Rookie Travel Tips and Hilton Honors Points + Money Rewards

October 7, 2011 - Shannon

Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

TripAlertz.com Referrals Now Worth $10 Each

For a limited time if you refer somebody to Tripalertz.com you will receive $10 in Tripalertz cash good on a future trip booked through Tripalertz. Get your email list ready and earn a really decent referral.

Last week’s winning tip goes to Angik S!

“Actually booking at the last minute may be advantageous. Every Tuesday at 1AM CST, United releases cheap last minute fares for that weekend http://travel.united.com/ube/efares/us/eFares.do. American also does the same http://www.aa.com/netsaaver/viewNetSAAverFareSales.do . Delta is pretty stingy but they too have a few last minute seats. These are great for last minute vacation plans .”-Angik

Our September winner of the $100 gift card is Gary P!!! Send Rick your email address at rick@frugaltravelguy.com

Keep submitting your personal tips and tricks for a chance to win $100 gift card!

So Hilton Hotels has “piloted” a Points + Money rewards for Hilton Honors members. The website says that right now it is offering “limited availability” but expects the availability to expand late September 2011 — right on time to take a look at how our Hilton Honors points can gain some extra value when we take advantage of ” Points + Money” rather than an all points redemption. This is just to serve as a guide to the program. You must check availability for rewards redemptions individually to see how they work out for you. Note: The redemptions are for standard rooms. To search for your destinations, search as you normally would on http://www.hhonors.com/ under the ” reward stays” if the hotel offers the Points + Money redemption. It should show up under the points only value. Again, the program should be expanding late this month.

The Hilton Brands:

Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton,
Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Garden Inn,
Homewood Suites by Hilton and Home2 Suites by Hilton, and the luxury brand Waldorf Astoria.

Category 1 Hotels:
Points alone: 7500
Points + Money: Unavailable

Category 2 Hotels:
Points alone: 12,500
Points + Money: 6250 points + $30 per night

Category 3 Hotels:
Points alone: 25,000
Points + Money: 12,500 points + $40 per night

Category 4 Hotels:
Points alone: 30,000
Points + Money: 15,000 points + $50 per night

Category 5 Hotels:
Points alone: 35,000
Points + Money: 17,500 points + $60 per night

Category 6 Hotels:
Points alone: 40,000
Points + Money: 20,000 points + $70 per night

Category 7 Hotels:
Points alone: 50,000
Points + Money: 25,000 points + $85 per night

Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts:
Points Alone: 50,000-70,000 low season and 60,000-80,000 high season
Points + Money: 30,000 points + $100 per night

When I tried some searches I could only find the Hilton Waikiki Beach at 20,000 points and $70. It seemed as if the availability of Points + Money was very limited. I hope they expand this option. If you are a Hilton Honors Member and you use award nights finding a Points + Money deal, it seems like a great way to stretch your points to get longer stays for a small amount of money. In my immediate opinion, the Starwood Preferred Guest program seems like a much greater value. But what do I know. I’m just a Rookie!

To review the Starwood Preferred Guest Cash and Points Post Click Here

Anyone used this option? Any tips/lessons learned?

Trip Alertz Link- Check it out

- Shannon, The Rookie

First Year Fee Waived: 50,000 Points Transferable to Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Continental and British Airways

ZippyPam

Rick, in the past Marriott cards have been unavailable the second time around and we have been denied as a result. Of course, that was prior to my days of submitting reconsideration letters…. The new T & C says, "If applicable, Chase cardmembers who currently have or have had a Chase credit card in any Rewards Program associated with this offer or have received a similar bonus offer, may not be eligible for a second Chase credit card in the same Rewards Program, or for any bonus offer." That looks like the door is open for former card holders, don't you think?
Steve

Are these 2 different cards and can you apply for both of them (2 browser trick)?

Are these new cards? If you had the Marriott visa a year ago can you get the bonus with these?
AE_GT

Can I use the free night cert at JW Marriott. Are there any restrictions?
Angik S

I wish this was not a Chase product!
gryphon

Make sure you read the fine print on this one – Marriott is a stickler for not giving you a sign-up bonus if you've had one before.
CeCe

Thanks for the heads-up Rick. I was already planning to include a Chase card in my Oct. churn and now I have 3 to consider instead of 2… a good problem to have, I think.

The 3 Chase cards I'm considering:

1) Priority Club Select Visa – 60K points after 1st purchase; No fee 1st year, then $49; Free 1-night cert. on ann'y date; Gold Elite status; 10% rebate on redemptions; 2 points/$1 on gas, groceries & dining (I already get 6 points on gas & groceries with my HH Amex).

2) Chase Sapphire Preferred – 50K points after $3K spend in 3 months (Consideration- If I use other cards for that $3K spend, I can get 6 HH pts./$1 on gas, groceries & Mediacom & 2 Cap One pts/$1 on everything else). No fee 1st year, 7% annual bonus & points can be used for cash 1:1.

3) Marriott Rewards Premier – 50K points after 1st purchase, 1 free night upon account approval, 2 pts/$1 on dining and rental cars.

Am I correct in assuming that I can only apply for one Chase card in this churn?

I really need help in deciding which is more valuable. I have a lot of miles for flights but I really need a way to get free hotel stays!
LongviewTX

I think this card was available and listed in flyertalk thread "The Special Credit Card Offers Master Thread" for several months already.
Easy Victor

Is this Marriott Card available in a biz card?
Chappy

I'm in a similar position CeCe, except that I can always use more airline miles and at this time don't use any hotel stays. If applying for 2 Chase cards were possible I'd do that, but they just have a simple 30 day restriction right? This card should be available for a month, and w/ a first purchase bonus that's easy!

The BA Chase (I missed the 100k sign up…just getting started churning) card would have been great, but 50k is still good. I'm very tempted for both! Thanks
Anonymous

I just applied for this card last week and was denied. I received a letter from chase saying too many inquiries. I called the reconsideration line and was refused again because I have 3 chase cards and I applied for 7 cards this year. The agent told me to wait at least a year, preferably 2 before applying again. That doesn't sound right, does it? 2 years between applications?

Rookie Travel Tips and Hilton Honors Points + Money Rewards

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