Originally Posted by
jeffandnicole
Individual hotels do have special rates. I just stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn in NYC. Normal points rate is 60,000/night; a special they offered was for 36,000/night...but I only knew about it after I clicked into their site to see all their rates they were offering.
It occasionally happens that room rates are so low that the Premium Room Awards, which are based on cash rates, can be less than the standard room rate. New York off-season is an obvious possibility for that, but only really if the revenue manager is too lazy/stubborn to lower the points requirement for off season.
But basically there's no rocket science. Fifth night free or Points & Money are the only reliable ways to spend fewer points.