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🏝️ How To Book A Villa With Points, Airport Lounges Explained, and More!

🏝️ How To Book A Villa With Points, Airport Lounges Explained, and More!

Discover the latest news in the world of points.

PointsParadise
July 27, 2023

👋 Welcome Back!

If you’re new to Points Paradise, welcome to the community! Otherwise: welcome back to your go-to source for points updates. Our community is up to 3,000 subscribers now!

Everyone hates going to the dentist, but I may hate it the most!

Recently a cracked tooth sent me to the dentist, where of course he found several other things to fix that cost thousands of dollars.

Naturally, insurance didn’t cover it. But there was a silver lining to the ordeal.

I put it on my Chase Sapphire Reserve, and got an extra bump in points.

😁 Moral of the story: if you’re going to through pain and spend tons of money, at least you can get more points and a better trip out of it!

Speaking of Maximizing Your Points….

I’m excited to invite all of you to the new Points Paradise Community Discord!

I recently added it to the welcome email, and already people are starting to join.

It’s always more fun to talk travel and points with other people and this Discord is our community’s way of connecting.

It’s free to join so check it out through the link below!

Already some people are trading tips, like the one below:

🗞️ News From This Week

Marriott Bonvoy Launches 10% Discount on Two-Night Stays at Homes & Villas Properties Through End of September 2023

Want to stay in a premium rental or luxury villa using points? Here’s your chance.

Marriott Bonvoy has introduced a promotion offering a 10% discount on bookings of two or more consecutive nights at its Homes & Villas properties, valid through the end of September 2023.

For example, this oceanfront cottage in Hawaii takes 40k points a night to book

But until end of September, you can also get 10% off bookings as long as you book over 2 nights in a row. More details here.

Best Ever Offer For American Airlines AAdvantage Card Is Here. 100k Bonus Miles.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard currently has its best ever offer of 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first three months.

The card offers 4-10 miles per dollar spent on various purchases, including American Airlines, car rentals, and hotels

Note: it does have a high annual fee ($595) which makes it most useful for frequent travelers on American Airlines and primarily people who want Admirals Club lounge access.

If you’re not a frequent AA traveler, there’s probably better cards out there for you than this one.

Without getting Admirals Club access through a credit card, it costs $59 a day or $550 a year on its own.

Here’s How To Get A Companion Pass With The New Southwest Rapid Rewards Offer.

If you’re a Southwest flyer, you’ll want to check this out.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Business credit card just bumped its sign on bonus to 60k points, one of its best ever offers.

Plus: you can get a Companion Pass by hitting 135k points, and since you can earn 120k in total from this card, you can get the Companion Pass easily.

Companion passes are great, as they let you take a partner on flights with you for free (minus fees/taxes).

🏖️ Resource Roundup

A quick roundup of the top offers, deals, and more that you should know:

New Amex + Delta Statement Credits Of $150/$75: Amex is giving a $75 statement credit for spending $250 or a $150 credit for spending $500 on purchases directly with Delta Air Lines using an enrolled card by 10/6/2023, with flights originating in the U.S. and certain exclusions apply.

“Welcome Back” Radisson Reward Adds 3k Bonus Points: Selected Radisson Rewards members can earn 3,000 bonus points, worth around $6, for a stay by January 24, 2024, if booked by August 24, 2023, at any participating Radisson property.

Get $200 In Cruise Credit With An AARP Card: Holland America has announced a partnership with AARP allowing members to receive up to $200 in onboard credit when booking a cruise, providing returns of up to 16 times the initial AARP membership fee and the credit can be combined with other special offers.

Hyatt Awards Changes Incoming: Hyatt is switching to the Sabre booking system in 2024, enhancing search, view, and booking efficiencies, with concerns that this change may also introduce dynamic award pricing.

Marriot & MGM Hotels Announce Partnership: Marriott International and MGM Resorts International have entered into a long-term licensing agreement to create the “MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy,” encompassing 17 MGM resorts across the U.S., along with a loyalty marketing partnership with BetMGM, enabling members of both programs to enjoy exclusive benefits and earn and redeem points across their extensive property portfolios.

Earn 8k points At Choice Hotels For New Stays: Choice Hotels is offering its members 8,000 reward points for every two stays, applicable for stays completed between March 27 and June 30, 2023.

Chase And Bank Of America Streaming Offer: Chase Offers and Bank of America are providing a deal where customers can receive $20 back on their YouTube TV subscription when they spend $64.99 or more, with the offer available until 11/16/2022 and the first payment required by 11/29/2022.

🗺️ Pro Tip of the Week

How To Master The Art Of Retention Offers For More Points

What Are Retention Offers?

Retention offers are compelling incentives provided by credit card issuers to maintain customer loyalty, particularly those customers who might be thinking of switching to a different card.

They're one of the best-kept secrets in the credit card world for boosting points, and the beauty lies in the fact that these offers can often be personalized to fit your spending habits and reward preferences.

How Do They Work?

Typically, retention offers are not openly advertised, and to access these special perks, you'll need to take the initiative. The process often involves reaching out to your card issuer and candidly discussing your considerations about canceling the card.

Card issuers are eager to retain their customer base, and as such, they may offer you additional reward points, waive annual fees, or provide other lucrative incentives to persuade you to stay.

A Real Example:

This Reddit Post documents one, but the original poster added this screenshot showing asking for the retention offer + the response from the Amex agent.

Note: while this is over a text chat (looks like Twitter to me) other ways include calling directly.

✈️ Reward Reminder of the Week

Credit Card Rewards Aren’t Just For Flights, You Can Book Amazing Experiences too!

While flights are a common reward point redemption, they're certainly not the only one. Your credit card rewards can unlock an array of unique experiences that can truly enhance your travels or even your day-to-day life. It's time to think beyond the flight tickets and dive into the world of experiential rewards.

Many credit card reward programs offer exclusive access to concerts, special events, wine tastings, gourmet dinners, and more. These experiences can often provide more memorable value than the typical cash back or flight redemptions.

Some Examples From Amex and Chase:

American Express Membership Rewards, one of the industry's leading programs, provides cardholders with exclusive presale tickets to Broadway shows, sporting events, and concerts.

Chase Ultimate Rewards, another top-tier program, lets you use points to book diverse experiences, from cooking classes with renowned chefs to thrilling hot air balloon rides.

The process to redeem your rewards for these experiences is generally straightforward. Simply log into your credit card's reward portal, navigate to the 'Experiences' or similar category, and start exploring.

So, the next time you look at your growing reward point balance, remember it can be a passport to more than just physical places - it's also a ticket to exciting experiences that could become lifelong memories.

🌎 Community Corner

I travel a couple times a year, but have never actually used an airport lounge.

Are they worth it? What do you get from them? Are the benefits any good?

- Question from a subscriber

My Answer:

Great question! Airport lounges can indeed elevate your travel experience, especially if you're someone who travels a few times a year or more. Here's a rundown of what they typically offer and why they might be worth considering.

Comfort: Airport lounges offer a quiet and comfortable space away from the hustle and bustle of the main terminal. They often have more comfortable seating, quieter areas, and more space to stretch out or even catch a nap.

Food and Drink: Most lounges offer complimentary food and drinks. The quality and selection can vary, but generally, it's a step up from what you'll find at most airport terminals. This can range from snacks and light fare to full meals, with some lounges even offering local delicacies. Complimentary alcoholic beverages are often available too.

Amenities: Lounges frequently offer amenities like free Wi-Fi, charging stations, clean restrooms, showers, and sometimes even spa facilities.

Service: Lounges often provide dedicated customer service desks where you can get help with flight changes, upgrades, and other travel issues without waiting in long lines.

The value of lounge access really depends on how much you'll use it and what you want from your travel experience. If you often find yourself with long layovers, want a quieter place to work or relax, or simply enjoy the convenience of free food and drinks, lounge access could be a great addition to your travel routine.

Many premium travel credit cards offer complimentary or discounted lounge access as part of their benefits, so check if any of your current cards offer this perk. Alternatively, you could consider a lounge membership program like Priority Pass, which provides access to lounges worldwide for an annual fee. Happy traveling!