One more thing I should point out about the "value" of these 50% off certs that some may not be aware of or considered, that I posted in another thread on this subject:

Even though by using them, it may only bring your bottom-line room rate near to what you could already get on the web without using them at all...by using a 50%er, you often find yourself booked in a higher category room at this "rack rate." Thereby guaranteeing you a better class of room, or bedding, smoking, or view preference that might not have been available to you at the lowest web rate.

Example:

Say all the lowest priced rates you could find on the web (using "No Preferences" to obtain the lowest price) was for a standard city view smoking room 2 beds, when you wanted an ocean view non-smoking king.

But the 50%er got you booked into a rack rate room that was a deluxe ocean view non-smoking king, at or near the web price. You are now guaranteed not only the preferences (non-smoking king), but actually are confirmed in a higher category of room (deluxe ocean view) too!

True example booking last year at the Westin Sydney 4 nights with minimum non-smoking king acceptable:

Only availability at lowest price I could find: 3 nights @ 260AUS 1 night @ 385AUS Only smoking, and only 2 beds. Standard room.

Usually I would book it, placing my bedding and non-smoking preferences in the comments field and trust/hope a PlatCon could mooch a change or the hotel could fulfill or upgrade. But the hotel could end up full and I could be stuck with one or more things I don't want.

Then I called up and asked what the best rate I could get using SPG50. 248AUS per night for all four nights! Plus the rack rate it was off of, was a Deluxe Tower something, with all of our bedding and non-smoking preferences confirmed!

So not only did we save money, we got a better room type and preferences confirmed and guaranteed, which were not available at the lowest prices on the web, and via the web would have only been confirmable by paying a much higher rate.

Leaving us free from worry about the possibility of being stuck in 2 stinky beds instead of 1 heavenly one.