Originally Posted by
weld3z
I disagree with burning the points and keep certion amount in the account !!
you should use them the correct way 5 nights in expensive hotels, if the hotel sell the room for 280 or less i well pay more than that i well use the points if my stay 5 nights or more (this is my strategy most of the time)
Also you can use them for 7 nights plus air miles here is the link https://www.marriott.com/loyalty/redeem/travel/packages.mi
Im sitting on 1,600.000 points today just use 240k in London save me something around $2500 for 5 nights..
if you have 2M try to keep your account with 700k all the time..!
Everyone values things differently. I wouldn't drop 240K for 4 nights + 1 night free. Three quarters of your 240K or 180K transferred to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan would yield 75K miles; precisely the number needed for a JL First Class award TPAC from North America to Japan and beyond to as far as Delhi, India with connecting flights within North America to the JL gateway. The reverse is also true. 240K would yield 100K miles, enough for a CX return to/from SE Asia and North America, again with connecting flights to the CX gateway. Even a one-way award allows a free stopover.
I can't remember the last time I spent more than 4 nights in a hotel so the 5th night free is of no value to me. Beyond 4 nights I am looking for an air bnb where I can prepare some of my own meals.
There is great value in redemptions outside of hotel stays. A CX JFK-HKG-DPS return in business runs about $5,250. With 1.6M points I wouldn't be discounting Airline FF# programs. All have their sweet spots and you are free to chose a program that works best for you. Combining Airlines with your strategy may be a more stratigic approach.
James in Portland.