Hilton HHonors - HHonors Stay vs Hyatt Stay

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to ask for some advice as to whether I should do my next three to four 4-night weekly stays in Minneapolis (close to the airport / Bloomington) at either

Hyatt Place Bloomington (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g42881-d225244-Reviews-Hyatt_Place_Minneapolis_Airport_South-Bloomington_Minnesota.html)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g42881-d90412-Reviews-Hilton_Minneapolis_St_Paul_Airport_Mall_of_America-Bloomington_Minnesota.html

I am SPG Platinum and was looking to start up another honors program to collect some points and status for the next year so I will have more options when I travel.

I was interested in the Hyatt Gold Passport for its' quality of service and potential 'nice places' to stay at although there aren't too many properties and they don't have cash+points options. - I can probably get a fast track for 12 nights within 60 days and just get it done in 3 week stays.

Hilton - I am gold already with them automatically registering me as gold. Is it even worth getting Diamond really? and try their i believe 21 nights in 90 days challenge?

So knowing the Fall promotions and the recent developments:

Hyatt - only till nov 15th - 5000 points every 3 nights... I am planning to stay Oct 31st - Nov 4th and Nov 14th - Nov 18th... (which i think will just have 5 nights until the promotion period ends...so that sucks.. unless I can get there Nov 13th and stay one more night)....

and Hilton has the double HHonors points (base points) until the end of the year..

Knowing that Hilton has devalued their points in some cases and also their cash & point seems kind of scarce compared to SPG's Cash & points - but they have way more properties to choose from to Hyatts...

What would you guys say I should go with for the next few weeks. It's going to get cold and snow so a nice place would be good to stay at till the end of the year.

Hilton would be a full service.. and the Hyatt Place would be like a SPG Four Points

There are also a lot of Marriots and Courtyards around although I never really considered their program....

Thoughts?

Go with the Hilton. You will get free breakfast with the Gold status and most likely lounge access.

It also depends on your future travels. I am top tier with Hyatt, SPG, Hilton, IC RA and gold with Marriott. With the exception of the free minibar I get with IC, some of the best treatment and consistent upgrades I get with Hyatt. I also like the 4 suite upgrade certificates I get every year. They are great for weekend travel. A few weekends ago I found a $109 weekend rate at a Grand Hyatt. I booked it for three days and used the suite upgrade certificate. I ended up getting a suite over 1200 square feet with bedroom, living room, dining room, wet bar, 2 bathrooms.

As you said, Hyatt's problem is that it does not have as many properties. So if you will travel in areas with more Hilton properties, go Hilton.

The Hyatt fasttrack or whatever you want to call it gives you Diamond during the 60/90days or whatever they tell you you need to do. Honestly you should have chosen the free nights for Hilton and hopped between Hilton and EMbassy they are next door.
Honestly I would wait until you can spend the time in regular Hyatt's opposed to HP.

The Hyatt fasttrack or whatever you want to call it gives you Diamond during the 60/90days or whatever they tell you you need to do. Honestly you should have chosen the free nights for Hilton and hopped between Hilton and EMbassy they are next door.
Honestly I would wait until you can spend the time in regular Hyatt's opposed to HP.

Thanks for the replies.

Good point about the Hyatt Place vs staying at a Hyatt Regency. However, As long as it has a good bed with clean showers and decent continental breakfast, some level of service, i'm game.

Free nights Hilton - every four stays. and I must redeem them within 6 months after I receive them? the 6 month part ain't a deal breaker but it is kinda cutting it close. You can use the Free nights anywhere right like the SPG free resort stays earlier this year?

So if I hop between places for 3 weeks, I can bank in 3 nights at Hiltons and accumulate some Hilton points.

If I go for the fast track Hyatt Diamond, then I get some points to use.. but not too many, but will have Hyatt Diamond status.

I also have SPG for property coverage in case there's not too many Hyatt Diamonds.