Originally Posted by
broadwayjoe
I just did a little back of envelope math and Hilton has really screwed up here. I use my Amex Hilton card and can earn 3 points for every dollar I spend. So a Category 7 hotel now costs 50,000 points. That requires me to spend $16,666 to get a free night there. But I can earn $320 cash back with a couple other cards. Except in peak season - when it's hard to get a free room anyhow - very few Hiltons cost more than $240 a night. And the math even gets worse the lower down the category chain you go. Obviously my situation is unique to me but I'll start putting my charges elsewhere. I charge $1 million a year on my cards for my small business. There are plenty of cards out there that want that business.
P.S. One exception may be if you are an American and want to use points to stay in hotels overseas. If the US dollar declines then it will at least be a better deal for us.
Math varies for some people because not all people us the HH AMEX for everyday purchases. I for one only use the card at places that earn 6 pts. per $1 spent. Either way the HH AMEX is less attractive after the devaluation than it was before like you pointed out.
There are alot of alternatives out there to the HH AMEX and you can read yourself silly on FT if you like. As always YMMV. Alot of people swear by the SPG AMEX and there seems to be a Travelocity Card that is getting lots of comments on the CC forum. Some just stick to a regular AMEX product (green, gold or plat....with your spend you could likely get Centrurion if you wanted to fork out the $ for the benefits.)