Definitely has to be in the eye of the beholder, because the math sure doesn't support the concept of most non-hotel or non-travel package awards being a good bargain.

2 weeks at Vail Marriott during ski season 260,000 points for what would have cost $6714.71. 2.6¢ per point. With loss of points due to not paying for the room taken into account it comes 1.8¢ per point (assumes platinum status using Marriott Premier VISA).

- or -

A week at Renaissance Chancery Court London, or Paris Champs Elysees for 150,000 points for what would have cost $3668.67 or $4208.01 respectively. 2.4¢ to 2.8¢ per point. With loss of points due to not paying for the room taken into account it comes 1.7¢ - 1.9¢ per point.


1.5¢ per point and up is excellent. Between 1¢ and 1.5¢ per point is eye of the beholder territory. And less than 1¢ should not even be considered IMO.


32" Philips LCD HDTV with Ambilight for 260,000 points is available at Walmart for $1299.99. That comes to 0.5¢ per point, not a bargain IMO.

So for 260,000 points: A $1300 TV or a $6700 stay at Vail.


Travel Packages make it an even better return on your points. 250,000 points for a week at Vail Cat 6 ($3357.35) plus 2 non-stop roundtrip business class upgrades to Munich from IAD (valued at about $14,000). That comes to 6.9¢ per point.