Choice Privileges - The game's afoot, Watson!

Here we go again!

A brief check of my CP account (and they did dump in my 2500 point bonus) led me to do my usual check on the hotels I like.

So far, it seems that most of Paris (and pretty much all my fav hotels in the Nice area) are on sale at 8000 points/night until (at least) June 30. No data so far on London, etc., but I'll check that out later.

Whoo-hoo!!

If you were planning on hitting Europe this spring, now's the time to check out the Choice props there. Especially if your stash is a little anemic.

London's lookin' good, too!

Don't know when the Olympics are scheduled, but if the time overlaps, here's an opportunity to grab hotel rooms for peanuts (and thumb your nose at the guys paying hundreds for London stays :))

Gotta love it!

Rome looks like just the Bolivar and Nova Domus.

Still ....

Thanks to BigLar, Ace Scout, or Ace Detective this time, for the alert.

Duly noted that you're not mentioning where YOU want to go... ;)

That's OK. You don't have to. Please don't. Time for us to go to work. Thank you again for the early heads up. ^

Don't know when the Olympics are scheduled, but if the time overlaps, here's an opportunity to grab hotel rooms for peanuts (and thumb your nose at the guys paying hundreds for London stays :))Every hotel in London is listed as 8000 points/night until June 30. I looked it up, and the opening ceremony for the Olympics is July 27. I'm willing to bet there will be nothing available (for awards) about that time. Probably not much for paid stays, either, and what's available you wouldn't want to pay the price.

But, a week or so in Paris in April or May for a little over 50K points (which is not all that much in Choice points) sure looks mightly attractive. Sure puts the stay 2/get 8K promo in a different light, no?

Three of four Choice properties in Prague are going for 8000/night in April, and the fourth is still only 16K. Or you could pay 20K for the Clarion in Virginia Beach I stayed in last night for $60, tax included. . .

Or you could pay 20K for the Clarion in Virginia Beach I stayed in last night for $60, tax included. . .I guarantee you, every property in Europe is more than $60/night. In many cases much more.

Let's see ... 8000 points/night for a $300/night hotel room ... hmmmm ... well, you do the math. :)

This happened last year too, didn't it? I hope this becomes a yearly trend as I am planning a trip to Paris & Italy in June 2013 and would love to burn my Choice points at such a cheap redemption rate! ^

I looked at some hotels in Paris in May, but the availabilities are limited... For example Clarion Collection opera has no room at all during the week I checked, and during the week-end they have just single bed room... although there is a lot of room available with the best available rate :td:

Anyway, thanks BigLar for the alert...

This happened last year too, didn't it? I hope this becomes a yearly trend as I am planning a trip to Paris & Italy in June 2013 and would love to burn my Choice points at such a cheap redemption rate! ^

Yes. Twice. ^

I looked at some hotels in Paris in May, but the availabilities are limited... For example Clarion Collection opera has no room at all during the week I checked, and during the week-end they have just single bed room... although there is a lot of room available with the best available rate :td:

Anyway, thanks BigLar for the alert...Not sure when you're looking for, but a quick check on single nights up to the first week in May (I'm only a Gold) shows lots of availability.

A couple of places are at the 16,000 point level (Clarion Axel Opera, e.g.), which is still a good deal.

Keep trying, and looking through this forum and Tripadvisor (for what it's worth) shows a number of Paris hotels which might be worthwhile.

I was looking for the week of 14th May.
Nothing available at the Clarion Collection Opera (except 2 single beds the Sunday, but I'll be with my GF so it's not the best).
Best value seems to be QUality Hotel Paris Orleans. However I was here last year, and they give me a standard room although I booked a superior room... So I'm not sure if I want to come back here with points.

I guarantee you, every property in Europe is more than $60/night. In many cases much more.

Let's see ... 8000 points/night for a $300/night hotel room ... hmmmm ... well, you do the math. :)

You mean like the Comfort Inn Hyde Park in London where I stayed in December for 8000 points and the Comfort Inn Bolivar in Rome where I stayed a couple of weeks ago for 10K?

Yep, my Choice motto is becoming, "Earn here, burn there." Especially at 8000 points for around $120 in stays here and 8000 points for a night there (and with in-season redemptions like this, definitely a $300/night proposition).

I've got plenty of CP points but not much status (200k+). Think I'm Gold which means I can book 60 days out.

I'm trying to plan a surprise anniversary trip for my wife of 25 years. Will Choice let a Diamond - who can book 100 days out - book for me? Seems as though there is availability where I'm wanting to go and only a couple of weeks to go to t-100.

Anyone know if a Diamond can book for me using their points?

I've got plenty of CP points but not much status (200k+). Think I'm Gold which means I can book 60 days out.

I'm trying to plan a surprise anniversary trip for my wife of 25 years. Will Choice let a Diamond - who can book 100 days out - book for me? Seems as though there is availability where I'm wanting to go and only a couple of weeks to go to t-100.

Anyone know if a Diamond can book for me using their points?

As a practical matter, yes; however, the rule -- unenforced as it generally is -- is that points can only be used to book rooms in the name of the account holder's family member (inluding in-laws) or in the name of the member. I've booked lots of rooms for non-family and never had an issue because of the rule that formally states that points can only be used to book rooms for the account holder or a set of family members.

Since I pay for my hotel business travel myself, I typically do single night stays in Wyndham and Choice properties. It sounds like Choice has great point redemption options for Europe, better than Wyndham?

I'm also trying to figure out how worthwhile the current stay 2/8,000 promo is for me, as I'll need to pay an extra $30/night to do Comfort Inn instead of Rodeway Inn. As a gold I won't rack up enough points for a week in Europe this summer, but it might be worth doing to get a head start on next summer?

Since I pay for my hotel business travel myself, I typically do single night stays in Wyndham and Choice properties. It sounds like Choice has great point redemption options for Europe, better than Wyndham?

I'm also trying to figure out how worthwhile the current stay 2/8,000 promo is for me, as I'll need to pay an extra $30/night to do Comfort Inn instead of Rodeway Inn. As a gold I won't rack up enough points for a week in Europe this summer, but it might be worth doing to get a head start on next summer?

Choice tends to provide me better value than Wyndham, when it comes to my Europe stays. This is largely because I end up using my Choice points at properties that cost 8,000-10,000 points per night.

Since I pay for my hotel business travel myself, I typically do single night stays in Wyndham and Choice properties. It sounds like Choice has great point redemption options for Europe, better than Wyndham?
Yes. But OTOH Wyndham can have a presence in certian countries where Choice has little or none (for an obvious example, Choice no longer has any hotels anywhere in Spain*). So (within the caveat that Wyndham points "hard" expire after 4 years from when each point is earned with no indication of that coming up on their website, while Choice points expre a bit sooner but indicated on the website) I would save the Wyndham points for when you're going somewhere where Choice won't work (and the hotels aren't super-cheap on cash either).

* Here's the list of European countries with Choice hotels. Note that even if they have a presence in a country, it may not always be in the exact place you want to go.

http://www.choicehotels.com/en/travel-ideas/europe-vacations

Looks like the joyride is coming to an end.

A quick check shows that Choice has posted their redemption rates from July 1 through Sept 15, and they're pretty much all going back up to their pre-"sale" rates. But there are some oddities:

1. In Rome the Bolivar,Nova Domus and Principessa Isabella are only going up to 10K a night, which still makes them an excellent bagain.

2. Every hotel in central London will go back to 25K a night, but it seems there are only 8 or 10 hotels total in central London! What happened to the rest of them, or have I been missing something all along?

3, Paris, alas, is among the 25K-ers, but for some reason the website thinks I have no points when I check out Paris. However, it did know me when I was checking out the Nice area, and my favorite hotel in that area, the Carlton Beaulieu (http://www.qualityinn.com/hotel-beaulieusurmer-france-FR337?sid=xyEHMM.ktky9gRf4.7), lets me book up to my point limit well beyond my official window date. Get your IT team on the stick, Choice! :)

Or maybe not ....

I checked my "catalog" we picked up in Paris last year, and maybe there weren't all that many hotels in London after all. At any rate, the property at Paddington seems to be gone, and I know for sure that when I started out in the Choice program there were more than that in and around London. Notting Hill immediately comes to mind, now long gone.

Well, there are lots of options in London (nothing really cheap, unfortunately), and they seem to be adding properties in Paris and other places, so it would appear it's still a game worth playing.

For my stay in Paris in May I will finally choose the Quality Axel Paris Opera at 16k / nights. Choices are now very limited...
For London I'll stay with the Comfort Inn Hyde Park at 8k. Should be a quite good value for a Queen side bed and a breakfast included.

It seems that the 8k "promo" in Europe is linked to the 2 stays one night free promo... http://www.choicehotelsuk.co.uk/en/free-night/

It seems that the 8k "promo" in Europe is linked to the 2 stays one night free promo... http://www.choicehotelsuk.co.uk/en/free-night/Interesting observation.

It would sure be nice if this were true, 'cuz then we would have a better feeling as to how long these low point rates might hang around.

more hotels are at 8k now !!
I've just rebook my 2 nights stays at Quality Hotel Axel Opera for 8k/night... and I've also booked a executive queen room at Clarion Collection Hotel Etoile Saint Honore at 8k : a 260 euro / night room !
thanks Choice :)

more hotels are at 8k now !!
I've just rebook my 2 nights stays at Quality Hotel Axel Opera for 8k/night... and I've also booked a executive queen room at Clarion Collection Hotel Etoile Saint Honore at 8k : a 260 euro / night room !
thanks Choice :)Teriffic!!

Trip reports!! Trip reports!! :)

Looks like everything is still ending on June 30 (but a couple of interesting exceptions (like the Clarion Axel Opera) are carrying on at the cheap rates until September).

I don't know what to make of all this.

In another thread, someone opined that the bulk of Choice customers never leave the US and many don't even have internet access - they're basically 'upscale' Motel 6 stayers. Maybe there's some truth in that, I dunno. But for whatever reason, I'm fairly sure that there are not a lot of international travellers among the Choice clientele.

Which leaves a lot of plums for picking by the savvy-but-not-on-a-fat-expense-account traveller, like (I'd like to believe) a great many FlyerTalkers.

Like us, actually.

Unless you're really uncomfortable with less than the best, the savvy denizens of this board (it seems to me) have come to the collective conclusion that "earn here, burn there" can yield a huge bang for the buck with Choice.

I'll be keeping a close eye on this chain as time passes (and my stash grows apace).

And please don't comment on my penchant for parenthetical clauses - it's a character fault; let's leave it at that. :)

more hotels are at 8k now !!
I've just rebook my 2 nights stays at Quality Hotel Axel Opera for 8k/night... and I've also booked a executive queen room at Clarion Collection Hotel Etoile Saint Honore at 8k : a 260 euro / night room !
thanks Choice :)

sweet deal...

Looks like everything is still ending on June 30 (but a couple of interesting exceptions (like the Clarion Axel Opera) are carrying on at the cheap rates until September).

I don't know what to make of all this.

In another thread, someone opined that the bulk of Choice customers never leave the US and many don't even have internet access - they're basically 'upscale' Motel 6 stayers. Maybe there's some truth in that, I dunno. But for whatever reason, I'm fairly sure that there are not a lot of international travellers among the Choice clientele.

Which leaves a lot of plums for picking by the savvy-but-not-on-a-fat-expense-account traveller, like (I'd like to believe) a great many FlyerTalkers.

Like us, actually.

Unless you're really uncomfortable with less than the best, the savvy denizens of this board (it seems to me) have come to the collective conclusion that "earn here, burn there" can yield a huge bang for the buck with Choice.

I'll be keeping a close eye on this chain as time passes (and my stash grows apace).

And please don't comment on my penchant for parenthetical clauses - it's a character fault; let's leave it at that. :)

I'm not sure why (in this case, "why" being rhetorical), you (and I mean you in a personal sense and not a generic sense) seem so concerned about your use of parenthetical (you know, those statements put between parentheses) statements! :cool:

I'm not sure why (in this case, "why" being rhetorical), you (and I mean you in a personal sense and not a generic sense) seem so concerned about your use of parenthetical (you know, those statements put between parentheses) statements! :cool:Well played, sir!

I noticed that many of the European Choice hotels that were 8k in June (like the one in Zurich) are now much higher for stays in June. Like, 25k. Is that because this promo ended? I had booked one night at 8k and didn't immediately book the second night...now I can't.

I noticed that many of the European Choice hotels that were 8k in June (like the one in Zurich) are now much higher for stays in June. Like, 25k. Is that because this promo ended? I had booked one night at 8k and didn't immediately book the second night...now I can't.

There may be some correlation (it allows Choice to advertise a certain percentage of properties are available at 8K during the time that they run their "stay two, get one free" promotions--which they really don't need to advertise now since the current promotion, earning the same 8000 points, has been disguised as an "earn a $50 gift card" promo), but don't count on it. This has been standard Choice Privileges procedure. Redemption levels suddenly go up, and sometimes, just as suddenly, come down.

There are two lessons. First, as your booking window increases as you gain status, find ways to get status (holding the Barclay's Choice card gets you Gold status, which increases the booking window from 30 to 50 days). Second, if you see a good deal while in your booking window, don't delay--book immediately.

Choice can be frustrating, but I have found good value here by being patient and keeping an eye on this forum and the Choice website.

Lots of hotels at 8k / night between 16 sept and 30 nov, in Europe (at least in Paris)
Linked to the promo as expected...

Woot! Thanks, Yul_voyager.

Seeing this for several rounds now, I'm beginning to hazard a hunch that this may (also) be a bone to the Europe properties to boost occupancy to keep them in the fold by introducing their most frequent travelers (us) to them.

Dublin properties all at 8K through the end of the published award schedule, the Comfort Inn Hyde Park on Queensborough in London where I stayed last December at 8K goes from 25K to 8K the middle of September and rises to 10K the first of December, and the Nova Domus and Bolivar in Rome do a 10K-8K-10K dance over the next three award periods (in fact, in a quick check of hotels in Turin, Bologna, Venice, and Rome, only three in Italy don't follow this pattern, all in Rome and all maintaining a steady 8K through the end of the award schedule).

I'll probably take advantage of the Dublin Clarion IFSC in late November/early December with two rooms booked for four nights for a total cost of 64K points. With Choice stays planned before this trip, I'll probably earn half of those points before I go. Just waiting for my booking window to open in a week or two.

Using my points in Europe is now my favorite part of the Choice Privileges program.

Lots of hotels at 8k / night between 16 sept and 30 nov, in Europe (at least in Paris)
Linked to the promo as expected...Whoa!! Great catch.

I must admit, I've been falling off as of late on keeping my eyeball peepers glued to the Choice website.

Seeing this for several rounds now, I'm beginning to hazard a hunch that this may (also) be a bone to the Europe properties to boost occupancy to keep them in the fold by introducing their most frequent travelers (us) to them.Man, I hope so!

I'm planning another longish stay in Europe next Fall, and bringing (or at least sending) the rest of the family with me. I'm trying to introduce them to the joys of finagling the system, and if their (Choice's) schedule of running some deals like this one for the Fall continues, I suspect they will be impressed.

It's not easy to impress your kids, but this certainly can't hurt. ;)
I'll probably take advantage of the Dublin Clarion IFSC in late November/early December with two rooms booked for four nights for a total cost of 64K points. With Choice stays planned before this trip, I'll probably earn half of those points before I go. Just waiting for my booking window to open in a week or two.

Using my points in Europe is now my favorite part of the Choice Privileges program.Yup!!

BTW, the Clarion IFSC (as I've mentioned before) is a good choice. Be sure to get the suites (if they're offered) because they are really neat. And huge!

Uh-oh.

Looks like the Carlton Beaulieu is no longer a Choice hotel. At least it's not listed on the Choice website now. Their own website still calls itself a Quality Hotel, but that may change.

Color me depressed. :(

BTW, the Clarion IFSC (as I've mentioned before) is a good choice. Be sure to get the suites (if they're offered) because they are really neat. And huge!

They are so far, but with my Platinum status, I can't book for another week. I'm actually putting two people in the other suite, both of whom snore, so I'm hoping the suite is big enough with the sleeper sofa to take care of that problem for both of them.

I, of course, will take care of that problem for me by booking an entirely separate room!

My sister's suite was a family room and she had 2 separate bedrooms, which worked great as my 2 neices could have the second room. My parent's room was one of the huge corner suites and my nephew had the extra bed, but there was no dividing wall.

My other sister and I both had executive river view rooms on the 7th floor. The wrap around balconies could have been great, but it was raining and very windy, so the doors were kept locked. I did ask them to open the door for me, but it never happened. But the room was huge with a walk-in closet area, windows the length of the room (including bathroom) and tons of electrical outlets. I kept looking around and saying - "I think this is one of the best redemptions around!"

To top it off since I booked one of my sister's stays out of my account, I received the night credits for her room. My Dad received the credit for my other sister, which made him gold.

KathinJax, did you intend to leave the name of the hotel out? If so, I'll leave you be. But if not, where? Thank you. :)

KathinJax, did you intend to leave the name of the hotel out? If so, I'll leave you be. But if not, where? Thank you. :)

I'm almost certain that she's referring to the Dublin Clarion IFSC.

I'm almost certain that she's referring to the Dublin Clarion IFSC.

Thank you. :)

I.m sorry for leaving that out. Yes, I was referring to the Dublin IFSC.

I.m sorry for leaving that out. Yes, I was referring to the Dublin IFSC.

Good one, anyhow. :)

Again, showing the incredible value of award redemption with these European properties, I just booked two rooms for four nights in late November at the Clarion IFSC Dublin. 64K points for two suites would have cost me $1760 total if paid in cash for those dates.

Or, I could have spent 110K HHonors points to get one night in a junior suite at the Conrad Dublin--a room that for the same period of time goes for slightly less than $300 (and other than credit card signups, would have cost thousands of dollars to earn the points to redeem). Or, 60K Choice points to get three nights in a Comfort Inn on the oceanfront near my home in Virginia Beach--also at a cash cost of around $300.

Not every European property offers this kind of value, of course, but given that with the "2 nights, 1 night" promos so prevalent the last couple of years, it's relatively possible to earn 32K points for $500-600 in hotel spending, I've been funding a fair amount of European travel off domestic Choice stays while maintaining a hefty balance of CP points--not all of them purchased through the Daily Getaways promotion (although, I again offer thanks to the FT members whose interest in Choice first made me look closer at the program).

It's been about a month since the last post, and every hotel in London, Paris, Rome and Nice is still at 8K/night until Nov. 30.

Who'da thought you could spend a week in London or Paris or Rome or on the Riviera for 56K points, which one could get with a few nights in a run-of-the-mill Quality Inn by doing a little judicious hotel-hopping, and/or spending a few bucks with the Discover America deal?

Gotta love it. I hope they keep up doing this in the Fall, 'cuz that's when I like to travel to Europe.

Happened to look for rooms in Munich, and everything is up for 8K
As is London, Paris, Zurich... you get this drift.


So I've booked for MUC and London - where I got some rooms with 175 GBP for 8K points.


Up till Nov 30, then it jumps to 25K

Paris Pavillion Opera looks great too!

What do you mean "Shhh"? You let out the secret, by putting what is really happening in the thread title. :)

It was previously kept secret by an obsucre thread title, but has been already discussed here (apparently too secretly for you :) ):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/choice-privileges/1323710-games-afoot-watson.html

It was previously kept secret by an obsucre thread title, but has been already discussed here (apparently too secretly for you :) ):

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/choice-privileges/1323710-games-afoot-watson.html
I just looked at Paris (not because of this thread) and noted that tons of hotels are available for 8,000 points. In the summer only two hotels were on sale. So the sale does seem to be expanded.

I am really hoping that these 8K properties come back in June 2013 as they did last year in June.

RM

I am really hoping that these 8K properties come back in June 2013 as they did last year in June.

RM

Interesting. I also currently have no European travel plans this winter, so there's nothing I can do with this information. I am planning a trip in June, and will also be in Australia during the (northern) summer, where the same crazy point fluctuations also take place. I guess all I can do is wait for my booking window to open and hope there's still a deal!

Interesting. I also currently have no European travel plans this winter, so there's nothing I can do with this information. I am planning a trip in June, and will also be in Australia during the (northern) summer, where the same crazy point fluctuations also take place. I guess all I can do is wait for my booking window to open and hope there's still a deal!

Unfortunately this time there is no 8k points for Australia and New Zealand :(
All property are out of price (40k in Auckland...)

Unfortunately this time there is no 8k points for Australia and New Zealand :(
All property are out of price (40k in Auckland...)

Aw, that's too bad. Hopefully the 8K awards return for me next year. Otherwise, it's generally not a good deal to use Choice points in Australia/NZ -- unless the alternatives (like paying $200/night for 3 star accommodations) are worse.

Redemption prices downunder are an unexplained abomination. Nowhere to go but down, right? Right? Right?

A quick check shows everything in Dublin at 8000 points/night until the April 15, 2013. After that, who knows. But that's beyond my booking window anyhow.

A quick check shows everything in Dublin at 8000 points/night until the April 15, 2013. After that, who knows. But that's beyond my booking window anyhow.

Interesting. I'm headed there in late spring. I guess all we can do is wait. I figure I'm going to get a bargain SOMEWHERE with Choice next spring. :)

BTW, I wish there were more deals in the US. In some USA destinations, the redemption levels also make no sense. I just had to stay at a Days Inn in VT (14,000 Wyndham points), because I didn't want to pay 25,000 for a run-of-the-mill Quality Inn.

Back when I was staying at hotels on a regular basis, I don't think i ever used points for an ordinary stay ... the "earn here, burn there" mantra has never been more true than with Choice in Europe (and probably elsewhere, too - just not the US).

Of course, my whole purpose in staying in a hotel rather than renting an apartment or other approaches was to get dem points to spend in Europe. The fact that the Quality Inn was a little (a little?) run down didn't bother me much, as long as the roaches stayed out of sight. :)

Besides, I was usually hotel-hopping for some promo or other, and one night in Purgatory wasn't going to kill me.

Back when I was staying at hotels on a regular basis, I don't think i ever used points for an ordinary stay ... the "earn here, burn there" mantra has never been more true than with Choice in Europe (and probably elsewhere, too - just not the US).

Of course, my whole purpose in staying in a hotel rather than renting an apartment or other approaches was to get dem points to spend in Europe. The fact that the Quality Inn was a little (a little?) run down didn't bother me much, as long as the roaches stayed out of sight. :)

Besides, I was usually hotel-hopping for some promo or other, and one night in Purgatory wasn't going to kill me.

There can be some domestic US properties that I'd use points on--I found some in Northern California this year that were good 8K redemptions--but Choice has spoiled me to the point where I'm unlikely to redeem at properties for much above 10K unless the cash price is over $250, like in NYC. Even with the summer trip to NoCal, I ended up booking half my rooms with cash (strategically placed so as to hotel hop without really changing my travel plans) and earning back half the points I'd spent on redemptions. I figure I just made my dollar stretch further and spent some of the money I saved on redemptions on other things during my trip--like golf and dinners!

There can be some domestic US properties that I'd use points on--I found some in Northern California this year that were good 8K redemptions--but Choice has spoiled me to the point where I'm unlikely to redeem at properties for much above 10K unless the cash price is over $250, like in NYC. Even with the summer trip to NoCal, I ended up booking half my rooms with cash (strategically placed so as to hotel hop without really changing my travel plans) and earning back half the points I'd spent on redemptions. I figure I just made my dollar stretch further and spent some of the money I saved on redemptions on other things during my trip--like golf and dinners!

Well, my strategy is to buy as many points as I can in Discover America and burn them whenever it's materially cheaper than "paying" for a room at a Choice hotel or comparable property. I don't travel enough in Europe to burn through all the points I buy. At Discover America "prices," there are many, many good USA values at Choice. Not as good as Paris for 8000, but good values. Where you start losing value is when the hotels are 20,000 points and more. Then, other alternatives tend to become mroe appealing.

I looked at some hotels in Paris in May, but the availabilities are limited... For example Clarion Collection opera has no room at all during the week I checked, and during the week-end they have just single bed room... although there is a lot of room available with the best available rate :td:

Anyway, thanks BigLar for the alert...

I had the same problem with a hotel in Rome. Plenty of Best Rate availability, but not one CP nite. Called and gently asked what was happening in Rome and whether they were sold out. Response was 'ooops, we forgot to load the CP nights in the system'. The receptionist did it immediately and at once plenty of 8000 points per night availability opened up.

I had the same problem with a hotel in Rome. Plenty of Best Rate availability, but not one CP nite. Called and gently asked what was happening in Rome and whether they were sold out. Response was 'ooops, we forgot to load the CP nights in the system'. The receptionist did it immediately and at once plenty of 8000 points per night availability opened up.

^

Steve Martin once said that people could get out of a lot of trouble if they just remembered the two little words, "I forgot." "I forgot it was against the law to rob a bank." "I forgot that Choice might want us to load award availability."

I just wished the same phone calls might open up award availability on some of my favorite airlines. . .

I had the same problem with a hotel in Rome. Plenty of Best Rate availability, but not one CP nite. Called and gently asked what was happening in Rome and whether they were sold out. Response was 'ooops, we forgot to load the CP nights in the system'. The receptionist did it immediately and at once plenty of 8000 points per night availability opened up.

A very nice ending, or beginning. Who knew that the hotel could load this itself in real time? Nice that they could do it. Nice that they were positive. Nice that they would do it. Nice that there wasn't a language problem. And the tip here is one of the best, maybe the most useful, I've seen in a long time. Thank you, dd1612.

And the tip here is one of the best, maybe the most useful, I've seen in a long time. Thank you, dd1612.Yessir! Whoo-Hoo!

If this can be made to happen as a matter of course, it could be a big help, especially for those who want to redeem and read FT.

For the folks who have the points but are 'civilians', well, that's that much less comperition for us.

Of course, just loading award rooms doesn't make the points price go down, but still ...

There ya go... A full-throated stamp of approval from our Ace Scout. :)

:-:

I'm in the midst of a four-night stay at the Clarion IFSC Dublin, and I am impressed. Sixth-floor suite overlooking the River Liffey with a balcony overlooking the city. Very comfortable bed. Separate shower and bath. Two TVs in the suite. Terry cloth robes in the closet. A very attractive hotel with a decent restaurant/bar. The staff interactions have all been very pleasant and helpful.

It's not in the middle of everything in Dublin although the Luas light rail system runs a block behind the hotel, there's plenty of bus service, the AirLink service from Dublin airport has a stop very near here, and there are some decent dining/pub options nearby--we tried the Ely wine bar and the Harbour Master pub that are no more than several blocks away. Temple Bar for nightlife and Grafton Street for shopping are more distant, but the Docklands area on both sides of the river is closer to the hotel although the area south of the river has fewer pub options, and the shopping areas along Henry and Talbot Streets provide a lot of shopping options much closer than Grafton Street.

I'll do a more in-depth review in the reviews thread, but this is a fantastic 8K redemption if your travel plans include Dublin. And if you have no Choice points at all, the 40K offer gets you five nights here.

I'm in the midst of a four-night stay at the Clarion IFSC Dublin, and I am impressed. Sixth-floor suite overlooking the River Liffey with a balcony overlooking the city. Very comfortable bed. Separate shower and bath. Two TVs in the suite. Terry cloth robes in the closet. A very attractive hotel with a decent restaurant/bar. The staff interactions have all been very pleasant and helpful.Yep.

We spent a total of 6 or 7 nights there a couple of years ago. Those suites are terriffic! Not only the balcony overlooking the street, but the party deck winding around the corner.

Also, when the regular bar closes, they'll discreetly herd you off to the "guest" bar, where, well, I don't know what closing time is .. we never made it that late. :)

A couple of favors:

1. Check out the pool. We didn't get to it, but wonder how it is?
2. Is there a lounge of some sort with breakfast? I had heard there was but we never went for it. Breakfast at the little places right next door (in the "alley") were fine. I understand the place is right convenient to a university, so lots of options with those sort of places.

Is the bus from the airport still free? It used to stop right at the front door.

Though some of us walked, we often grabbed a cab from there to St. Stephen's Green. Fast and about 10 quid.

We're going back for a couple of days next Fall, but we'll be staying at the Westin, so ... neener, neener, neener. :D

And if you have no Choice points at all, the 40K offer gets you five nights here.In case others missed it, the 8K/night rate is good until April 15.

We went by using the the AA 40K r/t off-peak rates and spent the Choice points (it was 10K/night at the time, but still ...) for the hotel. AA has direct flights ORD-DUB. Got to be the cheapest Eurovacation we've ever taken.

And well worth it.

In case others missed it, the 8K/night rate is good until April 15.

We went by using the the AA 40K r/t off-peak rates and spent the Choice points (it was 10K/night at the time, but still ...) for the hotel. AA has direct flights ORD-DUB. Got to be the cheapest Eurovacation we've ever taken.

And well worth it.

I've been meaning to check the pool and will try to do so tomorrow. It appears to be connected with some sort of spa operation that may run independently from the hotel--I'm not sure if the hotel management leases out the space to the spa or the spa decided to increase their business by joining forces with the hotel to offer pool access for free and then get people to buy facials, etc.

Not to turn this into an AA thread, but I agree. And the truly valuable part of that AA redemption is that it's not limited to several weeks in January and February, like US's offpeak rates, but instead runs from mid-October to mid-May. And availability seems generally good so long as you aren't expecting Christmas and Easter break availability to be as good as mid-January to mid-March is.

I'll also be interested in your thoughts about the Westin. I wouldn't normally compare a Choice property to an SPG property, but the Clarion's rooms are pretty nice. A big fancy lobby, a hip vibe--yeah, those the Clarion doesn't have. And the Westin's location is certainly closer to the center of things, but given Dublin's reputation for late-night partying, I'm a little leery of trying to sleep in the center of things.

We went by using the the AA 40K r/t off-peak rates ...

Is this the AA Citi credit card benefit? I'm not very familiar with this part of the AA program. Thank you. :)

Thanks also to lwildernorva for the reports.

Is this the AA Citi credit card benefit? I'm not very familiar with this part of the AA program. Thank you. :)Nope. It's every year for everybody.

Off-peak (US to Europe) is defined as Oct 15 to May 15. 40K r/t in Y. I suspect J and F are also reduced during that period. Regular rate is 60K for Y. I'm not sure, but other areas of the world may also have off-peak periods.

With their current difficulties, I doubt if AA will take any steps to reduce their attractiveness to people, so I'm assuming this rate will continue indefinitely.

Nope. It's every year for everybody.

Off-peak (US to Europe) is defined as Oct 15 to May 15. 40K r/t in Y. I suspect J and F are also reduced during that period. Regular rate is 60K for Y. I'm not sure, but other areas of the world may also have off-peak periods.

With their current difficulties, I doubt if AA will take any steps to reduce their attractiveness to people, so I'm assuming this rate will continue indefinitely.



^ and thank you.

Off-peak (US to Europe) is defined as Oct 15 to May 15. 40K r/t in Y. I suspect J and F are also reduced during that period. Regular rate is 60K for Y. I'm not sure, but other areas of the world may also have off-peak periods.

With their current difficulties, I doubt if AA will take any steps to reduce their attractiveness to people, so I'm assuming this rate will continue indefinitely.
Your susupicions are wrong. It's only in Y. J is 100k year-round (double the average of the Y, ie double of 50k, while Y is either 10k less or 10k more depending on the season).

But why have suspicions at all? Just look at the chart, it's not that hard to find (went to aa.com, dropped down the AAdvantage menu, chose Redeem, and this link was in the first paragraph):

https://www.aa.com/i18n/disclaimers/free-ticket-award-chart.jsp

(The redemption chart is based on one-way, since AA supports one-way awards. Double whatever you see there for the round-trip miles requirement, of course.)

Your susupicions are wrong.

...

But why have suspicions at all? Because it was 1:30 in the morning and I wanted to get to bed. :)

I've never done any AA redemptions other than off-peak Y to Europe, and I'm happy with that.

I did a very quick visual check of the pool at the Dublin Clarion IFSC, and my earlier suspicions were correct. The pool as well as an attached fitness center, sauna, and spa are all part of an independent operation in the basement of the hotel building. You ride the elevator to the basement, and your room key is your complimentary pass into the spa/health club; there's also a separate street entrance for locals. As with the rooms, the spa/pool/health club are above the standard you'd expect of a domestic Clarion.

Breakfast is not included with an award redemption. There's a good Irish breakfast buffet that costs 12 euro and has all of the elements of the "full Irish": eggs, bacon, sausage, broiled tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, fried potatoes, fresh fruit, several types of cereal, toast, pastries, juices, coffee, and tea. The buffet area turns into the Kudos restaurant at night, which we did not try, and adjoins the Kudos bar, where we stopped late on Friday evening. The bar was nice--and it is a bar, no faux Irish pub here. Relatively busy for a hotel bar, but there may have been business types unwinding after meetings at the hotel all day.

Again, I am very impressed by this hotel. Highly recommended if you're ever in Dublin.

Again, I am very impressed by this hotel. Highly recommended if you're ever in Dublin.Yep.

Stick with me, kid, and you'll be wearin' mink coats and smokin' dollar cigars. :)

But seriously ... is there any way to combine your fine review into the Choice Property Review thread? I'm sure others would be most interested in what you have to say about the place.

Yep.

Stick with me, kid, and you'll be wearin' mink coats and smokin' dollar cigars. :)

But seriously ... is there any way to combine your fine review into the Choice Property Review thread? I'm sure others would be most interested in what you have to say about the place.

Absolutely will. Been a little crazy since I got back--I decided I would fly back from Dublin into DC Monday and then go to the Redskins-Giants game that night. After a late-night victory celebration at Fado--an Irish pub in DC (wasn't ready to let go of Dublin yet!), I pretty much woke up in time to check out of my hotel Tuesday at noon, drove back home, and took care of a lot of stuff at my house. Back to work today, and a pretty lousy day at that.

All that's a way of saying that I should be able to put up a more complete review in the CP Review Thread later today or tomorrow with some additional information and a couple more pub recommendations, including a great place to watch football--the US kind.

Rome for 8000 pts a few block from Trevi Fountain on quiet street (Bolivar).
Works really, really well.

Rome for 8000 pts a few block from Trevi Fountain on quiet street (Bolivar).
Works really, really well."Works really, really well." is a bit of understatement, non?. :)

At one time, a couple of years ago, I was working a Choice promo and I calculated the points were costing me about 0.1 cents apiece. So, for me, 8000 points represents about $8.00.

If someone had told me that I could be staying in Rome (or Paris, or London, etc.) for $8.00/night (including breakfast!) I'd have thought they were a fugitive from a time machine.

Having actually done just that, and more than once, I'm inclined to be a little more enthusiastic.

YMMV.

"Works really, really well." is a bit of understatement, non?. :)

At one time, a couple of years ago, I was working a Choice promo and I calculated the points were costing me about 0.1 cents apiece. So, for me, 8000 points represents about $8.00.

If someone had told me that I could be staying in Rome (or Paris, or London, etc.) for $8.00/night (including breakfast!) I'd have thought they were a fugitive from a time machine.

Having actually done just that, and more than once, I'm inclined to be a little more enthusiastic.

YMMV.

Agreed. But I must admit, my European experiences are spoiling me--perhaps I could see myself spending 20-25K for an American property--but I wouldn't be enthusiastic about that! :eek:

Rome for 8000 pts a few block from Trevi Fountain on quiet street (Bolivar).
Works really, really well.

It's 10 000 points now. Any chances it will change back to 8000? (I'm new to Choice :))

It's 10 000 points now. Any chances it will change back to 8000? (I'm new to Choice :))

No one can say for sure, but they've been coming around twice a year for the last couple of years. With no announcement except from our Ace Scout here. And then there can be attrition, one by one. So, one has to keep one's ear to the rail -- both here and on one's properties of interest.

It's 10 000 points now. Any chances it will change back to 8000? (I'm new to Choice :))There is:

1. An execllent chance it will revert to 8000 pts/night
2. An execllent chance it will rise to 25,000 points/night
3. Almost no chance it will stay where it is forever
4. A very low probability that someone here will be able to fortell the future

Welcome to Choice! :)

Does anyone have any idea when the April 15 and beyond points requirements will be posted for Paris hotels? Just wondering if there is a historical pattern to this so I'll know when to check back.

Thanks!

Does anyone have any idea when the April 15 and beyond points requirements will be posted for Paris hotels? Just wondering if there is a historical pattern to this so I'll know when to check back.

Thanks!

a. See the post above yours, but

b. I would expect summer rates to be up in the 20-25,000 point range, because that's the busy season for Paris.

Over the last couple of years, it seems that point rates go down, sometime around Sept. 30. Other have speculated that it might be tied to their (sort of regular) promos about that time where they offer a "free night" after x stays. The free night is actually 8000 points (or thereabouts), so that in order to make the promo seem real, they lower the point rate semi-worldwide.

There is also speculation that it's a reasonable assumption that a large portion of the Choice clientele are not big international travellers - thus, a low point rate in Europe has little actual meaning for most of their customers, but does cause lots of starry-eyed daydreaming. A win-win for Choice - they make it attractive and don't have to pay off very much.

Over here, however, we know how to take advantage of this deal (and countless of us have), so we're all looking forward to it, too. :)

Seemed a good time to look at the mid-April to end of June redemptions. Ireland apparently remains on sale at 8K points--two properties in Limerick, the three in Dublin, and one in Sligo. Some of our favorite Roman properties remain at 10K: the Nova Domus and the Bolivar. The Clarion Collection Hotel Principessa Isabella, where I'll stay next month, is also at 10K. Most of the London properties are at 25K while the Paris hotels are at 20-25K.

Seemed a good time to look at the mid-April to end of June redemptions. Ireland apparently remains on sale at 8K points--two properties in Limerick, the three in Dublin, and one in Sligo. Some of our favorite Roman properties remain at 10K: the Nova Domus and the Bolivar. The Clarion Collection Hotel Principessa Isabella, where I'll stay next month, is also at 10K. Most of the London properties are at 25K while the Paris hotels are at 20-25K.

I don't think the spring "sale" has arrived yet.

Soon?

Well, it looks like the summer 8,000 point sale has started. I am seeing 8,000 points in Paris, London, some hotels in Rome and in Dublin. I was looking at random dates in July, but hotel detail pages state that it is April 16 - June 30. Too bad they do not have any hotels in Spain or Brussels. If the 8,000 point rooms are still around at the booking window, I am somewhat tempted to cancel the Radissons in Paris and move to the Clarion.

Well, it looks like the summer 8,000 point sale has started. I am seeing 8,000 points in Paris, London, some hotels in Rome and in Dublin. I was looking at random dates in July, but hotel detail pages state that it is April 16 - June 30. Too bad they do not have any hotels in Spain or Brussels. If the 8,000 point rooms are still around at the booking window, I am somewhat tempted to cancel the Radissons in Paris and move to the Clarion.

Thanks for the update. I'm hoping to use some in Europe in June, so I'm getting close to the Platinum booking window. Some of those Carlson properties are good, though, so if you're staying 2 nights have the Carlson card, it might not necessarily make sense to "slum it" at a Choice hotel.

I'm headed to Australia later this (northern) summer, and I'm really hoping to see an 8000 point deal there. Australia hotels tend to be crazy expensive and almost all of them are 20 or 25K in the Choice program (not really bad given the published rates, but I'd obviously love a bargain redemption). So far, though, I don't see reduced Australia redemption rates.

Well, it looks like the summer 8,000 point sale has started. I am seeing 8,000 points in Paris, London, some hotels in Rome and in Dublin. I was looking at random dates in July, but hotel detail pages state that it is April 16 - June 30. Too bad they do not have any hotels in Spain or Brussels. If the 8,000 point rooms are still around at the booking window, I am somewhat tempted to cancel the Radissons in Paris and move to the Clarion.

Thanks for posting !

Thanks for the update. I'm hoping to use some in Europe in June, so I'm getting close to the Platinum booking window. Some of those Carlson properties are good, though, so if you're staying 2 nights have the Carlson card, it might not necessarily make sense to "slum it" at a Choice hotel.

I'm headed to Australia later this (northern) summer, and I'm really hoping to see an 8000 point deal there. Australia hotels tend to be crazy expensive and almost all of them are 20 or 25K in the Choice program (not really bad given the published rates, but I'd obviously love a bargain redemption). So far, though, I don't see reduced Australia redemption rates.

Australia / NZ didn't participate to the 8k promo last fall...
Sometimes their rate are more crazy, like 40k points !

Australia / NZ didn't participate to the 8k promo last fall...
Sometimes their rate are more crazy, like 40k points !IIRC, it was more like 70K per night.

At that rate, I've speculated that no one ever redeems there.

Edit: PS - thanks for the heads up on London/Paris. I was looking there earlier this week, and the desirable props were still ~ 20-25K.

IIRC, it was more like 70K per night.

At that rate, I've speculated that no one ever redeems there.

Edit: PS - thanks for the heads up on London/Paris. I was looking there earlier this week, and the desirable props were still ~ 20-25K.

I've just started looking at the Australia properties, but they seem to mostly be in the 20 to 25K range (I haven't looked at Sydney, because there are many other good chain options there).

Perhaps more useful, the Choice BRG works in Australia. Using Kayak to compare prices, I picked up an expensive room that way.