Best Use for 300,000 Marriot Rewards Points
Nov 20, 2001, 4:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Mesa, AZ USA - UA Prem Ex- SPG Gold - Hilton Diamond - Marriot Platinum - Avis Chairman - National EE
Posts: 243
Best Use for 300,000 Marriot Rewards Points
Hello All,
I have accumulated 300,000 points in Marriots Rewards over the past 2 years. The points were accumulated about 50 - 50 Marriott stays or xfers from Amex Member Rewards.
I had accumulated these miles to take one of the carnival 4 day or 7 day caribbean cruises but with the increase in point requirements in Marriott Rewards next year; I dont think this is a good a bargain.
Thus, help me in terms of creative ideas for xfering the 300,000 points elsewhere for use. I have a ton of airline miles and rewards so prefer to use these points for cruises or "other" types of travel.
Thanks for the tips.
Art
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Art
UA Premier Exec
Continental Gold Elite
Marriott Platinum
Hertz Presidents Circle
I have accumulated 300,000 points in Marriots Rewards over the past 2 years. The points were accumulated about 50 - 50 Marriott stays or xfers from Amex Member Rewards.
I had accumulated these miles to take one of the carnival 4 day or 7 day caribbean cruises but with the increase in point requirements in Marriott Rewards next year; I dont think this is a good a bargain.
Thus, help me in terms of creative ideas for xfering the 300,000 points elsewhere for use. I have a ton of airline miles and rewards so prefer to use these points for cruises or "other" types of travel.
Thanks for the tips.
Art
------------------
Art
UA Premier Exec
Continental Gold Elite
Marriott Platinum
Hertz Presidents Circle
Nov 20, 2001, 4:49 am
#2
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Mesa, AZ USA - UA Prem Ex- SPG Gold - Hilton Diamond - Marriot Platinum - Avis Chairman - National EE
Posts: 243
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by capetown:
Hello All,
I have accumulated 300,000 points in Marriotts Rewards over the past 2 years. The points were accumulated about 50 - 50 Marriott stays or xfers from Amex Member Rewards.
I had accumulated these miles to take one of the Carnival 4 day or 7 day caribbean cruises but with the increase in point requirements in Marriott Rewards next year; I dont think this is a good a bargain.
Thus, help me in terms of creative ideas for xfering the 300,000 points elsewhere for use. I have a ton of airline miles and rewards so prefer to use these points for cruises or "other" types of travel.
Thanks for the tips.
Art
</font>
Hello All,
I have accumulated 300,000 points in Marriotts Rewards over the past 2 years. The points were accumulated about 50 - 50 Marriott stays or xfers from Amex Member Rewards.
I had accumulated these miles to take one of the Carnival 4 day or 7 day caribbean cruises but with the increase in point requirements in Marriott Rewards next year; I dont think this is a good a bargain.
Thus, help me in terms of creative ideas for xfering the 300,000 points elsewhere for use. I have a ton of airline miles and rewards so prefer to use these points for cruises or "other" types of travel.
Thanks for the tips.
Art
</font>
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Art
UA Premier Exec
Continental Gold Elite
Marriott Platinum
Hertz Presidents Circle
Nov 20, 2001, 5:40 am
#3
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 97
If you like golf try one of the golf-combo packages -- they are usually a first class operation.
Otherwise, the points are best used for the combo awards from a value perspective.
Otherwise, the points are best used for the combo awards from a value perspective.
Nov 20, 2001, 7:18 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Boston, UA 1K & MM
Posts: 1,114
I agree 100% with thinking. The various package awards (especially the air/hotel awards) provide by far the best value - even without the old 713/714 awards.
Nov 20, 2001, 7:43 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Spring Lake,NJ
Posts: 1,219
Another thought....CRUISES are sooo cheap right now that the use of points for one would be a travesty!! Don't do it! I, in fact just purchased a 7-night Caribbean cruise from Celebrity for $399 per person...that's just incredible and I've never seen the prices this low. Save your points if you're intent on cruising.
Nov 20, 2001, 2:03 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: KAVL/Jack of Daniel
Programs: AA 2MM LT PLT, DL DM 2MM, MC LT Titanium, IHG Spire, HY Glbist
Posts: 1,562
Give them to me!
Seriously tho, if you're in the spirit of giving (what with the upcoming holiday season and all) you might consider donating an award to the Make-A-Wish foundation or some other organization like that.
Seriously tho, if you're in the spirit of giving (what with the upcoming holiday season and all) you might consider donating an award to the Make-A-Wish foundation or some other organization like that.
Nov 21, 2001, 12:08 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Mesa, AZ USA - UA Prem Ex- SPG Gold - Hilton Diamond - Marriot Platinum - Avis Chairman - National EE
Posts: 243
All,
Thanks for your thoughtful responses. You are excatly right in that cruises are dirt cheap now and I agree it would be crazy to use the points for a cruise.
So as for now we will get the Sony Vaio portable computer for 240,000 points (the Sony Vaio is selling for about $1450 so that is a very good deal for the points.
Thanks
Art
[This message has been edited by capetown (edited 11-21-2001).]
Thanks for your thoughtful responses. You are excatly right in that cruises are dirt cheap now and I agree it would be crazy to use the points for a cruise.
So as for now we will get the Sony Vaio portable computer for 240,000 points (the Sony Vaio is selling for about $1450 so that is a very good deal for the points.
Thanks
Art
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by IM4Travel:
Another thought....CRUISES are sooo cheap right now that the use of points for one would be a travesty!! Don't do it! I, in fact just purchased a 7-night Caribbean cruise from Celebrity for $399 per person...that's just incredible and I've never seen the prices this low. Save your points if you're intent on cruising.</font>
Another thought....CRUISES are sooo cheap right now that the use of points for one would be a travesty!! Don't do it! I, in fact just purchased a 7-night Caribbean cruise from Celebrity for $399 per person...that's just incredible and I've never seen the prices this low. Save your points if you're intent on cruising.</font>
[This message has been edited by capetown (edited 11-21-2001).]
Nov 21, 2001, 6:34 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 97
I've got to question your math -- if you value the points at 1.5 cent per point (a fairly common valuation), then the 240,000 points needed for the computer are worth $3600 -- which says you are paying way too much for that computer.
Nov 21, 2001, 8:55 am
#9
Join Date: May 2001
Location: ATL
Programs: DL 5MM+/FC/DM through 2022, UA PEX, Marriott PPMLT, Starwood PM, Hertz PM
Posts: 233
I would recommend that you be careful in using points for merchandise. My experince has been that the electronics are almost always "last year's/discontinued model" and can be purchased cheaper for cash online or at a electronics discounters. Certianly, computers are even risker as you have no one to contact for technical support.
Nov 21, 2001, 9:25 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Summer at the Jersey Shore AAAH
Posts: 11,294
I agree with the points for merchandise thoughts. I was looking to burn some Hilton points and there was a Sony TV for ~200,000 points. It had a listed retail of $800.00. A quick search found several retailers offering it in the $350-400.00 range.