Originally Posted by
Jon Maiman
1) Annual Visa night, we almost always have transit overnights driving to or from our summer vacation. Frequently these hotels off an interstate are low category but high nightly rate since they know they have the vacation travelers locked in. I typically use them on $160+ Fairfield rooms. Note, I also do IHG and they have the same inflated rate issue in these areas (as does Hilton though I don't do that program). So typically a 2 for 1 return for the $85 annual credit card fee.
3) In general I try to get >= 1 cpp but at times will go lower if I am strapped for cash and/or exceptionally flush with points.
Marriott is my backup program, but I have the Chase Visa and keep it due to the free night. It's quite worth it for me, as I do what Jon does. Road trips for me invariably require one night stays here and there where I find the hotels regularly charging $150/night. I also usually keep enough points in my account to redeem a one or two night stay somewhere if the cash rate is really high, but
I don't usually find high value in Marriott redemptions which is why they're my back up. Hilton points are worth a lot less, but they're also far easier to obtain for casual travelers.