Priority Club Buy Points Until Oct 15 and get 40% More

[TotallyOz]

I love several of the Priority Club hotels in Asia. There are some in Hong Kong and Singapore that are really expensive and you can easily buy enough points with this deal to save money if you like these hotels. The hotels in Thailand are reasonable rates and even the Intercontinental Hotel in Bangkok and Hua Hin have decent deals for under 200 per night. However, if you are going to stay at a hotel that is over this rate, the deal below might be worth it for you. I know I bought 50,000 points and got 20,000 more for 575.00 USD. I'll then use these in Brazil where the hotels are often over 600 a night. The cost for me for 3 nights will be 75,000 points and save me 400 US per night.

 

If you travel outside of Thailand, this offer is a good deal IMHO.

 

Limited time offer: 40% Bonus!*

Buy Priority Club points between September 13 - October 15, 2012 and automatically receive a 40% bonus on the number of points purchased. Top up your account and buy your Priority Club points today!Buying Points is the easy way to top up your account to get the award you want!

 

You may purchase points in 1,000 increments:

 

• 1,000 - 10,000 points for $13.50 per 1,000 points
  
• 11,000 - 25,000 points for $12.50 per 1,000 points
  
• 26,000 - 50,000 points for $11.50 per 1,000 points
  

[Rogie]

I'll then use these in Brazil where the hotels are often over 600 a night.

 

Just a thought: at those ludicrous (to me anyway) rates and bearing in mind hotels in London were criticised for increasing their prices to coincide with the Olympics, will Brazilian hotels do the same in 2014 for the soccer World Cup and in 2016 for the Olympics?

 

I hate to think what it would cost for foreign tourists to support these sporting occasions; by the time they have added up airfare,hotels and ticket prices to events that's a very tidy sum indeed. I just hope anyone thinking of going does his homework and makes sure he really can afford it.It would be a great shame if Brazilian hospitality is neutered by greedy hotel chains.

 

An annual survey of hotel room prices has found that visitors to London will pay twice as much to stay as last year.A study by Hotels.com found prices for booking in March this year for August are 102% higher than for the same months last year.The website, which is part of the Expedia group of companies, says the average price of a hotel room in London will be UKP 213 (US$ 340) this summer.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17347107

[Guest fountainhall]

I'm all for getting great deals, especially if they help build up points in a loyalty club and thus result in extra perks further down the line. But I'm not convinced the Intercon top-up deal is really so attractive - other than in hotels with very high nightly rates, as Michael suggests.

 

Michael mentions the Intercon hotels in Hong Kong. I checked room rates for the best one (on the harbour front) for mid-November - peak season. The lowest advance purchase nightly rate offered by the hotel is US$366. Or you can get the room free for 50,000 points. Under the top-up deal, 70,000 points can be purchased for $575. So 50,000 are equivalent to $410. Not only is there no saving, you will get points by paying cash but no points when using points - which I hope is reasonably clear!!

 

The Intercon in Singapore is a favourite of mine, although I rarely stay there now as the prices have risen quite a bit - like most Singapore hotels. Its lowest mid-November rate is US$260 or 40,000 points. But those 40,000 points under the top-up deal cost $328.

 

So, given that stays using points do not earn any points, it seems the top-up deal is really only of much use when basic room rates are over around $450 or so. Pity!

[TotallyOz]

It really does all depend on the room and the hotel and the rates. For example, when I use Marriott points, I get the 5th night free. In Brazil, this makes a big difference.

 

For point stays, I NEVER use them unless they are really overpriced. For example, at Carnival 2 years ago, the Intercontinental was 1150 USD per night. Or, it was 25,000 Points per night. I used the points and saved a pretty penny.

 

Buying points for this deal is only good if you travel to high end hotels a great deal and you are patient to wait. For example, I often see stays in hotels when offered on specials for less than the 50k in points FH used. Also, you can always do a joint Point and Cash deal. You pay 70 in USD and less than the 50k in point.

 

Like everything now with points, it is something you have to look into to know you will get value. For me, when I stay over a prime Holiday weekend, Carnival, etc, using points always saves me money.

[Guest fountainhall]

Like everything now with points, it is something you have to look into to know you will get value

 

I couldn't agree more. Some 'offers' are valuable to some loyalty club members, but not to others. I used to be a miles/points junkie, especially when my employers were paying the bills! And over the years I have taken some strange routes just to maximise points.

 

Even though I have done far less long distance travelling over the last couple of years, I still collect points/miles. Credit cards used to bring me a ton of miles. But after the crash of 2008 when card companies increased both their surcharges and their points to miles ratios - and the damn airlines have made it ever more expensive and difficult to get redemption seats, you now need a small computer to work out when earning miles is worth it. Increasingly I am going for the cheapest option. If miles and points are awarded, fine! If not, that's equally fine.

[TotallyOz]

If miles and points are awarded, fine! If not, that's equally fine.

 

I have started to move in this direction. I use to be a total point whore but as the prices for the airlines keep going up, I tend to rely on them less and less. Sometimes I get lucky but often times I don't.

 

A friend finally convinced me it is time to start booking my airlines with consolidator regardless of whether I get points or not. As it is getting harder and harder to use them for value, esp. with airlines, the more I think it is a waste to play their games.

 

I did find a recent overseas trip that got me first class on airlines going to Asia and a decent price for the fare and only 15,000 miles to upgrade. But, that is the first time in a few years where I didn't feel like I was getting fucked up the ass for paying for a fare that is upgradeable. I have to say that my time playing the airline points games are over. But, I still have hope for hotels esp. since I travel to Brazil so often and refuse to pay 700 for a hotel. So, I save my points and I use them on trips like this. My last trip to Brazil was for 3 weeks and I used points for hotels and airfare and the entire cost was zero (minus the sauna boys which I won't add the prices up).

 

For me, this deal will be good for me as I travel too much and keep top tier status with Intercontinental. When I use their points, they upgrade me to a 1 bedroom suite. My last trip in Paris, I paid 450 Euro for a room and got a nice 1500 a night suite. So, I am still trying to keep my status with Intercontinental and Marriott each year as it is worth it for me. I have let all my airlines go and have just started booking business class for the most part.