Originally Posted by
SHLTP
I don't hoard points. Unfortunately, I used 500,000 points or so last yr but couldn't use the rest - my preferred hotels haven't had redemptions for last 6-9 months. It's been getting extremely hard to use points. I've found many properties don't open up often in advance.
I assume your focus is mainly on higher-category properties.
Personally, I have a mix of Category 1–2 and Category 4–5 properties. But by far the majority of my award stays are at Category 1–2 hotels.
In my experience, higher-category properties are much more often sold out on points. Perhaps that is because they are a central part of many credit-card strategies. After all, most people are not putting heavy spend on a credit card in order to redeem for a Hyatt House somewhere.