Summer Gift Card Promo Returns
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 536
Summer Gift Card Promo Returns
As a Choice Privileges® member, two separate stays between June 12 and August 17 can earn you enough points to redeem for a $50 gift card. Choose from select retailers and redeem your points by September 30.
FAQs here: https://www.choicehotels.com/promo/faqs
FAQs here: https://www.choicehotels.com/promo/faqs
#3
Join Date: May 2010
Location: DFW
Programs: American - Platinum Pro, Marriott - Platinum
Posts: 479
If I don't use the points to redeem gift cards, I'm assuming this is the same as every 2 stays, get 1 free night for an 8000 point value night, correct? Meaning I can keep the points, not redeem them for gift cards, and redeem them for 1 stay later on. Or can I redeem them for a 1 night stay even during the promo period?
#4
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bismarck, ND
Programs: Choice Privlidges Elite Diamond- 120+ Choice Privileges nights/year, Delta, UA
Posts: 93
If I don't use the points to redeem gift cards, I'm assuming this is the same as every 2 stays, get 1 free night for an 8000 point value night, correct? Meaning I can keep the points, not redeem them for gift cards, and redeem them for 1 stay later on. Or can I redeem them for a 1 night stay even during the promo period?
#5
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 47
How is a $50 gift card better than an $80 hotel night? I don't redeem unless I get better than $0.01 per point. Last July I got 2 night stay ($125 per night) for 8,000 pts each. Also, last July I go got 3 night stay ($135 per night) for 10,000 pts each. These were not highway stop locations. These were in tourist areas.
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 536
How is a $50 gift card better than an $80 hotel night? I don't redeem unless I get better than $0.01 per point. Last July I got 2 night stay ($125 per night) for 8,000 pts each. Also, last July I go got 3 night stay ($135 per night) for 10,000 pts each. These were not highway stop locations. These were in tourist areas.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
WIth that in mind, I;'ve used 10000 - 12000 points (depending on the month) for hotels that were $120ish before taxes but $135+ after taxes for the cheapest rooms, but on points I was able to get the suite for the same number of points as the cheapest room. This was, for example, at the Clarion SNA airport (which doesn't always have such high rates but often enough does, especially if booking late). That may not be quite as good as the person who got those 8000 point hotels, but it's still better than a $50 gift card.
So while it looks no better than a $50 gift card with the room rate, once you factor in the taxes plus that you get the suite for the same number of points, it's definitely way better than a $50 gift card IMHO. (Especially, as in my case, when I was booking for nights during which there was no stay-based promo. I might have made a slightly different decision had a stay-2-get-8000 promo been in effect, but the decision probably would have been to pick a cheaper-on-cash Choice hotel.)
But you don't have to make the decision now. Not only do you have a couple months before the ability to redeem for a gift card goes away for 2018, the same ability to redeem for a gift card comes back every summer.
#8
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 47
Years ago when points expired the end of the following year, I was just happy to get $0.01 per point just to use the expiring points. Most times it was less than $0.01 per point, but at least I was able to use the expiring points. Now points don't expire if you have activity within 18 months, so there is no need to burn points on less than desirable redemptions.
And as sdsearch mentioned, getting a suite or a more expensive room with a view for the same points as a standard room is one of the best perks of the program.
And as sdsearch mentioned, getting a suite or a more expensive room with a view for the same points as a standard room is one of the best perks of the program.
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 536
Years ago when points expired the end of the following year, I was just happy to get $0.01 per point just to use the expiring points. Most times it was less than $0.01 per point, but at least I was able to use the expiring points. Now points don't expire if you have activity within 18 months, so there is no need to burn points on less than desirable redemptions.
And as sdsearch mentioned, getting a suite or a more expensive room with a view for the same points as a standard room is one of the best perks of the program.
And as sdsearch mentioned, getting a suite or a more expensive room with a view for the same points as a standard room is one of the best perks of the program.
#10
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bismarck, ND
Programs: Choice Privlidges Elite Diamond- 120+ Choice Privileges nights/year, Delta, UA
Posts: 93
Here's the other part that skews my redemption rate thinking. I've got seven figures worth of points. It feels too risky to load up on more points for some future use even if the rate of redemption is slightly better.
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Hilton Honors Diamond, IHG Spire, Marriott Titanium, Wyndham Diamond, Caesar's Diamond
Posts: 536
Now I have the Barenaked Ladies song in my head.
#12
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Bismarck, ND
Programs: Choice Privlidges Elite Diamond- 120+ Choice Privileges nights/year, Delta, UA
Posts: 93
#13
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: MN, USA
Posts: 246
And as sdsearch mentioned, getting a suite or a more expensive room with a view for the same points as a standard room is one of the best perks of the program.