Does Hotels.com have a rewards program?

Yes. Hotels.com is part of Expedia Group's One Key program, which is free to join and also covers Expedia and Vrbo. You earn OneKeyCash on eligible bookings, and one account works across all three sites.

How much OneKeyCash do you earn on Hotels.com?

You earn 2% in OneKeyCash on eligible bookings, not counting taxes and fees. Silver, Gold and Platinum members earn more at VIP Access properties, at 3%, 4% and 6%.

Is OneKeyCash worth $1 per dollar on Hotels.com?

Yes. $1 of OneKeyCash takes $1 off an eligible booking. It is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.

Does Hotels.com OneKeyCash expire?

Not if you keep booking. Standard OneKeyCash stays valid as long as you make an eligible booking or redeem a reward at least once every 18 months. Save Your Way OneKeyCash has a separate 3 year booking rule, and OneKeyCash from offers and promotions can expire sooner.

How do you reach Silver, Gold or Platinum with Hotels.com One Key?

You collect trip elements within a calendar year: 5 for Silver, 15 for Gold and 30 for Platinum. A trip element is one hotel room night, one vacation rental night or one car rental day, worth at least $25 before taxes and fees and after any coupons and any OneKeyCash are applied. Progress resets on January 1.

Can you use OneKeyCash on Pay Later hotel bookings?

No. You can only redeem OneKeyCash on Pay Now bookings, where you pay when you book, and you can use it on a booking in someone else's name. Pay Later stays can still earn OneKeyCash.

Can you transfer OneKeyCash to another member?

No. OneKeyCash cannot be transferred to other members or redeemed for cash. You can use it on an eligible booking in someone else's name.

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Hotels.com

Last reviewed Nov 2026

Hotels.com rewards are One Key now. It is the same free program that runs across Expedia and Vrbo, so one account and one balance cover all three. The currency is OneKeyCash, and it is refreshingly simple: $1 of OneKeyCash takes $1 off an eligible booking.

That simplicity is also the limit. OneKeyCash is not a points currency you can send to an airline or hotel partner, and you can only spend it on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. Think of it as a discount you earn back on bookings you were going to make anyway, not as something to chase.

Quick answers

Does Hotels.com have a rewards program?: Yes. Hotels.com is part of Expedia Group's One Key program, which is free to join and also covers Expedia and Vrbo. You earn OneKeyCash on eligible bookings, and one account works across all three sites.
How much OneKeyCash do you earn on Hotels.com?: You earn 2% in OneKeyCash on eligible bookings, not counting taxes and fees. Silver, Gold and Platinum members earn more at VIP Access properties, at 3%, 4% and 6%.
Is OneKeyCash worth $1 per dollar on Hotels.com?: Yes. $1 of OneKeyCash takes $1 off an eligible booking. It is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.

See all questions ↓

How to earn

How points pile up, from the basic rule to the shortcuts.

Base rate: 2% in OneKeyCash on eligible Hotels.com bookings, not counting taxes and fees

See how to earn →

The basic rule

Base rate	2% in OneKeyCash on eligible Hotels.com bookings, not counting taxes and fees
What earns OneKeyCash	Eligible hotel stays, vacation rentals and car rentals booked on Hotels.com while signed in
VIP Access properties, Silver	3% in OneKeyCash
VIP Access properties, Gold	4% in OneKeyCash
VIP Access properties, Platinum	6% in OneKeyCash
Who earns it	The account holder who books, whoever is named as the traveler

Checked against hotels.com, November 2026.

Tier benefits

The status ladder. 4 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.

4 status levels.

Climb the ladder →

Blue

Everyone starts here. Free to join.

Earn 2% in OneKeyCash on eligible Hotels.com bookings, not counting taxes and fees

Silver

5 trip elements in a calendar year.

Earn 3% in OneKeyCash at VIP Access properties

Gold

15 trip elements in a calendar year.

Earn 4% in OneKeyCash at VIP Access properties

Platinum

30 trip elements in a calendar year.

Earn 6% in OneKeyCash at VIP Access properties

How to spend

The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.

The smart-money plays.

Get the playbook →

Take dollars off an eligible Pay Now hotel booking or car rental on Hotels.com. $1 of OneKeyCash is $1 off.
Use it on Expedia and Vrbo too. One balance works across all three sites.
Book for someone else. You can use OneKeyCash on a booking in another person's name.
Pay Later bookings do not qualify for redemption, even though they can earn.
It cannot be turned into cash, and it cannot be moved to another member.

Tips & quirks

Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.

The fine print, decoded.

Spill the gotchas →

Sign in before you book. OneKeyCash and trip elements are not earned on a booking made while signed out or on an account created after booking.
Taxes and fees do not earn OneKeyCash, and neither do extra amounts you pay the hotel directly, such as resort fees or deposits. Eligible Pay Later hotel stays can earn.
Cancelled bookings do not earn, and refunds or credits can take earned OneKeyCash back.
Expiry: standard OneKeyCash stays valid as long as you make an eligible booking or redeem a reward at least once every 18 months. Save Your Way OneKeyCash stays valid if you make an eligible booking at least once in the preceding 3 years. Promotional OneKeyCash can have a different expiry date. Expired OneKeyCash is not given back.
Trip elements: a trip element is one hotel room night, one vacation rental night or one car rental day, worth at least $25 before taxes and fees, after any coupons and any OneKeyCash are applied. Tier progress resets on January 1.
VIP Access rates already include the base rate. They are not added on top.
Only the account holder earns, not the other travelers named on the booking.
Deleting your account deletes your OneKeyCash, trip elements and tier.
This page covers the U.S. program. Other regions that still use Hotels.com stamps are handled separately in the terms.
Nothing here changes what to book. A hotel's own rate and your best card or hotel loyalty program usually decide that; One Key is a small rebate on top.

Frequently asked questions

Does Hotels.com have a rewards program? Yes. Hotels.com is part of Expedia Group's One Key program, which is free to join and also covers Expedia and Vrbo. You earn OneKeyCash on eligible bookings, and one account works across all three sites.
How much OneKeyCash do you earn on Hotels.com? You earn 2% in OneKeyCash on eligible bookings, not counting taxes and fees. Silver, Gold and Platinum members earn more at VIP Access properties, at 3%, 4% and 6%.
Is OneKeyCash worth $1 per dollar on Hotels.com? Yes. $1 of OneKeyCash takes $1 off an eligible booking. It is not redeemable for cash and can only be used on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.
Does Hotels.com OneKeyCash expire? Not if you keep booking. Standard OneKeyCash stays valid as long as you make an eligible booking or redeem a reward at least once every 18 months. Save Your Way OneKeyCash has a separate 3 year booking rule, and OneKeyCash from offers and promotions can expire sooner.
How do you reach Silver, Gold or Platinum with Hotels.com One Key? You collect trip elements within a calendar year: 5 for Silver, 15 for Gold and 30 for Platinum. A trip element is one hotel room night, one vacation rental night or one car rental day, worth at least $25 before taxes and fees and after any coupons and any OneKeyCash are applied. Progress resets on January 1.
Can you use OneKeyCash on Pay Later hotel bookings? No. You can only redeem OneKeyCash on Pay Now bookings, where you pay when you book, and you can use it on a booking in someone else's name. Pay Later stays can still earn OneKeyCash.
Can you transfer OneKeyCash to another member? No. OneKeyCash cannot be transferred to other members or redeemed for cash. You can use it on an eligible booking in someone else's name.

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Last reviewed: November 2026

Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with Hotels.com before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.