Month: May 2022

How to Use ITA Matrix Following Part 1 of Like A Pro, let’s take our flight-searching and bargaining skills to another level with Part 2, which will cover additional advanced control and ITA Matrix power tools.

More advanced control

Remember the extension code we discussed in Part 1? Well, there are a few even more advanced ones worthy of going over.

Last time, we mainly discussed the fare codes in the “Travel Schedule” section, specifically the most commonly used: MINCONNECT, MAXCONNECT, and MAXDUR. We used them to specify minimum connection time, maximum connection time, and maximum travel duration, respectively.

Now let’s talk about another section of the extension code, which deals with the specific airline or alliance’s fare class (also known as fare code or fare bucket) that we want to fly.

Specify a rental class

The examples provided by the ITA matrix are all useful, but let’s focus on the code “F BC =”, which allows you to search for one or more specific rental classes in the same cabin.

For example, you might want to book a specific rental code Optimize your Air Canada e-upgradeOr to make sure you have earned 100% miles on your ticket when crediting to a given Frequent Flyer program.

Imagine we wanted to specify an Air Canada “M” fare, which is the lowest Flex fare that does not require a subscription fee when using eUpgrades on an international booking.

To request a flight with a specific fare code, we type “F BC = M” in the extension code field.

Search results “M” increase Air Canada fares in booking class.

Marketing vs. Operating Airlines

There is something else that the intelligent traveler can take care of Marketing And Operating The airline for a given flight.

After all, in the world of transatlantic joint ventures, codeshares are a necessary and common occurrence. However, whether you are aiming for airline elite status or trying to maximize your mileage earnings, you will notice that most loyalty programs have different earning rules depending on who is marketing and who is operating the flight.

For example, under the Airplane Loyalty Program, tickets issued by Air Canada will eventually be fare-based rather than distance-based point earnings, resulting in lower total points for most travelers.

If the flight is marketed by a partner airline like Lufthansa, instead, even if it is operated by Air Canada, you may be ahead in terms of the number of Aeroplan points you earn.

To request a flight Conducted By an airline, we use the extension code “O:” and then the airline’s two-letter IATA code. If we want a transatlantic flight operated by Air Canada, we will write “O: AC” in the routing code.

Now, if we want to specify the flight To market To avoid earning Air Canada’s new fare-based points by Lufthansa, we will input “O: AC” in the routing code and “AIRLINES LH” in the extension code as below.

(Note: Enter “AC” as the routing code No. It’s like entering “O: AC”. The former specifies a flight operated and marketed by Air Canada, while the latter specifies only the operating airline, which allows you to further specify the marketing airline in the extension codes.)

As a result the search dragged out the preferred flight which was operated by Air Canada but marketed by Lufthansa. When booking this flight on a ticket issued by Lufthansa you will be able to earn Aeroplan points based on distance, not on the fare you paid under the new Aeroplan program.

As you can see, ITA Matrix’s advanced routing and extension codes are incredibly powerful and customizable.

To start creating your dream (or nightmare …) itinerary, I encourage you to visit the website and play with all the advanced controls we discuss, and maybe something we don’t have.

ITA Matrix Power Tools

We will cover the final part of the software here ITA Matrix Power Tools, ITA is an add-on to the Matrix that further supercharges its capabilities. This requires a little more technical knowledge than the previous items we discussed, but still not much.

Keep in mind that ITA Matrix is ​​great for rentals, but doesn’t really allow you to book anything through its native software. ITA Matrix PowerTools is a piece of JavaScript software that lets you book travel routes that allow you to find ITA Matrix travel routes through online travel agencies (OTAs).

There are several different ways to install ITA Matrix PowerTools and I recommend checking the FlyerTalk thread for complete installation instructions.

Once PowerTools is installed, it should look something like this (for reference, it is in Google Chrome):

Navigate matrix.itasoftware.comAnd you know that PowerTools is active when you see the “Passenger (1a)” bar at the top left of the screen.

Note that full functionality of PowerTools can only be found on older interfaces. This old interface will eventually be removed from the ITA Matrix website, but hopefully the full functionality of the power tool will eventually be incorporated into the new platform.

To get back to the old interface, click on the yellow banner link on the main website.

Enter all the information you would otherwise have in the new interface.

To book a itinerary, just start your search using the guidelines described above and beyond. Part 1. For this example, let’s just look for a simple non-stop route from Toronto to London:

Looking at the options, our traveler decides to go with Air Canada instead of the British Airways or American airline codeshare options. Even with the price difference, their Airplane Elite Status Lounge access and e-upgrade possibilities will come in handy.

Compared to before, the page with all the rental information looks much more complete.

On the far right, the ITA Matrix is ​​powered by PowerTools, providing mileage, cent-per-mile calculations, as well as a list of booking options, direct booking links to each airline or OTA’s website.

Below the booking links there is also a credit link from somewhere, which will take you directly to the exact location of the credit website, showing you how many miles you will earn while crediting this flight to all possible frequent flyer programs.

This is very useful for combining mileage runs or figuring out how many redeemable miles you will earn before booking.

Booking is as easy as it seems: clicking on the link to your desired airline website or OTA will bring up the corresponding booking page with all your rental options selected just like the search in ITA Matrix.

Click on the Air Canada booking link, as it is usually best to book directly from the airline whenever possible. Keep in mind that if you click on the “+” sign next to Air Canada, you will have the option to choose a country from which you would like to purchase a fare or add a promotional code if you have an additional 15% discount code. Almost false.

This brings us to the booking link on the Air Canada website, as if we were searching directly on the website. Just click to complete the booking.

Conclusion

For the intelligent traveler, the ITA Matrix is ​​one of the most comprehensive tools for finding, understanding and maximizing airfare, especially when combined with the ITA Matrix Power Tools browser extension.

While the ITA Matrix’s search and filtering function and advanced routing codes are already extremely powerful, PowerTools takes things to the next level by giving you extra insight into the fares you find as well as allowing you to book directly with an airline or online travel agency. Likes

Aeroplan has just launched a new 20% transfer bonus from Marriott Bonvoy, which can be a great opportunity to pad your Aeroplan balance if you have extra bona fide points.

20% transfer bonus from Marriott Bonvoy to Aeroplan

From today until now May 31, 2022, Airplane members will receive a 20% bonus when converting points from Marriott Forest Fear. The nature of this agreement is fairly time-sensitive, as there are about 10 days to take advantage.

Typically, Marriott Forest Fear points can be transferred to airplanes in a 3: 1 ratio, with a bonus of 5,000 airplane points whenever you convert to 60,000 Fear Point points. Thus, the optimal transfer ratio is 60,000 forest fear points = 25,000 airplane points.

With a 20% bonus promotion in-game, converting 60,000 forest fear points will result in 30,000 airplane points or effective transfer ratio 2: 1

It may take up to four to six weeks from the day you start the transfer for the bonus airplane points to show up in your account.

Is this Marriott-Airplane transfer bonus worth it?

This promotion has historically been offered often under the “old” airplane program, but this is the first time we’ve seen it offered since the airplane relaunched in November 2020.

There are many ways to earn points in each program by transferring points from the Marriott Forest Fear and Airplane to the core of the Canadian Loyalty ecosystem, credit card welcome bonuses and American Express Membership Rewards.

Whether or not this 20% transfer bonus is successful will depend on your specific strategy as a point collector: Do you prefer to spread your earnings effort across both flight and hotel, or do you place more emphasis on altitude-price flight redemption on top of everything?

Airplane continues to represent the best low-cost luxury travel for Canadians, whether booking an ANA Business Class from Vancouver to Tokyo at 55,000 points or Etihad Airways First Class at Abu Dhabi at 130,000 points for a sweet spot or a “latitude attitude”. .

Meanwhile, hotel chains are devaluing their loyalty programs left and right, including the recent move by Marriott Forest Fear’s dynamic pricing – and this trend will continue for years to come.

So, if you have extra forest fear points that you would rather use for high-cost flight redemption, the current 20% conversion bonus would be quite convenient.

Overall, I would say that this 20% conversion bonus from Marriott Forest Fear to Airplanes isn’t very appealing when you see the big picture, and I personally won’t take advantage.

Aeroplan points are easy to earn through a variety of other methods, such as 10+ Aeroplan co-branded credit cards, 1: 1 Amex MR point transfers, Aeroplan eStore, or various 5x or 10x earnings promotions that we’re blessing on a regular basis.

However, if you don’t see enough value to use Forest Fear points for hotels and would like to use them for high cost flights, then a 20% bonus on Aeroplan would be a helpful incentive to book one of the sweet spots of the program.

Conclusion

From today until now May 31, 2022, You will receive a 20% bonus when you convert Marriott Forest Fear points into airplanes. This is the first time we’ve seen a historically frequent campaign in a few years.

If you find luxury premium cabin redemption more tempting than using points for hotels, then this is the right promotion for you to funnel some points of your hotel to book future flights.

On the other hand, if your strategy is to gain enough points to cover both flight and hotel, it is best to direct your airplane and forest fear points toward their respective best goals.

American Express has introduced three new welcome bonuses in four Hilton Honors co-branded credit cards issued by US, which are on the market. July 6, 2022.

Amex US Hilton Cards represent one of the best ways to diversify your hotel rewards game outside of the Marriott Forest, so let’s take a look at the details of these exciting signup offers.

Amex US Hilton Card: 100,000 points + $ 100 statement credit

The Amex US Hilton Card Entry-level products without any annual fees. As part of the base offer, you can earn 100,000 Hilton Honors points And a US $ 100 statement credit at Hilton Hotel The first three months cost US $ 1,000.

Previously, the card offered a standard welcome bonus of 70,000-80,000 Hilton Honors points, as well as an occasional 100,000+ points limited time offer, sometimes accompanied by a statement credit or free night reward.

As part of this offer, you will receive a US $ 100 statement credit at the Hilton Hotel, which should be fairly easy to use within the first 12 months of holding the card.

While the signup offer isn’t as strong as some of the previous offers that came with the Free Night Rewards, it’s still an attractive deal if you want to sign up now.

If you haven’t started with a US credit card yet, Amex US Hilton Card represents one of the best choices for your first US credit card. Thanks to its ফ 0 annual fee, you can easily keep it year after year and extend your US credit history in the long run.

Amex US Hilton surpass card: 130,000 points + $ 130 statement credit

The Amex US Hilton surpass card Hilton lineup mid-level personal card, with an annual fee US 95

As part of the base offer, you can earn 130,000 Hilton Honors points And a US $ 130 statement credit at Hilton Hotel The first three months cost US $ 2,000.

Previously, the card offered a standard welcome bonus of 130,000 Hilton Honors points, as well as a limited time offer with occasional incentives of 150,000+ points.

Again, the current bonus of 130,000 points and a US $ 130 Hilton statement credit in the first 12 months is a competitive signup offer, although not the best we’ve seen recently.

At an ongoing price of US $ 95 per year, Hilton Sarpas gives you instant Hilton Gold status as long as you hold the card, a priority pass membership with 10 lounge visits per year, as well as a free night reward. Costs US $ 15,000 per calendar year.

Amex US Hilton Business Card: 130,000 Points + Free Night Prize

Ready for business owners, Amex US Hilton Business Card Actually similar in many ways to Sarpas.

Its price point US 95 The same goes for the current extended signup bonus 130,000 Hilton Honors points And a US $ 130 statement credit at Hilton Hotel The first three months cost US $ 3,000.

As with Sarpas, as long as you hold the card, you will have the ability to obtain Hilton Gold status, a priority pass membership with 10 lounge visits per year, and a free night’s certificate at a cost of US $ 15,000.

Also, on the Hilton Business Card, you can actually earn a second Free Night Prize by spending US $ 60,000 in a calendar year, even though it’s probably not worth it.

Strategy for Amex US Hilton Card

Let’s take a look at some of the key strategies for maximizing these offers. Which of the three refreshed Hilton Honors credit cards should you apply for?

As mentioned above, if you haven’t yet started with a US credit card, it may be worthwhile to start with a no-fee Hilton card – which is also the most achievable minimum cost of the three.

However, I will note that the Hilton Sarpas card may also be the right choice.

This is because if you do not see the value of keeping the card year after year, you always have the option to switch the Hilton Sarpas card to a no-fee Hilton card after 12 months. That way, you’ll still be able to keep your oldest account open to strengthen your US credit history.

What’s more, in the early stages of your US credit card journey, the Hilton Business Card can also make sense.

Because Amex US Business Credit Cards do not report to your personal credit file, Hilton Business Chase will not count against the “5/24 Rule”, which is Chase’s unofficial policy if you refuse a new credit card for the last 24 months. More cards opened.

Overall, a newcomer to the US credit card scene, it’s best to start with the Hilton Card or Hilton Sarpus. In the meantime, anyone who has been around the block for a while can choose between personal cards with Hilton Business, remembering that you can get a one-time signup bonus on each product.

The best luxury property in Hilton is usually priced 120,000 Hilton Honors points The maximum per night, with two properties – Waldorf Astorias in Los Cabos and Maldives – exceeded the limit. 150,000 Hilton Honors points Every night.

If you can snatch one or two of these limited time bonuses, you’ll have enough points for a few nights or more overnight at some of Hilton’s best hotels if you book some of the more common hotels in Hilton’s portfolio.

What about the Hilton Aspire card?

You will also notice that, unlike its lesser-known peers, the top-level Hilton Aspire card Its welcome offer is fixed 150,000 Hilton Honors Points, With no additional statement credit.

Despite the US $ 450 annual fee, I believe the Hilton Aspire card is one of the most powerful reward cards in all of North America when you consider the ongoing benefits: an automated free night award each year, instant Hilton Diamond Status, a US $ 250 airline, A US $ 250 Hilton Resort credit, 14x points at the Hilton Hotel and an unlimited priority pass subscription for you and two guests.

However, unless you plan to stay with Hilton very soon and urgently need Diamond Status, it makes more sense to apply for one of three more Hilton Cards with higher bonuses while they are around.

You can add Aspire to your portfolio later, as its welcome bonus is quite stable with very few fluctuations over the last few years.

Apply now

Again, we see enhanced bonuses on the Hilton Card, Hilton Sarpas and Hilton Business Cards.

The point bonuses are at 100,000, 130,000, and 130,000 Hilton Honors points, respectively, and are stacked with statement credits of US $ 100, US $ 130, and US $ 130, usable on the Hilton property within the first 12 months of holding the card.

Advanced offers are available through both public and referral-to-friend channels, unless July 6, 2022.

So, if you earn points in two-player mode, it’s best to sign up using a partner referral link; Otherwise, feel free to contact us if you are interested in using one of our referral links here at Prince of Travel.

Leveraging is one of the best ways to get value out of the Hilton Honors program Free night prizes Amex US Hilton Credit Card.

Hilton’s Free Night Rewards can unlock some incredible opportunities around the world for $ 0 out of pocket, so in this article, let’s take a look at what you need to know about these potentially extremely powerful devices.

How to win the Hilton Free Night Award

In most cases, you need to start with a US credit card to rack up Hilton’s free night certificates.

The good news is, it’s easy to take the first step on this journey, because you can get your first certificate very quickly with just one US credit card application.

1. Amex US Hilton Aspire Card: Free Weekend Night Award each year

The Hilton Aspire Card is the only credit card that certifies an annual free weekend night each year as an ongoing benefit without having to “work” for it through your annual expenses.

Note that the Hilton Aspire has won the Free Weekend Night Award Immediately in the first year.

This makes it superior to the corresponding Free Night Awards on the Marriott Forest Fear Co-branded credit card, which is earned as a single Anniversary Benefits starting in the second year.

In addition to the free night you get for just keeping the card, you can earn an extra free night every year if you spend US 60,000 Hilton Aspire in a calendar year.

Alas, this is probably beyond the reach of most of us, and the return on cost is probably not worth it even if you Can It costs so much

2. Amex US Hilton Surpass & Business Cards: উই 15,000 Free Weekend Night Rewards

In addition to the Hilton Aspire, there are two other US-issued Hilton Co-branded cards that offer the ability to win free weekend night prizes each year.

Both the Hilton Sarpas Card and the Hilton Business Card allow you to earn a free weekend night reward after spending. US 15,000 In a calendar year.

Following the instant free weekend night prizes from Aspire Cards, these two free weekend night prizes are easily accessible year after year, although they require a fairly significant extra spending capacity.

Meanwhile, the Hilton Business Card lets you earn a second Free Weekend Night Prize after spending US 60,000 In a calendar year.

Again, though, this probably won’t be a worthwhile endeavor unless you have a lot of business expenses that you wanted to put on your Hilton Business Card.

3. Amex US Hilton Card Welcome Bonus

Amex US Hilton credit cards often offer a variety of advanced welcome bonuses. In the past, in addition to the high amount of Hilton Honors points, the cards have also occasionally offered free night prizes as part of signup incentives.

For example, in early 2022, Amex US Hilton Card, Hilton Surpass Card, and Hilton Business Card all offered a Free Night Prize in addition to the total of their usual points as part of the signup bonus.

Earning a welcome bonus with Free Night Rewards may be worth more than just getting Hilton Honors points, as there is a potential for unpublished redemption of Free Night Rewards (we’ll discuss below).

Therefore, if you are still in no hurry to apply for one of the Hilton Cards, consider waiting for a promotional bonus with a free night reward attached to the tour.

4. Amex US Hilton Card Cost-Based Promotion

Lastly, Amex US Hilton Cards are reported to offer occasional cost-based promotions for existing cardholders, with a free night reward on the table if they can reach a certain spending threshold within a specified time.

For example, towards the end of 2021, many Amex US Hilton cardholders were targeted for a promotion where they could win a Free Night Prize by spending US $ 8,000 by the February 2022 deadline.

There is no predicting when these campaigns will come, but it will certainly be very fruitful when they do

If possible, sign up for these promotions using the Hilton Surplus Card or the Hilton Business Card, as the costs you incur will help you reach the annual US $ 15,000 threshold for a free weekend night reward as part of the card’s benefits. .

How to Redeem Hilton Free Night Awards

The Hilton Free Night Prizes will be credited to your account within eight weeks of earning. In my experience, though, they show up much sooner than eight weeks after they meet the criteria used to earn them.

You will receive an email confirming the arrival of your Free Night Rewards, which will also mention the expiration date of your certificate. You must have this date, without booking.

Generally, Free Night prizes are valid for 12 months from the date of issue, although Hilton offered several extensions for the validity of free night certificates during the epidemic.

Redeem your Free Night Rewards

The Hilton Honors website allows you to track your free night certificates in your online dashboard, but it does not allow you to redeem these certificates through the online booking engine.

Instead, you’ll need to call Hilton Honors 1-800-446-6677 To redeem you. Before making the call, you’ll first want to conduct a search on the Hilton Honors website to find out where your certificate can be redeemed.

You will need to find a “Standard Room Award” on the date you choose – if a Standard Room is not available and only “Premium Room Award” is shown, you will not be able to apply for your free Weekend Night Award

Property excluded from the Hilton Free Night Award

Significantly, there is a list of excluded hotels that are not eligible for free weekend night redemption, which you can find here.

These are essentially Hilton Grand Vacations, all-inclusive, or accommodation-style features. Fortunately, most of the best hotels in Hilton’s portfolio are not on this list and are eligible to book a free night.

What counts as a weekend night?

You will notice that the Hilton Free Night Rewards issued as part of the Hilton Aspire, Sarpas and Business Card benefits are known as Free On the weekends Reward of the night.

This certificate is intended for redemption Friday, Saturday or Sunday night, And it limits their usefulness to just three days out of the week.

(During the epidemic, Hilton Honors temporarily relaxed this requirement and any Free Weekend Night Prize issued before December 31, 2022 may be redeemed any day of the week.)

Strategies to maximize Hilton Free Night rewards

Within the trio of Hilton Co-branded credit cards, it is theoretically possible to receive five free weekend night prizes each year.

However, aiming for a free night at the US $ 60,000 cost threshold is almost certainly not understandable.

Even if you want to redeem these certificates in the Maldives where you would otherwise pay US $ 2,000 + per night, you will probably come a long way if you spend that US $ 60,000 instead of another card (s).

Therefore, some Hilton Honors members may earn Until Three certificates each year If they could spend up to US $ 30,000 across Hilton Business and Hilton Sarpas.

In the meantime, the vast majority of members will probably be satisfied A certificate every year From just holding the Hilton Aspire year after year.

In terms of redemption, like all such devices, the key to maximizing prices is to book a hotel that would otherwise cost as much cash as possible, though still true to your travel goals and the places you want to see.

Since Hilton Honors is essentially a dynamic pricing program, we can use the hotel’s point value as a barometer to evaluate the value you receive from your Free Weekend Night Award:

• Two properties have been valued 150,000 Hilton Honors points Each night for a standard room award: Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithafushi and Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal.
• The maximum value of other top-level features is determined 120,000 Hilton Honors points Every night for a standard room prize.
• In general, I would say any property that would otherwise cost you 80,000 Hilton Honors points Each night represents a good use of the Free Night Prize. This price point is almost identical to a cash price US $ 400 +

In general, you want to maximize the value of your free night’s rewards by doing one of the following:

• Riding on Hilton’s high-end luxury brands such as Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, and LXR
• Reading for long-distance ambitious destinations like Maldives or Bora Bora
• Redeeming for a very popular place during peak season like Hawaii in winter

Now, some luxury hotels in major cities can make a fun one night hop, but if you are going to Maldives or Bora Bora, you will definitely want to stay more than one night.

In that case, you’ll want to combine your free night with Hilton Honors Point Redemption so that you can be chained for a long stay together, especially if you have some weekends as well as weekends.

(Just keep in mind that you can unlock the Fifth Night Free when redeeming Hilton Honors Point, but No. Free Weekend Night Rewards.)

Finally, if you earn points in two-player mode, the sheer power of the Hilton Aspire card should be used by both you and your partner.

As a family, you will receive at least two Free Weekend Night Rewards each year, which you can repeatedly redeem once a year for a luxurious weekend holiday while enjoying top-notch elite treats as a Hilton Diamond member.

Conclusion

The Hilton Free Night Award is the most powerful feature of the Hilton Honors program and the co-branded card suite issued by American Express US.

Compared to Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton’s free night certificates are stronger in many ways: you can earn them in the first year and you can redeem them without any upper limit for the best luxury hotels in the portfolio.

The only drawbacks are the restrictions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights (which were relaxed during the epidemic in late 2022).

If you want to experience staying at some world-class hotel without paying out of pocket, diversifying Hilton Honors – and in particular, getting a Hilton Aspire card – is a great way to do this.

IHG recently relaunched their loyalty program in the form of IHG One Rewards, and the program now seeks to increase interest by providing a status challenging their two highest elite levels.

Now and in between July 31, 2022, Anyone can automatically register for a status challenge to enjoy IHG Platinum Elite status for 120 days At this point they have the opportunity to achieve Platinum Elite or Diamond Elite status until December 2023.

Sign up for the IHG One Rewards Status Challenge

The IHG One Rewards Status Challenge is open to anyone who is a member of the Competitive Hotel Loyalty Program.

There is no need to be an elite member of a specific location – having an account with another hotel chain allows you to participate in the IHG Challenge.

After registering on a subscription basis with a different chain, you will receive a free 120 day IHG Platinum status.

At this time, you are invited to stay with the IHG and take your Platinum Elite status to visit their property to see if the hotel and loyalty experience is right for you.

If you have five paid nights in the 120-day Status Challenge period, you will automatically maintain Platinum status by the end of 2023.

And if you have 15 payday nights in a 120-day period, you will achieve top-level diamond status by the end of 2023.

Remember that the 120-day challenge period begins as soon as you successfully register for the campaign, which you can do anytime before July 31, 2022.

That way, make sure you register accordingly – if you can’t arrange to stay at an IHG hotel until the end of October, for example, you’ll want to wait until the end of July to register.

Is it worth following IHG Platinum or Diamond status?

Staying five or 15 nights in 120 days is a fairly lucrative opportunity to achieve IHG Platinum or Diamond status by 2023.

Platinum and Diamond status usually requires 40 and 70 nights per year, respectively. Therefore, this status challenge represents a significant reduction from the normal threshold, and will probably be a one-time opportunity with the relaunch of their loyalty program at IHG.

In the case of meaningful status benefits, both Platinum Elite and Diamond Elite members are entitled to a suit upgrade subject to availability, where Diamond Elite members are offered a free breakfast in the morning.

From a Canadian perspective, this promotion is one of the easiest ways to get involved with IHG One Rewards, and if you visit IHG’s properties in Canada or abroad, you can find some value out of the program.

After all, unlike Marriott Bonbay, IHG One Rewards does not offer a co-branded credit card in Canada, which makes it challenging for the average traveler to participate in the program if better options are available.

Ultimately, whether you are eligible to take advantage of this status challenge will depend on your choice of existing hotel status.

If you don’t travel frequently enough to earn 50 Elite Qualifying Night Marriott Bonavoy Platinum Elite Status each year, then of course it makes sense to take advantage of 120 days of free IHG Platinum Status and get some useful benefits out of it. Such as suit upgrade and initial check-in, subject to availability.

Also, for rare travelers, staying 15 nights with IHG in summer or autumn could represent the easiest way toward top-level elite status in any hotel loyalty program – with them free breakfast, upgrades and other benefits (albeit rare) by 2023. Travels.

(Of course, assuming you’re not in a position to follow US credit cards, getting an Amex US Hilton Aspire card for instant top-notch Hilton Diamond status would be an even easier step.)

On the other hand, if you are already committed to the Marriott Forest Fear and plan to stay in most of your hotels with Marriott to earn, retain and / or reap the benefits of your Platinum Elite or Titanium Elite status, this may not be the case. Some of your accommodation will be diverted to IHG.

Still, there’s no harm in registering for the Status Challenge if it pays down the road – perhaps your trip will take you somewhere that is much better served by IHG features than the Marriott, and will at least have some advantage over your lag.

Conclusion

IHG One Rewards offers a lucrative status challenge for virtually anyone interested in signing up.

By simply registering, you will enjoy the benefits of the IHG Platinum Elite for 120 days, and you will be able to maintain that status until 2023 by staying five or 15 nights with the IHG during the status challenge, respectively, or upgrading to the top-tier diamond elite. Can.

The status challenge can be an interesting path for rare travelers towards mid- or top-level situations, although I don’t think it will affect many existing elite members of other hotel chains to change their allegiance.

After a planned trip flight rescheduling to the Maldives was doomed to hell, as well as some doubts about international testing and segregation, I decided to return to Brazil on a recent vacation.

This time, however, I felt it would be better to take a break from the beaches and bars of Rio de Janeiro and move to Sao Paulo, the country’s economic capital instead.

Despite being such a vibrant metropolis, not too many hotels can be booked at the points, although the few that do exist usually have great locations. As we will see, Renaissance Sao Paulo Exceeded my expectations.

Renaissance Sao Paulo – Booking

I booked my stay here just before the very sad move for the dynamic price of the Marriott Forest Fear. As a Division 4 property, the Renaissance was a very reasonable one before S সাo Paulo 20,000–30,000 Marriott Forest Fear Points.

When one considers that a night is built here, it goes on US $ 225–300 And charged on that currency (instead of the local Brazilian real), I thought it was a great use of a little over 55,000 forest dot points. I clicked on my Marriott Forest Fear app and booked in a matter of seconds without any hassle.

During my date, rooms are going to cost US $ 244 per night, so I scored a redemption value of 1.1 cents per point – not as a knockout of my preferred rate, but still above our current price of 0.9 cents per point.

Renaissance Sao Paulo – Location

Sao Paulo reminds me of Toronto, my birthplace. In fact, if the signs were not in Portuguese and randomly scratched tropical plants and animals, you would be hard pressed to distinguish End (Locals call it) from Big Smoke.

Gray concrete and cluttered cosmic life spanned everywhere, and since I chose to be in the heart of the business quarters, there were plenty of shopping centers, skyscrapers, and smartly dressed professionals in tropical business casual attire.

As always in Brazil, there may be security concerns, but I visited the area without any real problems. And for those of you who adore Ronaldo, he has a complete exhibition dedicated to him Football Museum Directly north of the hotel.

Renaissance Sao Paulo – Check in

The front of the hotel is not as beautiful as the interior, but there is plenty of space in front for you to get off for a taxi or Uber. I would definitely recommend the latter, as it is quite cheap and highly reliable.

On the other hand, the lobby is really nice. For the first time in South America, I felt like I was walking into a modern luxury property, accented with gold and black marble.

The lobby has multiple seating areas where you can go back and relax, as well as an all-day bite and a sushi bar.

There is also an area dedicated to sitting and talking and as a Renaissance-branded hotel, an entertainment ambassador who acts as a doorman and can recommend local activities or save you dinner.

After taking all this, I made my way to the front desk. The staff, and indeed most of the guests, were quite helpful and spoke excellent English, and had no problem thanking me for my Titanium Elite status.

I was offered a large room downstairs or a room with two double beds upstairs. I chose the latter with an apology for my broken Portuguese, which I am now studying with some intensity in Duolingo.

Before heading upstairs, I took in the sights on the first floor, realizing how much open space there was for guests and how perfectly it was laid out.

Then, I made my way to the beautiful circular lift system and climbed to see the room.

Renaissance Sao Paulo – High Floor Two Double Rooms

Room 2506 is on the top floor of the hotel. But before I got to my room, I knew I was in Sওo Paulo when I saw that the hotel had a helipad.

Brazilian traffic is not equally known in the world, and Sao Paulo traffic is the top predator of that particular species. Therefore, wealthy patrons who can stay here should be able to come and go in their spare time.

As a North American, it’s a little exotic for me, but it’s interesting to see such features in high-end property.

Then it was my turn to enter the room.

My accommodations were a bit small, though not as cramped as some European hotels.

The walls also had a decent thickness, so I didn’t have to listen to my neighbors’ insults or impose my own on them.

Despite the modernity of the lobby, I can say that the houses must be a little older because of the design of their connecting doors.

The beds here are firmly in the budget range. Maybe the Latin American sizes are different, because they must have seemed twice as big, even twin or even bigger than the full-size mattress I owned, but not as big as the Queen.

There was also a small desk area to hold laptops if needed.

A snack tray and minibar have been unveiled on the other side of the desk and television area.

Although many hotels, including luxury properties, have discontinued these in the era of Uber Eats (or use InstaFood as in Brazil), the added benefit, albeit with ridiculous markup, has been complimented by my intoxicated 5am alternative arrogance.

Also, the Nespresso machine worked wonders for me when I was recovering from a miserable condition in the morning.

The bathroom was probably the most beautiful part of the whole room, complete with all the marble accents, including a shower and a large tub.

Toilet setup includes a bidet. I have never seen this item in a low-income Brazilian property before, so its inclusion was a surprising bonus.

Renaissance Sao Paulo – Breakfast

Breakfast was served in the hotel’s Club Lounge, located on the 23rd floor, on weekdays from 7am to 10:30 am and on weekends from 7am to 11am.

I felt that this was the “standard fare” for most Latin American hotels, but I felt that the individual dishes could be the same as those served elsewhere, but the quality was much higher.

The croissants, for example, tasted a bit fresh, while the ham did not have a strangely ill glaze as I have seen in other hotels. Such items Cheese bread (Brazilian cheesecake) It seemed more fulfilling than anything I had ever seen in a city restaurant.

Served buffet-style, I still feel that pastries were the highlight of the offer, although self-serving espresso was a much-needed pick-me-up in my house after the previous three nespressos. If it can only cure headaches.

Renaissance Sao Paulo – Club Lounge

Hotel Club Lounge Anyone pays for lounge access as part of their room rate or Marriott Forest Fear Platinum Elite members and above.

A nice component of this hotel is that access to the lounge was all day long, and there were no locks or other barriers in the drink cabinets, if you want beer or guarana, my favorite soft drink, anytime you want.

The lounge has a fun time every day from 5pm to 8pm, with lots of canaps and hearty rentals. You can easily have a full dinner here without any problems.

I found quite good quality, a solid cut Ramp steak On top of anything in Canada with the name “Maple Leaf” on it.

Renaissance Sao Paulo – Dining

The hotel prides itself on 24-hour room service, if this is your type of meal. There is also a lounge bar, which serves meals daily from 6am to 11pm and has a sushi bar.

Sushi is a huge deal due to the large number of Japanese expatriates living in Sao Paulo, so I doubt they are quite good, but I haven’t tried.

I name their in-house restaurant anyway Terrace Garden. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever eaten.

It should be noted that this contains odd hours, which I was sometimes warned to move randomly according to the booking for a public holiday or special event. Be sure to check before you go.

I had a local seafood stew. Alas, it looked much prettier than the taste, but it was still delicious, lacking a little heat and spice for my taste.

Again, I kicked myself for lack of Portuguese because when the manager was fluent in English, I didn’t have a waiter and I didn’t want to create a scene.

Renaissance Sao Paulo – Other benefits

The hotel boasts a complete spa level on the third floor, which is incredible to see and smell.

There’s also a gym there, but my blurry pictures don’t judge. There is a personal trainer among the staff who is older than me and looks like he knows Jiu-Jitsu, so I took his friendly advice not to take any more pictures while in session with the client.

Instead, I made my way to the roof pool area. It was lonely, probably due to cloudy weather, which was cold by local standards.

Conclusion

I was pleasantly surprised to find Renaissance in S সাo Paulo. For a while, I resigned myself to the idea that the idea of ​​a luxurious hotel had been killed by COVID and that only the super-rich could again act as valued guests.

Instead, I found a well-designed and renovated hotel with a nice location.

Hard products were highly competitive even if it was a bit old. The hotel staff was extremely helpful and accommodated all my requests during the day and night.

The next time I enter, I must return to Renaissance Sওo Paulo EndWhich is expected to happen later this year.

You were able to find a round-trip ticket from Toronto to Winnipeg 20,000 airplane points Plus $ 90 Taxes and fees.

A round-trip airplane redemption with calm air from Winnipeg to Churchill will cost extra 15,000 airplane points Plus around $ 330 Taxes and fees.

So, for the total cost 35,000 airplane points And 420, You are being a very strong 4.19cpp Price. The cost will be even higher if you plan your trip during the peak tourist season, as the cash value of the flight from / to Churchill will be much higher.

In both cases, the money saved using points can be put to good use by paying for accommodation, tours and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

One thing to note is that Callum Air has a separate cancellation policy for airplane redemption flights. If you wish to cancel, you can resubmit your miles at a fee of $ 78.75 per passenger. Unfortunately, redemption taxes and fees are non-refundable, so you may be fairly out of money if you change your plan.

3. Air cribback

Air Quebec is a regional airline based in Val d’Or, Quebec. The airline serves 16 destinations in Quebec and Ontario, mainly on the shores of James Bay. Its Hawker and Dash-8 fleet flew from Timmins, Val d’Or and the Montreal hub.

Good morning, or evening from Qatar Airways Qsuites! You know the drill when I’m writing from the sky – this time, I’m starting a trip Dubai, Turkey and Georgia For a month.

The Prince of Travel team is joining forces on a Load Revenge travel circuit. There is some cross-over in our travels and I will give samples of some aspiring products that we have already reviewed on the blog. Fortunately, I find time to fully enjoy these experiences while not in “work mode”, while focusing on my blog’s contributions in some new areas that Prince of Travel has not covered.

Hotel

Let’s get started here, because it was several convenient hotel bookings that started my plan. I’ll draw a picture so that things come together – empty with me because it’s not in chronological order.

The trip originated from speculative bookings on the days of Marriott Bonbay’s award chart death. I’ve identified a handful of properties that I would like to see, and have thrown my entire forest fear point balance into some refundable redemption. I thought I would never again lock in some unique experience at a rate and want to see if any trips would grow around them. Shooting first, planning later.

One such property is the Bodrum EDITION, which was on my radar as one of the most recommended Marriott Forest Horse hotels by my more experienced Miles & Points friends. Total 200,000 forest fear points for five nights.

(Of course, a few hours after I booked, the same dates were going for 80,000 points per night, which increased to 50,000 points. As we were warned earlier, Bodrum EDITION was among the biggest price increases.)

After I emptied my point balance at Bodram Edition and a few more hotels, I had only one 85,000-point Free Night Award Certificate Welcome bonus from my Marriott Bonavoy Brilliant Card, and I have no clear idea how to use it.

I was chatting with Rachel, our assistant at the Prince of Travel. He suggested, “Hey, I’ll stay in Al Maha for two nights before you come to the bedroom. We have to stop on the way! ”

Sure enough, both nights the old Category 8 standard rate was going for 85,000 points! I’ve caught one, a friend has caught another, and we’ll be sofa-surfing with each other on a chaotic weekend of desert decay.

To have such a brief stay, you’d better believe that I would maximize my time, allow them to check-in as soon as possible, and with the last check-out I could finish my outbound flight without missing a beat.

I arranged a night in Dubai before my Al Maha arrived. As a first-time visitor, I’ll be at Four Point Sheikh Zayed Road, near the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall – an important tourist attraction, and I need to do something to get energy through my jet-lag.

Suddenly, a speculative booking was becoming a realistic plan.

Fast forward to the side of the bedroom now, in Istanbul. I booked five nights at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus, highly recommended and well positioned around Caracas. Older Category 5 hotels cost between 30,000-40,000 points per night. I secured my booking after I dropped the prize chart. The price actually dipped a bit here and there, but I finally locked myself in Five-night block for 149,000 points In total.

After that, I would stay in Cappadocia for four nights. I booked Terra Cave Hotel In Expedia for TD, uses 104,000 TD Award Points, The equivalent of CA $ 520. (I can still finish the month More The TD Awards that I started with, thanks for the current nice welcome bonus on the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card.)

After that, I’m going to Georgia for the rest of my trip. I currently booked for four nights at the Tbilisi Marriott. In cash, any Marriott Bonavoy Hotel in Tbilisi is currently eligible for a 20% discount for four or more nights. I was able to get a rate US $ 181 per night, Which is more than I expected (I hope I’ll offset it with cheaper food and daily expenses), but not more than the nearby Courtyard Hotel.

The rest of my time in Georgia is as open as this moment. Weather permitting, I would like to visit some small town for hiking and mineral bathing in the mountains.

Flight

Once Bodrum EDITION and Al Maha came together, finding a way to get there in style was paramount. Since I made these bookings on March 28, it has been challenging to find the desired prize in six weeks.

I have long been interested in using Qatar Airways Qsuites, including previous plans for the Omicron variant in South Africa. Traveling to the Middle East, it was a good opportunity to do so.

After a long and arduous search, I finally found a seat on a Qatar flight from Washington to Doha on a date that worked for my Al Maha arrival. However, the plan was far from ideal: it required a false-plane red-eye in Air Canada signature class with an upgraded latitude fare, an overnight stay at a hotel in Toronto and a separate airplane ticket in Washington.

Fortunately, I got some last minute availability on the Doha route from Seattle. I didn’t waste time changing my ticket, as it saved me an extra day of travel. Also, instead of taking a bus from Vancouver to Seattle, I avoided the cumbersome need for a negative antigen test to enter the United States for a mere connection.

Although I could book a flight with British Airways Avios through my Qatar Avios subscription, I used 70,000 American AA Advantage Mile + CA $ 54.10. Avios is easy to earn, but I’ve been sitting on a big balance of AAdvantage miles for a while, so I chose to keep the cash fee low.

I will be staying at the Doha terminal for eight hours before a short night flight to Dubai. Since the connection in front of me (short distance) is in first class, I am entitled to go to Al Safwa first class lounge, where I will definitely spend my entire vacation. Also, due to being at Airside, I do not need a negative PCR test to enter Qatar.

Once I finish at Al Maha, my airplane ticket starts. First, I’m on an “outbound” leg Etihad Airways, From Abu Dhabi to Istanbul. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a business class award seat on this flight, although I’m looking for one with a seat alert on ExpertFlyer. For now, I’m paying 12,500 airplane points For this the economy is bound.

From there, I quickly headed straight back to Bodrum, with a round-trip cash fare Turkish Airlines. I pay about CA $ 120 For tickets

After visiting the city for five days back in Istanbul, I received a one-way cash fare with Turkish Airlines. Kayseri, Cappadocia’s largest airport. I almost paid CA $ 70 For tickets

After that, I have a one-way cash rent Pegasus Airlines, Istanbul’s Sabiha Goksen International Airport (SAW) is a low-cost carrier in Turkey, with connections from Kayseri to Tbilisi. I paid US $ 162.62 For international tickets, including a checked bag.

Finally, I will pick up my airplane ticket with a “return” leg from Turkish Airlines Tbilisi to Istanbul to Seattle, all business class, ending with a quick Air Canada connection to Vancouver. This limitation of travel costs 81,900 airplane points, The last hour of the economy brought down the total price of tickets with a favorable dynamic price.

With no availability on the Turkish route in Canada, I was lucky to get a seat From Istanbul to Seattle Leg, a new route that was launched the same day I was booking my flight. This puts me in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner instead of a Boeing 777, a good choice for a single traveler due to the cabin configuration.

By booking both airplane bound on the same ticket as the open jaw, I only had to pay a one-time CA $ 39 partner booking fee. All in all, the price of booking has come 94,400 airplane points + $ 152.50.

Car rental and activities

Digging deeper into what I wanted to see and do, I decided to rent a few cars.

For Al Mahr, I am taking a two-day fare from Dubai to Abu Dhabi International Airport as a one-way route. I’m renting হার 92.94 for two days with Hertz, which I cover 9,294 MBNA prize points. It was cheaper than arranging a taxi for a short stay, and it was more convenient as I was on a tight schedule. (I love my desert drive!)

I am renting a car for Cappadocia, where I am waiting for the flexibility to explore the extraordinary landscape at my own pace. I made a four-day booking for 251.79, which I covered 50,400 TD award points.

I would probably do the same thing in Georgia, for the same reason as Cappadocia. Starting partially during my time in the capital Tbilisi, I currently get a 6-day rental for books at $ 451.75, covered with 90,400 TD award points.

For activities, I booked my Cappadocia balloon ride early with butterfly balloons on TJ’s recommendation. If my flight was delayed due to the weather, I was able to get a place in the second of my four mornings, with the house quite shaky.

Otherwise, I still have some things to find out. I will probably promise to visit a Burj Khalifa in the next hour. Outside of that, we’ll see where the road takes me!

Conclusion

My trip to Colombia earlier this year was the first major trip since the epidemic. It was my revenge as a Traveler. It was a big step, which I needed.

This trip has a bit of a different flavor. As my first major ambitious travel experience in Points, all Domino fell in the right direction, not to mention a rather complex puzzle, this is my revenge as a Point collector. That’s the decent thing to do, and it should end there.

Previously, I was very careful to keep myself where I felt I needed to be. This time around, I’ve picked out some of the things I’d like to see, and I’m coming on a trip with a lighter, more open and irrational attitude. I’m so excited to try new things, just say I can, thanks to the power of Miles and Points!