First – a little bit of background. Back in 2015, Club Carlson had one of the best rewards deals out there – on any award that you booked, you got the last night for free. So as long as you booked your awards in 2 night stays, you could essentially double your points. Club Carlson removed this benefit back in April 2015, but as part of the uproar that went on, Club Carlson gave out a free night certificate to just about anyone who called in and complained about it.
I got my Club Carlson free night certificates back in August, but for some reason, even though I only have 2 cards (one for me and one for my wife), I ended up with 3 certificates.
Using my Club Carlson free e-certificates
I ended up using one of my Club Carlson e-certificates at our stay at the Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek, where I had an underwhelming experience. It reminded me of my OTHER stay at a Radisson, which was at the Radisson Blu Roma hotel in Rome, where I also had a less than ideal experience.
The catch-22 of these free certificates at ANY hotel is that you tend to want to spend them at the most expensive hotels possible, but these are the very types of hotels that tend to nickel and dime you for everything, leading to a less than great experience
(SEE ALSO: 3 reasons “budget” hotels DESTROY nice ones)
(SEE ALSO: Why do people think free hotel nights are a good idea?)
So where should I use my remaining 2 certificates?
Option 1: Another “fancy” hotel
Like I said, typically the thinking with these types of certificates is to use them on the most fancy expensive hotel possible. Carolyn and I just got back from a trip around the world with first class flights on JAL and Emirates, so we probably won’t be going anywhere by ourselves any time soon.
And whenever we’re with all the kids, I’m a little hesitant to stay anywhere TOO fancy, lest we break stuff and disturb other guests 🙂
Option 2: The Cincinnati spinning restaurant
One hotel we always pass here in Cincinnati is the Radisson Cincinnati Riverfront, which is of course not actually IN Cincinnati, but across the river in Covington, Kentucky
It has a revolving 360 degree restaurant up on top of the hotel, and as a Cincinnati landmark (not QUITE a landmark), I thought it might be fun to try that out. This might be as a getaway “staycation” or perhaps as a fun family trip. Though I’m sure we wouldn’t get breakfast and it’s probably super expensive…
I’m not sure I’d ever justify paying the points for this hotel anyways, so a free night certificate might be the only time I’ll ever stay here.
Option 3: Use them at a “boring” Country Inn and Suites
We are heading on a family trip in a few weeks, and we have 5 nights in hotels. The first 2 and last 2 nights were booked as 2 separate award stays at a Country Inn and Suites back when Club Carlson had their Bonus Award night that gave us the last night of those 2 bookings free. But the 3rd night of this trip is not yet booked. I could use my 2 free nights as a separate reservation so that we would have all 5 of our nights at the same hotel. The other option, if I don’t do this, is to just book some other hotel for that 3rd night, meaning we’d have to check-out and back in twice. I’m not opposed to doing that, though it would be a bit of a hassle.
Option 3 is probably what I SHOULD do, but I hate using free night certificates at a hotel that has a rack rate of less than $100 / night. I know that lighting them on fire is a bit of hyperbole, but I honestly do feel quite conflicted about where to possibly use them
If I felt like I could legally and easily just sell the award and book a room for someone else, I’d probably do it, but I’m not sure that is a workable solution
So what would you do? Which option do you like? Or might you recommend something else (like giving them to you?!?!) 😀
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at 
I actually have a related question. I thought they also changed the benefit to getting an e-cert if you spent $10,000 annually. I hit that and have inquired with them but they’ve never awarded it. Anyone else?
I booked a reservation in downtown Austin for New Year’s Eve
As someone who has paid for a room at the Radisson Cincinnati, I would strongly suggest going elsewhere. The rooms look like they haven’t been updated in 20+ years. The mattresses were lumpy and the bed creaked like an old wooden floor. I booked there for the views but wasn’t even very impressed with that.
If you want a staycation in Cincy, I’d recommend the Hyatt (great diamond treatment and huge VIP suite with a DSU) or the Westin (perfect location next to fountain square). Your best bet somewhat locally is the Radisson Blu Chicago. It’s a very nice boutique-y hotel right off the river and Michigan Ave. Hop a SW flight from DAY to MDW and a 30 minute train into the city. Well worth it even just for one night. Good luck!
I know – I’ve heard bad things from others about that Radisson in Covington (Cincy). It just …. LOOKS so cool 🙂
I would use them at the raddisson in Austin tx. Great location right in the heart of downtown near 6th street. Awesome place. I use all my carlson points there. Or the raddisson in Orlando right by Disney.
I mentioned I might use my points at May Fair (London) in a prior post. Changed my mind. Will transfer 200,000 points to Aeroplan (Air Canada) for 20,000 Aeroplan points PLUS 55,000 bonus points.
http://www4.aeroplan.com/promotions/promotion_details.do?promotion=SpringConversion¤tLanguage=en&supportCookie=true
There are better hotels in London that have consistently high ratings, May Fair may end up being a typical Radisson. So, 75,000 Aeroplan points for 200,000 Radisson points–better deal.
I’d recheck the terms there. The way I read it, you get 4,000 Aeroplan miles as a bonus for your 200k Club Carlson points.
I wonder why everyone isn’t chanting giveaway already 😀
LOL! I thought about it actually…
Still thinking? 🙂
I was thinking that too 🙂
The Radisson Blu Bloomington (Mall of America) is fun since it’s attached to the Mall of America. I’ve enjoyed both my stays there. The Radisson Blu in Chicago was nice as well. Another idea is to use the certs at a boring Country Inns and Suites in a high priced vacation area such as Traverse City, MI in the peak summer months. I never got any certs from Club Carlson. Bummer!
Why not book the Radisson in Covington for Riverfest? If the room is really that terrible (although I can’t imagine it would be worse than a Rodeway Inn), you can just go home after the fireworks.
Hmm that’s a pretty good idea.
You’re assuming he’ll get a room with a view of the river. More likely, they’ll get stuck with one of the 50% of rooms that sit directly above the interstate.
Right :-). I emailed them – I’d be okay with it as long as there was a lounge or some other common area that had a good view
I hear you on using certs at properties that have a low cash cost! In those cases, if it is a stay I need anyways, I would probably just pay for it. If that is the same for you, just use them at a top tier property and count any of the money you would have to spend on extras as the cost you would have had to pay for the low cash hotel and not as nickel-dime charges and maybe it will make it feel more like a wash and a better value! 🙂
Try using those certificates at the Radisson El Paso. Excellent facility, right near the airport; you will get breakfast
I second using them at the Radisson Austin downtown. We stayed there over Christmas and it is a great hotel. We had a view of the river and the “bat” bridge. We saw bats even in December.
Mall of America Radisson Blu is a nice hotel if you want to kill the weekend at the mall. Our go to is always the Radisson Blu in Chicago. Great location for us when we come to town via train.
What was bad about the Radission Blu in Rome ?
I have a stay booked there so any info would help .
Thanks
It was okay just maybe not worth the points. You can read my full review here.
I’d say giveaway and then let me win so I can use them in Iceland later this year 🙂
I would love the donation of 2 nights at the Radisson Blu in Dublin in June this year. We are staying with our 16 yo granddaughter and I think one room might be too tight, however 2 would be great!! Contributing to our grandparent-granddaughter trip would be a great use!!!
Stayed at the Radisson in Cincy a few times for weddings 4-5 years ago. Like said above the rooms are a little dated but the restaurant was ok. Worth it for a quick night out with the wife imo….bars within walking distance etc.
Have you tried the Radisson Blu in Chicago? One of our favorite places when going Downtown for the weekend!