Originally Posted by
mfirst
I think I am averaging about $100 per night SNIP
The CY - and to be honest, is in Appleton, WI - is a cat 4
So, keeping it simple, you're getting 1500 points as a Platinum or 1750 as a Titanium per night. Double that for the current promo to 3000 or 3500 points per night (ignoring the welcome bonus).
The standard rate for a Cat 4 is 25000 points per night which comes down to 20000 points per night if you use points for five nights (for the price of four) which is what many of us do. So, do the maths (or math as you're in America) and work out if using points at this CY is worthwhile for you. It will take you 6.6 (as Platinum) or 5.7 (as Titanium) paid nights to get a free one there assuming you're redeeming four nights for five. Personally I wouldn't bother with this at a CY as the cash rate is US$100 a night and redemption will be poor value at 0.5cpp (assuming the 20,000 five-night rate).
Many of us on here save points and redeem them at aspirational properties we would never pay for ordinarily. I usually get 2-4cpp on five-night stays but I choose my redemptions carefully. Many on here would say it's impossible to get more than 1cpp redemption value but I do it every time.