The Complete Guide to Small Luxury Hotels withIN | News 4 Social

Small Luxury Hotels of the World, otherwise known as SLH, is a collection of over 500 independent boutique luxury hotels in more than 90 countries. 

While Small Luxury Hotels has a partnership with Hyatt and bookings can be made at some properties with World of Hyatt points, SLH properties do not participate in the Hyatt Privé preferred partner program.

Instead, if you want to receive a host of extra benefits on your next paid SLH stay, then the best way to do so is to make your booking through the Small Luxury Hotels withIN program.

What Is Small Luxury Hotels withIN?

Small Luxury Hotels withIN offers incentives if you book a SLH property directly through the program rather than through another channel, such as through Hyatt or another booking portal.

While the SLH withIN rate is the same as a flexible rate you’ll be able to find publicly, you won’t be able to book a withIN rate on your own. Rather, you can only enjoy the suite of benefits by booking through a dedicated travel advisor who has access to the Small Luxury Hotels withIN program.

SLH hotels can be found across the world, with properties located in 80 countries. The boutique hotels range from private islands to luxurious resorts.

You can also choose hotels from SLH’s “Collections” of properties. The Considerate Collection focuses on sustainability, offering a luxurious experience at properties that have been vetted to benefit the communities in which they’re located and have a lower environmental impact.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for the privacy of a standalone villa, look no further than the Private Collection. These properties offer the discretion of a private villa with the perks and services of a boutique hotel.  

What Are the Benefits of Booking Through Small Luxury Hotels withIN?

By booking a Small Luxury Hotels stay through a travel advisor, you won’t have to pay anything extra, and you’ll enjoy the following benefits:

• A minimum $50 (USD) hotel credit
• Complimentary daily breakfast for two
• Room upgrade to the next category (subject to availability)
• Early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi

Depending on your specific travel plans, you may value some of the benefits more than others.

Complimentary daily breakfast can certainly save you a lot of money, but will also require you to eat your breakfast at the hotel. Small Luxury Hotels tend to be fairly unique, and you’ll most likely want to spend as much time enjoying the property as possible, so the daily breakfast can really enhance your experience.

Early check-in and late check-out can also allow you to get the most out of your trip, as you might be able to indulge in of all of the hotel’s amenities for a few more hours on either end of your stay – especially if you’re able to score an upgrade to a bigger room or one with a better view as well.

Keep in mind that select SLH properties will even be able to confirm your upgrade as soon as you make the booking, allowing you to look forward to your upgraded living quarters long before check-in without needing to “suite-talk” at the front desk.

Note that bookings with Small Luxury Hotels withIN have a two-night minimum stay.

How to Maximize Value with Small Luxury Hotels withIN

If you have plans to stay at a Small Luxury Hotels property, then it’s always best to compare all of your options before making your booking.

Compare with World of Hyatt

You’ll especially want to compare the cost of using points versus paying with cash, as well as the benefits of being loyal to SLH or World of Hyatt.

Some Small Luxury Hotels properties participate in the World of Hyatt program. If you have World of Hyatt elite status and World of Hyatt points, then redeeming points at an SLH hotel could be your best option over paying cash.

At the same time, even if you have elite status, Small Luxury Hotels will often prioritize benefits, such as room upgrades, early check-in, and late check-out, if you book through their preferred partner program compared to booking through Hyatt.

You’ll also likely run into difficulty finding award availability for SLH hotels through World of Hyatt, which could make Small Luxury Hotels withIN your next-best option. 

Compare with SLH INVITED status benefits

SLH has its own INVITED loyalty program. There are three tiers, with earning requirements as follows:

• Earn SLH Intrigued status simply by registering in the program.
• Earn SLH Inspired status after staying four nights in a calendar year.
• Earn SLH Indulged status after staying 13 nights in a calendar year.

The base-level Intrigued status comes with 10% off bookings, 12pm early check-in (subject to availability), and 2pm late check-out (subject to availability). 

Inspired status comes with all the benefits from Intrigued, as well as free continental breakfast for two and room upgrades (subject to availability at check-in). 

The highest-level Indulged status comes with all previous benefits, as well as a $300 (USD) Reward Voucher. It’s worth noting that the Reward Voucher comes with many strings attached, such as a 12-month expiry period and no ability to change or cancel after reserving, so it may not be worthwhile to pursue.

As you can see, if you are able to earn mid-tier SLH Inspired status, you’ll have many of the same benefits as bookings made through withIN.

However, since the 10%-discounted member rates and the withIN rate are technically two separate rates, you wouldn’t be able to combine the $50–100 (USD) credit from SLH withIN with the 10% discount from INVITED, so you’ll want to compare the costs of booking via the two programs to see which is ultimately a better deal.

However, keep in mind that earning SLH Inspired status comes after just four nights in a year. If you plan on staying at SLH properties frequently, it’s worthwhile to book your stays through withIN, which could result in a better upgrade thanks to the combined power of your status and the preferred partner program. 

Lastly, keep in mind that the SLH INVITED program operates completely separately from SLH’s partnership with World of Hyatt. If you elect to book SLH stays through Hyatt and earn World of Hyatt points and elite qualifying nights, you’d lose out on any benefits you might get from both INVITED and withIN (as outlined above). 

Compare with Virtuoso and Amex FHR

If you’re paying with cash, then you may also have access to other programs where you can book Small Luxury Hotels properties, and receive similar benefits.

Below is a table that summarizes the similarities and differences between withIN, Virtuoso, and Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts.

Virtuoso is one example of such a program. Similar to the Small Luxury Hotels withIN program, you can only book Virtuoso stays through a dedicated travel advisor.

However, unlike withIN, not all Small Luxury Hotels are available to be booked through Virtuoso. When a Small Luxury Hotels property is available through both channels, you’ll have to make sure you’re making the best choice.

On one hand, Small Luxury Hotels tend to prioritize upgrades if you book directly with their program, but on the other hand, there are still situations where a Virtuoso booking for the same property makes the most sense.

For example, you may get an elevated hotel credit with Virtuoso. Booking Small Luxury Hotels properties through Virtuoso tends to come with a better $100 (USD) hotel credit, while the same hotel booked through the withIN program may come with just a $50 (USD) credit.

Secondly, the withIN program has a two-night stay minimum. If you’re only planning on staying one night at an SLH hotel, then Virtuoso is the only option between these two programs.

Furthermore, if you have an American Express Platinum Card or American Express Business Platinum Card, then you also have access to the American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts program.

The Amex FHR program also comes with additional benefits, including a guaranteed 4pm late checkout. Amex FHR bookings also tend to come with the higher $100 (USD) credit, and similar to Virtuoso, won’t require a two-night minimum stay.

Also similar to Virtuoso, only a select number of SLH hotels are available to be booked through Amex FHR, whereas the best availability can be found by booking through SLH’s own withIN program.

Even if the SLH property is available across all three programs, if your stay is longer than one night, then booking through withIN will give you the best chance at a room upgrade. You may also receive an upgrade at the time of booking, rather than making you wait until check-in.

Stack with Amex Offers

Occasionally, there are Amex Offers on US-issued American Express cards available for SLH hotels. While you’ll want to read the terms and conditions specific to the offer, this could be a great way to score a stay at an SLH hotel at a discount.

Booking through withIN is essentially the same as booking directly through the hotel, since you’re charged directly by the property at the end of the stay.

If you have an Amex Offer available on your account, be sure to register for it and stack it with the extra benefits of booking with SLH withIN.

Conclusion

The Small Luxury Hotel withIN program allows you to experience some amazing benefits at some of the best boutique luxury hotels in the world without having elite status.

These extra perks include hotel credits, room upgrades, and complimentary breakfast, all at no additional cost compared to the best public flexible rate.

If you have plans of staying at one of the many Small Luxury Hotels of the World, then make sure to get the best deal by making your booking through a dedicated travel advisor.