Difference between revisions of "TravelStrategies: Hotel point values"

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{Title|hotel point values}}}}
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{{DISPLAYTITLE:{{Title|hotel point values}} (2021)}}
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{{Page|article|Hotel Strategies}}  
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{{Page|article|Earn Points|point values}}  
  
 
{{ImageX|CoinScale.jpg|full}}  
 
{{ImageX|CoinScale.jpg|full}}  
  
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Different types of reward points have very different values. And this is especially true of hotel points. Some hotel programs, like Hilton, require a large number of points for an award night, making their points worth about {{Value|Hilton}} cents each. Other hotel programs, like SPG, require many fewer points for an equivalent hotel, making their points worth over 2 cents each. Each Starwood point is typically worth more than four Hilton points.  
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Different types of reward points have very different values, and this is especially true of hotel points. Some hotel programs (like Hilton) require a large number of points for an award night, making their points worth about {{Value|Hilton}} cents each. Other hotel programs (like Hyatt) require many fewer points for an equivalent hotel, making their points worth over 1.75 cents each. Each Hyatt point is typically worth more than three or four Hilton points.  
  
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But, the real truth is that most points don’t have a set value. The value of each type of point is different for different people—depending on how you travel, how you plan to use their points, and how many points you already have.  
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But the real truth is that most points don’t have a set value. The value of each type of point is different for different people—depending on how you travel, how you plan to use their points, and how many points you already have.  
  
 
<blockquote>
 
<blockquote>
 
WE assign a value to each type of point so that we can have a conversation about the relative value of different options. But YOU need to adjust these “base” values to reflect your unique situation and travel goals.</blockquote>
 
WE assign a value to each type of point so that we can have a conversation about the relative value of different options. But YOU need to adjust these “base” values to reflect your unique situation and travel goals.</blockquote>
 
   
 
   
−
 
 
{{Main|article}}
 
{{Main|article}}
  
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
 
<ul class="bulletlist">
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<li>'''It is much easier to take advantage of hotel reward programs than frequent flyer programs'''. In general, if there is a regular room available, you can book it with points. And, because hotel nights are typically cheaper than frequent flyer tickets, you can reward yourself much more frequently. </li>
+
<li>'''It is much easier to take advantage of hotel reward programs than frequent flyer programs'''. In general, if there is a regular room available, you can book it with points. And because hotel nights are typically cheaper than frequent flyer tickets, you can reward yourself much more often. </li>
  
−
<li>'''Our base values for hotel points are based on what you will often, but not always, be able to get with your points'''. The value you can get from any given type of hotel point varies widely between different trips. 12,000 Hyatt points might get you a room that is worth $140, or a room that is worth $450. We set our values at the high side of what you can get—but not so high that it will be too hard to find opportunities to use your points. </li>
+
<li>'''Our base values for hotel points are based on what you will often, but not always, be able to get with your points'''. The value you can get from any given type of hotel point varies widely between different trips. 12,000 Hyatt points might get you a room that is worth $140 or a room that is worth $450. We set our values at the high side of what you can get—but not so high that it will be too difficult to find opportunities to get that much from your points. </li>
  
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You won’t be able to get this much value on every hotel reservation, but you will probably be able to find them frequently enough to burn through whatever hotel points you’ll earn. For special events (when prices go sky high), sweet spots (where the hotel category is set too low), and at the most expensive hotels in the chain, you should be able to get much more value per point.
+
You won’t be able to receive this much value on every hotel reservation, but you will probably be able to find them frequently enough to burn through whatever hotel points you’ll earn. For special events (when prices go sky high), sweet spots (where the hotel category is set too low), and at the most expensive hotels in the chain, you should be able to get much more value per point than our base values.
  
 
<li>'''The value of hotel points varies widely between programs'''. This is primarily due to the vast differences in the number of points each program requires for a night in a similar quality hotel.</li>  
 
<li>'''The value of hotel points varies widely between programs'''. This is primarily due to the vast differences in the number of points each program requires for a night in a similar quality hotel.</li>  
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|-
 
|-
 
!style="width: 1in;"|Nice Hotel
 
!style="width: 1in;"|Nice Hotel
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!style="width: .75in;"|least expensive award options
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!style="width: .75in;"|Least expensive award options
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!style="width: .75in;"|Most Expensive
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!style="width: 1in;"|Most Expensive
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Link|Best Western|Best Western}}
 
|{{Link|Best Western|Best Western}}
 
|style="width: .5in;"|'''{{Value|bestwestern}}'''
 
|style="width: .5in;"|'''{{Value|bestwestern}}'''
 
|24-36,000
 
|24-36,000
−
|8,000
+
|5,000
−
|36,000
+
|36-70,000
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Link|Choice|Choice}}
 
|{{Link|Choice|Choice}}
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|20-30,000
 
|20-30,000
 
|6,000
 
|6,000
−
|35,000
+
|35-75,000
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Link|Hilton|Hilton}}
 
|{{Link|Hilton|Hilton}}
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|40-50,000
 
|40-50,000
 
|5,000
 
|5,000
−
|95,000
+
|95-120,000
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Link|Hyatt|Hyatt}}
 
|{{Link|Hyatt|Hyatt}}
 
|'''{{Value|hyatt}}'''
 
|'''{{Value|hyatt}}'''
 
|8-15,000
 
|8-15,000
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|5,000
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|3,500
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|30,000
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|30-45,000
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Link|IHG|IHG}}
 
|{{Link|IHG|IHG}}
 
|'''{{Value|ihg}}'''
 
|'''{{Value|ihg}}'''
−
|25-35,000
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|25-50,000
 
|10,000
 
|10,000
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|60,000
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|70-100,000
−
|-
 
−
|{{Link|La Quinta|La Quinta}}
 
−
|'''{{Value|laquinta}}'''
 
−
|24,000
 
−
|6,000
 
−
|24,000
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Link|Marriott|Marriott}}
 
|{{Link|Marriott|Marriott}}
 
|'''{{Value|marriott}}'''
 
|'''{{Value|marriott}}'''
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|25-35,000
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|25-50,000
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|7,500
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|5,000
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|45,000
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|85-100,000
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Link|Radisson|Radisson}}
 
|{{Link|Radisson|Radisson}}
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|9,000
 
|9,000
 
|70,000
 
|70,000
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|-
 
−
|{{Link|SPG|SPG}}
 
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|'''{{Value|spg}}'''
 
−
|10-12,000
 
−
|2,000
 
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|35,000
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|{{Link|Wyndham|Wyndham}}
 
|{{Link|Wyndham|Wyndham}}
 
|'''{{Value|wyndham}}'''
 
|'''{{Value|wyndham}}'''
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|15,000
+
|30,000
−
|15,000
+
|7,500
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|15,000
+
|30,000
 
{{/Table}}
 
{{/Table}}
  
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<li>'''If you want to be able to always use hotel points, rather than paying cash, hotel points are worth less'''. On some trips, comparable hotel rates will be low. Since the cost of award nights doesn't change (very much), you'll still generally need to use the same number of points as you would if prices were higher, and you'll get less value from your points. Usually, we would recommend saving your points for future stays, where you would get more value.</li>  
+
<li>'''If you want to always use your hotel points and never pay cash, you'll get less value from your points'''. On some trips, comparable hotel rates will be low. Since the points cost for a free night doesn't vary very much, you'll still need to use around the same number of points as you would if prices were higher. Consequently, you'll get less value from your points. We would usually recommend saving your points for future stays, where you are likely to get more value.</li>  
−
 
 
−
However, if you never want to pay for a hotel room, and you can generate lots of hotel points, compared to how often you travel, you'll want use your points on every trip. Sometimes you'll get great value, sometimes you'll get good value, and sometimes you'll get low value from your points. On average, you points will be worth less than in the table above.
 
  
−
<li>'''If you can frequently stay in lower "category" hotels, your points will be worth more—particularly in certain programs'''. In general, you'll get more value from points at low category hotels, which are often primarily available in less-expensive foreign countries. If you are going to be using your points in this way, you'll get more value from every type of point. It also changes the relative values of points from different programs. For example, for a night at a typical hotel, Hilton points are worth less than Marriott points. But at the cheapest hotels, they can be worth more.</li>  
+
<li>'''If you can frequently stay in lower "category" hotels, your points will be worth more—particularly in certain programs'''. In general, you'll get more value from points at low category hotels, which are often primarily available in less-expensive foreign countries. If you are going to be using your points in this way, you'll get more value from every type of hotel point. It also changes the relative values of points from different programs. For example, for a night at a typical hotel, Hilton points are worth less than Marriott points. But at the cheapest hotels, they can be worth more.</li>  
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
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{{NextPages}}
 
{{NextPages}}
 
{{Next|Award Nights 101}}
 
{{Next|Award Nights 101}}
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{{Next|low category hotels}}
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{{Next|signup intro}}
 
{{Next|buying hotel points}}
 
{{Next|buying hotel points}}
 
{{/NextPages}}  
 
{{/NextPages}}  
 
{{/Page|article}}
 
{{/Page|article}}

Latest revision as of 14:17, 1 September 2021

  Easily Earn Points for Free Travel, How Much are Points Worth?

CoinScale.jpg

Different types of reward points have very different values, and this is especially true of hotel points. Some hotel programs (like Hilton) require a large number of points for an award night, making their points worth about .45 cents each. Other hotel programs (like Hyatt) require many fewer points for an equivalent hotel, making their points worth over 1.75 cents each. Each Hyatt point is typically worth more than three or four Hilton points.

But the real truth is that most points don’t have a set value. The value of each type of point is different for different people—depending on how you travel, how you plan to use their points, and how many points you already have.

WE assign a value to each type of point so that we can have a conversation about the relative value of different options. But YOU need to adjust these “base” values to reflect your unique situation and travel goals.

  • It is much easier to take advantage of hotel reward programs than frequent flyer programs. In general, if there is a regular room available, you can book it with points. And because hotel nights are typically cheaper than frequent flyer tickets, you can reward yourself much more often.
  • Our base values for hotel points are based on what you will often, but not always, be able to get with your points. The value you can get from any given type of hotel point varies widely between different trips. 12,000 Hyatt points might get you a room that is worth $140 or a room that is worth $450. We set our values at the high side of what you can get—but not so high that it will be too difficult to find opportunities to get that much from your points.

    • You won’t be able to receive this much value on every hotel reservation, but you will probably be able to find them frequently enough to burn through whatever hotel points you’ll earn. For special events (when prices go sky high), sweet spots (where the hotel category is set too low), and at the most expensive hotels in the chain, you should be able to get much more value per point than our base values.

  • The value of hotel points varies widely between programs. This is primarily due to the vast differences in the number of points each program requires for a night in a similar quality hotel.

    • This table shows our base value for each program; along with the number of points it would take for a nice downtown hotel in a big, but not exorbitantly expensive, city; and the number of points for their least and most expensive hotels.

    Program Base Value Required points per night
    Nice Hotel Least expensive award options Most Expensive
    Best Western .6 24-36,000 5,000 36-70,000
    Choice .75 20-30,000 6,000 35-75,000
    Hilton .45 40-50,000 5,000 95-120,000
    Hyatt 1.7 8-15,000 3,500 30-45,000
    IHG .5 25-50,000 10,000 70-100,000
    Marriott .7 25-50,000 5,000 85-100,000
    Radisson .4 50-70,000 9,000 70,000
    Wyndham .8 30,000 7,500 30,000

    TravelStrategies:Hotel point values/Table

  • If you want to always use your hotel points and never pay cash, you'll get less value from your points. On some trips, comparable hotel rates will be low. Since the points cost for a free night doesn't vary very much, you'll still need to use around the same number of points as you would if prices were higher. Consequently, you'll get less value from your points. We would usually recommend saving your points for future stays, where you are likely to get more value.
  • If you can frequently stay in lower "category" hotels, your points will be worth more—particularly in certain programs. In general, you'll get more value from points at low category hotels, which are often primarily available in less-expensive foreign countries. If you are going to be using your points in this way, you'll get more value from every type of hotel point. It also changes the relative values of points from different programs. For example, for a night at a typical hotel, Hilton points are worth less than Marriott points. But at the cheapest hotels, they can be worth more.

    • </ul>

    TravelStrategies:Hotel point values/Main


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    Award Nights 101: Using Your Hotel Points
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    BuyStarpoints.jpg
    Get a Discounted Room Rate by Buying the Points for an Award Night

    TravelStrategies:Hotel point values/NextPages

    TravelStrategies:Hotel point values/Page
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