Hilton Honors - 2013 Changes to Award rates, new Category

[Deleted member 29185]

Interestingly, after I looked at the details of all my future reservations it now says "this reservation is not associated with this Hilton account" and I can't get into the reservation again...another great IT glitch at Hilton I guess.

I can still access mine after checking the details.

I just hope I don't arrive, only to be told I owe them another 302750 points or some phenomenal amount of money requiring the sale of a kidney to settle!

 

[DeKa]

I've never had enough points to do a redemption but I do now, so I'm after some advice.
These are the rates at Conrad Singapore...
SGD$323
Points and Money 24k points and SGD$127 (so US0.65c/point and SGD$127)
Points: 60k (so US0.43c/point)

Would you say this is "reasonable" considering the devaluation?

 

[hummel]

I think the points+money deal isn't too bad on that one...

 

[markis10]

I've never had enough points to do a redemption but I do now, so I'm after some advice.
These are the rates at Conrad Singapore...
SGD$323
Points and Money 24k points and SGD$127 (so US0.65c/point and SGD$127)
Points: 60k (so US0.43c/point)

Would you say this is "reasonable" considering the devaluation?

I have generally found the points plus money deal to be great value, from memory Conrad and Hilton are similar $$$ in Singapore, if offered the choice I know which one I would take.

 

[DeKa]

I have generally found the points plus money deal to be great value, from memory Conrad and Hilton are similar $$$ in Singapore, if offered the choice I know which one I would take.

Booked, thanks!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

Booked, thanks!

Don't forget about the service charge – I've recently made a similar booking there and the service charge does apply to the cash component of P+M stays.

(Of course, it's only 10/15%, so on a small amount like that, you'll hardly notice it.)

 

[DeKa]

Don't forget about the service charge – I've recently made a similar booking there and the service charge does apply to the cash component of P+M stays.

(Of course, it's only 10/15%, so on a small amount like that, you'll hardly notice it.)

Thanks. It was ~$12

 

[Moopere]

I've never had enough points to do a redemption but I do now, so I'm after some advice.
These are the rates at Conrad Singapore...
SGD$323
Points and Money 24k points and SGD$127 (so US0.65c/point and SGD$127)
Points: 60k (so US0.43c/point)

Would you say this is "reasonable" considering the devaluation?

I universally value my HH points at 0.5c each. To me, that means I'll trade them at that or above ... as with airline points, always looking for a greater redemption value

In Australia I don't think I've ever used HH points, generally the places I stay want 40-50-60,000 points for a points only stay (so, my value = $200-300) and this has always been either higher than the cash price or even ... and given you don't receive any points for a redemption (or P+P) stay its actually a losing proposition for me.

In Asia however its very often a different story. P+P options are quite often very enticing. Had a nice stay in coughet at the rebranded DT on Surin Beach for only about 200-300AU$ for about a week (yes, the whole week!) as a P+P _and_ still managed to secure a suite upgrade. Nice. coughet isn't my sort of place as it turns out (my first stay there) and I won't be back, but this wasn't DT's fault.

Last time I looked SG$1.17=AU$1, so, calculating the above:

Money stay: SG$323 = AU$276 (and you will receive something ballpark 2400 HH points for this = AU$12 in my calcs ... makes the stay value = AU$276-AU$12=AU$264)

P+P=SG$127 = AU$108 + 24K HH (AU$120) = AU$247 (value)
Points stay = AG$60,000=AU$300

I'm not sure if the SG$323 quoted included the 15% surcharge? This could widen or lessen the gap depending on where its been applied. It only applies against the money component though, so this can make the P+P option even more attractive.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

It only applies against the money component though,

I noticed a Hilton brand hotel (sorry can't remember which one) in UAE applied their surcharge against a pure point redemption rate (but no taxes). It was only one of them out of all of them in UAE so it's not widespread but shows the surcharge can be applied to point stays.

Great explanation of the workings behind a points vrs p&p vrs cash deliberation.

 

[Moopere]

I noticed a Hilton brand hotel (sorry can't remember which one) in UAE applied their surcharge against a pure point redemption rate (but no taxes). It was only one of them out of all of them in UAE so it's not widespread but shows the surcharge can be applied to point stays.

Nothing would surprise me as properties grab for your wallet ... however, I reckon a complain here would probably go a long way. I haven't checked HH T&C in a while but believe that as with most points/loyalty schemes Honors will steadfastly tell you (or anyone ... local tax office officials for example) that points have no monetary value .... given this I'd have to make a bit of a face if the hotel then tried to levy a service surcharge against a points redemption which has 'no value' .... I wonder how they work that out?

Universally, no matter what country I'd stayed in I've never seen government taxes applied to points stays ... again, I assume because these stays have 'no monetary value' and for sure government tax employees would be relentless in pursuit of lost dollars if there were any way to get at them.

I'll have to watch out for this type of try-on though, thanks for the heads-up.

 

[legalistic]

Dear Hilton Experts,

Regarding the 5th night free for points redemptions... does that work if you are booking a points and money reward? I haven't got enough points (dare say money too) so hoping the 5ht free night benefit ports across universally.

Thank you!

 

[legalistic]

Dear Hilton Experts,

Regarding the 5th night free for points redemptions... does that work if you are booking a points and money reward? I haven't got enough points (dare say money too) so hoping the 5ht free night benefit ports across universally.

Thank you!

Can safely answer my own Q:
1) you do not get 5th night free benefits; this only applies to 100% points bookings
2) you do not get points on the cash component

 

[Cynicor]

Can safely answer my own Q:
1) you do not get 5th night free benefits; this only applies to 100% points bookings
2) you do not get points on the cash component

Correct for both.

You will get points on the rest of spend at the hotel however.