availability before making a purchase.

Why Has Hotels Etc. Been Helping Travelers Since 1996?

Hotels Etc. has been part of the travel and discount industry since 1996.

Over that time, the way consumers research and purchase travel has changed dramatically.

The basic idea behind Hotels Etc. remains simple.

Give members additional opportunities to compare prices, discover discounts and reduce travel and lifestyle expenses.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hotels Etc. Membership Benefits

What are the main benefits of a Hotels Etc. membership?

Hotels Etc. members may access private discounts on hotels and resorts along with savings opportunities involving car rentals, cruises, vacation packages, restaurants, entertainment, attractions, shopping, golf, recreation and other travel and lifestyle categories.

How much can Hotels Etc. members save on hotels?

Hotels Etc. currently promotes hotel savings of up to 70% on participating bookings. Actual savings vary by hotel, destination, dates, availability and individual offer.

Are Hotels Etc. hotel rates available to the general public?

Some offers may be available inside a private membership environment rather than being displayed publicly in the same way as ordinary public booking rates.

Does Hotels Etc. only offer hotel discounts?

No. Depending on participating providers and current membership benefits, Hotels Etc. may include savings opportunities involving hotels, rental cars, cruises, vacation packages, dining, entertainment, attractions, shopping, golf and recreation.

Can Hotels Etc. benefits be used close to home?

Potentially yes. Available dining, entertainment, shopping, recreation and other local offers may provide opportunities to save even when a member is not traveling.

Is every Hotels Etc. hotel rate 70% off?

No. “Up to 70% off” refers to the maximum savings available on certain participating hotel offers. Actual savings vary by property, dates, destination and availability.

Who can benefit from a Hotels Etc. membership?

Families, frequent travelers, business travelers, retirees, remote workers and other consumers who spend money on travel and leisure may benefit depending on how they use the available discounts.

How can members get the most value from Hotels Etc.?

Members should compare current Hotels Etc. offers with public prices, explore multiple discount categories and review the terms of each offer before purchasing.