I still try to stick with a floor of 1 CPP in terms of ACTUAL savings I will make. This is something that's a more complicated calculation since the Marriott properties in an area may be overpriced and a comparable property might be cheaper than the cash rate at the Marriott. Honestly it's gotten a lot more difficult since I take lots of short trips so travel packages or fifth night free doesn't factor in. Most of my recent redemptions have been at cat 2 Four Points and Sheratons in the USA on weekends where I am looking at spending 9000 Marriott points (3000 SPG) vs saving at least $90 (usually the hotels are around $110+tax, so I end up getting close to 1.3 CPP). Same way I use the Visa cert -- make sure to get more than the $85 fee I pay for the card.