La Quinta Inn has over 800 hotels across the USA and is another good road traveler hotel to carry some points with for those out of the way places with high hotel rates.
Through July 8, 2012 La Quinta Returns members can buy up to 40,000 points at a 20% discount from the regular $11 per 1,000 points price.
The discount purchase price of $8.80 per 1,000 points makes hotel stays run from $52.80 for the lowest 6,000 reward night tier up to $352 for some Waldorf Astoria Resorts. La Quinta Inn hotel chain is owned by Blackstone Group who also owns Hilton Worldwide.
I easily found several hotels with La Quinta Inn where the rate to buy points is less than the cost of hotel nights.
La Quinta Returns Hotel Reward Categories
Cost to buy points for each reward tier. There is a 40,000 points annual purchase limit for La Quinta Returns points.
- 6,000 points = $52.80 to buy points.
- 8,000 points = $70.40.
- 11,000 points = $96.80.
- 15,000 points = $132.00.
- 18,000 points = $158.40.
- 24,000 points = $211.20.
Partner Resorts Reward Nights (includes several Waldorf Astoria resorts)
- 20,000 points = $176.00.
- 25,000 points = $220.00.
- 30,000 points = $264.00.
- 35,000 points = 308.00.
- 40,000 points = $352.00.
- 45,000 points = NA (limit of 40,000 purchased points per year)
- 50,000 points = NA (limit of 40,000 purchased points per year)
Deal Analysis
A place like Bishop, California does not have a whole lot of hotel options and the remote location keeps room rates high.
La Quinta Inn Bishop-Mammoth Lakes has AAA rate $113.05 or $126.62 after tax.
This level 3 hotel at 11,000 points per night is only $96.80 when you buy points. This is nearly a $30 savings per night.
The savings can be even higher for a popular place like Mission Bay beach area of San Diego.
La Quinta Inn & Suites San Diego Mission Bay for Friday June 22 is $152.10 on a AAA rate or $171.11 after tax.
This property is also a tier 3 hotel reward at 11,000 points per night. Buying points for $96.80 reduces the cost of this hotel by nearly $75 per night.
My 6,000 miles of road trips across the western states last May to July 2011 took me through several rural towns where La Quinta Inn looked to be one of the best hotel lodging options available. Holding 11,000 to 18,000 in points might be a good move if the La Quinta Inn locations work out for your travels.
In cities you can always get a Priceline option or a choice of other hotel chains. La Quinta Inn points are likely most valuable when you are in a remote location like Bishop, California on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada and you have little choice but to pay for a room or sleep in your car when the rates are touching $150 per night.
Purchase Tip: A couple can buy 40,000 points each and alternate reservations to get up to six nights at a hotel charging 11,000 points per night if you need more than 40,000 points for 2012 travel.
Ric Garrido, owner and writer of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests. You can follow Loyalty Traveler on Twitter and Facebook and RSS feed.
3 Comments
Comments are closed.