Originally Posted by
HawkeyeFlyer
Just depends. For instance just looked at a 7 night stay at the Arizona Biltmore later this month. 198,000 Hilton points vs $125 per night or $875. So that 17K in spend at Hilton on Surpass pays for the entire stay where on MR it would not.
Now that is off season in AZ and not spring break.
However, I have reached out to hotels direct in the past, for instance Grand Wailea and gotten point reduced for award during peak season, Xmas and New Years. Getting harder though
Getting a one week stay at a hotel you want to visit, paid for entirely on points earned by $17,000 of HH spend on AMEX Surpass is, IMHO, a very good deal. Well worth the annual fee,
especially if you can get a lower incentive fee.
Also, think of it as a 5% return on your $17,000 Surpass spend at HH properties. ($875 cash price for hotel/$17,000 HH Surpass spend = 0.051 or 5% return on Surpass spend.) Certainly not a shabby rate of return on your HH spend!