Bonvoy Points Value

[DRH90277]

I have several certificates to purchase 330K points for $2275. Is this a good deal? Or should I pass? Thanks

Bonvoy points are next to worthless and even Marriott hotel properties often restrict their use or inflate the number of points required for a reservation. Cash is king, so use your $2,275 for something of real value.

If you really want to buy Bonvoy points at $0.0069, list them for sale and see how may would even pay you over $0.0025.

 

[vacationtime1]

Bonvoy points are next to worthless and even Marriott hotel properties often restrict their use or inflate the number of points required for a reservation. Cash is king, so use your $2,275 for something of real value.

If you really want to buy Bonvoy points at $0.0069, list them for sale and see how may would even pay you over $0.0025.

+1 -- although I would pay $0.0025/point

 

[DRH90277]

+1 -- although I would pay $0.0025/point

There is an article in the Wall Street Journal today about the hotel points programs, the diminishing values, etc.

There are some quite good and simple 2% or better cash rebate programs out there on some credit cards. My consistent 2% with the Fidelity Investment card works just fine for me.

A week or so ago, I was trying to get some Marriott Hotel reservations for a cross-country drive for our college students. The Bonvoy point cost was ridiculous, so I looked at Best Western "cash" rates. They were great stays, at nice properties with breakfasts. Sorry Marriott, but this Lifetime Platinum Elite member has found a great alternative.

The Platinum Elite badge has lost its luster for me.

 

[GLehman]

I just had a learning experience booking a couple of nights at the Sheraton Kauai Resort. They have an ocean front room available for 153,000 points, 76,000 for the first night and 77,000 for the second night. Perfect for using my 85k free night award certificates I thought. When I called to make the reservation and apply the award certificates, I discovered that no, the certificates were not good for this room because it is considered a "Redemption with Points Upgrade" room. Huh? Does anyone want an award certificate? Oh sorry, Marriott won't let me give them away either. I tried to do that for my daughter on one of her recent trips. This is my last year with the Marriott AMEX Brilliant card.

I'm staying at a Hilton in Japan this week. The hotel is full and they automatically upgraded me to an ocean view room with a terrace even though I'm paying the lowest discounted military rate. The Diamond level upgrades are very nice and they definitely have the edge over Marriott properties for me these days.

 

[dioxide45]

I just had a learning experience booking a couple of nights at the Sheraton Kauai Resort. They have an ocean front room available for 153,000 points, 76,000 for the first night and 77,000 for the second night. Perfect for using my 85k free night award certificates I thought. When I called to make the reservation and apply the award certificates, I discovered that no, the certificates were not good for this room because it is considered a "Redemption with Points Upgrade" room. Huh? Does anyone want an award certificate? Oh sorry, Marriott won't let me give them away either. I tried to do that for my daughter on one of her recent trips. This is my last year with the Marriott AMEX Brilliant card.

I'm staying at a Hilton in Japan this week. The hotel is full and they automatically upgraded me to an ocean view room with a terrace even though I'm paying the lowest discounted military rate. The Diamond level upgrades are very nice and they definitely have the edge over Marriott properties for me these days.

I understand that the free night certificates can only be used for a standard room. Even though it is good for more points, you can't use it for a better view or better room even though the cert is valued at enough points to cover it. You really have to use the certs where the cheapest room is a lot of points.

 

[VacationForever]

I lucked out recently, booking at St. Regis in Singapore using Bonvoy points for a week. It was 266K and it allowed me to top up 2 credit card certificates. It cost only 196K Bonvoy points after the 2 free nights were used. Cash was about $3K. Since then, the points have gone up to 350K for the week, and cash has also gone up to $4K. I got 1.1 cents per point for my reservation. So if you have specific use and get better value than what you are paying for, then buy it.

 

[jwalk03]

I just had a learning experience booking a couple of nights at the Sheraton Kauai Resort. They have an ocean front room available for 153,000 points, 76,000 for the first night and 77,000 for the second night. Perfect for using my 85k free night award certificates I thought. When I called to make the reservation and apply the award certificates, I discovered that no, the certificates were not good for this room because it is considered a "Redemption with Points Upgrade" room. Huh? Does anyone want an award certificate? Oh sorry, Marriott won't let me give them away either. I tried to do that for my daughter on one of her recent trips. This is my last year with the Marriott AMEX Brilliant card.

I'm staying at a Hilton in Japan this week. The hotel is full and they automatically upgraded me to an ocean view room with a terrace even though I'm paying the lowest discounted military rate. The Diamond level upgrades are very nice and they definitely have the edge over Marriott properties for me these days.

The FNAs can only be used for a standard room redemption and can only be used by the cardholder. Nothing new.

 

[ljmiii]

Bonvoy points are next to worthless and even Marriott hotel properties often restrict their use or inflate the number of points required for a reservation. Cash is king, so use your $2,275 for something of real value.

If you really want to buy Bonvoy points at $0.0069, list them for sale and see how may would even pay you over $0.0025.

If they were transferrable for cash I would gladly pay $0.0025. But I more wonder where you are looking that you can't get good value for your Bonvoy Points. I've gone through hundreds of thousands of Bonvoy Points since 2020 never accepting less than a penny a point. I've found great redemption values in Europe, the Caribbean, and even the US. Lousy ones too of course...but I just laugh and move on.

Now I accept that a substantial part of the reason for this is the increase in cash rates. And I share the dismay that others feel that the conversion of MVC to Marriott Int'l points has become worthless. And that the best redemptions such as Hotel + Air packages have disappeared. But if you are willing to accept TPG's 0.85 cents a point you should have no problem finding rooms.

 

[jwalk03]

If they were transferrable for cash I would gladly pay $0.0025. But I more wonder where you are looking that you can't get good value for your Bonvoy Points. I've gone through hundreds of thousands of Bonvoy Points since 2020 never accepting less than a penny a point. I've found great redemption values in Europe, the Caribbean, and even the US. Lousy ones too of course...but I just laugh and move on.

Now I accept that a substantial part of the reason for this is the increase in cash rates. And I share the dismay that others feel that the conversion of MVC to Marriott Int'l points has become worthless. And that the best redemptions such as Hotel + Air packages have disappeared. But if you are willing to accept TPG's 0.85 cents a point you should have no problem finding rooms.

Agree with this. I regularly get a penny per point for Bonvoy redemptions and occasionally even more than that. A few times I have gotten 3-4 cents per point when using points instead of paying cash for hotel stays around events like College Football games!

 

[GLehman]

My recent redemption - two night stay in Kauai - $949.68 value for 153,000 points - $.0062 per point. There is a cancelation / early departure fee of about $500 (one night) if I fail to cancel about one week in advance or decide to leave one day early. So, the points would be returned to me and they would charge me the large fee.

 

[ljmiii]

Agree with this. I regularly get a penny per point for Bonvoy redemptions and occasionally even more than that. A few times I have gotten 3-4 cents per point when using points instead of paying cash for hotel stays around events like College Football games!

Nice! I've never managed that good a deal but a few minutes ago make a ressie at the RI Savannah Downtown - 81K points + 15 USD vs $1,272.

The other thing I have managed to do a couple of times (which I completely don't understand...but who am I to argue?) is succeed in making a points reservation at a hotel when searching with cash shows no availability. Further proof that one should *always* check both cash and points rates.

 

[GLehman]

Nice! I've never managed that good a deal but a few minutes ago make a ressie at the RI Savannah Downtown - 81K points + 15 USD vs $1,272.

Tell me your secrets! With a normal standard rate of $171 a night for a 1 BDR suite, that would equate to about a one weeks stay to reach something close to $1,272 value. How are you getting that for 81k points? What am I missing?

 

[ljmiii]

Tell me your secrets! With a normal standard rate of $171 a night for a 1 BDR suite, that would equate to about a one weeks stay to reach something close to $1,272 value. How are you getting that for 81k points? What am I missing?

Flip it around. I'm looking at a high demand 3 night weekend stay...so $1,272 for the 1BR. But I can get that 1BR for those same nights for 81K points.

 

[AlmostRetired]

Thank you Fasttr. Corrected decimals

Booked Grand Cayman Marriott Resort using points, leaving in 3 weeks. I used 259000 points with point saver award. for 7 nights The room cost for the least expensive room with a king size bed is 3525 which has a resort fee that everyone pays so $3105 without it. This is 1.2 cents a point, which is good.

Based on feedback from TUG. elsewhere and my wife's friend I changed it to the Westin which is 489,000 points for 7 nights or $4105 without resort fees. Her friend checked into the Marriott one day and out the other to move to the Westin. Like me, her initial decision was driven by the cost differences, and while the beach was an issue, the overly crowded pool because of it is what drove the decision. I could only imagine what the last minute decision cost her. My point value went down to .83 cents, still not bad. The only challenge, I had only 60,000, in my account which is 20,000 points short of using points for 5 nights and paying for 2 nights. With no points to transfer, I turned to the current point special Marriott is running where you get a 45% bonus when you buy points. 14,000 points with a 6300 bonus was $175 which was enough for the 5 night package. When you pay for 5 nights or more the rate per night is discounted because it is called a member long term stay. Two nights did not qualify so purchasing an additional 154,000 points for another $1375 to get the 7 night package was cheaper than paying for 3 nights with room rate and tax.

I used 259000 points plus the 60,000 I added = 319,000 points. The cost of 7 nights was $4105 but I paid $1500 for the new point difference so $4105- $1500 = $2605. My cost per point is 2605/319000 = .816 cents per point. Much worse than 1.2 cents a point for the Marriott but not bad for the Westin at .816 cents a point after purchasing points.

Note with the bonus Marriott charged me $1500 for 174000 = .86 cents per point so this what they are charging you point. Without the special, if 14,000 points is $175, they are charging you 1.25 cents a point

 

[Fasttr]

Booked Grand Cayman Marriott Resort using points, leaving in 3 weeks. I used 259000 points with point saver award. for 7 nights The room cost for the least expensive room with a king size bed is 3525 which has a resort fee that everyone pays so $3105 without it. This is 12 cents a point, which is good.

Based on feedback from TUG. elsewhere and my wife's friend I changed it to the Westin which is 489,000 points for 7 nights or $4105 without resort fees. Her friend checked into the Marriott one day and out the other to move to the Westin. Like me, her initial decision was driven by the cost differences, and while the beach was an issue, the overly crowded pool because of it is what drove the decision. I could only imagine what the last minute decision cost her. My point value went down to 8.3 cents, still not bad. The only challenge, I had only 60,000, in my account which is 20,000 points short of using points for 5 nights and paying for 2 nights. With no points to transfer, I turned to the current point special Marriott is running where you get a 45% bonus when you buy points. 14,000 points with a 6300 bonus was $175 which was enough for the 5 night package. When you pay for 5 nights or more the rate per night is discounted because it is called a member long term stay. Two nights did not qualify so purchasing an additional 154,000 points for another $1375 to get the 7 night package was cheaper than paying for 3 nights with room rate and tax.

I used 259000 points plus the 60,000 I added = 319,000 points. The cost of 7 nights was $4105 but I paid $1500 for the new point difference so $4105- $1500 = $2605. My cost per point is 2605/319000 = 8.16 cents per point. Much worse than 12 cents a point for the Marriot but not bad for the Westin at 8.16 cents a point after purchasing points.

Note with the bonus Marriott charged me $1500 for 174000 = 8.6 cents per point so this what they are charging you point. Without the special, if 14,000 points is $175, they are charging you 12.5 cents a point

I likely confused everyone but the math does work if you can follow it. Obviously I will never a teacher.

I think you are a decimal place off on your cent per point values.

 

[VacationForever]

Yep, definitely 1 decimal place off on the entire post.

 

[AlmostRetired]

Yep, definitely 1 decimal place off on the entire post.

Thank both you and Fasttr for pointing it out. I guess I am a few cents short of a dollar when it comes to understanding using a calculator. I wish I never threw out my abacus.