If you have good credit and can charge $3,000 in 3 months, Marriott Bonvoy has a Chase credit card with a $95 annual fee that gives 3 free nights, subject to a points value limit. The limit was too low to get a room in Manhattan in December, but I got a room in Long Island City, 2 blocks to a 10-minute subway ride to midtown on both the E & 7 subway lines. The room would have cost $390 a night cash.
It also immediately puts you in the 2nd tier, which actually doesn't do much other than getting some bonus points on stays, and some vague language about being eligible for late checkout "if available."
You get 1 free night on the anniversary date, but it has a much lower points limit, and Marriott severely limits the number of points you can add to boost a free night, so I will probably cancel after a year.
Of course, in addition to finding $3,000 to charge in 3 months, you need to be willing to take the credit score hits for a hard inquiry, opening a new account, and closing it 1 year later if you don't find it worth keeping up the $95 annual fee.
