Originally Posted by
aaupgrade
130000 points for 7 nights at Vail Marriott (Cat 6) = $3759 or 2.9¢ per point
120000 points for 5 nights at Vail Marriott (as Cat 6) = $2685 or 2.2¢ per point
140000 points for 5 nights at Vail Marriott (as Cat 7) = $2685 or 1.9¢ per point
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150000 points for 7 nights at Paris CE Marriott (Cat 7) = $5250 or 3.5¢ per point
160000 points for 5 nights at Paris CE Marriott (Cat 8) = $3750 or 2.3¢ per point
A few random checks at Vail, during Feb ski season, show $299-$329/night and Paris in May through June at $530-$550/night. (Plus an assumed 10% for taxes).
The first values listed are good for 53 more days. They yields values of 1.36 and 1.98 cents per point.
The later values are under the new rates and I'll ignore the Paris CE at Cat 7 since it's already announced as a Cat. 8. This yields values of 1.46, 1.25, and 1.86 cents.
I would have said 1.25-1.5 cents under the new program (vs. 1.5-1.75 under the previous), and given the data points above that sounds about right. Especially since these are some of the more attractive (and unavailable) rewards available.
Personally, with 600K points and earning faster than I can burn, I'd take the $1200. I can earn interest on it and the MR point will inevitably be worth less if/when I get around to using those last marginal 120K points. That's why value varies by person, situation, amount.