Booking HGI at 2X Points. When it is a good deal and when it is not?
Dec 13, 2017, 7:59 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: South Dakota
Programs: HH Diamond, DL Platinum
Posts: 587
Booking HGI at 2X Points. When it is a good deal and when it is not?
Looking at booking HGI at Mirimar Beach, FL the 27th thru the 31st of this month. The AAA rate on this Gulf View JS is $199 and 2X Points is $221. At what price point does it make sense to actually book the 2X Points vs paying cash?
Appreciate any advice,
Appreciate any advice,
Dec 13, 2017, 8:21 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IAH
Programs: DL DM, Hyatt Ist-iest, Stariott Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 12,789
Just run the two different earning scenarios and see what you're paying per point. Based off my quick math, and remember the 2X points only doubles the base points, you'd earn ~7960 base points for 4 nights, so 7960 on AAA vs 17,680 on the double points rate. You'd essentially be paying $88 more over the 4 nights to buy nearly 10k points (0.009 cents per point), which I think most of us here would agree is more than they're worth. So if I were you I'd book the AAA rate.
Dec 13, 2017, 8:25 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: South Dakota
Programs: HH Diamond, DL Platinum
Posts: 587
Just run the two different earning scenarios and see what you're paying per point. Based off my quick math, and remember the 2X points only doubles the base points, you'd earn ~7960 base points for 4 nights, so 7960 on AAA vs 17,680 on the double points rate. You'd essentially be paying $88 more over the 4 nights to buy nearly 10k points (0.009 cents per point), which I think most of us here would agree is more than they're worth. So if I were you I'd book the AAA rate.
Dec 13, 2017, 9:51 am
#5
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Well what is your alternative card that you'd use? Generally I'd use the Reserve over anything else because I value a Hilton point at 0.5 cents, so that's an immediate 5% return on spend. It gets more complicated if you have Amex cards with Amex offers floating around, like the current one for HGI/Hampton Inn of spend $175+, get $35 back that many people have been seeing on their cards.
Dec 13, 2017, 3:17 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: South Dakota
Programs: HH Diamond, DL Platinum
Posts: 587
I never use a alternative card when it comes to Hilton stays. The Citi Visa Signature Reserve card is all I use.
I do have a Amex Plat Business card I'll use at non Hilton hotels, especially when I travel internationally
I do have a Amex Plat Business card I'll use at non Hilton hotels, especially when I travel internationally
Dec 13, 2017, 3:30 pm
#7
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Usually in SAN or Central Europe.
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You can purchase HH points for $10 per 1,000. Occasionally, they will offer a 50% discount or 2X the points (like they did a few weeks ago), which makes them be $5 per 1,000 points. I would use that metric to determine the value of how many more points you are getting for the difference in the higher rate.
Dec 14, 2017, 3:22 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Gloucestershire
Programs: BA Gold (ex-GGL, maybe future Silver), Hilton Diamond
Posts: 6,198
Where it makes sense is:
1. When someone elsewho doesn't care/can't fire you for inflating expenses is paying (tread carefully);
2. Where the extra points get you over a threshold that you otherwise wouldn't acheive (unusual);
3. Where you're going to be inviting ten people for dinner and charging it to your room on a one night stay (or other similarly oversized extras). $20 per room for the double points rate makes no sense for 2,000 extra base points - but if you were charging $200 to the room on top, you'd be getting 4,000 points for your $20 on the room rate - which makes a lot more sense.
1. When someone elsewho doesn't care/can't fire you for inflating expenses is paying (tread carefully);
2. Where the extra points get you over a threshold that you otherwise wouldn't acheive (unusual);
3. Where you're going to be inviting ten people for dinner and charging it to your room on a one night stay (or other similarly oversized extras). $20 per room for the double points rate makes no sense for 2,000 extra base points - but if you were charging $200 to the room on top, you'd be getting 4,000 points for your $20 on the room rate - which makes a lot more sense.
Dec 14, 2017, 8:09 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: South Dakota
Programs: HH Diamond, DL Platinum
Posts: 587
You can purchase HH points for $10 per 1,000. Occasionally, they will offer a 50% discount or 2X the points (like they did a few weeks ago), which makes them be $5 per 1,000 points. I would use that metric to determine the value of how many more points you are getting for the difference in the higher rate.
Dec 14, 2017, 8:12 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: South Dakota
Programs: HH Diamond, DL Platinum
Posts: 587
Where it makes sense is:
1. When someone elsewho doesn't care/can't fire you for inflating expenses is paying (tread carefully);
2. Where the extra points get you over a threshold that you otherwise wouldn't acheive (unusual);
3. Where you're going to be inviting ten people for dinner and charging it to your room on a one night stay (or other similarly oversized extras). $20 per room for the double points rate makes no sense for 2,000 extra base points - but if you were charging $200 to the room on top, you'd be getting 4,000 points for your $20 on the room rate - which makes a lot more sense.
1. When someone elsewho doesn't care/can't fire you for inflating expenses is paying (tread carefully);
2. Where the extra points get you over a threshold that you otherwise wouldn't acheive (unusual);
3. Where you're going to be inviting ten people for dinner and charging it to your room on a one night stay (or other similarly oversized extras). $20 per room for the double points rate makes no sense for 2,000 extra base points - but if you were charging $200 to the room on top, you'd be getting 4,000 points for your $20 on the room rate - which makes a lot more sense.
1. Good thing I'm the boss
2. I'm at 1.7 mill or so Points (give or take) so for me it's all about maximizing Points every time.
3. That makes a lot of sense, perfect information and exactly what I didn't know.
Dec 14, 2017, 11:10 am
#11
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As for 2x rates, my quick rule is that I only consider them if they're under $10 extra, or if a bit more in conjunction with an existing bonus promo if I think I might be charging incidentals as well.
Dec 14, 2017, 2:50 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: PSC
Programs: Hilton Diamond/IHG Platinum/DL Plutononium
Posts: 1,728
Another thing to consider when looking at the 2x points rate is the cancellation policy. Since Hilton has switched to the 48 hour cancellation rule, I've seen a handful of 2x rates that give you until 4:00 pm the day of, which is worth a lot to me. Getting double the base points is just the cherry on top.