Originally Posted by
Happy
Indeed! Last year we needed an overnight at BOS for our BOS-HKG, HKG-BOS CX flights both going (departure around 1am) and coming (arrival after 10:30pm). The obvious option(s) are Hilton BOS directly connected to the airport or a Hyatt Regency a shuttle ride away. Even the blogger of View from the Wing reported receiving awful treatment at this Hyatt Regency which also is a lot less convenient to Hilton. Hilton BOS cash rates had never been below $595 + 28%! tax... Point redemption for most room types were a flat 70K. I was glad I just have a bit more than 140K Hilton points in the account that was not used the past several years. A chance to use them and saved me $1523 cold hard cash, for a totally meh but absolutely needed hotel stay on both end of that trip. No "aspirational" but extremely practical. Worked in my book.
Yeah, I think being able to swivel on a dime for value between programs because "YMMV, I mean REALLY vary" really works out here.
That being said I would think that if OP is really finding great value in HIX stays IHG seems like a great program... though you don't really
need status to maximize HIX or properties in those limited service property ranges, everyone gets the same mediocre breakfast
and the real value is clean bed and a shower, if it's new construction or well maintained so much the better, all that and a great location for your travel plans really fits the bill.
(It's why I am pretty "meh" about Hyatt status because when it comes to Hyatt status, it's Globalist or who cares, I can't really hit Globalist without a ton of MS or mattress runs, but I find plenty of usage and value for Hyatt
stays and points.)
Usually my "aspirational" properties are city hotels, not the Maldives/Tahiti kind of uber luxurious "here's your boat ride/small plane ride to get to the place", or all inclusive resorts. I find all the chains can fit the bill for those, or even the right boutique hotel/local option that's just not part of the chains (you'll find next to zero American chain hotels on the Left Bank in Paris, but plenty of local options).