Hotel

Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express

2014-12-13 SPG Referral

What’s better for airline points than the credit card tied to a particular airline? The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express. While it doesn’t have bonus categories for everyday purchases (though you do get 2x points at SPG hotels) the great thing about SPG points are their versatility.

For some airlines you can transfer SPG points to the airline at a 1:1 ratio. BUT, if you transfer 20,000 points they’ll give you a 5,000 point bonus and you’ll end up with 25,000 airline points! There’s a huge list of airlines including: AeroMexico, Aeroplan (Air Canada), Air Berlin, Air China, Air France/KLM, Alaska, Alitalia, All Nippon Airways (ANA), American, Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific), Asiana, British Airways, China Eastern, China Southern, Delta, Emirates, Etihad, Gol, Hainan, Hawaiian, Japan (JAL), Miles & More (Lufthansa/SWISS), Qatar, Saudi Arabia Airlines, Singapore, Thai Airways, US Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia.

They also transfer to LAN Airlines at a rate of 1:1.5. Do not transfer to United (2:1) or Air New Zealand (65:1) as they have bad (UA) or horrible (NZ) transfer rates.

Of course since Starpoints are the currnecy of SPG hotels, they can also be used for free or discounted rooms. Category 1 hotels are just 3,000 points per night, meaning this card could get you a free room for 8 nights just with the signup bonus! SPG properties include: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Le Meridien, Westin, Sheraton, aloft, element and Four Points. Don’t have enough points to cover your stay? No problem with the cash + points option where you can use points to discount the cost of the room. You can also use points to upgrade to larger rooms or suites, or even for nights at Caesars Entertainment hotels like Caesar’s Palace, Harrah’s, Bally’s, Flamingo, Harvey’s, Nobu Hotel, Paris Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, The Quad and Rio hotels.

If you’ll allow me to refer you for this credit card you’ll get 10,000 Starpoints after your first purchase and 15,000 Starpoints when you spend $5000 in the first 6 months of owning the card. (As always, if you do not pay off your credit card bills each month, DO NOT apply for a new card!) In addition, I will receive a bonus of 5,000 Starpoints.

To do the referral I’ll need your first and last names and your email address. You can email them to me at 2btraveling@gmail.com. I appreciate your support!

Categories: Credit Cards, SPG Amex, Starwood | Tags: , | Leave a comment

100% Bonus on IHG Points Through December 23

2014-12-13 IHG Points Sale

Now through December 23 you can get a 100% bonus on purchased IHG points. These points are good at all brands of the Intercontinental Hotel Group which includes: Intercontinental Hotels, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hualuxe, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites, Even Hotels and Candlewood Suites.

The pricing structure is staggered so that the more points you buy, the cheaper they are per point:
1,000 – 10,000 points for $13.50 per 1,000 base points (.675 cents per point)
11,000 – 25,000 points for $12.50 per 1,000 base points (.625 cents per point)
26,000 – 60,000 points for $11.50 per 1,000 base points (.575 cents per point)

Note that the 1000 points above are the base points. So for $13.50 you’d actually get 2000 points when the bonus is included.

You may purchase a max of 120,000 points per year and receive a max of 120,000 points per year. So this can be half of your annual total.

But is it a good deal? As always, let’s check The Points Guy and One Mile At A Time for their current valuations. Brian (TPG) values them at 0.7 cents apiece while Ben (OMAAT) values them at 0.5 cents apiece. Here we see the points fall right in the middle of this range, so it’s not a bad deal, especially if you need to top off your account for you next award.

Note that these purchases are processed by points.com so that if you were to use your IHG credit card for the purchase, it would not count as hotel spend.

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Cyber Monday Deal on Club Carlson Points

2014-11-30 Club CarlsonTomorrow is Cyber Monday and to celebrate Club Carlson is offering a 100% bonus on purchased points up to 10K points. The points must be purchased in increments of 1000 points.  If you only buy 10K points and get 10K bonus it’ll cost you $70 or 0.35 cents per point.  As always, I look to Ben and Brian for points valuation to determine whether or not something is a good deal. Ben values Club Carlson points at 0.4 cents each while Brian values them at 0.6 – making this a pretty good deal.

Remember that if you have the Club Carlson Visa the last night of any award stay of 2 nights or longer is free.  Plus, Club Carlson offers rooms for cash + points, which can help you stretch those points further.

Club Carlson brands include: Radisson, Radisson Blu, Park Plaza, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites

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Hilton HHonors Points – Targeted Promo

2014-11-25 Hilton Points Sale

Hilton is currently running a targeted promo that allows you to buy HHonors points and get a bonus. You’ll have to log in to your HHonors account to determine whether you’ll earn a 20%, 30%, 40% or 50% bonus when buying points.

I was targeted for a 40% bonus which means if I buy 1000 points for $10 I get 400 bonus points at no additional charge. Likewise, if I buy the max of 40,000 points for $400 I get 16,000 bonus points. This works out to 0.71 cents per point. As always, I look to One Mile At A Time and The Points Guy to determine whether or not this is a good deal. Lucky (of OMAAT) values HHonors points at 0.4 cents per point while Brian (TPG) sets their value at 0.5 cents each. So buying points probably does not make sense unless you need just a few points to top off an award.

The promotion ends on December 22 at 22:59 ET.

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30% Bonus on Purchased Hyatt Gold Passport Points

Hyatt Winter Points Sale

 

Now through December 10th you can get a 30% bonus when you purchase 5,000 or more Hyatt Gold Passport points. So you can buy 5000 points for $120 (plus fees) and get a bonus of 1500 points. Or buy 55,000 points and get a bonus of 16,500 points for $1320. This brings the cost per point to 1.8 cents each. What is a Hyatt point worth? Well, it all depends on who you ask. Lucky (of One Mile at a Time) values them at 1.4 cents while Brian (The Points Guy) values them at 1.8 cents each.

I say it all depends on your needs. Do you need just a few points to top off your account so you can get that dream award? Then by all means jump at this offer. But remember that you can convert Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt points and it’s very easy to manufacture UR points through credit card spend. (Of course if you have the Chase Hyatt Visa you can generate points that way too!)

I’ve got a nice stash of UR points so won’t be taking advantage of this offer but it may be perfect timing for you.

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Double Points or Double Nights at Club Carlson

Club Carlson is a hotel loyalty program that often gets overlooked here in the US.  The brands we see mostly commonly here are Radisson and Country Inns and Suites.  But overseas you’re more likely to see Radisson, Radisson Blu and Park Inn.  Radisson Blu can be quite nice.  I recently stayed at the Radisson Blu in Istanbul (review forthcoming!) and quite enjoyed it.

Now Club Carlson is running a promotion whereby you can earn your way toward elite status more quickly.  If you’re a member of Club Carlson (and it’s free to join) just register HERE for Double Nights or Double Points.  Then, for each stay between now and December 30, 2014 you’ll earn your selection toward elite status.

Club Carlson Points or Nights

 

Of course, the easiest way to earn Gold status is to pick up the Club Carlson Visa Signature card.  You’ll earn 50,000 points after your first purchase and another 35,000 points if you spend $2500 within 90 days of applying.   This card allows you to earn 10 points per dollar at Club Carlson hotels and 5 points per dollar elsewhere.  Plus you get 40,000 points each year when you pay the $75 annual fee!  And if you need any more incentive to pick up the card, when you make an award reservation of 2 nights or more, the last night is free to all card holders!  It’s a hard deal to beat.

Club Carlson Credit Card

 

Disclaimer: I do not have any affiliation with Club Carlson or Visa and I do not receive any referral incentives

Categories: Club Carlson, Club Carlson Visa, US Bank | Leave a comment

Free Wi-Fi for Marriott Rewards Members

It’s always amazed me how budget hotels offer free wi-fi yet more expensive hotels might offer it in common areas but want you to pay for it in your room.  I, for one, don’t like sitting out in public checking my email and Twitter – I prefer to do that in my jammies right before I fall asleep and first thing when I wake up.  Starting January 15, Marriott is going to make that easier.  Wi-Fi will be free to all Marriott Rewards members beginning on that date if you’ve booked directly with Marriott. That includes booking with their mobile app, via the website, calling 1-800-Marriott or through a Marriott hotel.  Gold and Platinum Elite members will be able to get enhanced wi-fi where available.Marriott Free-wifi1

 

I’ve got to admit, I think in today’s world, free wi-fi should be the standard everywhere, regardless of where you book and whether or not you’re a member of the loyalty program.  But this is certainly a step in the right direction.

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Even More Promos

Can you tell that we’re right in the midst of shoulder season?  There are all kinds of promos coming through every day.  Here are recent ones I’ve seen, in no particular order:

2014-10-08 IHG Purchased Points Bonus

IHG Rewards Club is featuring a bonus on purchased points this month.  The bonus depends on how many points you’re purchasing.  I’ve got a nice stash of points at the moment so I’ll sit this one out.

2014-10-08 Club Carlson Bonus

Club Carlson is having a sale at select hotels when you book by this Friday, October 10 and stay on select dates through the end of the month.  Talk about restrictions!  Since I just returned from vacation I won’t take advantage of this either.

2014-10-08 New AF A380 Route

I’m not an aviation geek by any means but one of the few planes I can recognize on sight is the Airbus A380, since it’s a full-length double-decker.  Air France is starting a new route, Miami to Paris (CDG), on December 1st.  Remember Air France is part of SkyTeam which means you can use Delta miles on this flight.  Sadly, Delta will not allow you access to La Premiere (first class) and if you book before the end of the year a one-way ticket will cost as much as a round-trip.  However, Air France’s Flying Blue program is a transfer partner of both Starwood and Amex Membership Rewards, so that’s the way to book first class on the new bird.

2014-10-08 Hilton Purchased Points Promo

And finally, if you hold one of the Hilton co-branded credit cards (Amex has two, Citibank has one) you should have received this offer via email.  The link in the mail is specific for each recipient but you can buy or give Hilton HHonors points until October 22 and get a bonus, depending on how many points you buy or give.  Might be a nice way to top off your account if you’re just a little short.

Categories: Air France, American Express, Citibank Hilton Reserve Visa, Club Carlson, Hilton, Hilton Amex, Hilton Surpass, Hotel, IHG, SkyTeam | Leave a comment

A Plethora of Promos

Oh, I’m so far behind! I went on vacation for 10 days and have been scrambling ever since I got back. There are several promotions going on right now, so let’s get to the good stuff:

30% Bonus on Purchased Club Carlson Points

2014-10-03 Club Carlson Promo

Between now and the end of the month you can get a 30% bonus if you buy 10,000-40,000 Club Carlson points. I recently points for a two-night stay at the Radisson Blu in Istanbul. If you also have the Club Carlson credit card, the last night of any multi-night stay is free! Click HERE to learn more.

 


100% Bonus on Purchased Dividend Miles Extended Through October 12

2014-10-03 US Airways Buy Miles Promo

Buy or gift US Airways Dividend Miles through October 12 and get a 100% bonus. Click HERE to be taken to the US Airways site.

 


 

1000 Bonus Gold Passport Points

 

2014-10-03 Hyatt Mobile Booking Promo

Book your next Hyatt stay via their mobile app and earn a 1000 point bonus. There doesn’t seem to be any limit and it’s good through the end of the year! Click on the HERE to be taken to the Hyatt site.

 


 

2500 Bonus US Airways Dividend Miles

 

2014-10-03 USDM Credit Card Bonus

 

Use your US Airways Dividend Miles MasterCard at gas stations, restaurants, toy & game stores and department stores through the end of the year and receive up to 2500 bonus miles. That’s a bonus of spend in these categories up to $1250. You must activate this offer by October 20th! If you’re already a cardholder, you should have received info about this offer already.

 


That’s it for now. I’ve got some more updates coming including a report on my recent trip to Turkey. Stay tuned!

Categories: Club Carlson, Credit Card Promos, Hotel Promos, Hyatt, US Airways, US Airways MasterCard | Tags: , , | Leave a comment

Marriott eBreaks for Next Weekend

2014-09-01 Marriott eBreaks

Want to get away next weekend?  Marriott has certain properties on sale this Thursday through Sunday (Sept 4-7).  Not all properties are included but if you can sneak away on a whim, now’s the time!  Check HERE to see if the property you’re interested in is featured.

Categories: Hotel Promos, Marriott | Leave a comment

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