NWplatinum

peggypwr1

Hello all, noob here with points. I have about 330K Hilton points Ive never used. I am getting the new HH Ascend card soon (they have 100k offer).

So Im staying in Dubai from 1/15/2019 to 1/19/2019
I've settled on the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah. It has a private beach and is near many cafes and restaurants according to tripadvisor.

For kicks I went to the Hilton website and the rate for one night is $270 for HHonnors members, For points they want 70K. I suck at maths, is this good way for me to use my points??

Or should I wait and just bank them for better properties in the future and charge the amount to my Hilton CC?

Thank you.

cjd

Another point to bear in mind is that the rate quoted of $270 does not include any taxes or service charges. These will add about another 25% to the final bill, making the rate more like $337 per night. Also, when using points, if you have Honors status, you can get 5 nights for the price of 4 which would bring the nightly points rate down to 56000 points per night, much better value than using points for 4 nights. Don't know if that helps or if you are committed to 4 nights. Personally I would go for the points payment, because there are no taxes to pay.

You are correct that there are loads of restaurants and shops in the adjacent "Walk" and "Beach" areas. It's a great area to stay. We also like the Hilton Dubai The Walk, which shares the facilities with the Hilton Jumeirah Beach. Behind the Hilton Walk hotel, there is the marina with many more restaurants and nice promenade area.

craigthemif

Just spend points then. There's no point IMO spending cash to save points, when you aren't quite sure what the value of those points is.

FWIW even a lowly Silver will get the fifth night free on reward bookings, so you might be able to get an extra night for free in Dubai.

peggypwr1

Cjd, the Hilton the Walk is that the same as the double tree?

And does the double tree have access to a private beach? I know it has access o the public one if I''m correct.

escape4

If you can make it a 5-night stay then you get 0.60% for your points which is good enough to use points.
If you only have a 4-night stay, your value is 0.48% and I would personally pay cash for this stay and save the points for other stays later in the year.

cjd

No, the Hilton Dubai the Walk is a 43 storey hotel and is opposite the Hilton Jumeirah Beach. The 2 hotels are connected by a walkway bridge over the road. The Doubletree is further along the beach from these 2 hotels. Haven't stayed at the Doubletree but according to it's website, it does have a private beach. However, these so called private beaches are open to the public to walk along the beach.

peggypwr1

esacape4 what math did you use to get that? SO the closer to 1% its better to use points?

Oh, and the Double Tree, the rooms look bigger. Now, like the Hilton Jumeirah Beach, are many restaurants and cafes around the Doubletree area? Anyone familiar?

peggypwr1

Oh sorry again to keep jumping in, so I logged in to my HHhonors and they are offering 40% off to buy 80,000 points. Sale price is 480.00 VS paying 800.00 regular. Its sounds good??

cjd

The Doubletree is the newest of the 3 hotels and is an all suite hotel, so the rooms will be bigger. Looks like the Award rates are cheaper than the Hiltons at 60000 points per night. Again, that would be even cheaper if staying 5 nights.

The Doubletree is at the other end of the Walk and the Beach, so is still a good location for all the restaurants. Don't know if this affects you, but I don't think the Doubletree has an Executive lounge, whereas the both Hiltons have lounges.

Gig103

I would use the points -- one of the potential pitfalls to large balances is a devaluation (usually done by raising the categories of hotels).

And I would not buy the points. You were quoted $0.006 per point, and the redemption you're looking at in Dubai is $0.0038 per point, so you'd lose money on the deal.

craigthemif

It is becoming harder and harder to find 0.5 cents in value. Unless you really know what you're doing, or there is a particularly juicy promo, 0.48 cents is more than good enough. Cash in the bank is always better than points subject to devaluation.

escape4

For 4 nights = $337 / 70k = 0.48%
For 5 nights = $337 / 56k = 0.60% because with 5th night free you pay 70k pts times 4 = 280k pts, which is 56k pts per night

Normally for 0.60% or above I pay with points

sethb

So you spend $480 to get 80K points, and use 70K points to save $270 (+tax) on a room? Does that seem like a good deal to you?

ROW2Aisle

She did say