Could use some help maximizing my usage of hotel points for upcoming trip
Jan 22, 2006 | 5:45 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Atlanta
Programs: POS, Delta Skymiles, IC Plat Amb., Hilton Gold, SPG gold
Posts: 1,619
Could use some help maximizing my usage of hotel points for upcoming trip
Ok - I hope I posted this on the right forum... I am going to Europe in May - 19 nights... want to maximize my points -- here is what I have and where I am going. These point numbers should go up a little as I travel some in Feb.
Holiday Inn/PC/IC - 150,000 points
SPG - 41,000
I am going to:
Berlin - 6 nights
Munich - 2 nights
Venice - 2 nights
Zurich - 3 nights
Bath - 2 nights
London - 5 nights
I was thinking of doing the SPG 4 rewards = 5 nights in Berlin since I will be there - that will cost 28,000 points.
Also - if you have any thoughts on my itin. please let me know - some have said I should remove either venice or zurich and stay more days in that city.
Thanks much!
-- Allen
Holiday Inn/PC/IC - 150,000 points
SPG - 41,000
I am going to:
Berlin - 6 nights
Munich - 2 nights
Venice - 2 nights
Zurich - 3 nights
Bath - 2 nights
London - 5 nights
I was thinking of doing the SPG 4 rewards = 5 nights in Berlin since I will be there - that will cost 28,000 points.
Also - if you have any thoughts on my itin. please let me know - some have said I should remove either venice or zurich and stay more days in that city.
Thanks much!
-- Allen
Jan 22, 2006 | 6:19 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Falkirk, Scotland,VS Red, BA Gold, HH Diamond,UK Amex Plat
Programs: Master of the Privy Purse des Muccis
Posts: 19,260
Originally Posted by allen074
Ok - I hope I posted this on the right forum... I am going to Europe in May - 19 nights... want to maximize my points -- here is what I have and where I am going. These point numbers should go up a little as I travel some in Feb.
Holiday Inn/PC/IC - 150,000 points
SPG - 41,000
I am going to:
Berlin - 6 nights
Munich - 2 nights
Venice - 2 nights
Zurich - 3 nights
Bath - 2 nights
London - 5 nights
I was thinking of doing the SPG 4 rewards = 5 nights in Berlin since I will be there - that will cost 28,000 points.
Also - if you have any thoughts on my itin. please let me know - some have said I should remove either venice or zurich and stay more days in that city.
Thanks much!
-- Allen
Holiday Inn/PC/IC - 150,000 points
SPG - 41,000
I am going to:
Berlin - 6 nights
Munich - 2 nights
Venice - 2 nights
Zurich - 3 nights
Bath - 2 nights
London - 5 nights
I was thinking of doing the SPG 4 rewards = 5 nights in Berlin since I will be there - that will cost 28,000 points.
Also - if you have any thoughts on my itin. please let me know - some have said I should remove either venice or zurich and stay more days in that city.
Thanks much!
-- Allen
Hi,
Sounds like a fair bit of travelling within Europe. ( Are you flying between the cities or taking the train?)
If this is your first time in Europe , I would probably reomve either zurich or venice ( and probably drop zurich unless there was a special reason to go there) and Venice would probably have lot of sights to visit.
Also unless there is a special reason to visit Bath I might spend the extra day in London or elsewhere in Europe and vist Bath on a day trip from London.
6 nights in Berlin would be enough to vist a lot of the main sights and museums ( Schloss Charlottenburg and Schloss Sansouci in Potsdam and the museums)
Regards
TBS
Jan 22, 2006 | 7:49 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Doha, Qatar
Programs: TK Gold, Etihad Gold, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Gold, IHG Gold.
Posts: 806
SPG points at the Park Lane in London is the way to go. 10k points a night and buy 4 nights get one free.
I would consider purchasing a room in Berlin, they aren't that expensive.
If you have any hilton points, the Denaube Hilton in 10k points a night in Vienna, it is a little outside of the city, but a good use of points. If you get the 2 hilton credit cards, (visa and amex) it would be enough for 2 free nights.
If you add Prague, there is a Holiday Inn Express downtown for 10k points a night.
That is all I came up with so far.
Venice is usually very expensive, I stayed on the mainland and took the train into the city.
Enjoy your trip
Timo
Business Student in Paris, France
I would consider purchasing a room in Berlin, they aren't that expensive.
If you have any hilton points, the Denaube Hilton in 10k points a night in Vienna, it is a little outside of the city, but a good use of points. If you get the 2 hilton credit cards, (visa and amex) it would be enough for 2 free nights.
If you add Prague, there is a Holiday Inn Express downtown for 10k points a night.
That is all I came up with so far.
Venice is usually very expensive, I stayed on the mainland and took the train into the city.
Enjoy your trip
Timo
Business Student in Paris, France
Jan 22, 2006 | 9:56 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Atlanta
Programs: POS, Delta Skymiles, IC Plat Amb., Hilton Gold, SPG gold
Posts: 1,619
Thanks for the help so far... some clarifications:
- If I do 40k in London for the Park Lane, I will still have 150,000 points to use elsewhere
- This is my 3rd time to London
- This is my 2nd time to Berlin - I am going back to germany to spend time with some friends and try out my new german language education
- 6 nights at the IC Berlin would be 144,000 points - would basically use up all my points - is that the best usage?
thanks - keep the suggestions coming!
- If I do 40k in London for the Park Lane, I will still have 150,000 points to use elsewhere
- This is my 3rd time to London
- This is my 2nd time to Berlin - I am going back to germany to spend time with some friends and try out my new german language education
- 6 nights at the IC Berlin would be 144,000 points - would basically use up all my points - is that the best usage?
thanks - keep the suggestions coming!
Jan 22, 2006 | 7:46 pm
#6
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Priceline Titanium
Posts: 1,402
Seconding Zeikka, consider mixing in some Priceline bids cities like London and Berlin, where people seem to get the most value for their bids. Use the points in cities where those opportunities are more scarce.
For instance (though they aren't in your itinerary) I would use Priceline in Brussels, but use points if possible in Barcelona.
For instance (though they aren't in your itinerary) I would use Priceline in Brussels, but use points if possible in Barcelona.
Jan 23, 2006 | 4:27 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA, VS, HH, IHG, MB, MR
Posts: 27,232
Berlin is the cheapest major city in Europe for hotels. You are throwing points down the drain if you redeem here, compared to the other places on your list.
Venice - the IC properties in Venice are a long way away. And the SPG properties will be expensive to redeem at. You may want to pay up here - try the Giorgioni which is a good value property in the heart of the city.
Venice - the IC properties in Venice are a long way away. And the SPG properties will be expensive to redeem at. You may want to pay up here - try the Giorgioni which is a good value property in the heart of the city.
Jan 24, 2006 | 5:28 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Atlanta
Programs: POS, Delta Skymiles, IC Plat Amb., Hilton Gold, SPG gold
Posts: 1,619
I am thinking to use some of the points this way:
SPG London - 40,000 gets me 5th night free - that takes care of london
HI Bath - 20,000 takes care of Bath
IC Berlin - pay 1 night, use b1g1 cert for 2nd night, use points for other 4 nights @24k per - takes care of berlin
now i need munich, venice and zurich
SPG London - 40,000 gets me 5th night free - that takes care of london
HI Bath - 20,000 takes care of Bath
IC Berlin - pay 1 night, use b1g1 cert for 2nd night, use points for other 4 nights @24k per - takes care of berlin
now i need munich, venice and zurich