Choice Privileges - Reserve Room Cash - Rebook with Points?

I only have Choice points as I got the 40,000 point offer on the Visa. I want to book a room in Atlantic City on a weekend that I am sure will be sold-out prior to 50 days before the night which is when I could use the points. If I reserve at the $ rate now. Then call back 49 days before the checkin date and cancel the reservation - will I immediately be able to rebook the room using points? I know there would be at least one room available.

I only have Choice points as I got the 40,000 point offer on the Visa. I want to book a room in Atlantic City on a weekend that I am sure will be sold-out prior to 50 days before the night which is when I could use the points. If I reserve at the $ rate now. Then call back 49 days before the checkin date and cancel the reservation - will I immediately be able to rebook the room using points? I know there would be at least one room available.

As reward room are limited, that's gambling to do that. Your room can come back to award availabilities or not (especially if a lot of plat or diamond booked award room before you).

This has been rumored to be an effective technique with Choice, but I never tried it. I have heard anecdotal evidence that it sometimes works.

I have actually called Choice to see if I could do it, and the CSR told me it was OK. At the time, I was a Diamond, and it turned out I didn't need to do it, but a phone call will cost you nothing and you might get away with it. If it works, we'd sure all like to heard about it

If it works I will report back - if it doesn't I am not going as I am not adding the cash cost of the hotel to the concert ticket. Seems like its worth the shot. Thanks for input

As reward room are limited, that's gambling to do that. Your room can come back to award availabilities or not (especially if a lot of plat or diamond booked award room before you).

Are you sure that it is limited? I haven't seen that limitation, except obviously when 'standard' rooms are sold out online as well.

I only have Choice points as I got the 40,000 point offer on the Visa. I want to book a room in Atlantic City on a weekend that I am sure will be sold-out prior to 50 days before the night which is when I could use the points. If I reserve at the $ rate now. Then call back 49 days before the checkin date and cancel the reservation - will I immediately be able to rebook the room using points? I know there would be at least one room available.

... and you risk the possibility of someone else being able to snap up that room before you are able to get your point booking completed. I haven't heard of Choice agents having a waitlist, but the property might have someone waiting for a room or your room choice and you could loose out. Especially if there is a sold-out situation.

Are you sure that it is limited? I haven't seen that limitation, except obviously when 'standard' rooms are sold out online as well.

I see frequently no room available for points, but lots of room on best available rate...

I see frequently no room available for points, but lots of room on best available rate...

Could that be a function of your being a Choice elite customer (Diamond at that)?

Could that be a function of your being a Choice elite customer (Diamond at that)?

I don't think so. However, when you are Choice Elite Diamond, you can book award room 100 days before your stay. And generally when you book before other members can, the best rooms are still available.
But for last minutes stays I don't think you can have room if there is no award room anymore... Maybe if you call them...

I see frequently no room available for points, but lots of room on best available rate...

Is it a standard room? Most hotels (including Hilton, IHG, SPG, etc.) only have certain room types as a standard room available for reward redemption. Depending on the specific hotel, that can be fairly limited or have rather wide availability. Let's say a hotel has the following room types:

-One Queen
-One King
-Two Doubles
-One King City View
-One King w/ sitting area
-One King Suite

Some hotels will only list the one queen rooms as available for reward bookings. Some may expand it to the two doubles and/or one king. Some will go so far as to offer everything except the suite, and there are others that offer every room type available.

It varies by hotel, so if a hotel only releases the one queen rooms for reward stays and that room type is sold out on a given night, you could see every other room type listed under Best Available Rate for a paid stay, but no reward nights available. If someone cancels a reservation for a one queen room, then reward nights will become available again.

I just tried this and it did not work :( - Made reservation in Tokyo, cancelled at 60 days out to rebook with points and the room has never come back into the inventory....had to rearrange my plans :(

I just tried this and it did not work :( - Made reservation in Tokyo, cancelled at 60 days out to rebook with points and the room has never come back into the inventory....had to rearrange my plans :(

is it not possible to call customer service at the 60 day mark and ask to CHANGE THE RATE to CP Rewards from the best available rate, rather than cancelling the best available and rebook?

maybe it's not possible on the website but it is possible with the CSR? Just some idea. similar to changing flights without cancelling and reissuing tickets (for certain changes of course)...

ideas?

That probably will not work. As I understand the problem - there are rooms available, just no award rooms available.

If there are no award rooms available, calling CSR will not make one become available.