Reader Amy wrote us with a challenge. She wants to get herself, her husband and two kids from Atlanta to Bangkok for her brother’s wedding in July of 2014. She wants to do it all with miles and include five nights in Tokyo and another five nights in Seoul. In Bangkok, they’ll be staying with family so won’t need a hotel.

Currently, Amy has a Chase Sapphire Preferred and a Chase Ink Bold. Her husband has a Chase Sapphire Preferred and a Chase Freedom. Amy has a total of 110,000 Ultimate Rewards points and her husband has 100,000 Ultimate Rewards points.

To make this happen, Amy would need to have a score of 710 the first time and 715 for the second and her husband would need a score of 710 for both. They would also need to be able to spend between $3,000 and $4,000 per month on their credit cards.

By spending $506 out of pocket, they’ve got a trip worth thousands.

AMY’S FIRST APS: Citi Platinum AAdvantage Select Visa, Citi Platinum AAdvantage Select American Express, Bank of America Hawaiian Airlines

HUSBAND’S FIRST APS: Citi Platinum AAdvantage Select Visa, Bank of America Hawaiian Airlines

AMY’S SECOND APS: Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines, Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card, Chase Ink Plus

HUSBAND’S SECOND APS: Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines, Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card

ITINERARY OVERVIEW: Depart Atlanta on Thursday, July 10, 2014, arriving in Tokyo on Friday, July 11. Stay five nights at the Hilton Shinjuko Tokyo Hotel, checking out on the 16th and leaving on United to Bangkok. Not sure how long Amy would like to stay there, but we’ve given them a week and a half. On Friday, July 25, they fly to Seoul where they stay at the Hilton Seoul Hotel for five nights, checking out on July 30 and heading back to Atlanta.

TOTAL TRIP VALUE: (Note: the value is extremely high due to several one-way bookings. In reality, the price of the airfare would be lower.) $38,314

HERE’S HOW YOU DO IT:

July 10, 2014 – One-Way: Atlanta to Tokyo
Cost: $5,888 ($1,472 per person)
Method: American AAdvantage
Cards:

1. Citi Platinum AAdvantage Select Visa (x2) – 105,000 miles
   1. Amy receives 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in four months.
   2. Amy receives 2,500 miles for spending $2,500 at a minimum of one mile per dollar spent.
   3. Husband receives 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in four months.
   4. Husband received 2,500 miles for spending $2,500 at a minimum of one mile per dollar spent.
2. Citi Platinum AAdvantage Select American Express –55,000 miles
   1. Amy receives 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 within four months.
   2. Amy receives 10,000 miles after spending an additional $3,000 within her first year.
   3. Amy receives 5,000 miles for spending $5,000 at a minimum of one mile per dollar spent.

Explanation: American Airlines one-way MileSAAver Peak tickets between the US and Japan cost 32,500 each. Four tickets will cost 130,000 miles. Between Amy and her husband, they have 160,000 miles. All of these links are for unofficial offers, plus Amy will have to use the double-browser trick to get both the Visa and the Amex.
Out of Pocket Cost: Taxes

July 11-13, 2014 – Hilton Shinjuko Tokyo Hotel
Cost: $626 ($313 per night)
Method: Hilton HHonors
Cards:

1. Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card – 2 Weekend Nights
   1. Amy receives two free weekend nights after spending $2,500 within four months.

Explanation: Amy and her family can stay at the Category 6 Hilton Shinjuku Tokyo Hotel and receive two weekend nights for free with the help of the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card. Of course, to make this work, the entire family will have to share one room (which in a cramped Tokyo hotel room, can be difficult).
Out of Pocket Cost: $95 (annual fee)

July 13-16, 2014 – Hilton Shinjuko Tokyo Hotel
Cost: $939 ($313 per night)
Method: Hilton HHonors
Cards:

1. Bank of America Hawaiian Airlines – 36,000 miles
   1. Amy receives 20,000 miles after first spend.
   2. Amy receives another 15,000 miles after spending $1,000 within three months.
   3. Amy receives another 1,000 miles for her $1,000 spend at one mile per dollar.
2. Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines – 36,000 miles
   1. Amy receives 20,000 miles after first spend.
   2. Amy receives another 15,000 miles after spending $1,000 within three months.
   3. Amy receives another 1,000 miles for her $1,000 spend at one mile per dollar.

Explanation: Hawaiian Airlines miles can be converted to Hilton HHonors points at a 2:1 value, and are transferred in increments of 5,000. Amy has a total of 72,000 Hawaiian miles, which can get her 140,000 Hilton HHonors points. Her Category 6 hotel costs 40,000 points per night, or 120,000 points for the extra three nights they need. So if she transfers over 60,000 Hawaiian miles, she and her family have Tokyo covered.

There are other ways to make this work. Using the Hilton/Amex AXON program, you can get four nights at a Category 6 hotels for 125,000 HHonors points, plus the standard 40,000 per night rate for the fifth night. To qualify for AXON you need either the Hilton HHonors Card from American Express or the Hilton HHonors Surplus Card from American Express.
Out of Pocket Cost: $158 ($79 annual fee per card)

July 16, 2014 – One-Way: Tokyo to Bangkok
Cost: $11,204 ($2,801 per person)
Method: Ultimate Rewards
Explanation: Amy and her husband already have a stash of Ultimate Rewards points, which they can use to get from Tokyo to Bangkok. Ultimate Rewards points can be converted into United MileagePlus. A one-way Saver Award from Tokyo to Bangkok costs 15,000 miles, or a total of 60,000 miles for a family of four.
Out of Pocket Cost: Taxes

July 16-25, 2014 – Staying in Thailand
Explanation: Staying with family isn’t always ideal, but it’s free.

July 25, 2014 – One-Way: Bangkok to Seoul
Cost: $9,728 ($2,432 per person)
Method: Ultimate Rewards
Explanation: Once again, Amy and her husband’s stash of Ultimate Rewards come in handy. A one-way Saver Award from United between Bangkok and Seoul costs 15,000 miles, or a total of 60,000 miles for a family of four. Having used 60,000 miles to get to Bangkok, they still have 150,000 miles they can use to get to Seoul.
Out of Pocket Cost: Taxes

July 25-27, 2014 – Hilton Seoul Hotel
Cost: $674 ($337 per night)
Method: Hilton HHonors
Cards:

1. Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve Card – 2 Weekend Nights
   1. Husband receives two free weekend nights after spending $2,500 within four months.

Explanation: Just as we did before in Tokyo, husband’s Citi Hilton Reserve card gets Amy and her family two free weekend nights in Seoul.
Out of Pocket Cost: $95 (annual fee)

July 27-30, 2014 – Hilton Seoul Hotel
Cost: $1,011 ($337 per night)
Method: Hilton HHonors
Cards:

1. Bank of America Hawaiian Airlines – 36,000 miles
   1. Husband receives 20,000 miles after first spend.
   2. Husband receives another 15,000 miles after spending $1,000 within three months.
   3. Husband receives another 1,000 miles for his $1,000 spend at one mile per dollar.
2. Bank of Hawaii Hawaiian Airlines – 36,000 miles
   1. Husband receives 20,000 miles after first spend.
   2. Husband receives another 15,000 miles after spending $1,000 within three months.
   3. Husband receives another 1,000 miles for his $1,000 spend at one mile per dollar.

Explanation: Just as we did in Tokyo, husband’s pair of Hawaiian Air cards will get the family another three hotel nights. The Seoul Hilton is a Category 5 Hotel and costs 35,000 HHonors points per night, or a total of 105,000 for three. Husband will have to convert 55,000 of his Hawaiian miles to make this work.

As before, you could also make this work with different card selections and also benefit from AXON.
Out of Pocket Cost: $158 ($79 annual fee per card)

July 30, 2014 – One-Way: Seoul to Atlanta
Cost: $8,244 ($2,061 per person)
Method: Ultimate Rewards
Cards:

1. Chase Ink Plus – 55,000 Ultimate Rewards points
   1. Amy receives 50,000 points after spending $5,000 in three months.
   2. Amy receives 5,000 points for spending $5,000 at a minimum of one mile per dollar spent.

Explanation: To get back home again, Amy can turn back to Ultimate Rewards. She and her husband still have a stash of 90,000. However, a One-way Saver Award through United from Seoul to Atlanta costs 32,500 miles, or 130,000 for four. So, unless she wants to leave her kids in Korea, she’ll need to collect some more Ultimate Rewards. She already has the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Ink Bold, so she can now turn to the Chase Ink Plus. That should get her another 55,000 UR points, and 145,000 total.

Deal of the Day

For today’s Deal of the Day AwardWallet is donating a $50 American Express Gift Card for the best overall travel deal submitted. A great mileage run, mistake fare, partner promo, new card sign-up offer, or the special twist you figured out on a deal today. Add it to the comments section of this post (along with your First Name, Last Initial, and Airport Code) or this afternoon’s Deal of the Day post by TONIGHT at 11:59pm ET to be eligible to win.