Originally Posted by stevens397
I accrued lots of MR when I bought a timeshare from Marriott and used their credit card for a while to get even more. Then I saw how many points it took to get their hotel rooms and I began to balk. Case in point - next summer I'm using 150,000 Marriott points for 5 nights at the Ritz in Maui, but only 48,000 points for 5 nights at the Princeville in Kaui.
Most people rate points at 1 cent per mile/point. I try to hold out until I can get at least 5 cents. I'll use points to pay for coach and upgrade to first class on that Hawaii trip. Two tickets for 60,000 points saves me $3,200 for 5.3 cents per point.
With all due respect, the ability to earn SPG points compared to Marriott points is vastly inferior, unless you are just comparing the credit card to credit card accumulation at non-Marriott properties, in which case they are equal. That being said, there are generally far more places you can use a Visa card than an Amex, so that must be factored into it, as well.
With respect to 5 Cents to the point, more power to you, but I don't see how that is possible, but in any event, the 1 cents to the point is the best guidepost IMHO. Other can disagree.
With respect to the catalog, well if you think that is bad, take a look at Hilton conversions!!!
The best guideline IMHO, is this:
RENDER UNTO CAESAR, THAT WHICH IS CAESAR'S
By this I mean, do not try to convert points among programs because it is often a bad deal, and sometimes an exceedingly bad one.
The only one that may be half way decent is the SPG 20,000 points into 25,000 FF miles, but I for one cannot understand that one either, what with diminishing ability to book award seats at standard redemptions -- if that -- compared to the no blackout proviso in SPG.
In any event, I shoot for the mulit nighters at Marriott because there is an increasing point discount the more nights that you stay, and I like those package rewards, as well.
Just did 250,000 points for 7 nights @ a Cat 6 (Renn Kapalua) over Christmas. Received 120,000 AA miles (even if AA does away with the 1 million miler for non-flight miles, I have a nice kitty for redemption on them or another One World partner -- and I paid no transfer fee that one would have to pay from either AMEX or Diners -- that is one reason why I think AMEX is pulling the plug on Marriott transfers) and a 25% off Hertz coupon that discount the 7 night Mustang convertible rental that I would have to pay during that time-frame to only $507, taxes and fees (but not insurances) included!
I am happy with the deal I received because one always gets the best redemption value by sticking to the main thrust of the program in which the rewards were earned in the first place!