Newbie question point usage

[Millisara]

Where is there information about using points usage for nonresort properties?
Can you use you points for nonresort Hotel stays, is this a poor use of points and are there disadvantages to using the points for this purpose? I am interested in Hilton NY Club.
Thanks

 

[pianodinosaur]

The conversion factor form HGVC points to HHonors points is poor. If you need to points to stay in a posh European resort, the conversion may be very useful. Several Tuggers have done that with great satisfaction. However, HHonors points accumulate very rapidly if you use a HHonors AmEx. The Hilton Family has numerous hotel resorts where you may redeem HHonors points. The best redemptions are when you use the Going Global codes. The website will not yet you Go Global at this time. You need to call HHonors for a Going Global redemption. We have not yet had any need to convert HGVC points to HHonors.

 

[Talent312]

"Going Global" is the legacy name for what Hilton now calls "VIP awards" which are available to Silver, Gold & Diamond HHonors members, of which every HGVC member is at least Silver. They require a minimum 4-Night stay and _can_ be booked online, but to get the system to apply the VIP-rate, you must sign-in to your HHonors account before beginning a search.

You can tell if you are being quoted a VIP-rate if you see it listed in the search criteria or if the point-quote for the property shows less than the standard-rate. You only need to call HHonors if you're not sure that the 'puter is giving you the discounted rate.

But yeah, converting HGVC points to HHonors points is usually a bad deal. Run the numbers: 1200 HGVC points will get you 3-4 nights at a HGVC resort, but convert to HHonors at a rate of 1:25 and you have 30K HHonors points, which may not be enuff for 1-N at a Hampton Inn in the boondocks. Also: You can only convert _next_ year's points and they won't post to your HHonors account until January.

You can use this year's HGVC points for a direct hotel booking, but you'll only get an effective conversion rate of 1:20, an even worse deal.

Bottom Line: HGVC points are best used for their primary purpose: Booking TS's at Hilton or RCI resorts (thru Hilton). OTOH, converting points you may lose otherwise, to get to the VIP award level needed for a posh hotel in a big-city, can make sense.