Why I Chose The Huntley Santa Monica Beach for Our LA Trip (And How We Booked It on Points)

When we needed to be in Santa Monica for our son’s esports opening weekend, location mattered just as much as cost. We wanted something walkable, safe, comfortable, and flexible enough for a short family stay. What we didn’t want was a $1,300+ hotel bill or a hotel in a not so nice area of Santa Monica.

That’s how we landed on The Huntley Santa Monica Beach, an I Prefer hotel, booked mostly on points. 

This post focuses solely on the hotel: why we chose it, what it would have cost in cash, how we booked it with points, and who this redemption actually makes sense for. You can read about the whole trip and how we spent $274 vs $2800 for the whole trip here. 

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The Location: Why Santa Monica Made Sense

The Huntley is located in Santa Monica, just a few blocks from the beach and close to restaurants, shops, and transit and 15 minutes away from the venue. For a short stay tied to an event, this was ideal.

What mattered most to us:

• Walkability (less time driving, less stress)
• A central location for exploring with our older son
• A hotel that felt calm and comfortable after long days

Santa Monica checked all of those boxes, and The Huntley offered that without the chaos of staying right on the boardwalk.

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The Hotel: The Huntley Santa Monica Beach

The Huntley is a boutique-style hotel and part of the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program. It has a more residential, understated feel than a large chain property, which we appreciated for a family stay.

What stood out:

• Spacious rooms by LA standards
• Clean, modern design without feeling trendy or loud
• A quieter vibe that worked well for downtime between events
• Friendly, attentive staff looking to meet our every need

This wasn’t about luxury for luxury’s sake. It was about comfort, location, and not feeling like we were crammed into a basic room just to save money.

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The Cash Price vs What We Paid

Retail Cost

For our dates, the cash price was approximately $1,334 or $1550.96 once taxes and fees were included.

That’s not unusual for Santa Monica, but it’s not something we would’ve paid out of pocket for this type of trip.

What We Actually Paid

• Points used: 56,250 I Prefer points
• Out-of-pocket: $216.96 (taxes and fees)

Those points came from Citi ThankYou Points, transferred at a 1:4 ratio, which means this booking required the equivalent of 225,000 Citi points.

The Value

When you run the numbers, this redemption came out to 1.99 cents per point.

That’s a strong hotel redemption, but more importantly, it turned a hotel we wouldn’t normally book into one that made sense for this trip.

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How I Booked This Hotel Using Points

Step 1: Start With Transferable Points

This booking was possible because I had a balance of Citi ThankYou Points, which transfer to I Prefer at a favorable ratio.

Transferable points matter because they give you options beyond the big-name hotel chains.

Step 2: Check Availability First

Before transferring any points, I confirmed award availability directly with I Prefer for The Huntley. Transfers are irreversible, so this step is critical.

Step 3: Factor in Taxes and Fees

Unlike some programs, I Prefer does not cover taxes and fees with points. That’s why we still paid just over $200 out of pocket.

Always budget for this when booking higher-end hotels on points that do not cover the taxes and fees (ie Marriott and I Preferred).

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Is This a “Good” Redemption?

From a pure numbers perspective:

• Anything over 1.0 CPP for hotels is solid
• 2.0 CPP is excellent
• Standard redemptions hover around 0.5 – 0.7 CPP

At 1.99 CPP, this was exceptional and where I like to see hotel redemptions land.

But I don’t usually decide whether to book a hotel based on CPP alone. In this case, the real value was:

• Being close to where we needed to be
• Feeling comfortable during a busy, emotional weekend
• Avoiding a four-figure hotel bill

That mattered more than squeezing out an extra fraction of a cent.

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Who This Hotel Booking Makes Sense For

This strategy is a good fit if:

• You have Citi ThankYou Points and want a non-chain option
• You’re traveling to a high-cost city like Los Angeles
• Location and comfort matter more than maximizing elite perks
• You’re okay paying taxes and fees out of pocket
• You want Hyatt style points valuations 

It may not be ideal if:

• You want fully free stays with no cash cost
• You prioritize elite status benefits
• You’re traveling on a very tight cash budget

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Final Thoughts

The Huntley Santa Monica Beach wasn’t a hotel we would’ve booked with cash. But with points, it became a practical, comfortable option that fit the purpose of our trip perfectly.

This is why I value transferable points so much. They don’t just unlock aspirational travel. They give you flexibility when life happens and you need to show up somewhere that matters.

For us, this hotel wasn’t about luxury, although it was luxurious. It was about being present, comfortable, and financially sane during an important family moment.

And that’s a win in my book.

Ready for more?
👉 Check out all my points and miles posts [here] for more tips on maximizing your travel rewards.

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