Originally Posted by
Exiled in Express
Your cash vs points decision should usually be made based on rate, not brand. I stayed at HIX Alamogordo last week on points, 10,000 points or ~$120 for a night made it an excellent value for points given my travel patterns.
When I had it, Plat status had the most effect at Holiday Inns. Free breakfast vouchers, upgrades to 3 room suites, crazy PC point welcome amenities. The extended stay brands have little to offer and the CPs and ICs see many Plats and (Royal) Ambassadors so can't wow all of them.
You seem to be based in the US. Are you aware that the Priroity Club Select Visa from Chase ($49/year, waived first year, free hotel night cert every year the annual fee is paid, 10% rebate on all points redemptions) gives you Platinum status just for
holding the card (ie, no purchase threshold needed)?
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/inter...um-status.html
I'm not saying that PC Plat is necessarily worth paying for. But a free hotel night certificate (so far, anyway, not tier restricted) for $49 makes this what many of us call a "net zero" cost card.