Hotel Points-or-Cash Calculator
Compare a hotel award stay with paying cash, including award fees and the points you would earn by paying cash.
Assumes cash and award bookings are comparable. Value per point is your own assumption, not a guaranteed redemption value. Enter the entire stay total; use the same currency for all cash amounts. Cash-earned points are excluded from the redemption value but included in the recommendation.
How to compare hotel points with cash
Enter the full cash booking total, the number of points required, and any cash fees payable on an award booking. The calculator shows cents per point and also considers the points you could earn by paying cash. Set your own value per point rather than assuming all hotel loyalty programs are equal.
Example redemption
A $450 cash stay that costs 50,000 points with no award fees yields 0.90 cents per point before accounting for points earned on a paid booking. Compare that result with your own points valuation and booking flexibility.
Common questions
Do award stays always avoid resort fees?
No. Award fee policies vary by hotel and loyalty program. Check the actual reservation terms and enter unavoidable award fees.
Should I account for points earned on cash stays?
Yes. Forgone points have value, so the calculator includes them as an opportunity cost. Read our points-or-cash guide for more context.