Are 15K points worth $91?
 

One night short of the 15K add-on for the MegaBonus promo and no travel scheduled before 4/30. Best I can do is a CY not far from home at $91.56 a/i. I'm kind of waffling on a mattress run. Would you guys do it?

I'd go for it; there's some catagory 1 hotels (7500 points) that I stay in that cost $80/night.

I probably wouldn't do it just for the points...though it would be tempting if I needed a mattress run to re-earn status or I placed at least a little value in having a hotel stay. I value Marriott points at about .5 cents per point, so I'd happily pay $75 for those points. But I know that some people value them more highly (there are pages and pages on this topic).

If you based it on the $1,000 gift cheques:

135,000/$1,000 = 135 points per dollar

15,000/135 = $111.11

$111.11>$91.56

So yes, if you want to buy the gift cheques for future visits it is better than break even. Notwithstanding that you earn additional points for this stay and future stays with the gift cheques in turn further lowers the 135 points per dollar value.

Don't forget the extra ~1,500 points you will earn from your "stay"

I'd say 16,500 points is definitely worth the $90. Also, have you looked for LNF rates?

What will you use that 15k points for? Would that cost more than $91.56 otherwise (including value of points you won't earn on that award stay)?

If yes, then do it. If not, then don't.

Simply put - YES!

It's worth it for point geeks like us but not worth it to most people.

The math says yes, but it depends on your situation. Personally I have hundreds of thousand of points, and millions in other programs, so the marginal value of points that I probably won't use for many, many years is much lower than an outlay of cash right now.

For others who need 15K points to lock in that honeymoon reservations this week it's worth much more.

Others have provided the math - you need to decide how it applies to you.

Yeah, I'm around 400K in points right now, so I'll probably pass. I'm such a points slut, though...

I might be in similar situation. I barely qualify for the current promo, but might be short a night due to a book 3/pay 2, so a night didn't count. I need to decide whether it's worth it (and I don't have a gazillion points) & where I can find the cheapest rate. If I can't get something really cheap I might switch to the get 2 free Cat 1-4 certs.

Cheers.

I'd do it. I value MR at about 1.2 cents. Points "live" for about a year to 18 months in my account. So yes, I'd probably do $100-ish for 15k.

Something just gnaws at me when I book a room I don't want to use though. Last year, I was in this situation twice...needed 1 night to finish a Megabonus. Both times I spent a little more than necessary (low $100's) to stay at a better Marriott that we actually liked enough to spend the night there. Plat amenity, indoor pool, even managed to get a full breakfast included rate... Eliminated the feeling that I was *only* buying the points. :)

I would do it, but I have less than 150,000 Marriott points now (so I view an additional 15K right now as a plus). I go through my points fairly quickly.

Same here. I don't get as many points as I used to due to travel lessening, and I usually wipe them out staying int'l for 5-7 days/year at Cat 7-8s. If I had to 'buy' the points from Marriott for the 15,000, it would cost me $187.50 ($12.50/1K), so a sub-$100 stay is less than that.

I need to sit down & figure out my stays today, so if I need to book a cheap one I can do the stay tomorrow during lower weekend rates.

Cheers.

still able to book a conf. room for TEN nights credit? Would help towards status and cost about the same (note: may not be avail. any longer)