Reader Success Story: How This Couple Used Travel Rewards To Pay For An Epic $50,000 Anniversary Trip to Asia

news7g01/26/2023

1 3 minutes read

Today I want to share a story from TPG reader Katie O’Brien, who used points and miles to book a lavishly luxurious anniversary trip to Southeast Asia.

Katie posted her story in TPG . waiting room, and when we saw her use her points and miles to book a trip worth more than $55,000, we knew it was going to be an unforgettable success story for our readers. As Katie said, “This is truly the trip of a lifetime.”

Katie and her husband spent 5 years saving up points and miles to make this 10th wedding anniversary dream trip a reality. They planned their trip with the award, traveling around the world in luxury over the course of 18 days.

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KATIE O’BRIEN BECAUSE OF PERSONAL POINTS

The couple started their journey with a Japan Airlines first class flight from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport (HND). To land this coveted bonus slot, it cost 120,000 Asian miles each, so Katie and her husband moved Citi ThankYou points arrive Asia Miles with a 1:1 ratio. But they still need to make up their Asia Miles balance.

So they enlisted their support Marriott Bonvoy points and transfer them to Asia Miles. While these transfers at a 3:1 ratio are less impressive, Marriott 5,000 bonus Asia Miles for every 60,000 points transferred.

Result? A flight worth more than $30,000 for 240,000 miles.

After spending three nights at the InterContinental Tokyo Bay, O’Briens continued Thailand. For JAL’s flight from New York, they transferred Citi ThankYou and Marriott Bonvoy points to Asia Miles to fund the 61,000-mile journey from Haneda Airport to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in business class. by Japan Airlines.

This flight will cost north of $5,000 if cash is used.

The fun goes on in Thailand and Singapore

After a brief night in Bangkok, Katie and her husband took a domestic flight to Krabi International Airport (KBV) in southern Thailand. They spent five nights at the Rayavadee resort, which has 100 pavilion-style rooms hidden among tropical foliage. By booking with Citi ThankYou and being a cardholder of Citi Prestige® Card (no longer available to new subscribers), they took advantage of their credit card free wednesday nightsave $1,028.

Information about Citi Prestige has been independently obtained by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

After five nights in Krabi, they flew to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), enjoying four nights at 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai. This 19th-century teak castle-style hotel boasts 30 suites, showcasing Thai colonial influence. As with Rayavadee, they used the free Wednesday night benefit from their Citi Prestige card, saving them $380.

Boarding a quick flight from Chiang Mai to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN), they spent their last two nights in Asia at JW Marriott Hotel South Beach Singapore. With a nightly rate of 48,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, they spent two nights here, with a Certificate of 50,000 points in one night and one Certificate 35,000 points (top with 13,000 points) for the remaining night. Their Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite Status grant them free access to the JW Marriott executive lounge, where breakfast and evening entrees are served. Their stay will cost $913 cash advance reservation.

Grand finale

While O’Briens may have booked 19-hour super non-stop flight from Singapore to JFKSingapore Airlines does not have Product sets on Airbus A350s operating this route.

Instead, they chose the Suites category by traveling on an Airbus A380 from Singapore to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) and from Frankfurt to JFK. The return journey cost 474,000 KrisFlyer miles they transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards 1:1. Two cash seats will cost a whopping $18,068.

They also broke two flights with a 35,000-point Marriott certificate for a night at the hotel. Marriott Hotel Frankfurt Airport — a modest ransom, as this room will cost $187 out of pocket.

bottom line

Katie and her husband’s 10th anniversary trip would cost more than $55,000 if they paid in cash. Instead, they calculated that they spent $1,811 (including taxes and fees on award tickets) on a plane ticket that would have been $54,171.

On the hotel front, they saved $2,499 thanks to Marriott Bonvoy points, free night certificates, and Citi Prestige’s free Wednesday night perks. As Katie put it, “We have to see and do things we would never have dreamed of if we didn’t have the knowledge to save the points to make this happen.”

She and her husband spent years saving miles to make this trip a reality. It’s worth it? Katie said it was “an experience we’ll definitely never forget!”

news7g01/26/2023

1 3 minutes read