Author Topic: help planning trip to europe  (Read 10684 times)

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #20 on: May 31, 2010, 10:22:59 AM »
Before I start, I'm not so familiar with SPG hotels so feel free to chip in or correct.

Spg has 2 ways to redeem, (there are other ways but not relevant here).
1. Regular rewards, a certain amount of points gets you a free night.
2. Cash and points, together with a part cash payment a free night is a lot less points. However, this redemption method is capacity controlled.

I'm presuming that since you're going on vacation you don't want to stay in a cheap airport hotel. So here are the rates for Category 4,5 and 6. All prices are converted into US dollars as of today.
Rome
Westin (cat. 5) $342 p/n, 12k *points, cash and points not available.
Hotel Eden (cat. 6) $270, 20k, 8k+$150
St. Regis (cat. 6) $342, 20k, n/a

Venice
Westin (cat. 5) $220, 12k, 4.8k+$90
Hotel Danieli (cat. 6) $310, 20k, 8k+$150
Hotel Gritting Palace (cat. 6) $340, 20k, n/a

Paris
Le Meridian Montparnesse (cat. 4) $185, 10k, n/a
Le Meridian Etoile (cat. 5) $225, 12k, 4.8k+$90
Westin (cat. 6) $320, 20k, 8k+$150
Prince de Galles (cat. 6) $370, 20k, 8k+$150

So in total e.g. Rome 3 nights @ cat. 5-$1026/36k *points. No cash and points
                             Venice 3 nights @ cat. 5-$660/36k/14.4k+$270
                             Paris 3 nights @ cat. 5-$675/36k/14.4k+$270

Grand total: $2341/108k *points/64k+$540

This is basically all the info. You have to go through it and decide for yourself want you want from this trip and how much you are willing to spend, if anything.

Post back and then we can go further.



Offline moish

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #21 on: May 31, 2010, 10:42:16 AM »
when i was in rome in the summer of 2008, we booked on priceline knowing that we were going to get the hotel de la ville - intercontinental by the spanish steps for about $185/night. that would be a better deal than anything i see with starwood (assuming youre valuing them at at least 2 cents per point)
its a beautiful hotel in a great location

Offline Dan

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #22 on: May 31, 2010, 10:46:04 AM »
when i was in rome in the summer of 2008, we booked on priceline knowing that we were going to get the hotel de la ville - intercontinental by the spanish steps for about $185/night. that would be a better deal than anything i see with starwood (assuming youre valuing them at at least 2 cents per point)
its a beautiful hotel in a great location
I'd rather book a 12K westin room+get an upgrade+get back plat amenity points.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline moish

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #23 on: May 31, 2010, 10:47:34 AM »
he never said he was plat.

Offline Dan

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #24 on: May 31, 2010, 10:53:13 AM »
he never said he was plat.
Find someone plat to book with.
Save your time, I don't answer PM. Post it in the forum and a dedicated DDF'er will get back to you as soon as possible.

Offline moish

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #25 on: May 31, 2010, 10:58:29 AM »
assuming the points are wirth 2 cents each, hes paying $45 extra per day for the upgrade, and besides i thought you dont use your starpoints unless you get a much higher value from them thus, an even bigger difference
« Last Edit: May 31, 2010, 11:20:30 AM by moish »

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #26 on: May 31, 2010, 11:12:19 AM »
Find someone plat to book with.
Like here.

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #27 on: May 31, 2010, 11:25:19 AM »
if someone needs a plat, pm me.

Offline steve L

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #28 on: May 31, 2010, 12:15:50 PM »
wow i really appreciate all the big timers helping me out.
from what im checking on aa there is alot of availiblity to fly to zurich. so maybe spend a couple days there ( if there stuff to do) and then take take the train down to venice and milan and fly out of italy back to ny and just leave paris for another time

what do you think? and then i can use my spg points for hotels and wouldnt have to apy much out of pocket

Offline moish

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #29 on: May 31, 2010, 12:26:54 PM »
from what i understand milan is a waste of time.

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #30 on: May 31, 2010, 12:27:35 PM »
from what i understand milan is a waste of time.

indeed + a waste of money if a female comes along.

Offline moish

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #31 on: May 31, 2010, 12:29:11 PM »
zurich too is not that great, if you take a train down to zermatt on the other hand...

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #32 on: May 31, 2010, 12:29:59 PM »
zurich too is not that great, if you take a train down to zermatt on the other hand...

nice city for a day, if you followed my advice  ;-)

Offline steve L

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #33 on: May 31, 2010, 12:39:32 PM »
so does it make sense to fly into zurich bec of availiblity and spend a day there and then travel down to italy and spend time in venice and rome?

Offline SuperFlyer

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #34 on: May 31, 2010, 12:48:35 PM »
yes

Offline moish

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #35 on: May 31, 2010, 01:39:31 PM »
venice and rome are great choices

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #36 on: May 31, 2010, 02:02:54 PM »
wow i really appreciate all the big timers helping me out.
from what im checking on aa there is alot of availiblity to fly to zurich. so maybe spend a couple days there ( if there stuff to do) and then take take the train down to venice and milan and fly out of italy back to ny and just leave paris for another time

what do you think? and then i can use my spg points for hotels and wouldnt have to apy much out of pocket
Correct, if you fly AA in coach then you'll still have enough points for plenty of nights in category 5.

Offline steve L

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #37 on: May 31, 2010, 03:56:06 PM »
the other question for a flight to zurich is $800 is it worth to use 60,000 for the flight being the math is not so good?

Offline aussiebochur

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #38 on: May 31, 2010, 07:27:38 PM »
the other question for a flight to zurich is $800 is it worth to use 60,000 for the flight being the math is not so good?
Again, flying coach is never going to be best bang for your Buck but if you just want a free trip this is the way to go.

Offline moish

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Re: help planning trip to europe
« Reply #39 on: May 31, 2010, 08:01:14 PM »
he could sell the miles for at least 1.5, buy the ticket which earns more miles, and be left with $100 in his pocket