In theory, nothing beats earning free travel points. Swipe your credit card, stay at a hotel, fly across country, and then redeem for a dream vacation at a later date.

In practice, said magic points landing you in a beige 500-room compound wasn’t the white sand fantasy island getaway you had in mind.

Get acquainted with Stash Hotel Rewards. Founded by a former Expedia honcho, the new service organizes lots of small, unconnected independent hotels into one big reward-rich points network.

One hundred hotels have signed up since May with new properties inquiring daily — chic, historic, one-of-a-kind hotels, like the Ändra in Seattle, The Lenox in Boston, Little Palm Island in the Keys, and Sunset Marquis in L.A. In other words, the places you want to stay.

The plan looks great: You earn a free night for every five stays and never hear the phrase blackout dates apply, because there aren’t any. Just try to beat that.

Available online at stashrewards.com. DailyCandy readers who sign up here through December 31 get 500 bonus points.

In the penultimate episode of Top Chef: Just Desserts, airing tonight, the chefs create treats that tell a story. Whip up your own tasty tales with our festive fall recipes.

Photo: mirsasha / Flickr

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