$25 Gift Card for a 2 Night Hotel Stay – But There May be Better Options

Radisson Hotel Group has a new promotion called Treat Yourself. If you fulfill each of the requirements (which are listed below), you will receive an option of a $25 Amazon or Starbucks Gift Card.

Stays must be booked between May 8, 2018 and May 31, 2018 and completed from May 8, 2018 through September 3, 2018 (“Promotion Period”) (note: it appears that there might be another promotion for bookings from July 8-August 2, 2018). 

An Eligible Stay is defined as a stay of two or more consecutive nights booked and completed during the Promotion Period at the same hotel which were specifically booked at the Treat Yourself rate.

The terms further provide that, in order to receive the Gift Card:

guests must: (1) complete an Eligible Stay; and (2) be a resident of the US or Canada; and (3) register the Eligible Stay online with their confirmation number, name, address and email address (“Registration”). Guest will be given information at check-in with Registration instructions. Registration must be completed and received on or before 11:59 PM CST October 3, 2018 to be eligible to receive a Gift Card. A certificate code for the Gift Card of your choice will be emailed to you at the email address provided during Registration within two weeks of completing the Registration. You must redeem the certificate code for the Gift Card within 30 days from the date you receive the email. 

BUT IS IT WORTH IT??

Answer: MAYBE YES, MAYBE NO.

As I see it with this promotion (and, frankly any promotion), the special promotion rate isn’t always a bargain.

As demonstrated below, the Treat Yourself rate works out to be better than other rates available, taking the $25 Gift Card into the equation only some of the time.

A few days ago, when I first received the email announcing this promotion, I picked a random location and dates and ran the same search a few times changing only the rate. The Treat Yourself rate generally was better than the non-Treat Yourself rate, but not always.

This was my search: (1) location: Jacksonville, FL (2) dates: June 2, 2018 – June 6, 2018.

In box number one, I used the Radisson Reward Member rate and the Treat Yourself rate. In box number two, I used the Radisson Reward Member rate, but not the Treat Yourself Rate. In box number three, I ran the search for a non-member.

CHECK OUT THE INCONSISTENT RESULTS!

BOX 1: Treat Yourself Rate:

BOX 2: Rate: Members Only (Not Treat Yourself Rate). In many instances, this rate was better than the Treat Yourself rate – compare, for example the rates at the various Country Inn & Suites.

BOX 3: This is the non-members, non-Treat Yourself rate. Again there are plenty of discrepancies.

And there you have it. I was tempted to use red arrows, but it is not really necessary. The lesson is obvious.

I love special offers and promotions, but not all special offers are created equally. Never automatically assume that just because there is a promotion, that the promo price is necessarily the best one. Always do your homework. Always check all rates that are legitimately available for you to use. Take advantage of the Treat Yourself promotion from Radisson Rewards if it works in your favor.