beltway

That would be an extraordinary value, so much so that I wonder if you've misplaced a decimal. A much more typical value would be around 0.33-0.67 cents.

FWIW, 0.75 cpp is good if unspectacular.

joseeantonior

Whoops! Yes, misplaced the decimal there 0.75cpp, with the room I'm expecting pricing at around $300 after taxes.

isplumm

Hi

I have over 350k HH points so I am debating whether to use them on a trip to Seattle (3 nights) / Vancouver (3 nights) next year. These days I am only a Blue, so no status.

I have checked the Hampton for Vancouver - there is a room available for 50k points or $343 (which I think works out at 0.00686 per point - I assume that is an acceptable conversion rate?

What i am confused about is the following statement:

Blue, Silver, Gold, Pref. Gold; LOS restrictions apply Specialty rewards (i.e. BARCRW, PROMRW) search by cert # PROMRW/BARCRW/ CCVFN valid 6 months from issue date BARCRW, CCVFN, PRCFN, MBSURW, MBANRW- Fri/Sat/Sun only *4NT-AXON-RWD CODE DEPENDENT ON HOTEL CATEGORY/ BOOKED BY DIAMOND DESK ONLY/MUST HAVE PRODUCT CODE OPT OR AX TO BOOK-CHECK POLARIS NO SHOWS WILL BE CHARGED MINIMUM DAILY RATE

I have no idea what that means - all I am concerned about is whether it is ok to book!

I am also looking at the Hilton Seattle - which has a King room for 70k or $260 (0.00371 - very low).

This is the t&cs when I click on them - no idea how big 230 sqft is - but difficult to compare as the other room descriptions don't have sizes mentioned.

1 KING BED WITHOUT DESK EXEC FLOOR 230 SQFT Non Smoking Room

1 KING BED WITHOUT DESK EXEC FLOOR 230 SQFT EXEC LOUNGE ACCESS INCLUDING WIFI ROBES EXEC LOUNGE INCL BFAST & EVENING RECEPTION

Not sure whether I should book?

Thanks Mark

fozziedoggie

Can't speak to the redemption "value," but as for the coding nonsense, just that. Someone didn't mask the "house rules." I have had this happen before, safe to ignore and book. ^

isplumm

Hi

So I am going to book these hotels in Seattle & Vancouver - just one question

The rate talks about a 15.60 % tax rate - question is - what is that based on - as I am paying in points?

Thanks Mark

serpens

Tax is usually (almost always? always?) based on cash. No cash, no tax. I have never had tax charged on the points portion of a redemption, whether the points portion was partial or total—but I have far fewer redemptions than what I expect most people here have.

beltway

For domestic award stays entirely on points, there should not be any taxes since you're making no cash payment.

For domestic cash & points (technically, "Points & Money") awards, I believe you pay local taxes based on the cash co-pay. I can't speak from personal experience here & am happy to be corrected if others have contrary information.

For stays outside the US, the rules vary. In some jurisdictions, you will pay various kinds of local tax--whether as a percentage or as a flat-fee per-night "tourist headcount" levy--even on all-points awards.

isplumm

Hi

Thanks for that - these are points only bookings - so no tax to pay - actually makes the points to dollars exchange rate better as I need to include the tax when doing the calculations.

Mark

garethlewis

The main things about HHonors that I can't quite get my head around is knowing where I could currently stay given my points balance. Do they not have a calculator that could show me which properties I could currently stay in with my points balance and the date requested? For example if I wanted to stay in China in late May what properties and points requirements I would need per night

beltway

No such tool exists.

garethlewis

It's very frustrating, is there no rough guide to go by online?

beltway

Well, you can always search a given destination for specific dates & restrict results by category.

fozziedoggie

What beltway said; deselect brands and cash options so you're left with points only rates:

http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en_US/hh/....htm?view=LIST

cblaisd

Have you tried Hotel Hustle?

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...arch-tool.html

jgump95

I booked Doubletree San Pedro with HH points for five nights to receive the 5th night free. My HH account was debited 5x the nightly points. I called HH and CSR said my HH account would be credited with the points for the 5th night after I check out.

If I look at the HH points for check-in on 10/10, 48,960 points required for one night (1 King with balcony and view). My HH account was charged 48,960 x 5 = 244,800 points. The CSR said I would get 48,960 points refunded to my HH account after checkout.

Does anyone have experience getting the 5th night refunded to your HH account? Seems like a strange way to get credit for the 5th night. Also, the refunding of the 5th night does not follow the 5th night free example calculation in HH T&Cs.

Thank you.