Hilton HHonors - What is the Value of Hilton HHonors Points?

Hey guys, I'm pretty green as far as HHonors goes, so please bear with me.

I want to get a sense of the value of points. I know that as with airline points, some rewards are a good deal (20K FL to Alaska) and some are not (20K LAX-PHX). I have never redeemed any of my 100,000 Hhonors points, and I am not familiar of their value. The situation I'm facing is this:

I am planning to spend tomorrow night in ABQ, then fly out for 4 days. I see I can reserve a Priceline 2* hotel in Central ABQ for about $24 with fees, and pay about $20 for 4 days of parking: total $44.

I could also use 6000 HHonors points for a Point Stretcher Opportunity reward at the Hampton Inn ABQ airport, and park at the hotel for free. 6000 points is pretty low on the scale of HHonors rewards... but then again, $44 isn't all that much.

Looking through the other Point Saver hotels, I see that the same 6000 will pay for the ONT Airport Hilton, or the Doubletree Buckhead in ATL, which seem like better values.

What would you recommend I do? What would be the best use for the points, considering I don't accumulate HHonors points fast, and may have a better use for them later?

[This message has been edited by Viajero Joven (edited 11-01-2001).]

I'd pay the $44 bucks

My personal opinion for the way I find the Hh points most beneficial to me is that most hotel points (regardless of chain) are most precious when used in large demoninations ie. ALON 100K in Hawaii or something like that. using them in Nickel and dime ways.. ie.. a hampton here and there isn't the most advantageous way to get the most from your points.

Just my opinion

I agree with TrojanHorse. The GLON, ALON, and TEEN awards, which cost 100,000 HHonors points, get you 6 consecutive nights at one of many (not all) hotels/resorts in the chain. That's how I'm aiming to use most of my points, by using these awards in high-cost cities.

It should be noted that these awards require VIP status. However, it is easy to acquire this status, either through stays (4 stays OR 10 nights in a calendar year), by signing up for certain promotions (such as EWRDC), or by getting an HHonors credit card (at least the HHonors Amex does this).

Kathy

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by KathyWdrf:
It should be noted that these awards require VIP status. However, it is easy to acquire this status, either through stays (4 stays OR 10 nights in a calendar year), by signing up for certain promotions (such as EWRDC), or by getting an HHonors credit card (at least the HHonors Amex does this).
</font>

The Citibank Visa gives Silver VIP as well. I was going to sign up for it just to get the bonus points but decided not to in case I ever lose my status and want to redeem a VIP award.

Good Point FlyByMike! I was thinking of getting the card just for the points for the wife and I, but it is better to wait to see if I ever lose my status, that way I can get at least Silver and still use the VIP awards.

I value HHonors points at about 0.75-0.80 cents each. So the 6000 points is about $45-$48 in my view or slightly worse than paying the $44. That is even before factoring in that you would get 100 airline miles + HHonors points at the Hampton Inn.

I can understand the arguments made about using points for large denomination awards. You do get better value in most cases and also when spending internationally as opposed to domestically. However, the high denomination argument assumes your travel profile has you camped out in the same city for 6+ days. For me, my typical leisure stays in one city are 1-2 days, sometimes 3. Very rarely do I spend more than 3 days in the same place. Thus, I try to use points where the cost of paying for the hotel would be more than the value of the points, regardless of length of stay. This same approach would also suggest not using points from HHonors for airline tickets because you can almost always buy the tickets cheaper (unless it is a last minute trip).

Hi guys,

My travel patterns, especially for personal travel, are really as Mile King stated: 2-3 day stays here and there-- usually I'll tack on an extra weekend or a side trip onto a business trip. I have yet to go on a full blown week's vacation-- not even to Europe/Asia. All are glorified weekends.

My strategy is this: call this PM as I drive to Albuquerque to see if I can get a 50% Entertainment rate at an airport hotel-- this should hopefully push the price to below $44, and I feel I'd have a better chance keeping my car in their lot. I'm assuming that if I do priceline, even at an airport hotel, I may not be able to keep my car there like "full-paying guests." If I can get something for under $44, I'll pay, but if not, my HHonors room is still on hold until 6.

As a happy coincidence, a conference very relevant to my job is being held in Albuquerque the day after I return, so now I'll be reimbursed for gas and hotel on the return. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I couldn't have planned it better if I had tried. Plus, I can accumulate more HHonors points during the additional days. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

Thanks for your input. I'll be around the HHonors room more, as I was fast-tracked to Gold this year, and while I haven't gotten full benefit (missed upgrades because I didn't specifically request them), it looks like I'll make Gold for next year.

Talk to you next week.

[This message has been edited by Viajero Joven (edited 11-02-2001).]

I know that most people value an airline FF mile at between 1 and 2 cents each. What is the standard value for a Hilton Hhonors point? I imagine it would be valued less, since 10000 points will get you a night at a low-end hotel, which can be bought for $60 cash. That would be about the same redemption rate as for Diners Club points. What do you think?

There has been much thought on this and other points/miles but for me I give a value of $.01 to $.015 per point. I'm using 150,000 points for a 6 night stay at the Jalousie Hilton which would cost ~$300/nt or a value of $.012 per point. I value the point on usage rather than the cost of accrual but use these facts to determine if I should pay and accrue points or use points and stay free.

since I save Hhonors points almost exclusively for ALON awards I value them like this:
6 nights in Hawaii, 100,000 points

I figure this would cost at least $250/night or $1,500 for the stay. This would make the point value $.015

I estimate my HHonors points based on what I'd pay if I didn't have an ALON or GLON handy. Specifically, if I'm traveling on my own money I'd pay $100-$150 depending upon the location. With priceline and other discount options, it is so very easy to stay below the $100 mark in many markets these days. So, with a 6 night, 100,000 point award, I equate 16,666 points to = $100 and get a per point value of $.006 ~ a little over half a cent. I find I need to be conservative in my estimate to keep things in proportion if I'm reacting to some bonus offer.

Just my 6/10 of a cent....

[This message has been edited by ronamc (edited 12-17-2001).]

I run along a similar thought process of Ronamc, but I am a bit closer to 1 to 1.25 cents per point as I have adjusted for peak seasons, i.e. Mardi Gras, school breaks, holidays, special events etc where the rates can be higher.. but all in all when I look at a bonus and what is it going to cost me and what is it going to give me I plug 1 to 1.25 cents per point in for a dollar valuation

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ronamc:
I estimate my HHonors points based on what I'd pay if I didn't have an ALON or GLON handy. Specifically, if I'm traveling on my own money I'd pay $100-$150 depending upon the location. With priceline and other discount options, it is so very easy to stay below the $100 mark in many markets these days. So, with a 6 night, 100,000 point award, I equate 16,666 points to = $100 and get a per point value of $.006 ~ a little over half a cent. I find I need to be conservative in my estimate to keep things in proportion if I'm reacting to some bonus offer.

Just my 6/10 of a cent....

[This message has been edited by ronamc (edited 12-17-2001).]</font>

If you will be using the points like many of the posters here, i.e. 6 nights at the same hotel, I would agree with the $0.01-$0.015 valuation. If your travel patterns are more like mine, i.e. 3 days in one place max, then the value is about $0.0075.

For earning purposes, I do not pay more than 0.5c per point. The calculation is based on a simple logic that 1 mile = 2 Points and my earining average is &lt;=1 c per mile.

While using them, its a different ballgame. As most of my longers stays/vacations ( 6+ Nights ) are through HGVC, HHonors points are primarily used for 1-3 day stays ( mainly last moment ).

Going by the average rate of $65-350 for a 10K-35K redemption, it averages out around .6 to 1c per point. This is highly dependent on the category of properties you normally use them at. Point stretchers shoot up these numbers by about 40%.

To pick a current example, I had an option of a 39,000 points redemption or paying up $700+ for a three nights stay in New York this christmas.

For me 39K points costed ~20K miles valued at $200 going by my earning rate. As the price is higher than $250-$300, points were the way to go.


[This message has been edited by Bourne (edited 12-17-2001).]

Rut Dog had mentioned recently valuing his Hilton points (but couldn't find the posting based on the info provided). Can anybody (including Rut Dog) provide some insight as to how you value you frequent program points?

It depends on how you use them, but I generally think they are worth about .5 cents each... Could be more if you use the alon award at 100,000, etc.

It depends on how you use them.

For example, In March I have a GLON award (100K HHonors pts) booked at a location where the cheapest room I would have been able to book was ~$200 per night.

$200 X 6 = $1200
$1200 / 100,000 = $0.012

Of course, if redemed for a $100 per night room, they are worth half.

my 1.2 cents worth.

I have a CO account with about 40k miles that isnt being used for flying and since the CO-Hilton transfer option is nearing its end, I am considering moving these 40k CO miles to 80k Hilton points. Are there any good rewards from Hilton for me (a non-VIP) to use? I would like to compare them to my options for 40k with CO.

Thanks for any help.

katz,

You better make that exchange today because Continental will no longer allow you to transfer your miles for Hilton points, I believe, after September 1. Check the CO and Miles Buzz boards. CO will tell you it will take 60 to 90 days for your points to post even though they immediately deduct the miles from your account.

katz,
You may want to consider getting a hilton hhonors American Express card, and/or a hilton hhonors Visa. Both have no annual fees, ever; and both have significant sign-up bonuses. They may even be running a promotion right now, if you run a search on this board, I am sure you'll get more detailed info. By having one of these cards, my understanding is that you automatically become a silver VIP. Also, with the sign-up bonus(es) you will be quickly on your way to a VIP reward. In the event you can't or don't accumulate enough points for a VIP award, in my opinion, the best value for your points is the point stretcher awards, especially when you use them at a hotel that is otherwise very pricey.

Good points from both of these guys, and I carry HH Amex and Visa.

As for answering your exact question, though, you simply need to spend a few minutes browsing the rewards on the Hilton site.

Start here:
http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/index.jhtml

On the left, check out "Hotel Rewards". For other options, in your "price" range, I'd suggest the Airline Rewards domestice companion tickets, HGVC single night rewards, some of the cheaper Vacation Rewards, and possibly some of the Merchandise or Entertainment rewards, but those are usually a poor value (which is why I specifically didn't mention the Car Rental rewards).

When evaluating hotel rewards, keep in mind that there are capacity controls and blackout dates, so you can't always get what you want when you want. That said, you can often work around these roadblocks by dealing directly with a given property's manager. Just don't expect that you can get a reward room at the Hilton Times Square on Dec. 31 with no effort. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I guess the value of the CO miles vs Hilton Rewards would best be compared by figuring that a point stretcher for a 4 or 5 hotel is 9k - 10.5k CO miles. I am assuming that I can priceline a hotel of this quality for $40-$60/night. Since the reward is subject to restrictions, I think low priceline rates are a fair comparison. Am I wrong?

That doesnt seem like a great value.

Are you sure about the comp VIP status?


Also, I looked at the domestic companion air awards...which ones are a good value?

[This message has been edited by katz (edited 07-29-2003).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by katz:
I am assuming that I can priceline a hotel of this quality for $40-$60/night. Since the reward is subject to restrictions, I think low priceline rates are a fair comparison. Am I wrong?</font>

I'm not sure PL rates are a good comparison. They aren't cancellable or refundable, and you don't know for sure what property you'll be gettting. You also, in almost all cases, won't get any VIP perks on a PL stay, whereas even with reward stays, you'll get VIP perks (they get better with Gold and Diamond, but Silver isn't totally worthless). It isn't uncommon to get upgraded to a nice suite that usually rents for $300 or more.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by katz:
Are you sure about the comp VIP status?


Also, I looked at the domestic companion air awards...which ones are a good value?</font>Silver VIP is automatic with either credit card, both of which tout first use bonus points and no annual fee.

As to the air rewards, they are not nearly as good a value if you can use air miles, but that's to be expected. Just like if using airline miles to get a hotel isn't a good value compared to using HH or SPG points to get a hotel.

But the 40K companion reward (available on UA, YX, and AS) is a pretty good deal. Don't be fooled by the language "one full-fare ticket". They simply mean any published fare. Granted, you have to purchase one fare, but you are getting a free RT for the transferred equivalent of 20K miles. And the restrictions and capacity controls for these rewards are usually looser than on FF redemption.

It'a a great use of orphan miles, and you can combine spouse's orphan's, too, using mutual fund. So if you and spouse have 5,000 each in CO, and 5,000 each in AA, those useless miles can become one RT companion ticket. Not a bad deal from my perspective.

40K miles with CO is only useful if you can claim an award seat. CO's record in that regard is horrible, the worst of any major airline in my view. So if your comparison is HHonors vs. CO flights, I would go with HHonors. If you plan to use your miles on NW or DL, then the comparison swings in favor of the miles. In general, exchanging points/miles for a different currency is almost always a bad deal.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by MileKing:
In general, exchanging points/miles for a different currency is almost always a bad deal.</font>
I heartily disagree with this blanket statement.

Miles to HH is a good deal at 1:2 or better.
HH to Miles is a horrible deal 6.7:1.

SPG to Miles is a good deal at 1:1.25.
I don't know if you can go Miles to SPG.

The list goes on (Amex, Amtrak, Diners Club) and has been covered in other threads (I think in MilesBuzz), but those are just two examples.

It seems to be based on the way the individual programs set it up.

After CO to HH transfer ended. shouldn't we still be able to transfer CO OP to AmTrak then transfer from AmTrak to HH?

...yes, until Amtrak pulls the plug too...

I know this is very subjective, but what dollar value would you place on 100,000 Hilton Honors points?

Hilton, charges $250 to buy 20,000 points. I don't believe that the true value is anything like as high. I'd be surprised if HH had many takers for buying points with that cash cost.

Based upon my last 3 GLON redemptions(prior to 5/31/03)and prevailing rates at these properties for my dates of travel,I'd say 100,000 pts are worth about $1400.00...

What is a GLON or ALON???

What do people mean when they say "bump"?

Is there a glossary somewhere on FlyerTalk where I can look up the meanings of things?

As a general rule I value each Hilton point as equal to one cent; major airline(UAL, AA, etc.) miles equal two cents.

When the United to Hilton points transfer was in effect, one United mile equaled two Hilton points.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mspotato:
What is a GLON or ALON???

What do people mean when they say "bump"?

Is there a glossary somewhere on FlyerTalk where I can look up the meanings of things?</font>
You're asking questions about Hilton HHonors points.

Have you ever looked at the Hilton HHonors (http://www.hiltonhhonors.com) website itself?


Kathy

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by KathyWdrf:
You're asking questions about Hilton HHonors points.

Have you ever looked at the Hilton HHonors (http://www.hiltonhhonors.com) website itself?


Kathy</font>

Yes, I am a Hilton Honors member, but it is difficult finding descriptions of all these abbreviations even on their website. Sorry that I am not up on all the jargon, folks. Please have a little patience for newbies who don't have everything figured out yet.

Welcome to FT mspotato! And no worries about not getting all the jargan. I still have problems sometimes w/ it. But you'll pick it up after awhile. I think there actually is somewhere on FT where there are
descriptions but I don't know where it is.

And Kthy, I didn't know for the longest time what ALONs & GLONs were either - I just called Hilton & said here's how many nights I want to stay at this place, how many points do I need to hand over? Well, heck, that's what I still do! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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Sharon

A GLON is an award entitling the member to a free 6-night stay at almost any HHonors hotel in the world. Until May 31/2003 it cost 100,000 HHonors points. Now it costs 150K points & is called a GLON2.

Some hotels, very elegant &or in expensive high-demand cities or resort areas, were called Premium in the old chart or Level 6 in the new. These require a 150K-point GLONP (old) or a 175K GLONP2 (new.)

An ALON is the Aloha cousin of the GLON.

BUMP means that someone wants to revive an old thread by pushing it to the top of the recency pile.

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Play the travel game 3 vacations into the future!

[This message has been edited by Brendan (edited 10-08-2003).]

ALONs are six night award stays usable at either of the two Hilton Hawaiin resorts (HHV and HWV -- can't split the reward and use both hotels during one 6 night stay).

GLONs are six night reward stays available at various Hilton properties around the world.

Prior to 2003, the ALONs were available for 100,000 HH points, and by most were considered to be a very good value. Now the rewards are available for 175,000 points, which many find a bit expensive.

GLON points requirements also went up, but not sure how high.

ALON and GLON VIP rewards are for Silver, Gold, and Diamond HH members.

http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/vip.jhtml

The value of 100,000 points is determined by the value of the room TO YOU when you have a use for them.

I have my eye right now on a CAT 5 hotel, 21,000 points/night as a pointstretcher award, and a value to me of about $140/night. In this instance the value of 100,000 points is worth $700 to me. The hotel runs about $200 night for the lowest cost room if I were to pay, but I wouldn't stay there 5 nights at that rate even though the upgraded room would be about a $300-350/night room rate.
If I wanted to get another room in the city, I could get one for $100 on Priceline, but probably not as nice a room because I would not get an upgrade to a suite.

I need some category 2 hotel nights next month, but the hotel is not offering point stretchers at the time. 100,000 points would give me 5 nights at 20,000 points/night. I have to make a choice of spending $450 cash or using points. I can save the money next month, but then the points are only worth $450/100,000.

In reality I can use 105,000 points on an award and save $1,500 over the cost of booking a paid stay at a luxury hotel or I can spend 100,000 points and save $450 compared to a paid stay at a comfortable Hilton Garden Inn.

The points don't have value until it comes down to a specific redemption opportunity and what your options are at that moment. Sometimes I have to spend points at less than optimum value because cash is short, but in general I hold out and redeem points for luxury hotels where I am confident I will get a nice suite upgrade. I'd rather spend 21,000 points on a Category 5 pointstretcher for a suite in an expensive city than 20,000 points on a standard category 2 award for a standard room in a Hilton Garden Inn.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Brendan:


An ALON is the Aloha cousin of the GLON.

</font>

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mspotato:
I know this is very subjective, but what dollar value would you place on 100,000 Hilton Honors points? </font>

I use 1 cent for HHonors and 2 cents for airmiles. This is to help me determine which way to go when I'm trying to earn them and spend them. I've done much better than that spending them and don't use them unless I can get that much value out of them.
For example if I was going to book a room at a Hilton and the point award were 20,000 points and the room is $219. Then it's use the points time. If the room is $89 then it's use the cash time and earn more points to boot.

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"A day without Points/Miles is like a day without SUNSHINE"

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mspotato:
What is a GLON or ALON???

</font>

I don't think anyone else mentioned it yet, but GLON/ALON/GLONP and the new more 'expensive' versions GLON2/ALON2/GLONP2 are VIP only awards that require you be at least a Silver HHonors member.

I agree that 100,000 points depends on how you spend them (just like frequent flyer miles). So, for the old glons and alons as an example, they would be worth between $600 - $1,400. I agree with others that it makes sense to use them on the $1,400 stay and pay for the $600 six night stay. Other than the old glons and alons, point stretchers at international hotels (especially if they are under-graded) are a very good deal.

Going to Orlando in June. I need a 1 night stay. I can get Hampton Maingate for $58, or DoubleTree Club Buena Vista for 15,000 points on a point stretcher. Will I like the double tree better? I am currently Gold so I am guessing I might get an upgrade.

I don't know anything about either hotel. Is location better of one versus the other?

My #1 goal this year is to get 9 more stays to make gold (currently have 7). I don't think this matters since Reward stays do count, correct?

Thanks for your advice.

Dawn

I noticed that I can also get a Homewood Suites on the pointsaver.

Thanks,

Dawn

I don't think this matters since Reward stays do count, correct?Yes, reward stays do count toward the total number of stays that is used to calculate next year's program level.

Hi. I did a search and found a few hits. It seems as if they related to the old value of points. My question is simple. What is the average value of points. I have a stay at a opportunity hotel for 7500 points. The cheapest hotel price is $83 plus tax. Not sure if I should pay or use points. Thanks

Hi. I did a search and found a few hits. It seems as if they related to the old value of points. My question is simple. What is the average value of points. I have a stay at a opportunity hotel for 7500 points. The cheapest hotel price is $83 plus tax. Not sure if I should pay or use points. Thanks

Welcome to FT!

Keep in mind that the 7500 point room will actually cost more than 7500 points. This is because you will be giving up the points you'd earn for paying for the room - which, with on-line booking and elite bonuses, can bring the total loss to 9000 points or more.

That said, whether you do it is really up to you. Personally, for an $83 room, I'd pay unless I didn't have the money to do so. Other people's mileage (or value thereof) will vary.

Mike

I disagree. I would use 7500 points to pay for an $83 room, because it will be more than $90 when you add the tax. I would value an HH point at about 2/3 of a cent, unless you want to use them in Europe where the ratio is more favorable with their higher hotel prices. Remember, these points are like airline miles, you have to use them--they are not cash so you can not spend them outside of the HH family of partners. However, if you collect a lot of HH points, it is always good to save them for the benefit of a 6-night GLON or GLON-P award, wherein you are actually paying for about 4½ nights.

My benchmark is about .01 per point. If I can get a penny per point, I use points. Unless I am very close to a GLONP2 or ALON2. So, for $83 I would use the points.

You never know when they may devalue yet again. Though I don't think that will happen for several years.

The point that nako makes is valid though. If you figure that you are going to pay $83 that would yield a diamond 1660 points, thus making the 'cost' of using points for that room 9160 instead of 7500. Again, were it me, I would use the points.

I have managed to get more than $.04 per point on a couple of occasions on GLON's/GLONP's, if you calculate the actual cost of the room that you end up in.

Use the points. Some will say depends on how much you travel. If you travel internationally most of the hiltons are category 3's or higher - which are 25K or more points - or the equivelant of 3X what your looking at - can you get good hotels in Europe for $250/night - I say yes. Besides if you use points you'll have $83 more dollars than if you paid...sounds simple but you can't buy milk, soap, or gas with points.

In counting the "lost opportunity cost" of paying with points, don't forget that although the award stay will count for "stay" credit, it will not get the 500 airline miles (if you're double dipping).

So, you lose those as well as the (830 - 1245 or more) points you'd have earned if paying for the room.

If (as I do) you use a "rule of thumb" that one HH point should save you one cent or more, and that airline miles are usually worth about two cents, you have:

Paying with points "costs":

7,500 points, plus
830 base points you would have earned by paying for the room, plus
1000 points (the "value" of 500 airline miles), plus
415 points (if you had paid the $83 with your fee-free HHonors AMEX), plus
whatever bonus you may be entitled to if you're elite with HHonors (e.g., 25% bonus on base points if you're Gold -- and isn't everyone?)

Which totals a "cost" of 9745 HHonors points (not including the Elite bonus, if any) given up. To me, that means (all other things equal) I should not use the points instead of paying unless I'm saving >$97.45 by doing so.

All other things are seldom equal. You may have so many HHonors points that it's better to use them than to pay cash, or you may be short of cash, or you may be saving for a GLON, or . . .

Hi. I did a search and found a few hits. It seems as if they related to the old value of points. My question is simple. What is the average value of points. I have a stay at a opportunity hotel for 7500 points. The cheapest hotel price is $83 plus tax. Not sure if I should pay or use points. ThanksI have a "mattress run" coming up Sept 30-Oct 4 and am using points for all of the rooms except one ... an Opportunity Level property that I can get for $56. When it gets that cheap, I'll pay the cash.

Mind you, people here have mentioned losing "500 miles" for airline miles, however, they forget that on Hampton Inns you only get either 1 mile per $1 or 100 miles, depending on which you have set in your earnings preference.

In my not so humble opinion, when you get under $100 the line starts blurring seriously on using points for a room, unless you just don't have the $$ and want to use the points.

Been 100 threads on this area in the past, but my rule of thumb is a penny a point is what a HH is worth to ME and a SPG point several times that - about $US3¢.

I have several 100,000 balances in each, and use both often, but those ratios for ME work well taken across the board. Others can and will have different ratios.

If the Nairobi Hilton is 10,000 points which it is, and it now costs $US70 plus 26% tax as it does for next week it is a no brainer to use money rather than points for a room IMO. If the room was $100 plus 26% I'd personally use points.

The days that a HH point is worth 1c is long gone. With the HHonors program's inflation throughout the years, I would say 1/4c to 1/2c at the most. I would pay 1/4c, but not 1/2c. Although I can see an argument of its value at 1/2c. Using this criteria I don't see myself participating in the HHonors program anymore except to burn the points I have already accumulated. While this topic has been discussed in the past, it needs to be revisited every so often in a continuing need to determine the overall valuation of this program.

The days that a HH point is worth 1c is long gone. With the HHonors program's inflation throughout the years, I would say 1/4c to 1/2c at the most. I would pay 1/4c, but not 1/2c. Although I can see an argument of its value at 1/2c. Using this criteria I don't see myself participating in the HHonors program anymore except to burn the points I have already accumulated. While this topic has been discussed in the past, it needs to be revisited every so often in a continuing need to determine the overall valuation of this program.

You do see to be revisiting the topic with more regulariity than WE could possibly need, this your 5th or 6th post of similar ilk in the last few days.

I just bocked for redemption the following awards
1 ) Cavalieri Hilton lowest available rate EU450 = 40k/night
2 ) Hilton Sorrento lowest available rate EU 280 = 25k/night
3) Paddington Hilton lowest available rate 145 GBP = 30k/night
add a minumum of 15% to paid rates for taxes.
I let you do the math.

But the above sort blows your 1/4c B.S. away doesnt it?

mike

IIRC sergio used to entertain FT mightily with tales of flying around the world on miles he got from box tops, and never paying for a Hotel night etc. So these recent comments do not surprise me at all. ;)

IIRC sergio used to entertain FT mightily with tales of flying around the world on miles he got from box tops, and never paying for a Hotel night etc. So these recent comments do not surprise me at all. ;)

Oh yes I have been around long enough to remember the "the tales from planet Sergio" :p

mike

1 ) Cavalieri Hilton lowest available rate EU450 = 40k/night
2 ) Hilton Sorrento lowest available rate EU 280 = 25k/night
3) Paddington Hilton lowest available rate 145 GBP = 30k/night


I see the value of that, but my own travels take me to places in the US, not in Europe. Those ratios are atypical for me. These are more typical

Millennium Hilton: $240 = 35k/night --> 1 pt. =.68 to .8 cents (range of 0 to 15% tax)
Amelia Island Hampton Inn: $116 = 25k/night --> 1 pt. = .46 cents to .5 cents

If I only used points where I could get 1 cent per point, I'd probably use them once every one or two years.

Would've been nice if they hadn't upped the 100k 6 night award to 150k... Ah, well.

Let's see, my next stay will be two nights at the Hampton Inn in Provo, Utah, an Opportunity Level hotel. For cash (including taxes), the cost is about ninety dollars per night (weekend rate) -- I will have my wife and the two kids. So, I can either pay about $180, or pay 15,000 points. I am Silver, so I would be getting a 15% bonus for a paid stay, plus 100 miles (which I will generously value at 200 points). So, if I stayed and paid with my Hilton AMEX, I would be getting about 3000 points altogether (roughly). So the total opportunity cost for the Opportunity room is about 18,000 points. That is a cent a point, or a worthwhile value in my opinion, especially since with two 14-month old kids, there are no plans in the next few years for any trips to Europe or the Orient.

You do see to be revisiting the topic with more regulariity than WE could possibly need, this your 5th or 6th post of similar ilk in the last few days.
mike


You're obviously off your rocker. That was the first post I made.


I just bocked for redemption the following awards
1 ) Cavalieri Hilton lowest available rate EU450 = 40k/night
2 ) Hilton Sorrento lowest available rate EU 280 = 25k/night
3) Paddington Hilton lowest available rate 145 GBP = 30k/night
add a minumum of 15% to paid rates for taxes.
I let you do the math.

But the above sort blows your 1/4c B.S. away doesnt it?

mike


I don't tell you how much you should pay for points, but apparently you feel the need to tell me how much I should pay for points. If you want to overpay for points, do so. I'll stick with 1/4c and no more. The BS is in all in you mind.

IIRC sergio used to entertain FT mightily with tales of flying around the world on miles he got from box tops, and never paying for a Hotel night etc. So these recent comments do not surprise me at all. ;)

Obviously your brain is fried. You must be confusing me with the pudding guy. I have never gotten any points from box tops, but I still travel the world without paying cash. Although I may be willing to pay 1/4c/point at the most.

I tried search, but couldn't get the answer I was looking for...

I value airline miles at about $.01 to $.0125 each based on the airline, etc
I value Starwood SPG points at about $.0125 each
I -THINK- I would value an HHonors point at about $.0033 each (or 1/3 of a Starwood point)

Any thought out there on a good value of an HHonors point to compare vs Starwood?

I am planning a two night award stay and have an HHonors property and Starwood property right next to each other and am not sure which is a better deal....

I value them at .005 . I figure a normal room 20,000 pts should cost $100. The higher award stays are the worst value 40,000 pts for a hotel should be $200, but those hotels weekend rates drop to $99 all the time. SPG has the same issues though 7,000 or 10,000 pts for a room on the weekend that is $99. I would factor HHonors pts versus SPG at 5:1 20,000 versus 4,000 SPG. I do value my SPG points and HHonors much higher then airline miles, since I do not ever worry about Bankruptcy with them. Overall I would look at what catagory the two hotels are. That is the key, a lot of the hotels overvalue themselves. A hampton at cat 3 is a joke and all the Westins are cat 3 or 4 versus a nice sheraton at 2.

I personally put 18,000 HHonors points at $100. (so, that's about 0.0055)

I do see your logic as to the $.0033, but with my patterns and properties involved, combined with Hilton Gold / Starwood Gold, I personally value Hilton points higher than I value Starwood points or airline miles.

It depends on how you use your points. I personally only use 175000 pts for the 6-night deal at any category 6 hilton.

So...

175000 pts/6 nights = 29167 pts per night

Assume ~$200-$250 per night at most category 6 hotels:

29167/200 = 146 pts/$
29167/250 = 116 pts/$

Take the inverse for $ per point:

$0.0068/pt - $0.0086/pt

so anywhere from .7 cents to .9 cents a point is the value to me; but it totally depends on where you want to stay and the rate they will charge.

So far, my redemptions have been as follows:

- 6 nights, HWV, 100k. Reasonable value for an HWV room plus breakfast & afternoon snacks - $175/nt. So, a little over a penny a point.

- 6 nights, HHV, 100k. Reasonable value for an HHV room plus breakfast - $150/nt. So, a little under a penny a point.

- 1 night, Cincinnati Hilton, 20k. This one is a bit subjective because most hotels were sold out that night. I would've otherwise booked a room for $50 out by the airport and driven downtown. So I'm loosely calling this one a $150 value: I wanted to be exactly there, Priceline had nothing, and the hotel treated me wonderfully. 3/4ths of a cent - even on a last-minute one-night award.

- 1 night, Madison Hilton, 25k. I'll call this one $150 as well. Again, I wanted to be in that property (for a wedding reception), not wherever Priceline would send me or some random Hampton by the airport. So a little under 2/3rd of a cent...

So, given that the Hawaii awards are no longer 100k, I tend to think of my HH points as about 0.7 cents each. I expect my future HH redemptions to look more like those one-nighters and less like Hawaii, so I think that's a reasonable expectation for my uses.

FWIW, I value a Marriott point at about a penny and a Starpoint at about 3 cents.

I value Hilton points at 0.5 cents.
I value SPG points at 1.5 cents.
I value Hyatt points at 1.0 cents.
I value airline miles at 1.0 cents.
And I value SWA credits at $20 per credit.

BTW, these are my lowest values and take into account lost point gaining possibilities if I am redeeming instead of paying. I normally get more value for each of these when redeeming, sometimes as much as 3X as much as I value them at, but that doesn't mean I would personally pay that much myself.

I spend most of my points in Europe. I find cat. 5 hotels (esp. Conrad) have rooms that cost 300 euros and up. 300 * 1.25 = $375. That comes to 1.1 cents per point. Now, I usually get upgraded to better accomodations say 375 euros. if you factor in the upgrade, a HHonors point is worth even more. And of course B'fast with our devalued dollar frequently costs >$30 in Europe, so that makes the points worth still more.

I guess the moral is, Dont redeem at HI. :)

With the ongoing Walk for Hope program, you get 5000 points for $25 (only two of the walks really vary from this) which is 20000 for $100--straight purchase basically, as you're not getting them from hotel stays. So using that as a basis rather than the value you get from them, which is inconsistent, I'd say $0.005 per point.

I spend most of my points in Europe. I find cat. 5 hotels (esp. Conrad) have rooms that cost 300 euros and up. 300 * 1.25 = $375. That comes to 1.1 cents per point. Now, I usually get upgraded to better accomodations say 375 euros. if you factor in the upgrade, a HHonors point is worth even more. And of course B'fast with our devalued dollar frequently costs >$30 in Europe, so that makes the points worth still more.

I guess the moral is, Dont redeem at HI. :)

Actually, some HI's in the 7500 or 10000 point level can be decent awards. They're still in the half-cent to .75-cent range.

For my trips to Europe, I have (fortunately) never had a case where I needed to be in the Hilton, Marriott, or Starwood. I've always had the flexibility to select from one of the many nice boutique hotels in whatever city I've been in. Usually a 3 or 4 star place for 150 euros, give or take. So a Cat 5 award at the 375-euro Conrad is really worth well under a half-cent per point to me. I'm better off saving my points for the rural Hampton Inn.

I spend most of my points in Europe. I find cat. 5 hotels (esp. Conrad) have rooms that cost 300 euros and up. 300 * 1.25 = $375. That comes to 1.1 cents per point. Now, I usually get upgraded to better accomodations say 375 euros. if you factor in the upgrade, a HHonors point is worth even more. And of course B'fast with our devalued dollar frequently costs >$30 in Europe, so that makes the points worth still more.

I don't know that this is a fair assessment of point value. Cat. 5 = $300 Euro is a fair assement of value I would say, however I don't think you can add on the other 75 Euro for the upgrade plus 60 Euro for breakfast for two. You would get the same upgrade possibility (actually probably better) and free breakfasts if you had simply paid 300 Euro for the room. But HH points are definitely more valuable in Europe if you were actually going to stay at a Hilton anyway, but like the above poster stated, there are better options sometimes than 300 Euro hotels.

So the Walk is an even exchange with a donation to charity?

I don't know that this is a fair assessment of point value. Cat. 5 = $300 Euro is a fair assement of value I would say, however I don't think you can add on the other 75 Euro for the upgrade plus 60 Euro for breakfast for two. You would get the same upgrade possibility (actually probably better) and free breakfasts if you had simply paid 300 Euro for the room. But HH points are definitely more valuable in Europe if you were actually going to stay at a Hilton anyway, but like the above poster stated, there are better options sometimes than 300 Euro hotels.

I agree, that's why I left the upgrade and B'fst out of my calculation to derive the 1.1 cent value. It really is subjective, what level of hotel do you want and what are you willing to pay for it? While in Europe, with those cheap dollars in your pocket, The Scandic hotels seem to me to be a good way to invest 10k Hhonors points. Me, I'm a sucker for luxury - so you'll find me grazing in the exec. lounge of the classier hotels using points which I consider welll spent. :D

I spend most of my points in Europe. I find cat. 5 hotels (esp. Conrad) have rooms that cost 300 euros and up. 300 * 1.25 = $375. That comes to 1.1 cents per point. Now, I usually get upgraded to better accomodations say 375 euros. if you factor in the upgrade, a HHonors point is worth even more. And of course B'fast with our devalued dollar frequently costs >$30 in Europe, so that makes the points worth still more.

I guess the moral is, Dont redeem at HI. :)
The other great redemption value in Europe is Scandic. Always 10k points a night, and if the room even costs a bit over 100 euros, that's at least $130 for 10k points or about 1.3 cents per point.

(This is the ONLY way I've redeemed HHonors points so far, but I don't know whether on an ongoing basis I'll be able to do enough free nights at Scandics -- given that I live in Los Angelles, and that Scandics are for the most part only in some northern European countries -- to use up all the points I earn requalifying for Diamond on cheaper domestic stays. :) )

I am trying to determine what is a good value for Hilton points. Typically, most people value starwood in the range of 2.5 cents per point.

Would you consider .7 to be a good value. I am looking to transfer in upto 200,000 HH and wanted some opinions.

I am trying to determine what is a good value for Hilton points. Typically, most people value starwood in the range of 2.5 cents per point.

Would you consider .7 to be a good value. I am looking to transfer in upto 200,000 HH and wanted some opinions.


Depending on what kind of HH redemption you have in mind. Personally I think .6 to .5 cent sounds about right. Obviously if you are to redeem a night at Hilton Rome for 40000 points, it's a better bargain. Also, it's hard to put a value on some of those VIP vacation packages.

I save my points for European hotels for vacation. Because they are so much more expensive, a penny a point would be fair there. Otherwise anywhere from 1/2 to 2/3 of a cent per point would work here.

There is a wide range of opinion regarding the $ value of points or miles but better agreement about the relative value of HH points, starwood points and miles:

1. 3 HH points = 1 airline mile
(based on bid/offer of 2/6 HH points/mile by Hilton)
2. 4 HH points = 1 starwood point
(based on 1 starwood point = 1.25 miles and above relationship,
and the fact that hotels are reimbursed for awards
at the rate of 0.25cents/HH point and 1 cent/starwood point)

I am trying to determine what is a good value for Hilton points. Typically, most people value starwood in the range of 2.5 cents per point.

Would you consider .7 to be a good value. I am looking to transfer in upto 200,000 HH and wanted some opinions.
I agree with both those valuations: on average, about 2.5 cents for a Starpoint and 0.7 cents for an HHonors point. Of course, there is wide variability, and the redemption value for a particular award has a strong influence on the probability of my using an award vs. paying! ;)

I personally value my Hilton points at .75 cents each. I usually use them for the 6-night VIP packages or expensive hotel stays in Europe. I tend to use a room cost of $200 per night as my threshold for burning points. Be sure to factor in the room tax savings you get from using points.

I value mine at .6 cents each for planning and earning purposes. But I usually get more than a penny out of them, especially once you include tax and the occasional points that get credited if the property doesn't log the folio properly. The key to me is that I pretty much only use my points for small town Opportunity and big city Category 5 properties. The same goes for Starwood.

I value my Starpoints at 2.5c each for earning, but I try to get 4c out of them including tax. So, I guess I agree with the 1:4 ratio posted above.

My HH points are always used for awards that would cost considerable $£€ or spent on bargains (e.g. Scandic or Hilton NRT for 10k points.) Some of the VIP awards are very nice, and I'm planning some AXON rewards as well. Stay at a Hampton Inn Phenix area for a summer's night? Nope...

I tried to search, but the search function won't accept "value".

I am trying to decide if 40,000 points for a $250 room is a good deal or not. Hilton points are like Lira, I never quit figured out how to value them with all those zeros!

I value a point at$0.01 so that 40000 =$400.I use the 175000 points for 6 nights at hotels where minumum charge is more than $300 per night.
The one hotel I stay at where a single night reward is good value has been the hilton narita at 10000 points for a night-it is over a $100 a night at best.

I tried to search, but the search function won't accept "value".

I am trying to decide if 40,000 points for a $250 room is a good deal or not. Hilton points are like Lira, I never quit figured out how to value them with all those zeros!

I do not think that's a good use of HH points.

(OT - I'll be down in the TPA area in a few weeks and am looking forward to trying Bern's.)

FWIW, I value HHonors points at $.0055 (just over half a cent each).

I think the HH points are an excellent value when used on the 4/6 night awards. The single night awards are "ok". I value at .005 as well.

Since the AMEX Hilton card is good for 3 Hilton points per dollar charged (5 on certain charges), I consider them to be worth one third of an airline mile.

I love these threads. :)

My value on HH is about 0.7 cents, so 40k for a $250 room is in the ballpark. If $250 was truly the cheapest decent hotel room in that market, I'd probably pull the trigger on the HH award. I'd rather keep cash in pocket and burn the points. But that's because I have more frequent-travel points and less cash.

Last time I got about a penny a point out of HH was when ALON's were 100k. I did two of them. A decent room in Waikaloa would have been $150/nt.+tax any way you slice it, and that was when HWV gave Golds kick-butt oceanview rooms, a welcome bottle of wine, and access to a great lounge. I definitely valued that one at a little over a penny a point.

I agree with pinniped. I value them at .7 cents. Like others have pointed out, you get your best bang from the 4 (AXON) and 6 day (GLONP/2) awards or from single night stays in expensive cities. Don't forget to factor in the savings from not having to pay the room tax.

If you add the tax on your $250 room, you are real close to my point valuation. I could go either way on this one. Depends on whether you have plenty of points or are saving them for another opportunity.

It seems to be a matter of where you need to stay, and when.

I'm staying in Dubai in March. At the moment the least expensive standard room I can book for the date required comes out to just over USD375 including taxes. I have made a booking at the same place on the same night for 30000 points (C401). So that's 1.25 ¢ per point.

Note that this is all well in advance; for example, if I was to be staying there next week, I can get the same type of room for ~USD190. So I will be rechecking as March gets closer. It's not a big deal to cancel the booking and get the 30K points back.

Very subjective and depends on your circumstances. Personally I would not redeem at that rate. Can get significantly better value than US$250 for 40,000.

<<deleted misinformation due to my error, quoted later in this thread for the curious>>

To the valuation discussion, I'd add the following thoughts:Points used are infinitely more valuable than points unused.
Point stretcher rewards are always a better value, even than the VIP rewards.
Suite upgrades are more common on reward stays than paid stays (this was confirmed recently by an insider).

Category 6 is the most expensive category at 35,000 points per night, so something is wrong with this equation.[/list]

According to the awards chart, a single night in a Category 6 is 40,000 point.

http://hhonors.hilton.com/en/hhonors/rewards/hotel.jhtml#standard_hotel_rewards_

Category 6 is the most expensive category at 35,000 points per night, so something is wrong with this equation.

[/list]
Category 5 are 35,000, category 6 are 40,000 per night.

Here's another recent thread on the value of HHonors points:

Does .7 cents for a Hilton point sound like a good value? (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=465107)

I think the proposed award stay (40,000 points for a $250 room) is a decent, but not spectacular, redemption value. And remember that you get stay credit for award stays with HHonors! ^

There are some very nice (and expensive) category 4s out there. (The Hilton Athens can be a very good value at 25,000 points a night.) I would spend the $250 (or try to find a cheaper hotel) and save the points for a time that you can get at least a penny a point out of them.

I try to reach $0.01 per point when I redeem an award. Hilton sells its points at that price. I agree that $0.007 is usually a more realistic value for redemption but you can go even beyond $0.01 if you book in peak season in New York city, London and Rome.

Other factors to consider are:

1. How many HHonors points do you have -- tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions?

2. How often do you redeem HHonors awards? Rarely or frequently?

3. Are there other potential HHonors stays coming up in the next year or so out of which you might squeeze better value (especially if you don't have that big a pool of points)?

I think the advice we can give here is pretty limited unless such things are taken into consideration. And most people responding to the question posed by the OP could be making assumptions that may or may not be applicable to the OP's particular situation.

Other factors to consider are:

1. How many HHonors points do you have -- tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions?

2. How often do you redeem HHonors awards? Rarely or frequently?

3. Are there other potential HHonors stays coming up in the next year or so out of which you might squeeze better value (especially if you don't have that big a pool of points)?

And #4 would be... How much money do you have, that you can spend on a hotel room? ;)

I recently had two hotel stays, which were part of a MR and since I spent the cash on the plane tix I spent the points on the HIs. Cat 1 ($99) and Cat 2 ($129). I definately do not think that was a good value point wise, but I just didn't want to spend any more $$ right now after spending it on the tix.

I try to reach $0.01 per point when I redeem an award. Hilton sells its points at that price. I agree that $0.007 is usually a more realistic value for redemption but you can go even beyond $0.01 if you book in peak season in New York city, London and Rome.

I routinely get 2.28 - 3.5 cents of value per 1 HHonors point (as measured by lowest available rate for said properties on those dates). :)

I've had 4 stays in the past 12 months on points and that's helped me retain my diamond status ... and each time I pick up a few more points.

Like has been previously said, the points are worth nothing if you don't spend them!

Other factors to consider are:

1. How many HHonors points do you have -- tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions?

2. How often do you redeem HHonors awards? Rarely or frequently?

3. Are there other potential HHonors stays coming up in the next year or so out of which you might squeeze better value (especially if you don't have that big a pool of points)?

I think the advice we can give here is pretty limited unless such things are taken into consideration. And most people responding to the question posed by the OP could be making assumptions that may or may not be applicable to the OP's particular situation.

Kathy, I appreciate the detailed answer. A newbie would benefit greatly...
However, as one of the most frequent travelers on the board, and your former Talkboard president, host of the largest FT do ever, first official company do ever, etc, etc... I felt a wee bit insulted! :p
I really only wanted the conversion ration. I use My Starwood and Hyatt miles all the time. I am top level in three programs (hilton is the third). I typically just give away my Hilton points to my mother, friends etc. I rarely volenteer to stay at a Hilton property unless there is no other option. The rewards are inferior and the beds sub par. I don't view two bottles of water as an "amenity". So my 30-45 hitlon stays a year are in Hampton Inns in the middle of nowhere, or Hilton airport properties. So my question was just about the ratio. Or (I love this part) as Freud said... "sometimes a cigar is just a cigar" :D

P.S. 430,000 HHonors points

Well exactly what did you want us to say?

Tell you that we agree with you that they are useless?
Doesnt it appear that they do have great value to some?

mike

Well exactly what did you want us to say?

Tell you that we agree with you that they are useless?
Doesnt it appear that they do have great value to some?

mike

I wanted to know what everyone thought a good exchange rate was. Like foreign currency if you don't watch it you don't know the recent developments.
Second, I never said they didn't have value or great value to people.
Third, I am one of "us".

My point simply was I asked for change for a dollar. Not the history of the monetary system. Ever see that episode of the apprentice where the one lady talks to the designer like he is two years old, and he got irritated. My point was I felt a wee bit insulted that I was getting the rookie answer. So I got defensive as to why I don't know what the points are worth. (I don't ever personally redeem them!) Simple.
So what is the point of your additional post?

I agree with pinniped. I value them at .7 cents. Like others have pointed out, you get your best bang from the 4 (AXON) and 6 day (GLONP/2) awards or from single night stays in expensive cities. Don't forget to factor in the savings from not having to pay the room tax.

If you add the tax on your $250 room, you are real close to my point valuation. I could go either way on this one. Depends on whether you have plenty of points or are saving them for another opportunity.

Yes there is good value from the multi-night awards in expensive cities. BUT....you only get one stay credit. Since HHonors counts award stays towards tier status, I often prefer to do one-night award stays in said cities to get to the 28-stay floor to retain Diamond status. Otherwise it costs me more in additional paid or award stays than the point savings I realize from the multi-night award.

BTW, scored a fantastic 54th floor wraparound view suite at the Millennium Hilton, NYC on a one-night award. One floor below the Presidential Suite.

Some difficult calculation: For 7 nights at a Cat 6 Hotel.

Would you advice me to use
205,000 Hilton HHonors Points
Pay 3,000 EUR in Cash

Some difficult calculation: For 7 nights at a Cat 6 Hotel.

Would you advice me to use
205,000 Hilton HHonors Points
Pay 3,000 EUR in Cash


That doesn't seem "difficult" to me... 3000 EUR is ~4300 USD. $4300/205,000 points gives you 2.1 cents per HHonors point, which I think most people on here would agree is a good (great) redemption value for HHonors points. For me, (and I think the consensus here) is any redemption with 1 HHonors point > 1 cent is a decent deal.

I was going to burn 175k for a 6 nt stay where the cash cost (including tax) was averaging EUR 340 / nt (so around USD 440/nt at that time) or a redemption value of 1.5 U.S. cents per point. Prepaid rate came in at EUR 149 (USD195) so decided to pay at a redemption rate of 0.66 U.S. cents/point.

For me, (and I think the consensus here) is any redemption with 1 HHonors point > 1 cent is a decent deal.

Conclusion to that: Hilton HHonors point have almost no value, compared to airline miles or to SPG points?

Conclusion to that: Hilton HHonors point have almost no value, compared to airline miles or to SPG points?

That's my general take. I would burn your points and keep your Euros.

You have to accumulate a fair number of points and stay at certain locales to really get a nice return on points. Hilton Hhonors is mostly about status for upgrades rather than points, IMO. If you compare this to Priority Club, it is the opposite. In that case, points are easier to obtain and use and get value from, but being "elite" isn't a big deal.

Unless they change the transfer ratio, AA miles are preferable to collect and then transfer to Hilton.

Conclusion to that: Hilton HHonors point have almost no value, compared to airline miles or to SPG points?

I wouldn't exactly phrase it that way. It's just a different currency.

I've done a lot of business with all three of the big chains. I actively hoard and use all three currencies. All of them have their "sweet spots" and areas where they are a poor use. And all three of them yield relatively similar levels of reward based on the dollars you spend at the properties (20-25 cents in future reward for every dollar spent, give or take a bit).

A key advantage to SPG and HH is an attractive credit card that can generate big balances even if you never do revenue stays. (And now, with Hilton, top-tier status.)

A key advantage to Marriott is perhaps the highest return - pushing into that 25% range if not higher - if you're a Platinum staying in a full-service property, using the U.S. version of the MR Visa, earning 20 points (total) per dollar spent.

Play all three of the programs - maybe throw in Priority Club if you do a lot of rural stays - and you'll increase your total value out of all of them because your diversity will allow you to make more "optimal" redemptions.

Conclusion to that: Hilton HHonors point have almost no value, compared to airline miles or to SPG points?I don't think anyone with a good understanding of the various programs would say that. Hilton HHonors points are extremely "easy" to earn compared to airline miles or SPG points. Comparing SPG to HHonors, hypothetically speaking let's say someone did the following:

* 10 one night stays at a property for a total spend of $2,000
* Additional $10,000 spend on the credit card (SPG or HHonors AMEX)

For that activity in HHonors one would get 62,000 points ($2,000 x (10+6) + $10,000 x 3 = 62,000 points, minimum, additional for "every day" spending bonus on AMEX) plus 5,000 miles (10 stays x 500 miles, less at Hampton Inn or Homewood Suites, different amounts for some foreign carriers or WN). That same activity on SPG would earn you 18,000 points ($2,000 x (2+2) + $10,000 x 1 = 18,000 points), period. Sure, SPG points are 3 times more valuable ... they're also three times harder to earn!

Note that if you exclude credit card spend, I believe things move even more dramatically in HHonors' favor.

The advantage of Hhonors to me is that I can earn points when my employer is paying the bill and then redeem the points when it is me who would otherwise have to pay. So I don't focus on maximizing the redemption value of the points -- I just use them when I would otherwise would have to use cash.

What I love about the program is that if you have the points, and if Hilton has a room, then it is yours -- no blackout dates (barring an extreme demand date, which thus far has never personally affected me). So I can get rooms for points at hotels on little or no advance notice.

Thus, Hhonors points are worth a lot more to me than FF miles because I can almost never use the miles when I want to use them AND FOR THE FLIGHTS I WANT TO BE ON without having to spend the miles at a high-demand tier. So I end up earning miles that I never spend. Hhonors points get spent. Therefore, I have the Hhonors credit card instead of an airline card.

True... While I can usually use my FF miles for good uses on Star Alliance, I definitely have to work at it!!

That is, milk the ANA tool to find availability, call United and get Starnet blocked :mad:, milk the ANA tool some other flights avoiding LH metal, call United and have them not be able to find the flights, milk the ANA tool some more, call United and get the ICC :mad:, tell them I accidentally dialed the wrong number, hang up, call United again and eventually find a competent agent, book flights, hang up, debate with myself whether I should be mad that I can't book the stupid award online or happy that I actually got it at all.

...And I won't even get started on what has to happen if I want to mix vouchers on paid coach seats with a mileage or SWU upgrade... It involves a drive out to MCI and an hour at the airport counter with the agents making numerous phone calls instead of me. :mad:

With hotels, at least they are moving towards a model where you can book regular rooms using your points in most normal situations. Online, with little hassle, or perhaps (in Starwood's case, with suites) with one phone call and little to no hold time.

Note that if you exclude credit card spend, I believe things move even more dramatically in HHonors' favor.

Hmmm... That makes me even more confused...

I personally won't be able to make use of any US credit card. Thus, the question remains in my particular case: Cash or Points :rolleyes:

Your particular case: points, a very easy call. You're pulling about 2 U.S. cents per point, an exceptional value. Book it now. ^

Your particular case: points, a very easy call. You're pulling about 2 U.S. cents per point, an exceptional value. Book it now. ^

I followed your advice. Booked seven nights in the Seychelles Resort and bought on the same time 40,000 points online back for 400 $

I followed your advice. Booked seven nights in the Seychelles Resort and bought on the same time 40,000 points online back for 400 $

:confused: Why in the world did you do that?!?!?! :confused:

You yourself in Post #110 concluded that:
Conclusion to that: Hilton HHonors point have almost no value, compared to airline miles or to SPG points?

Well done by redeeming your HH pts at Seychelles for such a great value. ^ But poorly done for buying 40k more HH pts for 1 penny per point.........:td:..........unless you needed those 40k pts for the Seychelles redemption. IMHO, HH pts are worth maybe 0.75 cents per pt. Unless you absolutely needed those extra pts immediately, you should NOT have bought them. They just devalue over time if they sit in your HH acct.

It sounds like he needed the 40k to top-up the award... If so, it's probably a very good one-time buy considering the paid rate at the hotel looks like it was probably around US$600/nt. (maybe higher with taxes?).

I'm very rarely in the position to outright buy HH points. The only time I consider the cost of acquiring the points is when I'm going through a short-term period of using the HH Amex to hit a status threshold. Then I'm sort of thinking of the points in terms of the opportunity cost, calculated in Starpoints. The way these two Amexes are structured now, I consider them pretty even in overall value, so I don't dwell on it too much.

On Jan 1, 2010, I'll kick off my Diamond run with the Surpass card... :)

It sounds like he needed the 40k to top-up the award...

Indeed, I would be short of points for a second night in the Hilton Maldives on a seven night award.