Questions and Answers

Hello,

I was wondering why it is more advantageous to use hotel points for redemption at only luxury hotels (e.g. Park Hyatt, Grand Hyatt) instead of the limited service hotels in the World of Hyatt (or in IHG or Marriott)? I mean if there are less points required for them then why not use it?
Also, does any think it costs more money if a hotel adds the option of using a mix of points and money when booking? (IHG does this)

Most of the major hotels now add an option of mixing points and money. I booked Marriott with this a few weeks ago.

I wouldn’t say it is more advantageous to use hotel points for luxury hotels. You just typically get more outsized value. For the most part, redemptions for hotel rooms are fixed rate. So, the Park Hyatt always costs say, 30,000 points. But cash rates could potentially be over $1,000 per night (think the Park Hyatt Sydney for New Year’s Eve). On the other hand, the Hampton Inn down the street from my house always costs 10,000 points. But, cash rates there are rarely over $100. So, you potentially get more value from using your points to cover the $1,000 room, than the $100 room. Hope that makes more sense! At the end of the day, it comes down to how you are happy redeeming your points