Comments on: Different Hotel Points Strategy: How I Stay at 5-Star Hotels More Often Than You (Even If We Have the Same Amount of Points)

By: Boonie

Boonie — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 10:21:25 +0000

This is like price tag sticker shock – easier for someone to pay $100 out of pocket than $700. Unless your running the numbers the initial reaction is what is less.

By: Marilyn B

Marilyn B — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 03:28:33 +0000

Maybe this works for someone who has a lot of cheap night hotel stays. But we don’t. We’re retired, and lately we have been taking some destination cruises where we have hotel stays of only 2 or 3 nights before and after. So we use the points, or free nights if feasible, for those nights in higher category hotels.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 19:40:56 +0000

I meant 20% discount in multiples of five….the ioad is acting up and it’s late in Israel.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 19:39:46 +0000

I think this is the most ridiculous strategy I ever heard. I don’t go to a hotel for one or two nights, so if I’m using points I’m staying in multiples of five for the 10% discount. I live nonstop in hotels, and I book the least expensive hotels or get good pricing so I can save points for $600 up per night or a five or ten night stay using points instead of paying $4800 and up for ten nights.

By: Marriott Marty

Marriott Marty — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:45:56 +0000

You can do both… using 90k Wyndham for 6 night executive suite at a La Dolce, a 15k IHG for a night where I need to be, 132k Hilton for 4 nights (e ecutive suite at 40k a night (there are 3 of us) and the two Ritz Carlton certificates at the JE Gronsner in london (have Platinum status for lounge). I am paying 112 Euros for Crown Plaza bear airport first night to sleep before we rent a car and multiple family Old IHG accounts for Intercontinental hotels in Paris for 5-6 nights (have 5 nights booked waiting for the last certificate- do it all 21 days in europe and 20 nights on points

By: john

john — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 17:16:22 +0000

I find the cheap hotels work just fine.
We’re just looking for WiFi, king bed, breakfast (usually), tub (if available).
We only use hotel points or portal/points.
Sometimes we stay at all inclusive Hyatt or Wyndham, but always on points.
I get status matched to Diamond.

By: Chaz

Chaz — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:23:25 +0000

I think your strategy could likely be summarized as: You are going to stay in various hotels while you travel; figure how many cents per point you get by using points vs. paying; choose points when you will get higher numbers of pennies per point (but don’t forget, this might occur at lower-price hotels!). You can get an idea if you are getting a good deal on points by checking various bloggers’ listings of value of various points, but in the end, it’s how you travel that is most important.

One more thing to consider: More expensive hotels usually have higher taxes (which usually don’t apply to points stays), meaning you have to look at the *total* price to determine value of your points. And more expensive hotels often impose greater fees — which are sometimes but not always waived if staying on points. So find out the “all-in” cash price vs. the number of points and the additional cost if any, do the simple math, and see if you are wise to expend points for your stay.

Cheers!

By: Tracy s

Tracy s — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:40:12 +0000

Thanks. I never thought of this.