Originally Posted by
beltway
This last point is crucial. Paying 29K for a room is no bargain if you can have the same room for $99 a/i.
Well, the 29K room is probably closer to a $145 room with the value being $0.005 per HH point. I actually did a quick flex search for DC in early December. I don't see 29K for Capital Hilton, but I saw bunch of 25K. For the same night with 25K, the room is at $109 for Adv Purchase or $116 HH member. And there are 21K room on Dec 15 and after. The rate for Dec 15 is $91 for Adv Purchase or $97 for HH member.
Using the HH member rate (because AP rate is non-refundable), the value of HH points just about every hotel I checked is exactly $0.0046 when the cap is not in play. And if you add in the hotel tax, it will be around $0.0050 to $0.0054 depending on the tax rate. It is better if you stay at a resort.. because of no resort fee with award stay. So the value of points will go up to $0.006. But that's is really it at the max value once the caps are removed.