I've had my eye on the Waldorf Jerusalem since January, as I'm planning a trip to Israel in December. Prior to March 1, the best rate was 80k per night - only on nights when the "superior" rooms are available (which precluded one night that I need - New Year's Event). Now, depending on the date, that same room is 84k or (more often) 95k a night.

The more unusual thing is that the Twin Superior rooms have totally disappeared - regardless of points or cash - from the booking system. They still show up in the room descriptions, but not on the booking system. Now the only "superior" (low end) room is a King (which is likely two twins pushed together at any rate).

On the positive side, the Tel Aviv Hilton is holding steady at 70k per night for my dates (and I booked two rooms there last month before the change at any rate).

If elite status benefits aren't part of the picture, Priceline or Hotwire may be a better deal even for some of those very same properties on the very same dates.

Even with Diamond benefits the balance has changed. The points rate seems to be loosely pegged at 2x the BAR, yielding a 0.5c per point. Taking the Hilton los Cabos where I stayed recently is now 70k (vs 40k before) points a night with a BAR of $350. But it can be had on Priceline for $150-$250. This was one of my faveorite points redemptions and cash rate properties but they have decreased the value of participating in Hilton Honors at the redemption rate IMO. I will probably Priceline my next stay and come out significantly ahead.

I can offer a futon in my apartment. 100,000 Hilton Honors points per night!

OK, when I try it (same dates and hotel), I can't get close to that.

Total stay cash cost is $161/nt plus taxes for a total of $541. Slider effect range is from 114,000 points to 0, with the expected 0.4-0.5 cpp value for using points.

And while I queried, I couldn't help but notice a nearby Homewood Suites for $126...that right there would probably halt my points-search, unless that Homewood had a crazy-low points option.

But I'd love to find the 24K + $153...I'm just still figuring out which options to click.

Care to share some great deals great rates?

Manhattan hotels that were 60,000 a night yesterday are now 70,000 a night (or 65,000 in one case). Bummer. Booked with Hyatt.
On the other hand, one property near Indianapolis that was 30,000 is now 28,000. Or 29,000 or 30,000 depending on the room (all of which were formerly the same cost in points, although, to be fair, there were/are different cash prices). You win some, you lose some. Not a big enough drop to get me to book--will go with Chase Ultimate Rewards and IHG.

Several hotels now want more points per night than their 'maximum' allows them to (for example hotels that were previous a category 4, a standard room should be capped at 30k) now charge 35k or 32k...?

My guess is that before 3/1 Cats 4-10 had 2 pt amounts eg a Cat 7 was 40k - 60k depending on the season, I think as of 3/1 its now 60k as its cap but if the rate is under $300 w/tx then it should be less pts needed. gone will be say a rate of $275 during low season when it would have been 40k and now will be 55k


I think the only benefit will be when the rate is above what would be the cap is eg prior Cat7 has reg rooms for say $350 so it will take only 60k or is so low say $150 so now it will be 30k when in the past it was 40k and most likely folks would have paid ca$h instead of using 40k W/o any proof my gut tells me that these cases where we will benefit will be far and few, but they will be out there

was that 35 or 32 for a standard room? Ive found some that were above their old cap but it wasnt for a standard room

Same thing with the Doubletree nearby at SeaWorld. Wanted 20K last week, 29K today.

Has anyone been contacting Hilton about this to complain instead of just coming on here? Curious to hear their replies, or if like Delta they say "Sorry it's another enhancement for you."

If it was a cat4 then its OK, if it wasnt then they are playing games (Old Cat4 was 20k to 30k). Problem is to have known what Cat a hotel was prior to 3/1

I *think* it was a Cat 4, but not a very good one.

I'm in the same boat, our old option of 25k points and $125 at the TLV Hilton is gone. If P+C weren't a significant part of my redemptions, I wouldn't be so bummed.

Here's our options:
1. Start saving up $125 to cover the new cash rate ($250 + 25,000 points)
2. Saving up 30k miles to cover the new sliding scale ($125 + 55,000 points)

Or a combination of each - cut out Starbucks and get your spouse into churning.

Either option is a devaluation to P+C redeemers, Sad! I like Hilton, love their international properties, and have been Diamond for 5 years now. I'm not leaving the chain (is Marriott/SPG going to be that different?), I'm just disappointed and open to more AirBnb stays in my future travel.