For 2024 I have a few credits from the cards I hold that expire at the end of the year, so I’m working on my plan for how to use them. I have $500 in airline credits and a $200 Fine Hotels and Resorts credit. The airline credits will be easy to use, but the FHR applies to limited properties. Las Vegas has been a good value for FHR in the past, but all the MGM hotels are out of the program as of this post.
At the end of 2023 I got a Marriott card (referral link) that had a sign up bonus of five 50,000 point night certificates. Those certificates can be upgraded with 15,000 points to use at more popular properties. While I want to get maximum value from those certificates, the best value is ultimately a trip I’m already taking. I know I’m going to Dallas (and will use some of my airline credits for the flight) to knock out another state in my quest to see a concert in all 50 states, so I’m looking at Marriotts near the venue. There are probably more interesting hotels to use the certificates at (like the Laguna Cliffs Resort in California which I do intend to stay at), but I also don’t want to take trip that’s just to maximize the value of the certificate but isn’t necessarily a place I want to visit.
