HELP ME (get the best bang for my HH points....)
 

OK, I've been a member of HHonors for maybe 12 years, earning points slowly then spending them on a night in London.

A trip last week saw an expensive room, combined with the 2x/3x promo, yield 111,000 points (plus change).

Now, I want to take a nice trip next year for a celebration - can go pretty much anywhere on the BA route network. How do I get the best bang for my points? 50k/nt for a normal room at the Conrad in HK seems a bit of a waste.

Does anyone have any inspirational thoughts?

Apologies for the vague question!

Many thanks

ST

You asked for inspirational thoughts:

Live generously with HHonors and enjoy meaningful experiences in more ways you can image by making a donation with your HHonors® points. For every 10,000 points you donate, HHonors will send a US$25 contribution to the charity of your choice. Join us in making a difference.

http://hhonors1.hilton.com/en_US/hh/...tions/index.do

With all respect I make a number of charitable donations anyway (supported by UK gift aid), and can derive far more than $250 worth of value from a 100k points stash so this would just be foolish.

(If Hilton were willing to give to charity the same that they sell the points for in the first place then I might have more sympathy with this suggestion, but otherwise I'm letting them make something like a 75% profit on my donation....)

Conrad Hong Kong is a lovely hotel. It often has cash and points values that for me are better value than a straight points redemption. You could look at pairing that with the Conrad Macau. Friends are raving about that property; I have yet to visit it.

The Evian Hilton on the shores of Lake Geneva also offer cash and points. The hotel is rather ordinary but the view is anything but.

You might want to clarify a bit, OP. When you say anywhere on the BA route network, are you saying anywhere just BA flies, and/or that its partners also fly (and on which you'd accrue miles), and/or would you be cashing in BA miles? If the latter two options, that opens up lots of options since you could then book partner flights as well.

Good question Swiss Tony. Is there a list on the website of properties that take cash and points, or do you have to try booking at each property?

AXON and/or GLON would be your friend.

You can find info on maximizing your points in this blog post:
http://thepointsguy.com/2012/07/maxi...n-redemptions/

Otherwise, it is as simple as determining where you want to go!

Good luck.

Very useful link thanks, but there is no UK Hilton Amex therefore no AXON :(

Pointstretchers was good before they stopped the program. You can check the other threads for people complaining about hotels charging extra for "premium rooms." If you can get rooms at these hotels for the regular points cost, then that is a good deal.

+1

points + cash on conrad HK was going to be my suggestion.

Also some of the WA properties offer points + cash. I had this at the Syon park for example, not that that would be much of a trip for you:D

Am looking at Spring 2013 so I think the points & cash rates aren't loaded yet - is that right?

I stayed at the Conrad in HK a few years back, harbour view, club floor, and it was indeed very, very, very good. Booked in the new year sale so that's why I figure 50k points a night for a normal room is a bit duff (unless I can efficiently upgrade to the club floor)

Re the earlier point - yes, BA mainline routes ex LON to allow the 2-4-1 voucher to be used. Wouldn't necessarily rule out Europe

Thanks for the help!

Ah, I stayed in the Conrad HK many years ago based on the good reviews here. 70K for 6 nights. Those were the days.

Conrad Koh Samui - a GBP500/USD800 villa with your own pool can be had for 50,000 points per night. Heaven on earth (and USM is fairly close to BA-served BKK).

I had a very nice stay at the Hilton Barcelona Diagonal Mar. Grand city too with obvious BA service.

Sadly they silently stopped it.