How much are 55k points worth?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Programs: Marriott Plat Premier/LT Plat; SPG Plat/LT Gold; Hilton Gold; Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,356
How much are 55k points worth?
Curious what you feel 55k points is worth.
Trying to choose between a vacation which includes hotel for another $300 (same Marriott)
Trying to choose between a vacation which includes hotel for another $300 (same Marriott)
#2


Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 9,107
From your other thread, I'm sure we have totally different mindsets as I'd never consider paying $500 a night cash anywhere unless there we very special and probably illegal circumstances going on! I'm too cheap. But there are so, so many variables between being actually being able to redeem when you want to the value of the experience to you so I don't know where to begin.
I consider 15K to an average minimum price of points to get a room - just a room at RI, SHS, TPS (never CY) and if lucky a low end FS. So 55K should get me 4 nights at a $99-129 max (plus taxes) a night. So I'd value these 55K at $400 IMO as a floor.
I sweat these details all the time too. Going to a FS Labor Day weekend as part of a group and can pay $99 / night or spend 28k points for both nights (of my 1.3MM). A run of the mill corporate Marriott next to a shopping mall in Bridgewater, NJ and I can't decide.
I know its right at my practical yes/no worth line but still seems like a low value use of points given the rate. But in reality I've never been in a position to take advantage of these great value propositions in foreign lands I can only read about here and dream!
Known that points only devalue in time, the practical solution is to spend them but I keep dreaming of the future...
I consider 15K to an average minimum price of points to get a room - just a room at RI, SHS, TPS (never CY) and if lucky a low end FS. So 55K should get me 4 nights at a $99-129 max (plus taxes) a night. So I'd value these 55K at $400 IMO as a floor.
I sweat these details all the time too. Going to a FS Labor Day weekend as part of a group and can pay $99 / night or spend 28k points for both nights (of my 1.3MM). A run of the mill corporate Marriott next to a shopping mall in Bridgewater, NJ and I can't decide.
I know its right at my practical yes/no worth line but still seems like a low value use of points given the rate. But in reality I've never been in a position to take advantage of these great value propositions in foreign lands I can only read about here and dream!

Known that points only devalue in time, the practical solution is to spend them but I keep dreaming of the future...
#3


Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Programs: UA 2P, AA LT Gold, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,176
I try to get at least 2 cents per point for my Marriott points.
Maybe that is why I have 1.2 million unspent points...
Maybe that is why I have 1.2 million unspent points...
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2002
Programs: Marriott Plat Premier/LT Plat; SPG Plat/LT Gold; Hilton Gold; Hyatt Plat
Posts: 2,356
so at conservative value even at 1 cent a dollar they are worth about $500
#5




Join Date: Feb 2005
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium (former PP), Hilton Silver, UA Silver, AS Member, Hertz 5*
Posts: 3,906
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (SymbianOS/9.1; U; en-us) AppleWebKit/413 (KHTML, like Gecko) Safari/413 es61i)
At a minimum, yes. My redeemable value is usually 1.5-2.5 cents per point, including taxes and points not earned.
At a minimum, yes. My redeemable value is usually 1.5-2.5 cents per point, including taxes and points not earned.
#6




Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: AZ
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Plat, HH Gold, A3 *G, Sixt Plat
Posts: 1,217
To me, they are almost enough to stay 2 nights at the JW Marriott Capri (30k per night on a saver award)
Best use of MR points I have found.
Best use of MR points I have found.
#7
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 568
https://buy.points.com/marriott/init...28C?method=buy
You can buy them for $0.0125 each MR point. It's up to you to get more than that in value use. Air+Hotel packages definitely the best.
You can buy them for $0.0125 each MR point. It's up to you to get more than that in value use. Air+Hotel packages definitely the best.
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 18,069
At least $650. That's what we would have paid to stay at the Sydney Marriott on NYE. I would never pay $650 for one night (much less 2 at that rate) so it was well worth it even though not much > 1 cent per point.
#9


Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,789
I value Marriott points at 1c minimum & sometimes get 1.5c or more. Gardner & Joshua, have U considered unloading your large balances as travel packages? If U don't genuinely want a free week, offer it on tCC!
#10
Community Director Emerita




Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 35,567
I value Marriott points at 1 cent apiece.
#11

Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: TUS
Programs: MR Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Southwest ALP/ CP
Posts: 630
My personal conversion rate is about a penny per point as well. Of course, I am also one not to hoard the points up and will frequently use them instead of paying anything out of pocket.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist

Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 31,103
Put me down in the .015 camp. If I can't get that out of them then I'll pay cash for the room.
#13

Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: New York
Programs: AA Platinum, Marriott Platinum Elite, SPG Gold
Posts: 320
All of this makes me realize that chasing a 10000 point bonus with a $100+ room a little feeble minded.
#14
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: 11,775
My valuations aren't nearly as complex as some others. I use the 'if I can't afford it I use points method' myself.
#15


Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,789


! Makes sense if U really want that $100 paid room but not as a mattress run.