Six month award stay?
Aug 11, 2019, 6:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Programs: AA, DL, AK, UN, CN
Posts: 964
Six month award stay?
I'm heading to Bali next year (where I've been living off and on for 10 years). Since my last trip I've racked up 800k HH points, and the Bali Hilton Garden Inn costs 5000/nt, even less after 5thNF
I usually wouldn't plan things so far ahead, but having stayed at the HGI there before, it's a great hotel with wonderful breakfast and location. I want to lock in the rate so that I can't get hit with a devaluation. If they devalue it from 5000 to 10000, that's like losing half the nights I could book.
Every time I see a post about "Hilton Devaluation," I have a mini panic attack, expecting the Hilton to get smacked as it sells for $60USD+tax, and 5000 points is sort of like $25.
Any tips how to manage this? I would like to book 3-4 months, but still maintain flexibility, and still lock in the 5000/nt rate. Should I just book that whole time in separate 5 night intervals? This would take forever, and might be a pain to manage once I arrive. If I book it in 30 days blocks, can I change them as I need to? The point is to lock in the rate to prevent devaluation. If a de-val hits, and I make a change, do i lose the locked-in rate?
I usually wouldn't plan things so far ahead, but having stayed at the HGI there before, it's a great hotel with wonderful breakfast and location. I want to lock in the rate so that I can't get hit with a devaluation. If they devalue it from 5000 to 10000, that's like losing half the nights I could book.
Every time I see a post about "Hilton Devaluation," I have a mini panic attack, expecting the Hilton to get smacked as it sells for $60USD+tax, and 5000 points is sort of like $25.
Any tips how to manage this? I would like to book 3-4 months, but still maintain flexibility, and still lock in the 5000/nt rate. Should I just book that whole time in separate 5 night intervals? This would take forever, and might be a pain to manage once I arrive. If I book it in 30 days blocks, can I change them as I need to? The point is to lock in the rate to prevent devaluation. If a de-val hits, and I make a change, do i lose the locked-in rate?
Aug 11, 2019, 6:59 pm
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Programs: AA, DL, AK, UN, CN
Posts: 964
Well I went in and made some bookings and learned a bit. Only 4 free nights per stay. Checking the terms of 4NF:
5th Night Free: For every Standard Room Reward stay of five or more nights, every 5th night is free. Members can utilize the 5th Night Free benefit on an unlimited number of stays annually. Applies only to five consecutive nights within the same full Points Standard Room Reward stay at the same property, up to 20 nights, when confirmed at time of booking. No more than four free nights will be awarded per stay.
Indeed when I try to price out 30 nights, it stops adding free nights after the 4th one.
Anyone had any experience with this? I am not keen to have to check out every 25'ish days just to keep my free nights coming but suspect that's what I will have to do. I have a feeling I can book 25 night stays to my hearts delight that show free nights but the system or overzealous office staff may catch on.
5th Night Free: For every Standard Room Reward stay of five or more nights, every 5th night is free. Members can utilize the 5th Night Free benefit on an unlimited number of stays annually. Applies only to five consecutive nights within the same full Points Standard Room Reward stay at the same property, up to 20 nights, when confirmed at time of booking. No more than four free nights will be awarded per stay.
Indeed when I try to price out 30 nights, it stops adding free nights after the 4th one.
Anyone had any experience with this? I am not keen to have to check out every 25'ish days just to keep my free nights coming but suspect that's what I will have to do. I have a feeling I can book 25 night stays to my hearts delight that show free nights but the system or overzealous office staff may catch on.
Aug 12, 2019, 7:17 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Tyrone,EU
Programs: Avios Hunter
Posts: 2,811
Anyone had any experience with this? I am not keen to have to check out every 25'ish days just to keep my free nights coming but suspect that's what I will have to do. I have a feeling I can book 25 night stays to my hearts delight that show free nights but the system or overzealous office staff may catch on.
Also, don't some hotels have a thing about continuous stays longer than 30 days or may be that is just some countries ?
Aug 12, 2019, 7:59 am
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,547
That’s not what it means. It means when booked as a block max four. You can book as many stays as you wish. Book in blocks of 20 nights then. It’s much better as then you also get the flexibility to change your plans.
Aug 12, 2019, 9:44 am
#6
Join Date: Mar 2009
Programs: Hilton credit card Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,651
I'm heading to Bali next year (where I've been living off and on for 10 years).Any tips how to manage this? I would like to book 3-4 months, but still maintain flexibility, and still lock in the 5000/nt rate. Should I just book that whole time in separate 5 night intervals?
After you make a reservation, all you can do with it is cancel it. You lose the "locked-in rate". You can't change dates, reduce the number of days, etc. for a reservation.
Aug 12, 2019, 4:25 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Programs: AA, DL, AK, UN, CN
Posts: 964
That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid....it would only be every 25 days or so....but once i get moved in and all snuggly....be nicer just to leave everything as-is instead of a pack-o-rama just for a day. Then again' there's plenty to see in Bali so no harm in checking out some new places.
Aug 12, 2019, 9:29 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,716
That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid....it would only be every 25 days or so....but once i get moved in and all snuggly....be nicer just to leave everything as-is instead of a pack-o-rama just for a day. Then again' there's plenty to see in Bali so no harm in checking out some new places.
Aug 13, 2019, 2:09 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 11,547
That's exactly what I'm trying to avoid....it would only be every 25 days or so....but once i get moved in and all snuggly....be nicer just to leave everything as-is instead of a pack-o-rama just for a day. Then again' there's plenty to see in Bali so no harm in checking out some new places.
Book then as blocks of 5 nights, as many as you like, but easier would be in blocks of 20. That’s all you have to do. What do you think happens? The system combines it into one stay lasting 6 months and then cancels all your reservations when it calculates you don’t have enough points? No.
Theres no need to check out for one night.
Aug 13, 2019, 2:15 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,532
I just stayed here almost two weeks. Great staff. Room service hours are pretty limited.
What I do in similar situations, is book by 5 night blocks, so I can cancel later. If you hit a max amount of nights, I’d book one award night (or 5, if you want to maximize it) from another account, and put you on as a second guest. I use my wife’s Gold account, so at least I get some benefits, if they are sticking to the rules.
Most free Indonesian visas are for 30 days, unless you have a residency visa, or other type of long stay visa. You could mint 3 diamonds on your stay, or 4, if you created two 100 night accounts. (200 nights total).
You’re going to get pretty sick of that breakfast.
What I do in similar situations, is book by 5 night blocks, so I can cancel later. If you hit a max amount of nights, I’d book one award night (or 5, if you want to maximize it) from another account, and put you on as a second guest. I use my wife’s Gold account, so at least I get some benefits, if they are sticking to the rules.
Most free Indonesian visas are for 30 days, unless you have a residency visa, or other type of long stay visa. You could mint 3 diamonds on your stay, or 4, if you created two 100 night accounts. (200 nights total).
You’re going to get pretty sick of that breakfast.
Aug 13, 2019, 4:40 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Programs: AA, DL, AK, UN, CN
Posts: 964
I just stayed here almost two weeks. Great staff. Room service hours are pretty limited.
What I do in similar situations, is book by 5 night blocks, so I can cancel later. If you hit a max amount of nights, I’d book one award night (or 5, if you want to maximize it) from another account, and put you on as a second guest. I use my wife’s Gold account, so at least I get some benefits, if they are sticking to the rules.
Most free Indonesian visas are for 30 days, unless you have a residency visa, or other type of long stay visa. You could mint 3 diamonds on your stay, or 4, if you created two 100 night accounts. (200 nights total).
You’re going to get pretty sick of that breakfast.
What I do in similar situations, is book by 5 night blocks, so I can cancel later. If you hit a max amount of nights, I’d book one award night (or 5, if you want to maximize it) from another account, and put you on as a second guest. I use my wife’s Gold account, so at least I get some benefits, if they are sticking to the rules.
Most free Indonesian visas are for 30 days, unless you have a residency visa, or other type of long stay visa. You could mint 3 diamonds on your stay, or 4, if you created two 100 night accounts. (200 nights total).
You’re going to get pretty sick of that breakfast.
Not sure I'll get sick of the breakfast, they've got those lovely homemade jams. If I do, I'll just Gojek some ayam betutu in from Warung Liku, best ever!