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Stay in Movie Star digs without the movie star paycheck
We often post articles that show you how to use your points to fly a BOSS. But what happens when you land? You can’t just start paying obscene prices for hotels, or living like a pauper. That’s why we put together a little drool worthy list of hotels that you can stay at that will literally have you sleeping with like a movie star. And a little bonus…the next time you’re watching one of these movies, you can turn to your friends and say, ” Ya…I’ve been there.” Insta!
Park Hyatt Tokyo – “Lost in Translation”
It’s not just Suntori time, it’s sleep like Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson time. The Park Hyatt played as important a character in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation as any of the actors. In fact, it was a must see when I visited Tokyo.
How:
- The Park Hyatt Tokyo is a World of Hyatt category 7 hotel
- All points: 30k points
- Cash + Points: 15k + $300
Even if you don’t stay…hit up the New York Bar.
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Bellagio – “Ocean’s Eleven”
Custom suits. Sophisticated Heist. A Remake turned Icon. The Bellagio is one of three hotels that the crew simultaneous plotted and successfully robbed. Hollywood history made and you can be a guest without paying a penny.
How:
- The Bellagio is part of the MGM group which is partnered with Hyatt. This means you can redeem World of Hyatt points at MGM properties. BYAH!
- 25k points or 12,500 + $150
Hotel Regina Louvre – “The Bourne Identity”
Bourne traces his alter ego, John Michael Kane, who had booked a suite in the Regina. I remember the first time I visited Paris and my family passed the Regina as we were going to the Louvre. I remember vividly being far more enthralled with peeking in the Bourne hotel than seeing the Mona Lisa. Don’t judge me.
How to book:
- The Hotel Regina Louvre is a member of Preferred Hotels which…..you can access via their partnership with Choice Hotels – you’re probably most familiar with Choice hotels as they are they group that properties like Comfort Suites and Quality Inn. Yours for a whopping 55k a night. Not cheap, but can be done.
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Westin Hotel Europa and Regina – “The Talented Mr. Ripley”
Jude Law, Matt Damon, and Gwyneth Paltrow are great and all, but the real star of the movie was Italy. HOLY SMOKES – I wanted to move there immediately and become a fancy, debonair, trust fund kid rebelling against his dad. My only problem was I didn’t have a trust fund and I have a great relationship with my dad. OH well…I can stay at the hotels at least
How:
- It’s in the name, but Westin is a member of SPG who got purchased by Marriott.
- 25k starpoints = 75k Marriott Rewards
Hotel Del Coronado – “Some like it hot”
The Del. An amazingly iconic property on Coronado island, just across the bridge from downtown San Diego. Rumor has it Marilyn Monroe lived in one of the bungalows even after filming was done, and I can attest that it’s no rumor that the Sunday brunch is splurge worthy.
How:
- Hilton now manages the property which is great since rates can get UBER expensive. But…it’ll set you back 95k points so make sure you check out the cash + points rates which will stretch your points further when cash rates are lower.
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Renaissance St. Pancras – “Bridget Jones Diary”, “Batman Begins”, “Harry Potter”
Say it with me…I’m BATMAN. It’s not only the favorite London hotel of No Mas Coach, but has appeared in some pretty iconic movies.
How you can stay:
- Renaissance is a part of the Marriott Group
- Category 9 – 45k points a night
- Or Transfer SPG to Marriott.
St Regis Bora Bora – “Couples Retreat”
Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau take Swingers to an island. I watched this movie and thought, ” I bet they just wanted to go to paradise and shoot a movie for a couple months.” And paradise it was.
How can you book?
- SPG – a whopping 60k points per night. It’s an all suite hotel. However, keep an eye out for promotions – in 2017 they offered this resort 35% off, or 39k a night. Stack that with 5th night free and you’ve got yourself 5 nights for 156k SPG points for a hotel whose rates start a nearly $1100 a night.
Boom
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Willard Hotel Washington D.C. – “Minority Report”, “Captain America: Winter Soldier”
The Willard is one of the most iconic hotels in D.C. It’s also one of the best Intercontinentals to use your free night certificate on ( if you still hold the now retired IHG Select card.) Either way, this hotel has popped up in oodles of films, most recently joining the Marvel family in Captain America.
How:
- Redeem 70k IHG points a night
I’d recommend enjoying Afternoon Tea in the famed Peacock Alley
St. Regis New York – “Devil Wears Prada”
Host to presidents, movie stars, and YOU. One of the most famed hotels in the world played host to Meryl Streep when she had drinks in the King Cole bar.
How can you stay:
- If you can wait until August…the hotel will be reclassified in Marriott’s new program
- 60k points per night. Much better than the 105k it currently charges
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The Drake Hotel, Chicago – “My Best Friend’s Wedding”
Can we all go to dinner and break out in song? No? We may not be able to live in the quasi-musically endowed My Best Friend’s Wedding, but we can certainly use points to stay at this Chicago icon.
How can you stay?
- The Drake is part of Hilton
- 40-70k points
I love tracking down hotels featured in movies. Do you have any you’d love to experience?
*feature image courtesy of IHG.com
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex® and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
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