If you want to maximize your travel rewards, I recommend using cards earning transferable points currencies, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (review), Citi Strata Premier Card (review), and American Express Gold Card (review). Not only do these cards give you the most flexibility, but they also often have valuable bonus categories on spending.
Continue reading: Are Hotel Credit Cards Worth It If You’re Not Loyal?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
With Marriott, the “free night” is more often going unused each year. There tend to be a lot of properties that just surpass the 50k mark (35k + 15k top off). Decent properties in desirable locations often conveniently start at 53k or 55k per night, making them out of reach for a free night. Properties that do come in at 50k or under either are too far away or have mixed reviews.
Consider a card with $95 annual fee & 35k annual certificate. Next, a property priced at $250 cash OR 50k points. The redemption costs you $95 (for the 35k points) & 15k points (via top-off). Question: how much are the 15k points worth? I'd actually transfer them to an airline program (at 2.4:1) that gets 2.4cpp -- so, 1 cent per Marriott point. To me, 15k points are worth $150. Use your own numbers. Result is the same: not worth it.
Even if a person IS loyal, a card such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve might be the better choice. The value of credit card earnings on direct bookings (with any bank-points travel card) would be better than that from a hotel's co-branded credit card. If booking via Chase Travel, there is even greater value and a person still receives loyalty program credit.
You don't receive hotel loyalty program credit for nights booked through Chase Travel unless you are booking through The Edit.
It is important to note that IHG Platinum status is similar to gold with other hotel groups and only include the basics for status members such as room upgrade, late checkout, etc.
I normally stay at the best hotel in town and it’s never one of the large chains. So a hotel
Credit card generally does not make much sense for me
No evidence but it feels like united knows July and January are the only 2 months when the travel bank credit stacks.
You say you transfer the points for 2.4 cpp for air travel.
Great, but if you or not flying or the airline you are using doesn’t offer a competitive flight for your trip, that really doesn’t help.
I just looked, you can get the Boston Moxie on 7/3 for 48k points versus $2032.
NYE in NYC the AC for 47K versus $572.
Booking at high demand times can get you tremendous value out of the Marriott 35K night.