Last Updated:
February 12, 2024

Using Points & Miles for A Cheap Hotel in Winston Salem, NC

Winston Salem North Carolina has a ton of exciting things going on; from Wake Forest University to a burgeoning arts & innovation scene, here are the cheapest ways to use your points & miles to stay in Winston Salem, NC.

Winston Salem, a city once known for Tobacco plantations & the home to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco company, is now one of the hottest cities in North Carolina. There's a ton going on there, from a vibrant arts scene, an up and coming startup hub, and top-tier talent coming out of Wake Forest University, Winston Salem is a great place to visit year-round. Here are the best hotels in Winston Salem, and the best ways to book.

Kimpton Cardinal Hotel (IHG OneRewards)

The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel (Photo: Kimpton)

The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, who's original architecture was the inspiration for the famous Empire State Building in New York, is by far our favorite place to stay in Winston Salem. Located in downtown, the Kimpton is centrally located for many activities in the heart of Winston Salem. While it's about a 15-minute drive to the Wake Forest University campus, the Kimpton Cardinal hotel is worth the drive (if you're visiting the university).

The hotel is shared with a block of Kimpton condominiums with permanent residents. The rooms at the Kimpton are spacious and modern, and the whole hotel has an upscale vibe. Every morning they have complimentary coffee in the lobby, and on weekdays there's a happy hour around 4:00 PM, with complimentary wine and spirits.

Additionally, our favorite feature of the Kimpton is the array of amenities. In the basement, there's a full gym with a Peloton, along with a half-basketball court, and a full arcade. There's plenty to keep you and your family busy througout your stay.

Nights at the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel start at around 35,000 IHG OneRewards points per night, which can be a great use of IHG Points depending on the cash price of a night. IHG OneRewards points are transferrable from Chase Ultimate Rewards as well as Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 Ratio.

Winston-Salem Marriott (Marriott Bonvoy)

The Winston Salem Marriott (Photo: Marriott)

The Winston Salem Marriott, which is also located in downtown Winston Salem is a great option for travelers looking to use Marriott Points. This Marriott was recently renovated to include updated rooms, and a reliable cosy feel.  This Marriott is just steps away from our favorite breakfast place, which is a must-visit: Krankies (their biscuits are phenomenal).

This Marriott has an M-Club, for Marriott Platinum Elites and higher, which is stocked with snacks and beverages throughout the day. The hotel also offers a full-service restaurant called Butcher & Bull, which is also open for breakfast.

The Winston Salem Marriott starts at just 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, or $150/night in cash. Using points vs cash will be highly dependent on your dates.

Hotel Indigo Winston-Salem Downtown (IHG OneRewards)

Hotel Indigo Winston Salem (Photo: Tripadvisor)

Home to the Sir Winston Wine Bar and Restaurant, this art-deco inspired hotel features 75 luxury rooms in the heart of downtown Winston Salem. Hotel Indigo is a chain of boutique luxury hotels that joined IHG OneRewards a few years ago.

Rooms at the Hotel Indigo start at 40,000 IHG points per night, or $250 in cash.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Winston Salem - University (Hilton Honors)

Double Tree Winston Salem (Photo: Tripadvisor)

If you're looking for an option that's closer to Wake Forest University, look no further than the DoubleTree by Hilton Winston Salem - University. This hotel is just 2 miles from campus, and is easily one of the best options if proximity to campus is a consideration.

This is also a good way to use your points if you have a stash of Hilton Honors points. Rooms at this hotel start around 27,000 points per night, which can be a good deal depending on the price in cash.

Final Thoughts

There's no shortage of good points hotels in Winston Salem, North Carolina. However, it might not always be the best decision to use points & miles instead of cash. By searching for hotels through the AwardTravel Hotels tool, you're able to see the best way to book, using cash, or using points & miles.

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Winston Salem, a city once known for Tobacco plantations & the home to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco company, is now one of the hottest cities in North Carolina. There's a ton going on there, from a vibrant arts scene, an up and coming startup hub, and top-tier talent coming out of Wake Forest University, Winston Salem is a great place to visit year-round. Here are the best hotels in Winston Salem, and the best ways to book.

Kimpton Cardinal Hotel (IHG OneRewards)

The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel (Photo: Kimpton)

The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel, who's original architecture was the inspiration for the famous Empire State Building in New York, is by far our favorite place to stay in Winston Salem. Located in downtown, the Kimpton is centrally located for many activities in the heart of Winston Salem. While it's about a 15-minute drive to the Wake Forest University campus, the Kimpton Cardinal hotel is worth the drive (if you're visiting the university).

The hotel is shared with a block of Kimpton condominiums with permanent residents. The rooms at the Kimpton are spacious and modern, and the whole hotel has an upscale vibe. Every morning they have complimentary coffee in the lobby, and on weekdays there's a happy hour around 4:00 PM, with complimentary wine and spirits.

Additionally, our favorite feature of the Kimpton is the array of amenities. In the basement, there's a full gym with a Peloton, along with a half-basketball court, and a full arcade. There's plenty to keep you and your family busy througout your stay.

Nights at the Kimpton Cardinal Hotel start at around 35,000 IHG OneRewards points per night, which can be a great use of IHG Points depending on the cash price of a night. IHG OneRewards points are transferrable from Chase Ultimate Rewards as well as Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 Ratio.

Winston-Salem Marriott (Marriott Bonvoy)

The Winston Salem Marriott (Photo: Marriott)

The Winston Salem Marriott, which is also located in downtown Winston Salem is a great option for travelers looking to use Marriott Points. This Marriott was recently renovated to include updated rooms, and a reliable cosy feel.  This Marriott is just steps away from our favorite breakfast place, which is a must-visit: Krankies (their biscuits are phenomenal).

This Marriott has an M-Club, for Marriott Platinum Elites and higher, which is stocked with snacks and beverages throughout the day. The hotel also offers a full-service restaurant called Butcher & Bull, which is also open for breakfast.

The Winston Salem Marriott starts at just 30,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, or $150/night in cash. Using points vs cash will be highly dependent on your dates.

Hotel Indigo Winston-Salem Downtown (IHG OneRewards)

Hotel Indigo Winston Salem (Photo: Tripadvisor)

Home to the Sir Winston Wine Bar and Restaurant, this art-deco inspired hotel features 75 luxury rooms in the heart of downtown Winston Salem. Hotel Indigo is a chain of boutique luxury hotels that joined IHG OneRewards a few years ago.

Rooms at the Hotel Indigo start at 40,000 IHG points per night, or $250 in cash.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Winston Salem - University (Hilton Honors)

Double Tree Winston Salem (Photo: Tripadvisor)

If you're looking for an option that's closer to Wake Forest University, look no further than the DoubleTree by Hilton Winston Salem - University. This hotel is just 2 miles from campus, and is easily one of the best options if proximity to campus is a consideration.

This is also a good way to use your points if you have a stash of Hilton Honors points. Rooms at this hotel start around 27,000 points per night, which can be a good deal depending on the price in cash.

Final Thoughts

There's no shortage of good points hotels in Winston Salem, North Carolina. However, it might not always be the best decision to use points & miles instead of cash. By searching for hotels through the AwardTravel Hotels tool, you're able to see the best way to book, using cash, or using points & miles.

Find Points Hotels in 

Winston Salem, NC

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