Hotel Loyalty Program or Credit to FF program?

[Kiwi Flyer]

By the way, there are NO TAXES/SURCHARGES for free hotel night stays from Priority Club. Try that for Qantas. When they give the room free, it is really free.

Same with Hilton awards.

 

[Keith009]

Out of curiosity, is there anything to prevent someone from doing the following:

- Stay at an SPG property (for arguments' sake, let's say a Westin)
- Give SPG card at check-in, receive points/nights/stays towards status
- After check-out, fax your hotel bill to Qantas as a missing points claim (claiming points based on whatever rate is listed on the Qantas website for the hotel chain and location)?

Based on experience with airline miles going to the wrong FFP, I think this is what will happen but I could be wrong:

Often retroactive credit involves your FFP manually demanding points on your behalf from the relevant partner. In this case they will send copies of your documents/claim over to the partner to verify the details and claim payment in order to credit you with points. The partner in this case would most likely be the hotel itself which will then see that they've already paid SPG to give you Starpoints and deny the QFF claim. Other than paying SPG, the hotel itself doesn't really have much to do with your SPG account. Nothing will be removed unless you actually contact SPG yourself to reverse the transaction I guess.

 

[JohnK]

Honilday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Candlewood Suites and Staybridge can be quite cheap at times ...... and they are all part of Intercontinentals Group and earn Priority Club points. Yes, sign all the promotions available and it would be pretty easy to earn points for hotel night stays.

Starwood is generally more expensive (but better) hotels. Not sure about Hilton and Marriott (Courtyard/Residence Inn/Fairfield Inn is pretty cheap).

By the way, there are NO TAXES/SURCHARGES for free hotel night stays from Priority Club. Try that for Qantas. When they give the room free, it is really free.

True. But my ultimate goal is not a free hotel night but a RTW award.

Here is my dilemma on my upcoming RTW. One night stay in the each following cities

• Chicago/Denver
• Athens
• Oslo/Stockholm
• Copenhagen
• Frankfurt (before escorted tour)
• Frankfurt (after escorted tour)
• Zurich
• Helsinki
• Brussels

Just some examples, Hiltons in Zurich are 300+ CHF/night, Hiltons in Oslo are 150+ Euro/night, Intercontinental in Athens is 200+ Euro/night, Brussels forget about it. I need to keep costs down and with the mixture of cities cannot stay loyal to one program. If I can claim a few QFF points along the way it is a bonus.

 

[kamchatsky]

True. But my ultimate goal is not a free hotel night but a RTW award.

Here is my dilemma on my upcoming RTW. One night stay in the each following cities

• Chicago/Denver
• Athens
• Oslo/Stockholm
• Copenhagen
• Frankfurt (before escorted tour)
• Frankfurt (after escorted tour)
• Zurich
• Helsinki
• Brussels

Just some examples, Hiltons in Zurich are 300+ CHF/night, Hiltons in Oslo are 150+ Euro/night, Intercontinental in Athens is 200+ Euro/night, Brussels forget about it. I need to keep costs down and with the mixture of cities cannot stay loyal to one program. If I can claim a few QFF points along the way it is a bonus.

Maybe if you can give us all the dates you are going to all these places we may help you find some cheapies that earns you heaps of points .... For example I put a random date to search for hotels in Frankfurt and I found Holiday Inns and HI Express to be between 44 - 70 Euro per night ..... and more expensive one like Frankfurt IC for 120 Euro per night.

 

[JohnK]

I have searched most websites. In some cities I have found some good deals.

• Chicago/Denver (7 August 2007)
• Athens (15 August 2007)
• Oslo/Stockholm (16 August 2007)
• Copenhagen (17 August 2007)
• Frankfurt (before escorted tour) (18 August 2007)
• Frankfurt (after escorted tour) (2 September 2007)
• Zurich (3 September 2007)
• Helsinki (4 September 2007)
• Brussels (5 September 2007)

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

For Hiltons, Mainz is sometimes much cheaper than Frankfurt and not much further away from the airport.

Similarly try Malmo for Copenhagen. Are the Scandics still participating (they also generally cheap)?

 

[kamchatsky]

Chicago/Denver (7 August 2007):
Chicago: Too many hotels there to list ..... Ranging from 250 US to 80 US.
Denver: Many hotels (not as much as Chicago though) ..... Ranging from 178 US - 72 US
Athens (15 August 2007):
IC Athens: 135 Euro
Hi Athens: 108 Euro
HI Athens Attaca Ave: 108 Euro
Oslo/Stockholm (16 August 2007):
Oslo: None (suprised!)
Stockholm: None (more suprised!)
Copenhagen (17 August 2007)
Copenhagen: None (very suprised!)
Frankfurt (before escorted tour) (18 August 2007) -
IC Frankfurt: 104 Euro,
HI Frankfurt City: 52 Euros,
HI Express Frankfurt Messe: 49 Euro
plus many others around 40 something euro.
Frankfurt (after escorted tour) (2 September 2007)
IC Frankfurt: 184 Euro,
HI Frankfurt City: 75 Euros,
HI Express Frankfurt Messe: 49 Euro
plus many others around 40-70 something euro.
Zurich (3 September 2007):
CP Zurich: 370 CHF
Helsinki (4 September 2007)
HI Helsinki City Centre: 162 Euro
CP Helsinki: 184 Euro
HI Garden Court Airport: 110 Euro
Brussels (5 September 2007)
HI Brussels City Center: 114 Euro
CP Brussels: 150 Euro
HI Express Brussels Airport: 110 Euro

At the end it all depends on your budget to see whether these places are suitable for u ...... For me I would only stay at those places if the prices is similar compared to other hotels in the region .....

PS: After looking at these prices I will probably strategically redeem all my PC points in Europe.

 

[JohnK]

For Hiltons, Mainz is sometimes much cheaper than Frankfurt and not much further away from the airport.

Only for the day after returning from tour.

Similarly try Malmo for Copenhagen.

Have found cheap Scandic property in outskirts of Copenhagen. Prepared to spend money to get to city centre.

Are the Scandics still participating (they also generally cheap)?

Some, like Oslo, are relatively expensive!

 

[JohnK]

PS: After looking at these prices I will probably strategically redeem all my PC points in Europe.

Thanks. Actually some of those rates are better than I what I looked at earlier. I have around 1966 PC points at the moment. Not quite enough for awards at any PC property!

I have been doing my research, which is why I put this question to the board. There are many properties of similar, sometimes much lower, value than the ones you mention. In these circumstances I think the saving of Euros outweighs the need for points.

But there still is that odd occassion where I would love to spend a little more on accommodation. Decisions, decisions....

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Some, like Oslo, are relatively expensive!

Not when I visited - the scandic Diamond drink vouchers almost covered the entire room rate :mrgreen: , then add in the (very good) free breakfast, room upgrade and other amenities and I think I did okay there.

 

[kamchatsky]

Thanks. Actually some of those rates are better than I what I looked at earlier. I have around 1966 PC points at the moment. Not quite enough for awards at any PC property!

I have been doing my research, which is why I put this question to the board. There are many properties of similar, sometimes much lower, value than the ones you mention. In these circumstances I think the saving of Euros outweighs the need for points.

But there still is that odd occassion where I would love to spend a little more on accommodation. Decisions, decisions....

Unfortunately you are not staying multiple nights in the same city in Europe because there are many European IHG Hotels having 2 for 1 offer, and currently it is still working:

2 for 1 Special Hotels - FlyerTalk Forums

InterContinental Hotels Group | Two for One


Anyway me and my better half is saving money for Europe sometime next year (hopefully!) and I will probably burn all my points there .... Or hopefully the 2 for 1 offer still applies!