Marriott offer, is it worth it?

[Netty]

Hi Everyone,
this may have been discussed before but I can't find it. I have had an offer from Marriott, buy points get 50% more. It expires today. Trying to work out if it's worth a purchase. We only have qantas Platinum status but where looking to broadening horizons with consideration of future travel, maybe a star alliance or aeroplan. If using the marriott points for an airline transfer, when we looked up the points required to fly etc on many of them it seemed to need more points than Qantas, same with motels when you looked up the actual cost of room and points (working out what points cost me) it was cheaper to buy the room.
Am I missing something or is it not really worth it? All help appreciated.

 

[cove]

I think of discounted hotel points buying as getting a wholesale price for your hotel rooms. I do both Marriott and IHG.
The benefit varies when the $AUD is weak.

 

[LadyC]

I would generally only consider buying Marriott points if I have a specific redemption in mind and that would have to be a luxury redemption where the cost of the points is less than the cash rate. E.g. you want to redeem somewhere nice in peak period like Christmas/New Year. You may be able to get good value for them for non luxury hotel bookings but my experience to date is that the cash rate is more likely the best.