Valuing hotel points is generally easier than airline miles, but the landscape is rapidly changing as major hotel chains shift their loyalty programs.
Most major hotel chains have moved away from fixed "award charts" and adopted dynamic pricing. This means the points price of a room fluctuates with the cash price. If the hotel is busy and cash rates are high, the points cost will be high. This makes it harder to get massive outsized value, but easier to get consistent value.
One of the biggest factors in maximizing hotel points value is the "5th night free" perk offered by Hilton and Marriott (to elites) and standard on all IHG award bookings (for certain credit card holders). Booking five nights for the points price of four instantly increases your Cents Per Point (CPP) value by 25%.
When you book a cash rate, you are often hit with hidden "Resort Fees" or "Destination Fees" at the property.
Always compare the points cost against the total cash cost, including all taxes and fees. A $200 room might actually cost $250 after taxes, which changes the math on your redemption.
Want to see current baseline values for every hotel program? Check out our Valuations Page for the latest estimates.