The perks of being loyal to a hotel chain can make someone feel like George Clooney in Up In the Air — rolling in and out of locations with the greatest of ease and the least amount of hassle. But what if you’re not the kind of person who can rack up 75 or 100 nights per year at a hotel to qualify? There are ways around that hurdle.

The New York Times points out that although we can’t all be George, there are lower tiers of elite status programs that are within your reach without having to bed down for a bajillion nights on the road.

Staying only four times a year could bring you within reach of many loyalty programs. So no, you won’t get a personal assistant, but you can earn loyalty points and have access to upgrades or free Internet access.

Each program has its own set of requirements, some that include several nights at their locations or using a certain credit card. The first step is to pick a hotel that is everywhere, so that no matter where you travel, you’ll be building your elite status. Then it’s just down to a bit of research to find out which hotel is the best fit, and has the perks you want.

One example is the Hilton HHonors program, which only requires four nights per year, or 10 nights total and the option to earn Silver elite status just for using their American Express card of the same name. That will earn you early “check-in and late checkout; free use of the fitness center; a 15 percent point bonus for hotel stays; discounts on award nights; and two bottles of water per stay, depending on the hotel.”

For the rundown of a few more popular hotels, the perks they offer at their lowest elite status levels and how you can get there, check out the full NYT.com story.

*Thanks to Howard for the tip!

How to Attain Hotel Elite Status [New York Times]

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