@Anonymous wrote:
@jsucool76 wrote:
Ihg is likely the best bang for your buck in terms of AF. Their anniversary free night is "unrestricted" and can be used at any hotel regardless of category.
Starwood will only really be good if you stay often, or spend heavily, as the earning rate is lower. Sure the points are "worth more" but earning 1 or 2 points per dollar is still upsetting. If you stay enough to get plat status with them then earning is a bit better and may be worth it.
Hyatt is probably best in terms of sign up bonus due to its 2 free unrestricted nights. Easily worth $2000+
Marriott is a pretty good all around program which I would say offers the best mid tier vebefitsbenefits. They're the only program that offers executive lounge access to golds.
Hilton is earn and burn program. High earnings, low point values, but super easy to rack up a big account balance to redeem.
If you're staying at a hotel, you end up getting 5 points per dollar with SPG before you hit gold and 7 afterwards. There is also a long list of other things that earn bonus points, such as decliing turndown service (500 points), taking an uber (2-4 additional points per dollar), car rentals (50 points per day), etc. When evaluating hotel cards, you have to use the value of a point, not just the number, and you really should compare it to straight cash back. For example, with the uber ride, that comes out at 7.5-12.5% back. However, with CapOne, I think you can still get 20% back.
Yeah, but those are all things offered by every hotel program. Not uber, but rental cars, flights, all that jazz.
And as a standard member (no status) with the card you'll earn 4 starpoints.
As a standard marriott member (no status) with the card you'll earn 15 marriott rewards points per dollar.
If we go off of the TPG valuations (which i despise, but it's useful for an example like this) starpoints are worth 2.4 cents a piece. at 4 points per dollar, that is 9.6 cents per dollar earned. As a gold or plat you'll earn 5 starpoints per dollar with the card. thats 12 cents per dollar. So you're looking at 9.6%, or 12% back here.
Marriott points, with a valuation of 0.7 cents per point, at 15 points per dollar is 10.5 cents per dollar spent. as a gold you'll earn 17.5 points per dollar.thats 12.25 cents per dollar, and as a plat you'll earn 20 points per dollar (not counting arrival gifts) and thats 14 cents per dollar. and you're looking at 10.5%, 12.25% or 14% back here.
There's your straight cash back value. =]
While the airline transfer is a super lucrative option with starpoints, not everyone is looking for FF miles. Some people want to use their points for hotel stays. Plus, marriott offers travel packages which can be a great deal as well.
Almost all hotel points are created equal. They may have different "values" but the earning structures are also vastly different. With a hilton credit card you can earn a ridiculous amount of points per dollar spent, but it is going to cost you more points to redeem.
Edit: The marriott credit card is also 10$ cheaper per year, and offers a free annual night, at a value of 25,000 points. Also, it offers bonus earning categories.
Personal Cards: Amex Plat | Amex Delta Res | CSR | Citi AA Exec Business Cards: Ink+ | Amex BGR
