I had about 240k saved up and decided to blow it all on a London/Paris trip with another couple. Have 2 rooms for one night at the JFK Hilton, 4 nights at the London Victoria Doubletree, 2 rooms for one night at the Versailles WA (free night cert used) and one night at the Hilton Heathrow. After the point increase I am not sure I could have gotten the Doubletree by itself.
I think I am going to stick with accumulating Hilton points but I have some deep reservations about it.
1) The devaluation of the points means you have to consider and save ahead of time for hotels that are not changing point levels. For me in the future I want to go to Prague, Vienna and other places in eastern Europe, those aren't changing much. If I was really wanting to go to NYC in the near future I would be very upset as it's soon going to be really expensive to go there.
2) 4 days is a real sweet spot for traveling for me. Either the beach or traveling to Europe, 5 days in one place is almost too long. With the change in the VIP program they are pretty much forcing you to stay 5.
3) There are no good Hiltons in Paris. Only options are Airport hotels. Noticed this in the past with Rome as well until they recently opened that HGI that is sort of close. Oh well, I didn't have enough points for a Hilton in Paris anyways.
I think I am going to stick with accumulating Hilton points but I have some deep reservations about it.
1) The devaluation of the points means you have to consider and save ahead of time for hotels that are not changing point levels. For me in the future I want to go to Prague, Vienna and other places in eastern Europe, those aren't changing much. If I was really wanting to go to NYC in the near future I would be very upset as it's soon going to be really expensive to go there.
2) 4 days is a real sweet spot for traveling for me. Either the beach or traveling to Europe, 5 days in one place is almost too long. With the change in the VIP program they are pretty much forcing you to stay 5.
3) There are no good Hiltons in Paris. Only options are Airport hotels. Noticed this in the past with Rome as well until they recently opened that HGI that is sort of close. Oh well, I didn't have enough points for a Hilton in Paris anyways.