In 2026, using air miles for hotel stays is usually done through your airline's dedicated travel portal rather than booking directly with the hotel. Programs like United MileagePlus, Delta SkyMiles, and British Airways Executive Club have "Miles + Cash" or "Hotel Rewards" sections on their websites. You simply log in, enter your destination and dates, and the portal will show you a list of properties with the price listed in miles. It is important to know that while this offers great flexibility, it often provides a lower value-per-mile (typically 0.6 to 0.8 cents) than redeeming for an international business class flight. Additionally, when you book through an airline portal, you generally do not earn hotel loyalty points (like Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors points) or receive elite status benefits for that stay, as it is considered a third-party booking. For maximum value, it is often better to save miles for flights and use a "transferable" credit card like Amex or Chase to move points directly to a hotel partner.