Originally Posted by
Concerto
So, if you buy points for a redemption and ultimately the hidden cost of the room comes to the same price as simply paying cash for the room, isn't it just better to pay cash for the room and collect credit towards becoming an elite programme member?
The whole premise of buying and using points instead of a cash stay is that the total cost of the room is considerably cheaper and more flexible using points than it would be on cash (even after factoring in earnings, payment at property, etc.) I don't think most are using using bought points to redeem for stays where the cash cost after taxes is in the same ballpark as the cost of purchasing points.