---
name: points-or-cash-for-this-hotel
description: "Compares booking direct on points against the third-party cash rate. Use when the user wants help with Points or Cash for This Hotel?. Related topics: Travel, Finance, Planning."
---

# Points or Cash for This Hotel?

Compares booking direct on points against the third-party cash rate.

## How to use this skill

1. Ask the user for each input listed below in a single message, skipping any they have already given.
2. Where options are listed, offer them, but accept other answers too.
3. Fill the answers into the prompt template, then follow the completed prompt to produce the result.

## Inputs

- **Hotel and dates** (free text, e.g. "Hotel and dates")
- **Cash rate on the third-party app** (free text, e.g. "Cash rate on the third-party app")
- **Cash rate booking direct with the chain** (free text, e.g. "Cash rate booking direct with the chain")
- **Points required for the award night** (free text, e.g. "Points required for the award night")
- **My current points balance** (free text, e.g. "My current points balance")
- **Input 6** (choose one: I have status with this chain, No status, Status with a different chain)
- **Input 7** (choose one: Yes, No)

## Prompt template

Help me decide whether to burn points or pay cash for a hotel stay.

- {{Hotel and dates}}
- {{Cash rate on the third-party app}}
- {{Cash rate booking direct with the chain}}
- {{Points required for the award night}}
- {{My current points balance}}
- {{Input 6}}
- {{Input 7}} This stay would count toward status I'm actually chasing

Calculate the cents-per-point I'd get by redeeming, and compare it to what those points are typically worth in this program. Factor in what I lose by booking third party: elite benefits, breakfast, upgrades, and whether the stay counts toward status at all. Give me a straight recommendation, and tell me what would have to change for the other answer to win.

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Source: [Points or Cash for This Hotel? on PromptBuild](https://promptbuild.io/prompt/4u1i3aVUVKOf3LQUTLrk/points-or-cash-for-this-hotel)