Free nights, big discounts from two hotel groups

By Clara Bosonetto Maerz

For ajc.com

Heads up for two valuable hotel promotions that can earn you free nights or savings of 50 percent.

The "Biggest Free Nights" from the IHG group offers 5 million free nights at over 4,000 hotels across the globe (except in Japan). To land a free night, stay in one of the brand's properties any two nights through Aug. 15. The brands include InterContinental, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Staybridge Suites or Candlewood Suites. Stay two nights and get one night free to use by Dec. 26. The maximum number of free nights is four with eight qualifying stays.

What's particularly great about this IHG promo is that the nights don't have to be consecutive or at the same property. But you must register in advance of your stay at getafreenight.com.

Stays at Starwood brands, which include Le Meridien, Westin, W and Sheraton, are also deeply discounted. About 600 properties in North and South America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and Asia are participating in a half-off promotion.

Save 50 percent on stays through Oct. 12 when you make a reservation by July 27. Bookings must be pre-paid and are non-refundable, non-cancellable.

Sample rates include $79 at the Westin Casuarina Las Vegas; $89, W New Orleans; $92, Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa; $129, Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers; $139, Westin St. Francis San Francisco; $149, W Fort Lauderdale; $159, Sheraton Manhattan at Times Square; and $179, Westin Hilton Head. Big savings are found in Asian properties. Sample rates include $107, Le Meridien Bangalore; $120, Sheraton Miyako Hotel Tokyo; and $219, W Hong Kong.

Bookings for the Starwood promotion, which was extended from July 20 to July 27, can be made online at starwoodhotels.com or by phone (1-866-924-8704). Refer to promo July LTO.