7 traveler-friendly European hotels you can book with little-known Capital One transfer partner, Accor Live Limitless

You won't find many Accor Live Limitless hotels in the US, but they're everywhere in Europe - and you can stay for free using Capital One miles.

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• Accor Live Limitless hotels aren't common in the US, but they're almost everywhere in Europe.
• The program is a Capital One transfer partner, and you can get good value by transferring miles.
• When you transfer 4,000 Capital One miles, you'll get 2,000 ALL points (worth 40 euros off a stay).
• Read Insider's guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.

If you're considering a trip to Europe, there's a lesser-known hotel rewards program that is definitely worth checking out - especially if you have a credit card that earns Capital One miles.

Accor Live Limitless (ALL) is the loyalty program of Accor Hotels, which includes brands like Fairmont, Ibis, Sofitel, Novotel, and Pullman. While the chain does have locations in the US, you'll find most of its properties overseas, especially in Europe.

Read more: The best ways to fly to Europe with points and miles

The program differs from other major hotel loyalty programs in that you redeem Accor points by turning them into vouchers for stays rather than having an award redemption chart. ALL members have the option of converting 2,000 Accor Points for a voucher worth 40 euros toward a stay.

You can earn Accor points through paid stays at Accor hotels, but if you have the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Spark Miles for Business, or Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business, you can transfer Capital One miles to the Accor Live Limitless program at a rate of 2:1 (2 Capital One miles = 1 ALL point).

Here's what you should know about using Capital One miles for Accor hotel stays.

Is there value in using Accor points for stays?

You can transfer Capital One miles to Accor Live Limitless at a 2:1 ratio, meaning 2,000 Capital One miles will get you 1,000 Accor points. Because you need 2,000 Accor points for a voucher worth 40 euros, you'll need to convert 4,000 Capital One miles to get 40 euros off a stay.

Let's use the example of a stay at an Accor hotel which costs 400 euros. You could transfer 40,000 Venture miles to your ALL account which would convert into the 20,000 Accor points needed for the stay (20,000 Accor points becomes 10 vouchers, each worth 40 euros).

Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize Capital One miles

Another option is redeeming Capital One miles at a fixed rate of 1 cent per mile to "erase" a paid stay at the same hotel, Using the same example as above, the 400-euro stay works out to around $470 right now, meaning you would need to redeem about 47,000 Capital One miles rather than 40,000 to cover the stay.

At the current exchange rate, you will definitely get more value by transferring your Capital One miles to your ALL account rather than redeeming miles at 1 cent apiece to erase this Accor stay from your statement. Keep in mind that vouchers are only redeemable in multiples of 40 euros with the rest payable in cash.

Accor brands

If you're not familiar with Accor, it's likely because the group has the largest number of non-US hotels of all the major chains, of which over 1,600 are in France.

Accor has over 30 brands spanning the globe. This includes some you might already be familiar with such as Sofitel, Mercure, Novotel, and Ibis, as well as hot new acquisitions such as Banyan Tree, Delano, Fairmont, Hoxton, and Raffles.

Read more: I haven't paid for a hotel room in 10 years - here's how I stay for free

To get money off your next Accor stay, you'll need to make sure you sign up for the Accor Live Limitless program first. As is usually the case with these programs, it's completely free. Additional perks for members include 10% off all bookings when booked directly through Accor's website as well as access to onefinestay properties around the globe.

When you redeem Accor points for stays at onefinestay properties, the same points for money off method is in place, but the redemption rates are different:

Here are a few Accor hotel options in Europe to suit all budgets.

The Savoy, London

A stay at the Fairmont-managed, five-star Savoy London is a quintessentially British affair. Located on The Strand in the heart of London, the property is a stone's throw from Covent Garden, Soho, and Oxford Street as well as many of the city's top tourist attractions.

The cheapest member rate I found is around 488 euros per night ($578 based on exchange rates at the time of writing) in November.

Mercure Bloomsbury, London

Slightly lower down the scale is the Mercure London Bloomsbury. The property markets itself as four-star, and is located a short walk from The British Museum, Tottenham Court Road, and Oxford Street.

It's a great value option if all you're looking for in a hotel is a cozy place to lay your head after a busy day of exploring the city.

The cheapest member rate I found is around 94 euros per night (about $110) in November.

Novotel City, Barcelona

If you're looking for something a little different when sifting through Barcelona's seemingly never-ending list of accommodations, then Novotel City Barcelona and its 18th-floor rooftop pool and terrace is for you.

It's situated in a quiet, residential neighborhood called Poblenou complete with its own Rambla. A far cry from the hustle and bustle of the famous Rambla in the city, la Rambla de Poblenou is a slice of Catalan tranquility where local abuelos and abuelas while away their days watching the world go by.

The cheapest member rate I found is around 66 euros per night ($77) in November.

Ibis Faro Algarve, Portugal

The Ibis Faro Algarve is located in between the city's airport and the center of town. It's a great value spot to base yourself for a trip exploring the Algarve.

After a day of exploring or road-tripping, you can unwind by the pool with a nice cold glass of Sagres or vino tinto.

The cheapest member rate I found is around 41 euros per night ($48) in November.

Sofitel Paris Baltimore Tour Eiffel

The Sofitel brand is the epitome of French luxury and culture, a real jewel in Accor's crown. The least expensive of the Sofitel properties in Paris is the Baltimore Tour Eiffel.

The Eiffel Tower, the Champs Élysées, and Arc de Triomphe are all within walking distance from the Sofitel Paris, making it the perfect spot for those who want to take in the sights or shop 'til they drop.

The cheapest member rate I found was 264 euros per night ($310) in November.

hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon

This one is for those real budget travelers. The hotelF1 brands itself as a hotel, though its shared dormitory-style rooms give it a definite hostel vibe.

Granted, sharing a room with strangers isn't everyone's preferred way to travel, but if you're a solo traveler or on a tight budget then hotelF1 Paris Porte de Châtillon could be the one for you.

The cheapest member rate I found was 20 euros per night ($24) for a shared four-person dormitory. In other words, you'd only need to transfer 4,000 Venture miles for a two-night stay.

Aparthotel Adagio Nice Centre

Accor's Aparthotel Adagio brand is the largest network of aparthotels in Europe. It's perfect for those who want to feel "at home" when they're away, and ideal for families and those who want to save a bit of money by being able to cook instead of eating out.

The Aparthotel Adagio Nice Centre property is, as would suggest its name, right in the heart of Nice just a few blocks from the port and the old town.

The cheapest member rate I found was 46 euros per night ($54) in November.