Originally Posted by Just Passing Thru
Two of the 7-night package awards. At 400K, we'll be able to redeem two packages at the Cat 7 level, so we'd have sufficient points no matter where we chose to go. If our chosen location didn't require a Cat 7 redemption, we'd have some points left over.
Oz and South America are on the menu right now, but Ms. JPT may have other plans for us.
Actually, the good news is that you won't need Cat 7's. You'll probably be able to get away with two Cat 5's (at 235k each for the top air/hotel package) or a Cat 5 and a Cat 6 (250k).
Most of Marriotts Cat 7's are clustered in London and NYC. Most FT'ers would probably agree that there are too many cheap ways to secure NYC lodging that the points aren't best used there.
London's another story...if you want to be in an American chain hotel while in London (so folks do, some don't...), using points is probably the best way to go because rates are very high and there aren't a plethora of cheap back-doors into those properties like there are for U.S. hotels.