A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 53,012
Three hotel options:
(1) Most of the MSP Residence Inns are participating in both the Summer and Fall reduced-point awards. 19,000 points gets you 2 nights, and availability generally isn't a problem. You already have a nice rate for a Res Inn, but a penny-a-point yield on such a small number of points is actually pretty good. There's $200 right there, and you have just enough points to do it.
(2) You could also use Priceline to save money on the hotels: you'd probably pay around $50/nt. for a 3* hotel, give or take a few bucks. You might not get a place with free breakfast, and it might not be as roomy as a Res Inn.
(3) Use a Marriott Elite Offer to get a 2-for-1 weekend at a Marriott. (Must be a real Marriott, not an RI, but there are nice and cheap Marriotts in MSP.) If you aren't Marriott Elite, check out the Marriott forum: I noticed quite a few people offering to give their extras away. Only good if your stay is this month or next.
Although I'm usually a big fan of (2), I am doing both (1) and (3) in Minneapolis in the next three months.