I just went to book a two-night award stay at a Doubletree in Southern California; it's a category 3 property.

I was really surprised when the agent told me it would be 50,000 points-- 25k/night.

(A word of background about myself: I'm a Diamond but I rarely, rarely redeem HHonors points-- I just collect them from work and know they're there. I have about 250k now.)

50K? Wow. A fifth of my account for two lousy nights at a mid-range hotel?

Then I looked to see that my average hotel stay earns about 3,000 points -- one night at a property with a $200-ish/night rate. I think that makes me about average as a business traveler; I'm not staying in fancy suites, and I'm not staying at really inexpensive Hamptons either.

It will have taken 16 nights to earn enough for two at a mid-range hotel? Does that seem right?

It feels to me as if it takes only five nights to earn a single Starwood night at a pretty good hotel.

Are HHonors points a good value?