Originally Posted by
todorovic
I tipically redeem at ~2.5-3 cpp so that's how I value my points. Those redemptions are either overseas or high-end US properties during the peak season. I also tend not to hoard my points - currently I have award reservations that will drop my points total by ~300k points.
To answer your question, based on the cpp ratio I would most likely use points for this stay. However, this depends on the overall rate - I'm more inclined to use points if the nightly rate is above $200. If we are talking about a $100/night vs. 5k points I may pay rather than spend points. Ultimately it's up to you to decide how much money you want to spend and to use points if the price is more than you are comfortable with.
Just two more points to consider: an award stay is not charged the "resort fee" which can be up to $20; free suite upgrades can't be applied to award stays. I usually use points when staying at resorts, since the cost of the stay is not business related and therefore out of my own pocket, sans tax break.