Most premium travel credit cards offer added benefits at select hotels when you book through the card issuer’s travel portal. For Chase’s Sapphire Reserve cards, those hotels are called The Edit — a collection of more than 1,300 luxury properties that provide cardholders with special perks when you book a minimum two-night, prepaid stay. Benefits include complimentary breakfast for two people, a $100 property credit toward dining, spa services, or other on-site activities, a room upgrade at check-in (when available), early check-in and late checkout (when available), and the ability to earn points and elite nights in the hotel’s loyalty program.
These added benefits can increase a hotel’s costs, generally resulting in a 7.8% increase in price when booking through The Edit compared to booking directly with the hotel. On average, travelers end up paying $83 more for an equivalent two-night stay when booking through The Edit. However, the data is highly variable, and in 28% of cases, it was actually the same price or cheaper to book through The Edit, resulting in potential savings for the traveler.
Booking through The Edit can be a good deal depending on the rate, as BW found that at most hotels in the study, it was more expensive to book through The Edit than directly. However, booking through The Edit was cheaper at 17 properties and the same price at nine properties. On average, travelers need to get at least $83 in value from The Edit benefits to break even, but the price difference varies widely across different properties and loyalty programs.
Marriott and Hyatt properties charged the most, on average, compared to booking direct. Among the loyalty programs analyzed, hotels not affiliated with major loyalty programs offered the best values within The Edit, with nine out of 33 hotels in this category priced exactly the same as if booked directly. When booking at properties within The Edit collection, you essentially receive all The Edit benefits at no extra cost. However, it’s recommended to compare rates before booking. The Edit rates can vary significantly compared to direct rates, so it’s wise to do a quick price check to understand the cost of the additional benefits you’ll be receiving.
The value of The Edit benefits depends on your travel preferences and destination. For instance, a room upgrade may be worth more at some properties than others, and a complimentary breakfast in an expensive city could hold more value than in a cheaper location. Your personal spending habits will also play a role in determining the worth of benefits like property credits.
To illustrate the value of The Edit perks, consider a real-world example from a trip to New York City. A stay at The Thompson Central Park through The Edit cost $213 more than booking directly with Hyatt. This extra cost was justified by the benefits received, such as a semiannual credit, room upgrade, complimentary breakfast, and property credit. In this case, the total value of the benefits exceeded $600, making the premium for booking through The Edit worthwhile.
Ultimately, whether you should book through The Edit depends on how much you value the added perks. Comparing prices and considering your travel preferences will help you make an informed decision.Booking direct may be preferable if you prefer not to prepay for perks or deal with a middleman, while booking through The Edit is ideal if you value the additional benefits offered. If you’re looking to plan a romantic escape and have no intentions of leaving the hotel much, opting for a room upgrade with a $100 property credit could offer better value compared to not spending much time at the hotel.
It’s important to note that generally, you will be paying more for your room through The Edit. If you believe that the benefits outweigh the extra cost compared to booking directly, then it might be worth it. However, if you prefer to pay a lower upfront cost, it’s typically better to book directly.
Methodology
Prices were determined based on advertised rates available on Chase’s travel portal and booking directly with the hotel chain using their member rate, if applicable, for two-night hotel stays with similar cancellation policies. Rates were calculated for rooms with check-in dates 90 days in advance from the data retrieval date. Prices include all taxes and fees.
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