MeliáRewards: What to Know

The MeliáRewards loyalty program covers hotels and resorts from Meliá Hotels International, the Spanish hotel company with more than 350 properties on four continents. Its brands include Gran Meliá Hotels & Resorts, ME by Meliá, Meliá Hotels & Resorts and Paradisus by Meliá, among others.

While most of its properties are located outside of the United States, the company does offer some domestic options, as well as many options at tropical destinations in North America.

If you’re planning to stay at one, it makes sense to join its free loyalty program. Here’s what to expect from MeliáRewards and how you can benefit during a future stay.

How does the program work?

Members can earn 10 points per dollar on stays at Meliá family hotels, and they can redeem them for future stays and other things. Members are treated to a birthday surprise each year (typically a discount voucher for a future stay or room upgrade if they provide their email when joining), plus the ability to check in online before they arrive at the hotel.

Is MeliáRewards free? Good news: Not only does it cost nothing to sign up, MeliáRewards gives members 2,000 welcome points just for joining and activating their account online.

» Learn more: Travel loyalty program reviews

How to earn points

Members can earn points on up to two rooms during their stay (a great option for families with connecting rooms, for example). To be eligible to earn points, members must reserve through a Meliá website or reservations center. Third-party bookings, like those made through Orbitz or Expedia, are not eligible.

Other ways to earn points include:

• Spending at participating spas and hotel outlets, as well as with partner brands.

• Renting cars, staying in hotels or even buying ski lift or train tickets with program partners.

Points expire after one year of inactivity in the program, although buying points or making a purchase through the MeliáRewards Shopping portal resets the expiration date. Shopping portals are often a great way to keep accounts active while also earning miles and points just for buying things you would normally buy anyway.

How to redeem points

Hotel stays

Members can redeem points for hotel stays or at hotel-affiliated restaurants and spas. The program uses a hybrid system: Redemption rates have both a fixed minimum level and a sliding scale dependent on the night of the year. The number of points required changes based on that seasonality.

For example, the redemption cost for the three-star Sol by Meliá property starts at 11,000 points. The base-level cost goes up for a stay at an All-Inclusive Sol by Meliá, where resorts begin at 25,000 points. Further, ME by Meliá hotel redemptions start at 28,000 points, whereas ME by Meliá All Inclusive and Paradisus by Meliá both start at 42,000 points for a redemption night.

Members can also pay a mix of cash and points (starting with just 2,000 points, although the combination of cash and points varies by hotel and season). Since 1,000 points cost only about $6, many may find exceptional value redeeming points for award stays and buying points to top off their account.

There are a few “exception” properties, like ME London and the Meliá properties in Paris. These have higher starting redemption rates. For example, a redemption rate at the ME London starts at 45,500 points per night.

Hotel amenities

Instead of redeeming points for a free night, members can redeem them at hotel-operated restaurants, bars and spas at a rate of 200 points per dollar.

Transfer to airlines

There’s also the option to transfer points to airline programs, although this won't get you the best value for your points. This option might be useful for those who don’t have enough points for a free stay, or for those who want to top up a frequent flyer account for a big award. For example, you can transfer 300 MeliáRewards points to earn 50 miles with American AAdvantage. If you're close to an AAdvantage award and need just a few more miles, it might make sense.

Points are also transferable to other members or can be redeemed for gift cards at retailers like Amazon, Netflix and iTunes.

» Learn more: Find the best hotel credit card for you

About the program's elite status

Tiers

The program has four elite levels starting with White, which is the basic level, then Silver, Gold and the highest tier, Platinum. Unlike other programs, which operate on a calendar year basis, MeliáRewards allows members to keep the status they earn for 12 months from the date of earning it.

For those who do not requalify, members are dropped one elite status (rather than being dropped to the lowest level).

What’s included

All elite tiers above the White level include complimentary breakfast for one companion (the member still pays for it, however — making this essentially a buy one, get one free offer) plus free wireless internet. Both of those perks alone can represent substantial benefits for elite MeliáRewards members.

Silver status (achieved after two stays, five nights or earning 10,000 points) provides an increased earnings rate of 11 points per dollar spent, while MeliáRewards Gold membership (earned after 15 stays, 30 nights or earning 60,000 points) offers 13 points per dollar spent. To achieve Platinum status, which awards 14 points per dollar spent, members must rack up 30 stays, 50 nights or earn 150,000 points. The qualification period for the next tier lasts 12 months from the joining date or achieving the next tier level.

One of the best perks of the Gold and Platinum tiers is that members receive three vouchers per year offering 20% off a future stay. This can yield substantial savings when staying at expensive properties like all-inclusive resorts or high-end city hotels. Gold-level members also receive late checkout of 2 p.m. at resort hotels or 4 p.m. at other properties. Platinum members are also given a Superior room upgrade based on availability, access to VIP areas at many hotels and two free passes to a Priority Pass lounge.

Additional access to Priority Pass lounges can be paid for with 8,000 MeliáRewards points from a Platinum member’s account. This is a great way to access an airline lounge if you travel only occasionally and you don’t already have a credit card that comes with it, like The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required). MeliáRewards Platinum members who maintain status for 10 consecutive years are awarded with lifetime Platinum status. Terms apply.

If you join MeliáRewards

Though MeliáRewards is not as big as hotel loyalty programs like Hilton Honors or Marriott Bonvoy, it could be a great way to get a redemption night in many international cities or use your points for restaurant or spa discounts. Plus, with points so affordable for purchase, it’s easy to get enough for an award night.