Merchants: Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt, Wyndham, Choice Hotels, Best Western, Shades of Green (Armed Forces Recreation Center), Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari · What this page covers: which chains publish a military leisure rate on their own sites, who qualifies, how to book it, ID rules, and how it compares with government per-diem rates and member rates · Sources: each chain’s own pages, listed under Offer provenance.
If you want a military discount on hotels, the short answer is that most big chains do publish one, but the amount and the rules differ a lot. Hyatt lists 10–15% off with code MILVET, Wyndham lists 15% off its Standard Rate with rate code SML, IHG says its military rate is at least 5% off its Best Flex Rate, and Hilton’s Military Family Rate “varies by hotel.” Choice Hotels and Best Western publish military rates without a percentage. We found no chain-wide military leisure rate on Marriott’s own site, only a Government & Military rate option and offers at individual hotels. Every one of these programs asks you to show ID at check-in.
There is also a second kind of rate that people confuse with the military discount: the government or per-diem rate, which is meant for official travel. Using it for a vacation can break the hotel’s terms. The sections below separate the two.
Hotel military discounts at a glance
| Offer | Code needed? | Status | Expiration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton: Military Family Rate for leisure stays; discount varies by hotel | No code listed; ask for the “Military Family Rate” plan by phone or book from the offer page | merchant_direct | Not stated | hilton.com Military Family Rate offer page |
| Marriott: “Government & Military” special-rate option; no chain-wide military leisure discount found | No code; select “Government & Military” under Special Rates | merchant-listed · last seen active | Not stated | marriott.com hotel government & military pages |
| IHG: Military Rate, a percentage off the Best Flex Rate (minimum 5%, varies by hotel), leisure only | No code listed; book from the offer page or call | merchant_direct | Not stated (blackout dates apply) | ihg.com Military Rate page |
| Hyatt: 10–15% off the standard rate at participating U.S. hotels | Yes, MILVET in the Special Offer Code field | merchant_direct | Not stated | hyatt.com Honoring Service Members page |
| Wyndham: 15% off the Standard Rate at participating U.S. and Canada hotels | Yes, rate code SML | merchant_direct | Not stated | wyndhamhotels.com military pages |
| Choice Hotels: military/veteran leisure rate (amount not stated) plus limited-time Gold Elite status | No code; choose the rate type when searching | merchant_direct | Not stated | choicehotels.com Government & Military Rates and Choice Privileges Military pages |
| Best Western: Government / Military rate “at or below per diem” | No code; select “Government / Military” in the Rates dropdown | merchant_direct | Not stated | bestwestern.com Military & Government Discounts page |
| Shades of Green: Armed Forces Recreation Center resort at Walt Disney World, rates by eligibility category | No code; book through the resort’s booking site | merchant_direct | Not stated | shadesofgreen.org eligibility and rate policy pages |
| Great Wolf Lodge: Howling Heroes, up to 40% off the room rate (military, first responders, teachers and others) | Yes, HEROES, with ID.me verification | merchant_direct | Book and stay by the dates shown on each lodge’s offer page | greatwolf.com Heroes page |
| Kalahari: Kalahari Heroes offer (terms not confirmed for this guide) | Unknown | unverified | Unknown | kalahariresorts.com Kalahari Heroes pages (would not load) |
Who qualifies at each chain
“Military” means something different on every site. What each chain’s own page names:
- Hilton: active duty, reserve and retired members plus spouses and families, with a valid U.S. or Canadian military ID. The page summary also names veterans.
- IHG: U.S. and Canadian active duty, veterans, retirees and family members, with a military or veteran ID.
- Hyatt: U.S. veterans, active-duty members, and immediate family traveling with them. Proof can be a military or veteran ID, a DD-214, or other official proof of service.
- Wyndham: U.S. or Canadian active, reserve, veteran or retired members and their spouses, with a valid military ID. No Wyndham Rewards membership needed.
- Choice Hotels: active duty and veterans for the leisure rate; spouses for the Gold status. Retirees are not mentioned.
- Best Western: military and civilian military personnel including veterans, plus government employees and cost-reimbursable contractors, with an ID card or work orders.
Hyatt is the only chain here that names the DD-214. If you are a veteran without a military ID card, call the hotel before arrival.
How to book the military rate, chain by chain
Hilton
Book from the Military Family Rate offer page, or call 1-800-HONORS (445-8667) in the U.S. or Canada and ask for the “Military Family Rate” plan. It is for leisure stays only, “not for official government or military travel,” and does not apply to existing reservations or group bookings.
Marriott
We found no brand-wide military leisure discount on marriott.com. Hotel pages show a “Government & Military” option in the Special Rates menu and ask for a valid government or military ID at check-in; Marriott’s eligibility help article would not load for us. Some properties run their own offers: the Gaylord Texan lists a Military Appreciation Rate for active and retired military from $259 a night with booking code S5422, and the Fairways for Service package gives greens-fee discounts at listed golf resorts. Search the specific hotel.
IHG
IHG’s Military Rate is a percentage off the Best Flex Rate, at least 5% per its terms. It is leisure only, blackout dates apply, and it is not valid at IHG Army Hotels. Book from the offer page or call 1-877-834-3613.
Hyatt
Enter MILVET in the Special Offer Code field for 10–15% off the standard rate at participating U.S. hotels. Hyatt’s separate government rate is for work-related travel; without valid ID, Hyatt says the rate may convert to its Standard Rate.
Wyndham
Book with rate code SML for 15% off the Standard Rate at participating U.S. and Canada hotels, across brands including Days Inn, La Quinta, Ramada, Super 8 and Wyndham Garden. It is for new bookings only, cancellable until 4 p.m. local time on arrival day, and covers the room rate only. Members who confirm military status also get an instant Gold upgrade. A 3,000-bonus-point offer required booking between April 30 and June 1, 2026 and staying by September 30, 2026; it is expired.
Choice Hotels and Best Western
Choice asks you to join Choice Privileges, set your branch and status in your account, and choose the rate type when searching; it warns that a business rate is applied by default. At Best Western, select “Government / Military” in the Rates dropdown. Neither publishes a percentage.
Shades of Green at Walt Disney World
Shades of Green is not a chain. It is an Armed Forces Recreation Center resort run under Army MWR on Walt Disney World property in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Eligibility follows military rules:
- Active duty, Reserve and National Guard members, retirees and their families.
- Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability, plus Purple Heart recipients, former POWs, veterans with VA service-connected ratings and VA primary family caregivers.
- DoD and Coast Guard civilians and certain surviving and former spouses.
- Any honorably discharged veteran may book during January and September under “Salute to Our Veterans,” with a DD-214.
Sponsors may book up to three rooms and must be present at check-in. Rates are set by category, but the rate page lists no prices. Cancelling within 14 days of arrival costs one night per room.
Military rate vs. government per-diem rate
- Military leisure rate: a discount for personal trips, usually a percentage off a public rate. Hilton and IHG both say theirs is leisure only.
- Government or per-diem rate: for official travel, priced at or under the lodging per-diem limit. Hilton offers per diem rates with a valid government ID, Hyatt’s government rate is for work-related travel, Choice reserves its rate for official business, and Best Western describes its rate as “at or below per diem.”
On orders, book the government rate and bring orders or ID. On vacation, book the military leisure rate. IHG says that without proper ID it cannot give the discount.
Military discount on hotels vs. member rates: honest math
IHG’s own deals guide says ID-based rates are not always the lowest and advises checking the member rate and current sales first. Published member-rate figures are small:
- Hilton Honors Discount: “from 2% off the eligible rate,” not combinable with other discounts.
- IHG One Rewards: typically 3–5% below the non-member rate, an illustrative estimate.
- Hyatt and Marriott: member rates with no stated amount.
Example (our math): on a placeholder $200-a-night rate for three nights ($600 before taxes), Hyatt’s MILVET saves $60 at 10% or $90 at 15%, Wyndham’s 15% saves $90, and IHG’s minimum 5% saves $30, about the top of its member estimate ($18–$30). None of these cut taxes or resort fees, and each comes off a specific base rate, so a prepaid rate can still end up cheaper. Compare the final total.
Family resorts: Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari
Great Wolf Lodge’s Howling Heroes offer lists up to 40% off the room rate for active, retired and veteran military and other groups, with code HEROES and ID.me verification. It applies to standard suites and charges $20 per extra guest beyond two. Details are in our Great Wolf Lodge guide. Kalahari’s Heroes pages would not load for this guide; see our Kalahari Resorts guide.
How to save without a coupon
- Price three rates side by side: military, member and advance purchase.
- Book direct to earn points; our Priceline guide explains what travel sites trade away.
- Cover the rest of the trip: see Enterprise’s government leisure rate, Budget’s discount codes and American Airlines military benefits.
- Carry the right ID, and call ahead if you only have a DD-214 or VA card.
For programs beyond the military discount on hotels, see our military discounts master list.
What we could not verify
- Hilton’s Military Family Rate amount (“varies by hotel”).
- Marriott’s government-rate rules; the help article would not load.
- The discount amounts for Choice’s and Best Western’s military rates, and whether Choice includes retirees.
- Which veteran documents Hilton, IHG, Wyndham and Choice accept.
- Shades of Green nightly prices, Great Wolf’s per-lodge offer dates, and Kalahari Heroes terms.
FAQ
Which hotel chains give a military discount?
Hilton, IHG, Hyatt, Wyndham, Choice Hotels and Best Western publish a military or government/military rate. Marriott offers a Government & Military option and some hotel-specific offers.
Do veterans qualify?
At most chains, yes. Hyatt, IHG, Wyndham, Choice and Best Western name veterans.
Can family members use the military rate?
Often. Hilton and IHG include families, Wyndham includes spouses, and Hyatt includes immediate family traveling with the service member.
Can I use the government rate on vacation?
Generally no. Hilton, Hyatt and Choice describe government rates as being for official travel.
Offer provenance
- Hilton Military Family Rate offer
- Hilton Government & Military Rates
- Hilton Honors Terms (Guaranteed Member Discount)
- Colorado Springs Marriott government & military page
- San Antonio Marriott Northwest Salute to Heroes page
- Gaylord Texan Military Appreciation Rate
- Marriott Fairways for Service
- Marriott Bonvoy member benefits
- Marriott government rates eligibility article (would not load)
- IHG Military Rate
- IHG Government Rate
- IHG hotel deals guide
- Hyatt Honoring Service Members
- Hyatt U.S. Government and Military Personnel
- World of Hyatt Member Rate
- Wyndham Rewards military program
- Super 8 by Wyndham military discount and terms
- TRYP by Wyndham military discount
- Choice Hotels Government & Military Rates
- Choice Privileges Military Program
- Choice Hotels discounts page
- Best Western Military & Government Discounts
- Shades of Green eligibility
- Shades of Green rate information and reservation policies
- Great Wolf Lodge Howling Heroes
- Kalahari Heroes (would not load)
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Related: Military discounts master list · Kalahari Resorts deals · Great Wolf Lodge deals · Enterprise discount codes · Budget car rental codes · American Airlines military benefits · Priceline coupon codes
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Hilton, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt, Wyndham, Choice Hotels, Best Western, Shades of Green, Great Wolf Lodge, Kalahari and their program names are trademarks of their owners. CheezyDeals is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of them, and uses the names only to identify the businesses these offers apply to.