How to Stay on Track in Fall

Looking for a change of scenery? Autumn's stunning colors are on full display — a perfect excuse to take a trip someplace far away or squeeze in a quick getaway close to home. And the changing leaves of fall are even better when you've booked your hotel with points instead of cash. Here, grouped by loyalty program, are just a few of the hotels where you can enjoy the season's splendor while paying with or earning points.

Accor Live Limitless (ALL)

At Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, Canada, guests are treated to leafy views of Stanley Park and Coal Harbour. Bring your camera or binoculars to see the colors in even better detail. ALL members can earn points or redeem them in exchange for cash off during their stay.

Choice Privileges

In Golden, Colorado, The Golden Hotel, Ascend Hotel Collection sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, where fall colors provide the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventure. Choice Privileges has a wide variety of hotels , with Ascend being its boutique hotel collection. A Choice Hotel redemption night starts at 8,000 points, but our searches show you'll need 25,000 to 30,000 points during the fall.

Within view of Mount Rushmore, guests at K Bar S Lodge, Ascend Hotel Collection , in Keystone, South Dakota, are surrounded by nature. Badlands National Park is just over an hour away by car. After a day of exploring, guests can cozy up to the fire pit with a drink and take in the changing leaves around them. Award nights start at 8,000 points but you'll need 20,000 points for a night in October based on our searches.

I Prefer Rewards

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Pennsylvania is a haven for nature lovers thanks to its secluded locale and plentiful outdoor amenities. During the fall, the endless forest views offer a rainbow of colors.

In downtown Madison, Wisconsin, The Edgewater Hotel overlooks Lake Mendota, which is ringed by colorful trees. Fall is one of the most beautiful times to visit. At sunset, the light shimmers over the lake and illuminates the autumn colors. The hotel is only a short walk from downtown's shops, restaurants, museums and Capitol Square.

Omni Select Guest

The Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina create the perfect setting for a stay at The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville . The resort's subterranean spa and championship golf course provide plenty of diversion so that guests are ready to sit back with a cocktail and take in the views from the balcony at the end of the day. Guests can also take advantage of the Omni Select Guest program , where they can earn nightly award credits toward a free night in addition to enjoying tier status benefits within the DISCOVERY program.

To the north is The Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Virginia. This National Historic Landmark property is nestled amid an endless rolling hillside of trees. Guests can also soak in the geothermal pool in the serenity garden while taking in the views.

From the highest floors of the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel near Minneapolis and adjacent to the headquarters and practice facility of the Minnesota Vikings football team, guests have unending views of the surrounding forest, where the leaves dazzle in varied shades of red, orange and yellow. The top-floor suites with balconies provide the perfect vantage point.

At Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in the hill country outside of Austin, Texas, guests have endless views of 4,000 acres. The resort recently completed a $150 million renovation and expansion, adding even more space to stretch out and enjoy the fall scenery.

Hilton Honors

From The Park Vista, A DoubleTree Hotel 's tower, the views of the Smoky Mountains are exceptional. The hotel is 1,000 feet above Gatlinburg, Tennessee, giving guests unobstructed leaf-peeping opportunities. Hilton Honors has a dynamic pricing system meaning that the cost of an award night here varies depending on the date. To rack up as many points as possible, use a Hilton Honors-affiliated credit card .

Surrounded by trees and mountains, Asheville, North Carolina, is a perfect destination for an autumn escape. At The Foundry Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton property , guests can see the leaves changing colors from many of the guest rooms. You can really rack up Hilton Honors points by splurging on The Foundry Lookout & Residence, which is situated at the hotel's highest point, and comes with a large balcony overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Outside of Providence, Rhode Island, the NYLO Providence Warwick Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton offers ample foliage views, which can be seen from guest rooms and public spaces. The NYLO Riverview Loft adds views of the Pawtuxet River to the scenery to frame that perfect photo.

IHG Rewards Club

The Crowne Plaza Lake Placid is next to the Olympic Center and in the middle of the city's Olympic Village. From here, the views of Whiteface Mountain and the High Peaks supply plenty of colorful scenery.

Fall is apple-picking season. At Kimpton Taconic Hotel in Vermont, guests can book the apple-picking package for a creative activity to enjoy while drinking in the scenery. A food and beverage credit at the hotel's restaurant is included.

IHG award nights can start as low as 10,000 points, but vary by destination, date and current demand. Expect to pay 20,000 points or more per night at these hotels during the fall.

Marriott Bonvoy

Whether you enjoy the scenery from your guest room or the nearby 18-hole championship golf course, the Griffin Gate Marriott Resort & Spa in Lexington, Kentucky, has beautiful views. It is located on 250 rolling acres of Kentucky bluegrass and surrounded by views of horses in the pasture and the changing fall leaves. The hotel is a Category 5 property in Marriott Bonvoy, with a reward night costing between 27,500 and 40,000 points.

Floor-to-ceiling windows at the AC Hotel Huntsville Downtown overlook Alabama's Big Spring Park and the Huntsville Museum of Art. The park is filled with fountains and trees, which during the autumn months create a rainbow of colors. The hotel is a Category 3 property in Marriott Bonvoy, with a reward night costing between 12,000 and 20,000 points.

I Prefer

At Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, Vermont, I Prefer members can earn and redeem their points while taking in bucolic views from their room. The Eagle Collection Room overlooks the resort's front lawn, colorful trees, the town green and Mount Tom in the distance. I Prefer members can redeem their points for cash vouchers to use during their next stay.

In downtown Philadelphia, AKA Rittenhouse Square's serviced residences , which can also be booked as a hotel, offer beautiful views of the park amid the city landscape. The changing colors and falling leaves in the park are easily seen from this Preferred Hotels & Resorts member property.

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort , in Farmington, Pennsylvania, is a haven for relaxation and outdoor recreation. One of the best times of year to visit is during the fall when the surrounding area's leaves take on a rainbow of fall colors. The resort has all kinds of activities, including ziplining, golf, a spa, a holistic healing center, off-road driving and a kids' club.

World of Hyatt

On weekday stays, guests at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino enjoy the alpine wilderness of North Lake Tahoe in a peaceful setting, free of weekend road trippers . From the quiet Nevada side of North America's largest alpine lake, this Hyatt offers a perfect vantage point to take in the array of colors. Outdoor fire pits at the lakeshore with s'mores and a local pumpkin beer add to the experience of watching the leaves' colors reflected in the lake. As a Category 6 property, an award night here costs 25,000 nights for a standard room.

At Grand Hyatt Vail , fall is not as busy as winter, but the beautiful colors of the Vail Valley make it an ideal time to explore the area minus the crowds. Outdoor activities like fly fishing and mountain biking provide guests with another perspective from which to see the changing leaves. As a Category 6 property, an award night here costs 25,000 points for a standard room.

In Cle Elum, Washington, Suncadia Resort in the Cascade Mountains and Wenatchee Washington National Forest is always surrounded by beautiful scenery, especially during the fall months. The resort is a member of the Destination Hotels brand within World of Hyatt and is a Category 5 property, which means a standard room night costs 20,000 points.

Stowe, Vermont, is often referred to as Fall's Color Capital, making The Lodge at Spruce Peak an obvious choice to immerse yourself in autumn scenery. World of Hyatt members can redeem points starting at 40,000 points per night in this Category 8 property.

Wyndham Rewards

Aspen Meadows Resort is a 40-acre, all-suite property with views of the surrounding mountains through floor-to-ceiling windows. Wyndham Rewards operates an easy-to-understand award system with hotels falling into three tiers. At the top of the Wyndham portfolio, Aspen Meadows is a tier-three property with an award redemption costing 30,000 points per night.

Independent Hotels

If you prefer to earn or redeem credit card points (rather than hotel loyalty points) at an independent hotel, here are a few top-notch choices that are not affiliated with a loyalty program.

Located on the highest elevation point in San Antonio, La Cantera Resort & Spa provides beautiful views of the Texas Hill Country. Five swimming pools are another big draw, and couples can choose to stay on the adults-only floor with its elegant, panoramic club lounge or a private villa for maximum relaxation. The hotel participates in the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts program , which offers extra perks for certain cardholders like those with The Platinum Card® from American Express . Terms apply.

The Hay-Adams in Washington, D.C., a member of the Leading Hotels of the World group, combines familiar urban views with the region's autumn colors from many of its rooms.

Located in Amenia, New York, Troutbeck delivers the Hudson Valley's finest autumn views to guests. Hiking trails, forest foraging and a falconry experience are some of the outdoor adventures that guests can enjoy before returning to luxurious guest rooms with Frette linens and Malin + Goetz toiletries. Despite being a member of Design Hotels, this property does not participate in Marriott Bonvoy.

Photos courtesy of Fairmont Pacific Rim, The Golden Hotel, Ascend Collection, Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, The Edgewater, Omni Grove Park Inn, Omni Homestead Resort, Ramsey Qubein, Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, The Park Vista, A DoubleTree Hotel, The Foundry Hotel, a Curio Collection by Hilton, NYLO Providence Warwick Hotel, Crowne Plaza Lake Placid, VisitLEX, Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Woodstock Inn & Resort, AKA Rittenhouse Square, Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Grand Hyatt Vail, Aspen Meadows Resort, La Cantera Resort & Spa, The Hay-Adams, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole and Paul Barbera.

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How to Stay on Track in Fall

Source: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/travel/hotels-where-you-can-stay-with-points-to-see-fall-leaves

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