FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is it completely no cost to redeem a voucher?

No. Vouchers are for the room charge only. Most locations still charge local fees, to include taxes, convenience fees, locality fees, etc in addition to the hotel room charges. Generally, local fees amount to approximately 7% to 10% of the total face value of the room charge. These charges go directly to the hotel, and must be paid at time of reserving the hotel stays. For example, a voucher worth $1,000 total ($200 per night for 5 nights) would cost approximately $70 to $100, depending on the location. So, instead of paying $1,070 to $1100, you pay $70 to $100, which is still a BARGAIN! Some RARE Affiliates opt to cover this fee for their clients.

2. This seems too good to be true. What's the catch?

This is truly a win-win opportunity. However, there might be 4 items people would consider a slight catch: 1. Guests still have to pay the hotel fees (approximately 7-10% of total charges); 2. Vouchers are limited to 1 per person within 12 months; 3. Rooms can be limited during peak travel months; 4. You'll be contacted after using the hotel stay, asking how the stay was, and if you'd like to purchase future discounted travel packages...but you can just say no. Not too bad, right? Overall, this is a fantastic win-win opportunity!

3. How many vouchers can I redeem?

Each person may only redeem 1 voucher within a rolling 12 months. There are 3 types of vouchers: 1. Voucher for a location within the United States; 2. Voucher for a location outside the United States; 3. Voucher for both a location in the United States and Outside the United States. Each person may only redeem 1 voucher within 12 months, no matter how many vouchers they have been gifted or by who. For example, if a person is gifted 1 voucher from one RARE affiliate, and also purchases a voucher for themselves at the same time, they will only be able to use 1 voucher, with the 2nd voucher going to waste.

4. Is there a timeframe to redeem a voucher?

Yes. All vouchers must be redeemed within 18 months from when they were gifted.

5. Can I choose which dates to use the Hotel Stay?

Yes and no. Each hotel handles the vouchers differently, with some hotels allowing you to make reservations when there is vacancy. Other hotels will only allow reservations during certain months (non-peak months). You'd have to check with the individual hotels on when they have availability to redeem a voucher.

6. How many days can I stay at a hotel?

The amount of days for each voucher depends on the hotel and time of year. Generally, vouchers are good for 3 to 5 days. Even 7 days is not unheard of. It's possible to stay even longer than 7 days if they have vacancies, but you'd have to work directly with them. You'll have more success getting extra days if you ask while you're already staying at the hotel.

7. When do I pay the Hotel Fees, Taxes, Locality Fees, etc?

Hotel fees generally amount to approximately 7% to 10% of the total room charges, and must be paid at time of reserving the hotel stay. This is generally non-refundable, even if you cancel the reservation ahead of time. Each hotel handles the charges differently, and it's best to ask the hotel directly on their policy for the fees.

8. How can hotels afford to give away hotel stays?

Hotels generally have vacancies throughout the year. They would rather the rooms be occupied even at no charge, as they hope a guest would spend money on other services, such as food, bar, room service, etc. It's not mandatory for guests to pay for anything other than the upfront fees required to reserve the stay. Hotels generally won't allow a guest to just ask for this opportunity, as they still would need to keep the integrity of their face value prices, so they partner with companies (like RARE) to give them away.

9. Do I have to attend any meeting, conference, or seminar?

No, there are no meetings, conferences, or seminars like you may have heard with timeshare sales.

10. Do I get to pick the hotel?

Yes, you select a hotel from approximately 1,000 partner hotels world-wide.

11. What kind of hotels are these?

All hotels are rated 4 or 5 stars on TripAdvisor. People pay big money for these hotels outside of RARE Incentives. Many would be considered resorts.

12. How big are the rooms?

Room sizes vary, but will be big enough to accommodate 2 guests. If you need a bigger room, you would need to ask the hotel directly. Bigger rooms are not guaranteed.

This is truly a win-win opportunity. However, there might be 4 items people would consider a slight catch: 1. Guests still have to pay the hotel fees (7-10% of total charges); 2. Vouchers are limited to 1 per person within 12 months; 3. Rooms can be limited during peak travel months; 4. You'll be contacted after using the hotel stay, asking how the stay was, and if you'd like to purchase future discounted travel packages...but you can just say no. Overall, this is a fantastic win-win opportunity!

Frequently Asked Questions

Redeem Your Voucher