How to Stay in San Francisco Hotels on Points
A convention-driven points market
San Francisco cash rates are volatile, ordinary one week and $400 plus the next when a big tech conference fills downtown. Those spikes are when points pay off most, and because award pricing does not jump as fast as the convention surge, an award night around a major event is one of the best values in the city.
The cards and transfer partners to use
Downtown is thick with Hyatt, Marriott, and Hilton. For the Hyatts, the only transfer routes are Chase Ultimate Rewards and Bilt, so a Chase Sapphire Preferred or the Bilt card is what you want. For Marriott, Amex, Chase, and Bilt all transfer in, and for Hilton it is Amex or Bilt, so an Amex Gold or Platinum covers both. Holding one Chase or Bilt card plus one Amex reaches every major chain in the city.
Co-brand cards add free nights
If you stay loyal to one chain, a co-brand card stacks an annual free night on top. The World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless, and Hilton Honors cards each earn directly in their program and hand you a certificate that can wipe out a pricey convention-week night. See the full transfer map in which cards transfer to hotels.
Frequently asked questions
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