U.S. Travel Association's Daily Getaways 2016
Apr 1, 2016, 5:36 am
#76
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: FL, USA
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriot Gold
Posts: 1,666
Apr 1, 2016, 6:02 am
#77
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
This Daily Getaway deal can quite easily end up being a worse deal (than the 6k points + cash approach) when redemption space availability doesn't work out or -- worse yet -- the customer gets nailed harder by a devaluation hit on a very large hoard of Choice points because of the failure to act on the notion that maintaining cash (longer than points) is king in a world where the hotel "loyalty" program may be quick to adjust the redemption pricing without even providing advance notice about price changes with the transparency level required to be respectful of its customers sitting on large stashes of points.
And given its customer base, Choice may really not care too much about pulling some kind of customer-unfriendly shenanigans with its redemption pricing in an era of "innovation" and "enhancement" meant to maximize the unit's profitability. In prior years, the Daily Getaway thing has been a very good deal for many. It won't be as good for as many as it has been to some of us in prior years.
I still find Choice points very valuable, but I'm not as interesting in buying a lot more Choice points to hoard in the hopes of redeeming them in the summer of 2017 at the current price in points. Choice is on a faster and more extensive path of "innovation" and "enhancement" in a way that it has not been for as long as I've been a Choice customer.
"Buyer, beware", that's what I'm saying.
Last edited by GUWonder; Apr 1, 2016 at 6:08 am
Apr 1, 2016, 8:58 am
#78
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: AA Plat Pto, IHG Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,538
Alamo $50 are back, limit 3 per purchase! ^
I'd love some Choice or Hyatt but have realistic expectations.
I'd love some Choice or Hyatt but have realistic expectations.
Apr 1, 2016, 10:33 am
#79
Join Date: Mar 2011
Programs: AA, UA, DL, AS, LH, BA, VS, HHonors, Hyatt, Club Carlson, IHG, Marriott
Posts: 833
100K Hilton points for $500
Almost the same as what Hilton is currently offering to purchase points:
90K Hilton points for $500
99K Hilton points for $550
Almost the same as what Hilton is currently offering to purchase points:
90K Hilton points for $500
99K Hilton points for $550
Apr 1, 2016, 12:38 pm
#80
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ZRH
Programs: M&M SEN (*G), HH Diamond
Posts: 2,418
I guess, it depends on what "almost the same" is to you. I will take the 10% discount with Daily Getaways anytime over the purchase through HH directly.
Buy max. 144k at 0.556 cents a point today from HH directly or max. 500k at 0.5 cents a point at Daily Getaways in three weeks? Buying now from HH directly will also max out your allowance for this year and if HH offers points with 100% bonus (i.e. at 0.5 cents) again later this year, you won't be able to buy anymore.
That should be an easy decision.
Buy max. 144k at 0.556 cents a point today from HH directly or max. 500k at 0.5 cents a point at Daily Getaways in three weeks? Buying now from HH directly will also max out your allowance for this year and if HH offers points with 100% bonus (i.e. at 0.5 cents) again later this year, you won't be able to buy anymore.
That should be an easy decision.
Apr 1, 2016, 3:58 pm
#82
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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75k Hilton points can be currently had with a $0 fee credit card as long as you spend $1000 on it in the allotted time.
Apr 1, 2016, 9:07 pm
#83
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: 52,140
Apr 2, 2016, 4:38 am
#84
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Apr 2, 2016, 8:37 am
#85
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,727
The main issue for the choice programme. Is the 60 days window to book. So its pretty hard to adjust given the devaluation should it occur
Apr 2, 2016, 9:35 am
#86
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
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Posts: 102,095
Indeed. So even if Choice provided 60-180 days advance notice of a devaluation, it may not do most customers that much good since most customers can only book within 30-60 days.
Apr 2, 2016, 9:52 am
#87
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: 52,140
Apr 2, 2016, 10:40 am
#88
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Programs: All major programs
Posts: 1,403
Choice program is kind of hard to understand and redeem. For this reason, it is not worth the trouble to me. I will just book cash.
Apr 2, 2016, 11:00 am
#89
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I like to know what I am buying, if only so I don't come out feeling like I'm a fool who got played. Maybe one day Choice will eliminate the 30/60 booking window rule, but they have this restriction now and have had it for years and years and years.
Apr 2, 2016, 4:09 pm
#90
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,083
When was the last large-scale devaluation for Choice or did they just devalue some hotels randomly? I see there are still some hotels that are outstanding values, but I am a bit worried they will just up the redemption rate in the next few months