Hilton HHonors - Is it worth $100 for 20K points?

I have a weeknight stay around SEA-TAC coming up in about a week. (This will qualify me for the 4th stay to get 20K bonus points) I'm nearing the end of my 90 days and my next Hilton stay will be outside of the 90 days window.

The rates I am getting from Hilton.com is:

Hilton Airport: $164 USD
DoubleTree SEA: $116 USD
Garden Inn Renton: $105 USD
Hampton Inn SEA: $99 USD

I could probably get DoubleTree for about $40 USD on Priceline (including taxes & fees).

Do you guys think it's worth to pay $100+ directly to Hilton or try getting DoubleTree with Priceline and try to get them to enter my HH number at check-in so I could get stay credit?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[This message has been edited by Empress (edited 08-17-2002).]

If it were me, I would just book though Hilton to make sure I get the 20,000 point bonus. I'd make sure I lived up to all the terms of the promotion, as I would hate to find out after the stay that the Doubletree stay from Priceline didn't count, and I missed out on the 20,000 points.

You didn't say how far out the reservation is, but there is a possibility they might have some promotional rate kick in between now and then if the hotel is not full. It's more likely on a weekend, but you never know. I'd probably book the Hampton at $99 as for the low end side of Hilton I've found most of their locations to be a good value. Plus if you book it online you get the online bonus, and you can double dip and get some airline points also.

My rule of thumb is to give HHonors points a value of .01/point. That is a high valuation and based on the fact that as a diamond member I am frequently given a suite and my free rooms generally are in the $200+ range when I redeem. Even at 1/2 cent/point the 22,000 points are worth about $110.

With bonuses you are really looking at 22,000 points for about $115 (with tax). For many awards that is going to be a free room which would cost well over $150.

You might save $50 at Priceline, but I've only received points and stay credit twice in over 40 Priceline stays.

Empress... I'd look at it from this direction as well. Are you going for a GLON or GLONP award or something like that which would require LOTS of points? IMHO if you are, the $100 is worth it. For example, I used a point stretcher in Japan, 3 days for 55k points. Rooms there avg about $200 per night, so in that case it was worth it. I'm going for a GLONP next summer in europe, so the $95 I'm paying for my final stay of the CNTU is worth it. BTW I wouldn't trust a Priceline stay to count.

A priceline stay definitely won't count. I just finished a stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Philadelphia, made sure to charge room service and phone calls to my account, but only got credit for the stay, no points or miles.

Thanks guys. Looks like an easy decision.
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by thezipper:
Are you going for a GLON or GLONP award or something like that which would require LOTS of points? IMHO if you are, the $100 is worth it.</font>
You're right thezipper. I am going for one of those awards. I already have enough for one and getting the 20K will get me very close to another one.

Looks like I might book the Garden Inn Renton as I heard people said it was pretty good?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Empress:
Do you guys think it's worth to pay $100+ directly to Hilton or try getting DoubleTree with Priceline and try to get them to enter my HH number at check-in so I could get stay credit?
</font>

Book with HH for the 20k. Even if you get DTree with PL, my experience is I have never got HHpoints for my PL HH stays. (Only on incidentals)
I just did my 4th CNTU stay at Doubletree with a roomsaver $59 coupon. It topped my orphan UA ff account to just over 20K, so now I'll launder them 2 for 1 with HH plus my 4th stay 20k points etc, gives me over 60k points for $59.00. It crossed my mind also to do PL and hope for a HH property then beg them to give me FF and points, but too much at stake.


[This message has been edited by RDY3238 (edited 08-17-2002).]

$100 is not the cost of getting your bonus points. The difference between what you would pay Priceline and HH is your applicable cost. If the difference is only $30-$50,it's a no-brainer.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jabez:
$100 is not the cost of getting your bonus points. The difference between what you would pay Priceline and HH is your applicable cost. If the difference is only $30-$50,it's a no-brainer.</font>

Not to mention that you're really not talking about 20k points. Should be at more than 22k points with stay and booking bonus, not to mention your FF credit.

do you have a car? If so, I would schlep up to the bellevue doubletree. I think the bigger of the two was nicer. They upgraded my room and gave me a nice plate of cookies. I didn't stay but to check out my accomodations. My stays for the weekend posted just fine. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

If not, the great thing about the HGI in Renton is that its close to an IKEA.

lala

lalala, I won't have a car for the day. I also have an early flight the next day which is why I prefer to stay near the airport.

Looks like I'll be booking directly with Hilton and pick up the 20K+ points. I might call the hotel directly in a day or so and see whether they have a better rate since it looks like they are quite empty.

Thanks all!

Definitely book thru HHonors.com. Double tree in Bellevue has been at $71.10 for weekend nights thru this site. Nice hotel, be sure if you are not on concierge floor (9) that they include it on your room key. Floor 8 is the Honors floor. Reception manager is David Reed, "We do all we can for our Honors guests". "You are aware that on a Priceline stay, you do not get points or stay credit."

Information is current as of 10:30 a.m. today at checkout.

Thanks opushomes. Unfortunately I'll be staying on a weeknight so I won't get any of those nice discounts. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

Getting rates of at least $100 USD pre-tax at all Hiltons & DoubleTree around SEA-TAC.

depending on whether you have a car, you could try the homestead suites. I haven't checked the hamptons

Empress,
Another option is the Hampton at Southcenter. Rates from Hilton are usually not more than $75 - $90 midweek with free airport shuttle. Nothing spectacular and only 10 - 15 minutes from SeaTac.
I agree with the others - paying the hilton rate for the extra points in this case is worth it especially if using the points for glon awards.
jerry

Great suggestion jerry. I am seeing rates of $82 for Hampton Southcenter. Do I need to call for the shuttle for this hotel or does it come back every X mins?

MrAOK, do you mean Homewood Suites?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Empress:
Great suggestion jerry. I am seeing rates of $82 for Hampton Southcenter. Do I need to call for the shuttle for this hotel or does it come back every X mins?</font>
Empress, the only time I've stayed there and not had a car I called when I arrived and the van arrived shortly thereafter. My departure was early and I just went down to the desk and we left. Results may vary though it might be wise to call.
jerry

Try the AOT promo code.

I see in the rate description for 'AOT':

AVAIL TO AAA MEMBERS ONLY

Since I am not an AAA member, I assume I won't qualify for this rate?

Never noticed that before, but it wasn't a problem for me.

I recently stayed at seatac Doubletree on a priceline reservation and the guy at check in refused to put my HH# on the reservation. He said a priceline stay is not valid for any points not even on incidentals.

You could also call hhonors and see if they could change the start date of your CNTU promo. It goes forward 90 days, but back 30. Perhaps it will give you more time to get in a cheaper hotel. We just stayed at the Hilton Bellevue for $69 on an AARP rate. This included continental breakfast which could be upgraded to the buffet for $1.50. Upgraded room, but not sure how it was really different from a regular floor. Of course, unless there is a cheap way to get back and forth to the airport it isn't worth it. We took the public transportation to the airport from downtown Seattle for $1.25. Don't know if there is the same to Bellevue.

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Ms.DtG

Also we are staying at the Hilton Garden in Toronto/Markham in November - new property for $54 a night US.

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Ms.DtG