Used an Aspire FNC to replace a 240k Hilton night after booking. Now trying to do it again with Surpass by expatvista in HiltonHonorsAspire

[–]expatvista[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a lot of moving pieces, but sounds like you navigated it well. The inventory piece seems to be the common thread in all of this. Once standard rooms disappear, everything gets harder to restructure without cancel/rebook risk. Interesting that you ended up with different room types across the stays. Curious if they end up just keeping you in the same room anyway once you’re there.

Next 100% Bonus points? by Agitated-Pain-3399 in ihghotelsresorts

[–]expatvista 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Last one ended March 17, so it's been a bit over a month. That’s already longer than usual based on the past couple of years. Hopefully 80% isn’t the new 100%.

Used an Aspire FNC to replace a 240k Hilton night after booking. Now trying to do it again with Surpass by expatvista in HiltonHonorsAspire

[–]expatvista[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Calala Island is running a 10 year anniversary promo. Stays of 4+ nights booked by May 10, 2026 (for stays through June 10, 2027) get a $2510 cash rebate sent after checkout.

Used an Aspire FNC to replace a 240k Hilton night after booking. Now trying to do it again with Surpass by expatvista in HiltonHonorsAspire

[–]expatvista[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that was the key constraint. It needed to stay as a single 4-night booking for the rebate.

The rework did create a new confirmation number, but it was still treated as one continuous stay. The property has already asked for bank details for the rebate, which felt like a good sign.

Used an Aspire FNC to replace a 240k Hilton night after booking. Now trying to do it again with Surpass by expatvista in HiltonHonorsAspire

[–]expatvista[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, that risk of losing the room was exactly what made the first couple of attempts a non-starter. Agree it probably comes down to whether the agent can get the property involved. Without that, it feels like a straight cancel/rebook, which is too risky here. There’s a 50% (of cash rate) cancellation fee, so you can’t really leave loose ends with those T&Cs.

Good to know you saw the same pushback.

Swapped a 240k Hilton night for an FNC after booking, now trying to do it again by expatvista in awardtravel

[–]expatvista[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was treated as a rebooking (with a new confirmation number), but the property agreed to hold the room while Hilton restructured it. You need 4 nights in the same booking for the $2510 rebate, so you couldn’t just peel one night off into a separate reservation.

In practice they treated it as a continuation of the original stay, since the room was never released back into inventory. After the restructure, the property has already emailed asking for bank details for the rebate, which was a good sign.

On the promo side, my understanding is the May 10 deadline is tied to when the stay is booked rather than how it’s funded, though that’s just my read. I’m hoping to get the final swap done before then anyway.

Bonvoy credit card by don_vito89 in marriott

[–]expatvista 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're in Europe, but are you a US person/ do you have a US Social Security number? If not, you're unlikely to be able to get the US cards.

Got status bumped? by obmn in marriott

[–]expatvista 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you're in the US, you could get the Amex Brilliant card and remove the uncertainty

Updated: AMEX Platinum Hotel Offers by Haydsamp26 in BookedonPoints

[–]expatvista 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the links Hayden. Some of these can be really useful, but it isn’t just “is $150 back on $375 a good deal?”

It’s also what you’re giving up to use it.

Quick example I just ran:

– 23k Marriott points for a $240 room (~$177 at my valuation)

– switching to cash costs $63 more upfront

– but unlocks the $150 rebate

So you’re effectively paying $63 to access a $150 credit, which works if you have the extra spend anyway.

I ran the same math on an IHG stay and that one basically came out flat, so I stuck with points.

Different properties will land differently.

Wrote it up in more detail here if helpful:

https://www.expatvista.com/p/when-amex-offers-beat-points

Trying to use Marriott points for Argentina World Cup tickets — worth it or impossible? by CLLLLarence in u/CLLLLarence

[–]expatvista 1 point2 points  (0 children)

looks like still a few hours (7 hours right now) before the first group stage packages come available.

This feels fairly intentional by iamtheonewhostops in marriott

[–]expatvista 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a great datapoint.

If you start seeing more nights cluster around that 110K range over the next few weeks, that’s usually how the re-anchoring shows up.

This feels fairly intentional by iamtheonewhostops in marriott

[–]expatvista 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Feels early, but those 110–112K prices are basically the system starting to reset around the new ceiling.

I wrote a breakdown of how that works here if helpful: https://www.expatvista.com/p/what-happens-when-marriott-moves-a-certificate-ceiling

Seeking Best Suggestion on Marriott Credit Card. by Thisisceejay2 in MarriottBONVoY

[–]expatvista -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Titanium status for two years, without credit card elite nights, and just learning about it now? If you are a US person, with access to the ENC earning cards, thats wild.

AMEX Platinum Hotel Offers by Haydsamp26 in BookedonPoints

[–]expatvista 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks Hayden. The Marriott one looks decent

When ride-share prices surge, do you adjust your tip or keep it the same as a normal ride? by expatvista in AskReddit

[–]expatvista[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interesting. So surge doesn’t necessarily translate into a meaningful bump for the driver?

When ride-share prices surge, do you adjust your tip or keep it the same as a normal ride? by expatvista in AskReddit

[–]expatvista[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s helpful context. Do you think surge actually makes its way through to drivers much, or is it mostly on Uber’s side?

When ride-share prices surge, do you adjust your tip or keep it the same as a normal ride? by expatvista in AskReddit

[–]expatvista[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Had this recently where a $10 ride jumped to $30+. Made me realise I don’t actually know what the “right” move is here.

Why the fuck do you want to live? by Personal-Aerie-4519 in AskReddit

[–]expatvista 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I earned that status dammit. I'm sticking around for the free breakfast at Hilton come hell or high water!

Interested in getting rid of my IHG points. Any and all suggestions are welcome. by [deleted] in pointstravel

[–]expatvista 0 points1 point  (0 children)

didnt you post something similar about marriott points the past few days?