Buy SPG points and convert to MR
Nov 16, 2017, 2:53 pm
#16
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,472
I can't speak to Chase, but you will definitely get double points with SPG Amex. Last year, I was fortunate enough to be able to buy SPG points at 50% off (targeted offer, also through points.com), so I bought points for many friends. Each purchase was $525, and I got 1050 SPG points/purchase.
Nov 16, 2017, 10:24 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K, UA Gold, Marriott LTT, Avis President's Club
Posts: 1,539
I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on this as well. 120K MR for 0.75cpp seems like a good deal.
Nov 17, 2017, 12:52 am
#18
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ Krisflyer, Hilton Gold, Best Western Diamond, SPG Gold
Posts: 155
is the marriotts points best used for cat 1/2 hotels?
Nov 17, 2017, 4:03 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 298
The best use of points is discussed in endless threads in this forum alone...
In a nutshell: Use them however they give you best value.
There are many ways to determine value: For example: Do a cash vs. point redemption comparison (Hint: do not pay cash if buying points and using points is cheaper). Are you out of cash at any point in time (use points). How badly do you want to stay at a certain property at a certain time? And it goes on and on...
In a nutshell: Use them however they give you best value.
There are many ways to determine value: For example: Do a cash vs. point redemption comparison (Hint: do not pay cash if buying points and using points is cheaper). Are you out of cash at any point in time (use points). How badly do you want to stay at a certain property at a certain time? And it goes on and on...
Nov 17, 2017, 5:45 am
#20
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
funkbandit pretty much hits it on the head. "Value" is really a very personal thing. But I will add that I still think the Marriott Travel Packages are the single best hotel program award in the industry. But even so, for a TP award to be of "value" to someone, they have to first need (or be able to make use of) airline points. Second you really need to be able to get the close to 300K MR points in a fairly reasonable timeframe. If it's going to take years to acquire the MR points, there may well be better "value" propositions for points usage for you.l
And if someone really likes "luxury" properties or wants to be at a "resort", there aren't very many (doubt there are any actually) "resorts" that are Cat. 1/2s. So in that case, the better "value" for that person might be found at higher Category hotels.
And if someone really likes "luxury" properties or wants to be at a "resort", there aren't very many (doubt there are any actually) "resorts" that are Cat. 1/2s. So in that case, the better "value" for that person might be found at higher Category hotels.
Nov 17, 2017, 12:51 pm
#21
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,570
How programs assign categories is a closely-guarded secret. It clearly is *somewhat* correlated to average revenue room rates, but some of our program lurkers here have said there's also an "award demand" component. (In other words, a $150/nt hotel in Orlando might get a different category than a $150/nt hotel in a random suburb somewhere.)
In other words, any category can have a sweet spot.
If I'm redeeming a Travel Package, it's usually high category simply because there aren't many low-category hotels I want to spend an entire week in. But my only hard rules are avoiding Courtyards and resorts since elite benefits don't apply there.
In other words, any category can have a sweet spot.
If I'm redeeming a Travel Package, it's usually high category simply because there aren't many low-category hotels I want to spend an entire week in. But my only hard rules are avoiding Courtyards and resorts since elite benefits don't apply there.
Nov 18, 2017, 4:32 am
#22
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: MAN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, IHG Spire, UA Silver, Dennis The Menace Fan Club
Posts: 1,457
The easiest penny-to-point value from Marriott Rewards lie in the Cat 1&2 where the redemption points at 7.5k and 10k are so low it’s unusual to find less than a penny per point, and Cats 8&9 in Leisure and Tourist-demand city locations where rates regularly exceed $400. Other categories can be hit and miss but I’ve made plenty of very valuable redemptions at cats 3-7. Look and ye shall find...
Nov 19, 2017, 9:34 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,108
I just purchased 7K to top off my balance for an award night.
I could have easily applied for the Chase MR card (I may still do so in the new year) but given the tight window that I have for earning and burning, I would have likely spent more on the Plastiq fees (2.5%) paying my rent to meet the minimum than it would have cost to purchase these discounted Starpoints and transfer them out at 3x value to MR. I'm still approx. 7K short of where I need to be for my final night booking but that should easily be met with regular spend on my CSR over the next 2 months; especially with those 1,000 point Twitter promos that Marriott's been running.
I could have easily applied for the Chase MR card (I may still do so in the new year) but given the tight window that I have for earning and burning, I would have likely spent more on the Plastiq fees (2.5%) paying my rent to meet the minimum than it would have cost to purchase these discounted Starpoints and transfer them out at 3x value to MR. I'm still approx. 7K short of where I need to be for my final night booking but that should easily be met with regular spend on my CSR over the next 2 months; especially with those 1,000 point Twitter promos that Marriott's been running.
Nov 20, 2017, 5:01 am
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
In case it is helpful, a reminder that Amex MR points can be converted to SPG points, and then transferred into Marriott account.
I came to this realization belatedly and was thrilled to use some dormant Amex points to get me over the hump for a Travel Package while the transfer bonus was still in effect for United.
I came to this realization belatedly and was thrilled to use some dormant Amex points to get me over the hump for a Travel Package while the transfer bonus was still in effect for United.
Feb 12, 2018, 5:45 pm
#25
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2013
Programs: UA Au Marriott Ti Hilton C
Posts: 159
This offer is back again, though limited to 30K of SPG points.
I’m thinking about it though I’m pretty flush with SPG/MR points right now.
I did the math and can push the MR price down to 0.58 cpp if I buy points for all family members and I refer Mrs. 1120 for the 25K SPG card.
The only major wildcard for me for me is if Marriott does a significant “enhancement” of TPs.
I’m thinking about it though I’m pretty flush with SPG/MR points right now.
I did the math and can push the MR price down to 0.58 cpp if I buy points for all family members and I refer Mrs. 1120 for the 25K SPG card.
The only major wildcard for me for me is if Marriott does a significant “enhancement” of TPs.
Feb 12, 2018, 6:48 pm
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,139
Feb 13, 2018, 4:48 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
Do purchased SPG starpoints transferred to Marriott count toward lifetime status points?
Feb 13, 2018, 6:40 pm
#28
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: GEG
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond, Lifetime SkyClub, AS MVP
Posts: 2,410
Whether after the merger of the programs any SPG points (purchased, earned, or from credit card activity) will count towards lifetime status points remains to be seen.