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There is a lot of information online (including at InsideFlyer!) on how to maximise value when staying at chain hotels – whether that’s through bonus points, discount rates, status benefits or myriad other ways.

But what about those stays when there are no chain hotels, when you just fancy something a bit different, or maybe (like many people) you simply do not travel enough to make finding out about traditional hotel loyalty programmes worthwhile?

This series of posts is designed to show that you don’t have to miss out on extra value, just because you’re not staying with one of the big chains!

Part Two: Rocketmiles – 5,000 frequent flyer Miles for booking one night

We’ve certainly mentioned Rocketmiles before on InsideFlyer, but it really is worth flagging up again.

If you are more interested in getting frequent flyer Miles from your stays than hotel Points, Rocketmiles might be just what you are looking for.

The basic premise is that you will earn at least 1,000 frequent flyer Miles (500 for Virgin America’s frequent flyer programme ‘Elevate’) for the programme of your choice, per night.

Rates are often more expensive than you can find elsewhere, but if you value the frequent flyer Miles highly, booking regularly through Rocketmiles can still make sense. This is particularly the case if you are trying to collect Alaska MileagePlan Miles/United MileagePlus Miles, or similar, which can be very valuable if used smartly, but are difficult to get hold of in the UK.

By far the best value from Rocketmiles though is for new users – so even if you only book one night at a hotel this year, it’s worth knowing about.

The first thing to do is to sign up using a referral link, so that you get an extra 1,000 Miles after your first stay (I get 1,000 Miles as well if you use my link above, so thanks!).

Rocketmiles are also currently offering a first booking bonus with some of their loyalty programme partners, which provides an additional 3,000 Miles on top of the usual 1,000 per night, and the 1,000 bonus for being referred – so you will get at least 5,000 Miles for a one night stay.

These are as follows:

• British Airways Executive Club – 3,000 bonus Avios
• Virgin Atlantic – 3,000 bonus miles
• Alaska Mileage Plan –  3,000 bonus miles
• Airberlin topbonus – 3,000 bonus miles
• American Airlines AAdvantage – 3,000 bonus miles
• Asia Miles – 3,000 bonus miles
• Norwegian – 3,000 bonus miles
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles – 3,000 bonus miles
• United MileagePlus – 3,000 bonus miles

For all these offers you need to sign up and book before 31st March. Your actual stay can be after those dates, of course.

I generally value frequent flyer Miles at between 1p-1.5p per Mile depending on the type and how easy/difficult they are to get hold of. At the very least then, 5000 Miles are worth £50.00 to me, which is a fantastic rebate on a one night stay.

As I mentioned earlier, Rocketmiles do tend to charge more than the cheapest rate you can find elsewhere, but with the referral and first booking bonuses, the numbers should usually work out heavily in your favour for your first booking.

Using my own case as an example: I’ve got a one night stay in Riga coming up, there’s not many good chain hotel options and I fancy something a bit different anyway, so I decided to book through Rocketmiles. The cheapest rate online for the hotel I chose was £47.00 and I could probably have got 10-20% off in cashback/rewards, so say £38.00. Rocketmiles wanted £52.00, £14.00 more, but I will get 5,000 United Miles in return – which I personally value at about £75!

In other words, I’m getting more back in Miles than the cost of my stay! (Something we seem to be making a habit of…). Always check the pricing elsewhere though to make sure that you are actually getting good value.

If you would prefer Miles in a different loyalty programme, the full list of Rocketmiles partners is below, and you might be able to find a bonus offer with a bit of Googling:

• Air Canada – Aeroplan
• Airberlin – Topbonus
• Alaska Airlines – MileagePlan
• Alitalia – MilleMiglia
• American Airlines – AAdvantage
• Amtrak Guest Rewards
• Avianca – LifeMiles
• Azul – TudoAzul
• Cathay Pacific – Asia Miles
• Avios
• British Airways – Executive Club
• AeroMexico – Club Premier
• Etihad Airways – Etihad Guest
• Finnair Plus
• Frontier – EarlyReturns
• Hawaiian Miles
• Icelandair – Saga
• JetBlue – TrueBlue
• Jetairways – JetPrivilege
• Malaysia Airlines – Enrich
• Oman Air – Sinbad
• Qatar Airways – Privilege Club
• Royal Jordanian – Royal Plus
• Saudia – Alfursan
• Singapore Airlines – KrisFlyer
• South African Airways – Voyager
• Southwest Airlines – Rapid Rewards
• Turkish Airlines – Miles&Smiles
• United Airlines – MileagePlus
• Virgin America – Elevate
• Virgin Atlantic – Flying Club

If you value frequent flyer Miles with any of the partners offering a first booking bonus, signing up with Rocketmiles and booking at least one night is a fantastic way to get a chunky rebate from your time away!

Insert your own ‘blast off’ pun!