<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Rail Baron:
what good is having a high HH balance if you can't use them? This is the same issue with most airline ff programs. With *Wood, no problem
I believe the best use of any hotel points is for international travel, especially now that the dollar is so weak.
What if there was a major US airline ff program where a base member would be guaranteed a seat if the flight wasn't sold out that went to popular places like the caribbean and Europe? Everyone would agree that it was the best. All other things being equal, it looks like that's what we have with *Wood.</font>
This has been my point exactly with the airlines. In hotels, I agree that SPG is the best because points or money, they take you in and you can always use either if you have it!
That means I can walk into the ST Regis in Aspen and spend $550/nite or use 12k per nite points and be treated the same, get the same availabilty, get the same benefits with no blackouts, and that is why they are hands down the best. You can also stay at some $125/nite lower level SPG hotel and STILL get this kind of service overall!
It is a no brainer. Go with the WOOD!
MM