Well as listen to this I’m vacuuming after that excitement I will be doing some dishes so the la Quinta sounds pretty good. Okay not Park Hyatt good but…. ;-)
@@frequent-miler no, but i did used to work inside a ramada that had an arcade and an entire waterpark in the basement. It's since been demolished, but if you could get past the hookers and water damage, it wasn't a bad deal for 7500 Wyndham points!
If you are valuing RRV at 0.70 (example for Marriott) - does that mean if I redeem 40,000 points and the hotel rate is $400 per night including Taxes and Fees - that this is a good redemption? I’m trying to see if I understand how this works 😂😂😂
The IHG devaluation was clearly stated for UK (like 30%), and Asia (up to 15-20%). Not US. On that note, why only use US hotels for your CPP calculations? The world is a big place.
I thought we explained why on the show, but if we didn't, the reason we only use US properties for RRV is because based on data that has been released now and then by major US loyalty programs, the *vast* majority of points are redeemed on domestic US travel. Our goal with RRVs is to have a reasonable value that an average traveler can expect to get for an average redemption -- it is meant to be conservative rather than a demonstration of how much value you can get if you cherry pick a terrific property abroad. The truth is that most Americans aren't traveling abroad regularly (and even for those who do travel abroad regularly, it is uncommon for international travel to make up the majority of redemptions), so it doesn't make sense to base our RRV on redemptions that the vast majority of our audience is likely to make only on occasion at best but rather we want the RRV based on more average use. Obviously each individual can adjust up or down based on their own personal circumstances and travel patterns. Personally, the vast majority of *my* travel is international, but I recognize that my personal circumstances aren't very representative of the average American traveler. -Nick
I booked 2 rooms at Hilton Hawaiian village for 5 days on points then called Hilton to add a FNC to one of the rooms. When I checked out i did have to settle 3 different reservations.
I was looking at IHG hotels in cities I'm traveling to this year and hotels were either 17k-35k points or over 60k points. I searched 5 cities and only one property was available at around 45k points.
Unfortunately, they removed them from the online profile at some point a while back. I don't know why they did that -- it's an annoying change. If you call, they can tell you how many you have. -Nick
I applied and got approved for both Hilton NO AF and Surpass card in last month . Any idea when will FNC will be available once I complete SUB? I want to time 15K and both SUB so that I get all 3 FNC at same time.
Interesting on the combo Hilton points + FNCs! I just booked 7 nights at the WA Orlando. 5 nights on points + 2 FNCs (one on wife's account). Had to do 3 separate bookings. Going to keep calling back to see if I can do all under one booking or at least 2. Thanks!
@@Re3iRtH I've neither been nor looked closely at it, but I just glanced at reviews across several sites: 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google, 5 out of 5 on Trip Advisor, 10/10 on Hotels.com, and 9.4 out of 10 on Booking.com seem to suggest that a lot of people don't feel like it's outdated or at least are very satisfied (and at that price point, I imagine that people probably wouldn't be shy about calling it out if they were unhappy?). Again, I hadn't looked at the property at all really before I just now checked reviews, but it seems most people are pretty happy with it. -Nick
@@frequent-miler Take a look at a few YT videos touring the property and rooms. I think you will be VERY surprised, and surprised to the downside. This property has no business being compared to a Ritz-Carlton abroad or any Waldorf, let alone Calala. Luxury 5 star properties are usually getting 4.9/5 stars on Google (ie. Alila Villas Uluwatu). 4.7/5 on Google is typical of a "nice" property.
@@frequent-miler luxury properties that are revered are usually getting four point nine out of five stars on Google reviews - see Nay Palad Hideaway in Siargao Philippines.
@@Re3iRtH all of the SLH properties in Santorini seemed to be good deals. We will be staying at the Canaves epitome. Its sister hotel right next door actually has a better redemption at a higher cpp but I like the room where we are staying. For then to her island we are going to Sifnos and Athens we are using Hyatt points
La Quinta inn..sounds exotic!!
Well as listen to this I’m vacuuming after that excitement I will be doing some dishes so the la Quinta sounds pretty good. Okay not Park Hyatt good but…. ;-)
Have you ever stayed at a La Quinta Inn with an indoor waterslide and an arcade? I hadn't, either -- until that redemption!
-Nick
@@frequent-miler no, but i did used to work inside a ramada that had an arcade and an entire waterpark in the basement. It's since been demolished, but if you could get past the hookers and water damage, it wasn't a bad deal for 7500 Wyndham points!
If you are valuing RRV at 0.70 (example for Marriott) - does that mean if I redeem 40,000 points and the hotel rate is $400 per night including Taxes and Fees - that this is a good redemption? I’m trying to see if I understand how this works 😂😂😂
Yes that’s right. 40k points vs $400 gives you 1 cent per point which is good for Marriott points.
Can I book two rooms for the same night with the FNCs at an IHG property?
Good question! I don't know for sure....but you probably can.
-Nick
The IHG devaluation was clearly stated for UK (like 30%), and Asia (up to 15-20%). Not US. On that note, why only use US hotels for your CPP calculations? The world is a big place.
I thought we explained why on the show, but if we didn't, the reason we only use US properties for RRV is because based on data that has been released now and then by major US loyalty programs, the *vast* majority of points are redeemed on domestic US travel. Our goal with RRVs is to have a reasonable value that an average traveler can expect to get for an average redemption -- it is meant to be conservative rather than a demonstration of how much value you can get if you cherry pick a terrific property abroad. The truth is that most Americans aren't traveling abroad regularly (and even for those who do travel abroad regularly, it is uncommon for international travel to make up the majority of redemptions), so it doesn't make sense to base our RRV on redemptions that the vast majority of our audience is likely to make only on occasion at best but rather we want the RRV based on more average use. Obviously each individual can adjust up or down based on their own personal circumstances and travel patterns. Personally, the vast majority of *my* travel is international, but I recognize that my personal circumstances aren't very representative of the average American traveler.
-Nick
@@frequent-miler Interesting. Like you, the majority of my travel is international. Your explanation makes sense 👍
When you say that the devaluation was clearly “stated” did you mean “slated”? -Greg
Wyndham points can be used at great value at the Radisson Hotel in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. Excellent beach front hotel with large suites.
I was able to register my Ritz card for the Marriott promo, so it’s not just the cards you mentioned
😮
I tried all three of the Ritz cards in my household with no luck. Had you just recently upgraded?
@@frequent-miler yes, about a month ago. That’s a good point. However, it did not work initially, but after I tried it a second time, it went through.
I booked 2 rooms at Hilton Hawaiian village for 5 days on points then called Hilton to add a FNC to one of the rooms. When I checked out i did have to settle 3 different reservations.
I was looking at IHG hotels in cities I'm traveling to this year and hotels were either 17k-35k points or over 60k points. I searched 5 cities and only one property was available at around 45k points.
I realized the free night reward certificates are not shown in Hilton profile page anymore. Is it just me or anyone else see the same?
Unfortunately, they removed them from the online profile at some point a while back. I don't know why they did that -- it's an annoying change. If you call, they can tell you how many you have.
-Nick
@@frequent-miler thanks Nick. I did call and the staff seemed didn't know what happened. But she was able to see the FNCs.
I applied and got approved for both Hilton NO AF and Surpass card in last month . Any idea when will FNC will be available once I complete SUB? I want to time 15K and both SUB so that I get all 3 FNC at same time.
Reports have been within just a few days after meeting the spending requirements.
-Nick
3 days for us
Interesting on the combo Hilton points + FNCs! I just booked 7 nights at the WA Orlando. 5 nights on points + 2 FNCs (one on wife's account). Had to do 3 separate bookings. Going to keep calling back to see if I can do all under one booking or at least 2. Thanks!
Do you think the Hermitage is better than the Calala Island property?
I looked at a few YT videos on the Hermitage property. Rooms look very outdated and it's 4 star at best. Not sure what Greg's hype was about tbh.
@@Re3iRtH I've neither been nor looked closely at it, but I just glanced at reviews across several sites: 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google, 5 out of 5 on Trip Advisor, 10/10 on Hotels.com, and 9.4 out of 10 on Booking.com seem to suggest that a lot of people don't feel like it's outdated or at least are very satisfied (and at that price point, I imagine that people probably wouldn't be shy about calling it out if they were unhappy?). Again, I hadn't looked at the property at all really before I just now checked reviews, but it seems most people are pretty happy with it.
-Nick
@@frequent-miler Take a look at a few YT videos touring the property and rooms. I think you will be VERY surprised, and surprised to the downside. This property has no business being compared to a Ritz-Carlton abroad or any Waldorf, let alone Calala.
Luxury 5 star properties are usually getting 4.9/5 stars on Google (ie. Alila Villas Uluwatu). 4.7/5 on Google is typical of a "nice" property.
@@frequent-miler Take a look at a few video reviews of the property, I think you will be surprised
@@frequent-miler luxury properties that are revered are usually getting four point nine out of five stars on Google reviews - see Nay Palad Hideaway in Siargao Philippines.
I just heard about Calala Island on the Facebook group and already looking at redemption rates and FNCs! Especially now with the NLL Hilton offers!!
I also booked two nights one with Points, one with a free night certificate at an SLH property in Greece. Thousand dollar a night room not a bad deal
What property was it? I'll be in Greece for 5 days this August, so planning a trip..
@@Re3iRtH all of the SLH properties in Santorini seemed to be good deals. We will be staying at the Canaves epitome. Its sister hotel right next door actually has a better redemption at a higher cpp but I like the room where we are staying. For then to her island we are going to Sifnos and Athens we are using Hyatt points
Thanks for the great info + video!
Let's gooooooo