Best use of BW Reward Points
Sep 19, 2018, 3:37 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select
Posts: 469
Best use of BW Reward Points
Just started accumulating BW points...but wondering what are some of the best use of the points? I assume one should redeem for free nights (vs the terrible redemption on gift cards and such), but at what properties? Any real life experiences out there? Too bad they are no longer give 10% back for reward night redemptions 
Sep 19, 2018, 4:07 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: California
Programs: Marriott Gold (1st choice) BW Diamond (2nd)
Posts: 299
Just started accumulating BW points...but wondering what are some of the best use of the points? I assume one should redeem for free nights (vs the terrible redemption on gift cards and such), but at what properties? Any real life experiences out there? Too bad they are no longer give 10% back for reward night redemptions
Sep 19, 2018, 5:02 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select
Posts: 469
Hmm ok...1200 SW pts for 5000 BW pts, huh? I need to look into that. But, one of the best BW hotels I've stayed at is at the Grand Canyon (Tusayan)...you can get their Junior Suite for 36,000 pts (max pts) and it usually costs $300-400+ a night. I think if we plan another trip there, I would use my pts for that hotel.
Sep 20, 2018, 2:04 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Ontario, Canada
Programs: Marriott Titanium
Posts: 154
We just stayed at BW Mediterraneo in Castelldefels, Spain for 8 nights on points. It is a quick train ride from Barcelona, across from a beautiful Mediterranean beach. 24k points a night!
Sep 20, 2018, 3:22 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Hmm ok...1200 SW pts for 5000 BW pts, huh? I need to look into that. But, one of the best BW hotels I've stayed at is at the Grand Canyon (Tusayan)...you can get their Junior Suite for 36,000 pts (max pts) and it usually costs $300-400+ a night. I think if we plan another trip there, I would use my pts for that hotel.
Sep 20, 2018, 6:11 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select
Posts: 469
Another great BW hotel near a national park is the Grand near Bryce Canyon. (In fact, the only chain hotels near Bryce Canyon are two BWs, the newer Grand and a much older Ruby's Inn.) The Grand is only 20,000 points (when available; you tend to have to book well ahead), and has the biggest/best free-to-all-guests breakfast buffet I've yet seen in the USA.
Last edited by lasnowgirl; Sep 20, 2018 at 6:14 pm Reason: Added to post
Sep 21, 2018, 2:04 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
I assume it must depend on the date, because I just did a sample date in January to see what the Grand redemption rate was, and it showed 20k as of yesterday.
Sep 23, 2018, 12:03 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: Marriott Platinum, HH Diamond, BW Diamond Select
Posts: 469
That's right...I think BW does dynamic pricing for rewards. I booked for April and it's probably a busier time with kids and spring break.
Sep 23, 2018, 8:47 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,786
I generally find that most room redemptions value BW points at half a cent each ($5 per K.) So if 1200 SW miles = $25, it's an OK deal. However, if I can get $8 or even $10 per K on a free room, I grab it!
BW points-prices varied by calendar month, last time I checked.
BW points-prices varied by calendar month, last time I checked.
Dec 12, 2018, 3:50 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: SFO, MNL, SIN, HAM
Programs: UA GS, SQ PPS, IHG Plat Amb, Marriot Gold, Hilton Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Accor Plat
Posts: 488
Dec 13, 2018, 7:28 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Award rooms @10K is back for this early-winter!
for hotels in USA & Canada (if the date restrictions are not a problem for you).
Bryce Canyon NP can be beautiful after a snowfall (long enough after for it be reasonable to drive to there, short enough after for the snow to still be on and between the formations, but long enough after so that the beautiful color of the formations is peeking out from behind the snow enough). And the Bryce Canyon City BW Grand Hotel is one of the best BW hotels in the USA probably.
Dec 14, 2018, 1:41 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,164
At this time of year, it would be this:
Award rooms @10K is back for this early-winter!
for hotels in USA & Canada (if the date restrictions are not a problem for you).
Award rooms @10K is back for this early-winter!
for hotels in USA & Canada (if the date restrictions are not a problem for you).
Anyway, I have seen AsiaMiles offers 1.5x on converted points now, so went for that.
Jan 8, 2019, 7:58 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: California
Programs: Marriott Gold (1st choice) BW Diamond (2nd)
Posts: 299
Unfortunately you only have 2 choices. The Bw by the airport (around 20k pnts) or the Cartwright downtown (around 36K pnts). Just depends what you are in SF for and if they have the points options available for the days you are staying. Ive stayed at the Cartwright hotel around 4 times already and to me works perfect due to the location if you are there to tour. It would justify the points difference than having to hassle with uber or public transportation.