Hotel loyalty points are a scam in most countries now

I used to think hotel loyalty programs were a no brainer for saving money on trips. Then I read a breakdown on the Points Guy last month that showed most mid tier chains in Europe and Asia have cut redemption values by 30% since 2019. In Bangkok alone, I checked three chains where a free night now costs 50,000 points instead of 35,000. That means you'd need to spend $5,000 at the hotel just to get one night free. I'd rather just use a travel credit card with a good sign up bonus and book direct through Hostelworld or Agoda. Has anyone else noticed their points are worth way less than they used to be?

2 comments

2 Comments

kevin_murray884d ago

I checked three hotels in Tokyo last month and the points required went from 12,000 per night to 18,000 since 2021. That is a 50% increase for the SAME room. People keep saying it isnt a big deal because you get points from credit card spending too but that assumes you put every single purchase on a co-branded card. Most people dont. They use a regular cash back card or a generic travel card. The real issue is the devaluation is happening faster than you can earn the points. I saw a Hilton in London that went from 50,000 points to 95,000 in two years. That is basically doubling the cost. At that rate you are better off finding a deal on Booking.com and paying cash.

vera_roberts4d ago

That 50% jump in Tokyo is brutal, makes you wonder why anyone plays the points game anymore.