To redeem or not to redeem
May 11, 2021, 5:14 pm
#16
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 35
I personally have a city where I really need to go to on a regular basis, one of the IHG properties in town has rooms for 15,000 points (their standard points, no cash, no tax)
And it happens that this this hotel has nightly rates above $100 before taxes, so I decided on my own that for me 15,000 IHG points is worth more than $120.
So everything below that rate, I pay cash. (under normal circumstances.... During covid slowdown, the points were even more valuable, but no one wishes a pandemic for point value)
I know there are some hotels out there that are even more efficient (10,000 points/night), but they are not on my routes
And it happens that this this hotel has nightly rates above $100 before taxes, so I decided on my own that for me 15,000 IHG points is worth more than $120.
So everything below that rate, I pay cash. (under normal circumstances.... During covid slowdown, the points were even more valuable, but no one wishes a pandemic for point value)
I know there are some hotels out there that are even more efficient (10,000 points/night), but they are not on my routes
May 11, 2021, 9:56 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DTW
Programs: TK E+, WY, Radisson R
Posts: 2,360
Or if the Hampton was just $65, I'd book it using cash! In fact, there's an argument to be made that if the Hampton is equivalent to the HIX and costs a mere $65, the value you'd get out of redeeming 20k IHG points for the HIX SHOULD be based on the lower cash rate of the Hampton!
Many bloggers propose using a rule of thumb based on a "value" threshold that is just very flawed in its construction. Don't follow such a questionable rule IMO.
Many bloggers propose using a rule of thumb based on a "value" threshold that is just very flawed in its construction. Don't follow such a questionable rule IMO.
Now, if I'm vacationing in Hawaii then the face values of those points become more realistic since almost all hotels of similar type/quality will command this amount of money (>= $250). Here's a scenario where the actual cpp maybe even higher than face values. Pioneer Inn in Maui, if I redeem with BW Reward points, the value is around .7 cpp ($250 a night). However, if I forgo this and try to find any alternative on the island, it will cost me much more ($300+ average).
Last edited by vincewy; May 16, 2021 at 1:36 pm
May 12, 2021, 8:14 am
#18
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
I personally have a city where I really need to go to on a regular basis, one of the IHG properties in town has rooms for 15,000 points (their standard points, no cash, no tax)
And it happens that this this hotel has nightly rates above $100 before taxes, so I decided on my own that for me 15,000 IHG points is worth more than $120.
So everything below that rate, I pay cash. (under normal circumstances.... During covid slowdown, the points were even more valuable, but no one wishes a pandemic for point value)
I know there are some hotels out there that are even more efficient (10,000 points/night), but they are not on my routes
And it happens that this this hotel has nightly rates above $100 before taxes, so I decided on my own that for me 15,000 IHG points is worth more than $120.
So everything below that rate, I pay cash. (under normal circumstances.... During covid slowdown, the points were even more valuable, but no one wishes a pandemic for point value)
I know there are some hotels out there that are even more efficient (10,000 points/night), but they are not on my routes
IHG frequently runs promo that gives 75% or 100% extra points when you buy points, so you can effectively buy 17500~20000 points for around 100USD when the promo runs.