-Hilton: Get 100% bonus points through 06/17.
160,000 points would cost $800 (0.5 cents per point).
-Hyatt: Get 40% bonus points through 05/31.
77K points would cost $1,320 (1.71 cents per point).
-Starwood: Get 25% off purchased bonus points through 05/31.
20K points would cost $525 (2.625 cents per Starpoint/2.1 cents per airline mile).
Are these a good deal? They can be, especially if you’re close to an award. But for some redemptions they can make sense even if you’re not close to an award.
Of course it’s cheaper to get points by opening credit cards and manufacturing spend, but there can be deals for the lazy.
The key is to only purchase if you have a specific redemption in mind where it can make sense to pay for points.
Hilton:
Take the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem for example, probably the nicest hotel in the entire country. A 5 night stay from July 1-6 for example would run $750/night (plus 18% VAT for locals). However it’s just 64K points per night with a 5 night stay or 80K points per night without a 5 night stay.
When buying points for 0.5 cents each that’s just $320 per night on a 5 night stay or $400 per night without a 5 night stay.
Need the full 320K points for a 5 night stay? Just open 2 Hilton accounts in your name, purchase 160K points in each, and then merge the accounts via this link.
Hyatt:
The Park Hyatt Maldives charges a whopping $2383.76 after tax for a Park Villa on 01/01/16. The Park Hyatt Sydney charges $1,550 per night. Hyatt’s top category 7 hotels (like those and Park Hyatt hotels in cities like Milan, NYC, Paris, Tokyo, and Zurich) are 30K points per night with no capacity controls. When buying points for 1.71 cents each, rooms at the top-tier Hyatt hotels are just $513 per night.
A category 6 Hyatt hotel like the Grand Hyatt Kauai or Andaz 5th Avenue go for 25K points or 12.5K points+$125 per night.
A category 1 Hyatt is just 5K points even though a paid room can cost $150.
Need more than 77K points? Just buy them from multiple accounts and use this form to transfer points all into one account.
Starwood:
A 5 night stay at the S. Regis Bal Harbour from 01/24-01/29 is $1,342/night with tax. However it’s just 24K points per night with a 5 night stay or 30K points per night without a 5 night stay. When buying points for 2.625 cents each that’s $630 per night on a 5 night stay or $787 per night without a 5 night stay.
The Le Meridien Chiang Mai, Thailand is a great modern hotel in an awesome city. While paid rates can reach $200/night with tax, it only costs 3K Starpoints for weekend nights and 4K points for weekday nights. That’s just $78-$105 when buying points for 2.626 cents each.
JAL charges 150K miles to fly Emirates First Class round-trip from JFK to the Maldives on an A380 with walled suites and a shower onboard. You can even stopover for free in cities like Milan or Dubai. Every 20K Starpoints transfers into 25K miles on dozens of airlines such as JAL, American, Alaska, and more. 120K Starpoints transfers into 150K JAL miles at a cost of $3,150. Sure beats paying $30,000 for that suite.
Need more than 20K points? Just buy them from multiple accounts located at the same address and you can transfer points freely between the accounts via this link.
Leave a Reply
24 Comments On "Is It Worth Buying Discounted Points From Hotel Chains? Roundup Of Promotions From Hilton, Hyatt, And Starwood"
All opinions expressed below are user generated and the opinions aren’t provided, reviewed or endorsed by any advertiser or DansDeals.
Does Hilton allow merging accounts of family members with different names?
@ari:
No, same name only.
What the best points to transfer to Hilton?
(I would like to buy some, and transfer the rest).
Dan,
Just trying to understand. With the Hilton bonus I will be able to spend 10 nights at the Diplomat resort in Hollywood Florida?
“While paid rates can reach $200/night with tax, it only costs 3K Starpoints for weekend nights and 4K points for weekday nights”
isn’t it the opposite?
@Eli:
Not worth transferring when they only cost 0.5 cents each.
@Hilton:
Huh?
@emkay:
No.
You can transfer Hilton points. Unfortunately, it is when someone passes away.
U can open 2 citi hilton cards which give 2 free weekend nights each,thats 4 nights in the waldorf for $190 thats $47.50/night!
@jacob:Since a weekend does not have 4 nights you can not stay consecutively for 4 nights using Citi Hilton passes.
Hilton:
Take the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem for example, probably the nicest hotel in the entire country. A 5 night stay from July 1-6 for example would run $750 (plus 18% VAT for locals). However it’s just 64K points per night with a 5 night stay or 80K points per night without a 5 night stay.
When buying points for 0.5 cents each that’s just $320 per night on a 5 night stay or $400 per night without a 5 night stay.
Just to clarify the cash rate is $750 PER NIGHT? The post sounded like it was for the whole stay…
Unless you have a specific stay planned and don’t have the time/ability to manufacture the spending, these prices seem like bad deals for future, “unknown” hotel stays. While the prices may be better than buying the rooms conventionally, there are almost always other, better deals to be had at the property or at nearby hotels. You’d basically need the points to be half the current sale price to make it worthwhile to load up for the future.
@Yaks:
Per night.
@iahphx:
Pretty much what I wrote in the post.
I’m new at this.. Any other hotels in Jerusalem – doesn’t haveto be as fancy as Waldorf … Ths I can use credit card points for?
Is it safe to transfer Starwood points between 2 accounts with same address but with different names?
Doesn’t spg transfer to Alaskan at a 1:1 ratio
can i buy some hilton points to extend points that are expiring?
Does the Waldorf Jerusalem include breakfast with an 80,000 award?
Dan, is Hilton Points usage capacity controlled and whats the availability like at Jerusalem Hilton during the summer? Also will Jerusalem Waldorf accept 2 free weekend nights certificate and is this capacity controlled? Thinking if I should sign up. thanks
I’m not eligible for us credit cards.
Is this a good way to buy avios at a discount?
tourist are no more exempt from the 18% VAT on hotel stays its was removed in 2013 by the former finance minister yair lapid
http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/it-s-official-tourists-to-start-paying-value-added-tax-starting-june-1.premium-1.519536
@Dov:
Was just in Israel in March and that’s not true.
@Dan
Than that’s good news
Hilton Policy
A new HHonors Member may purchase points 30 days after enrollment if the account reflects activity including a stay (as defined herein) or earning HHonors Points through an HHonors Marketing Partner. After 90 days of enrollment, a new Member is eligible to purchase points regardless of their account activity.
@danr do you have a link?