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The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
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Booking a Honeymoon Trip to the Maldives — Reader Success Story
Since launching TPG in 2010, founder Brian Kelly has expanded the team to include a distinguished editorial staff and an extensive network of freelancer contacts from around the globe. Today, TPG reaches 11 million unique monthly visitors and more than 3 million followers across social media platforms and has offices in New York City, Charlotte and the U.K.
April 4, 2017 • 8 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
A reader shared how strategic use of points and certificates enabled a luxury honeymoon in the Maldives, covering premium hotel stays and flights with rewards.
The couple planned a year in advance, leveraging multiple rewards programs and sign-up offers to amass the necessary points and certificates.
They maximized value by combining points, certificates and transfer partners, and benefited from elite status perks such as complimentary upgrades and daily breakfast.
Despite unavoidable costs like seaplane transfers, they reduced the overall trip expense significantly compared to paying cash.
What to consider
Some offers and bonuses mentioned in the story are no longer available; always check for current terms before applying.
Award availability at top resorts can be limited, especially during peak periods, so booking far in advance is recommended.
Elite status and stacking benefits, such as free nights and upgrades, can greatly enhance the value of a redemption.
What you'll miss from the article
Step-by-step details on how the couple combined multiple rewards programs, transfer partners and elite benefits to book a high-value luxury trip.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
One of the things I love most about being The Points Guy is getting to hear stories from readers about how award travel has affected their lives — the exotic vacations they’ve planned, the trips they’ve made to be with family and friends, the premium seats and suites they’ve experienced and so much more, all made possible by points and miles. I love to travel and explore, and it’s an honor to be able to help so many of you get where you want to go.
I like to share these success stories to help inspire you the way you inspire me! From time to time I pick one that catches my eye and post it for everybody to enjoy. If you're interested in sharing your own story, email it to info@thepointsguy.com; be sure to include details about how you earned and redeemed your rewards, and put “Reader Success Story” in the subject line. If we publish it, I’ll send you a gift to jump-start your next adventure!
Recently, I posted a success story from Jason, who saved a ton of points by rebooking an award flight after the Alaska Airlines/Virgin America merger. Today, I want to share a story from TPG reader Paul, who booked an exceptional honeymoon trip to the Maldives with Hilton Honors and Chase Ultimate Rewards. Here's what he had to say:
Paul used points to make a trip the Maldives more affordable.
I first learned about the wonderful, far away paradise that is the Maldives by reading The Points Guy. The Maldives are everything people say they are, and my wife and I are so glad we chose these wonderful islands for our honeymoon. Since we didn’t have a stockpile of any particular points, we set realistic goals and formed a plan to amass rewards that was achievable within a year. By funneling our wedding expenses and everyday spending through various new credit cards, we were able to score an amazing week at the Conrad Maldives.
To book seven nights at the Conrad, we needed to come up with 380,000 Hilton Honors points and two weekend night certificates. I had around 50,000 points to start with, so we needed 330,000 more. First, I got the Hilton Honors Surpass Card from American Express, which comes with Gold status and earns 6 points per dollar at US supermarkets and at US restaurants. The sign-up bonus (at the time) netted me 50,000 points. I then got the Citi Hilton Honors Visa Signature Card, which netted me a sign-up bonus of 75,000 points
Finally, I got the Hawaiian Airlines Mastercard from Barclaycard, which comes with a bonus of 35,000 miles that transfer to Hilton at a ratio of 1:1.5. Since you have to transfer in increments of 10,000, I transferred 30,000 miles to get 45,000 Hilton points. After a paid Hilton business stay that I put on my Surpass card (earning 12 points per dollar at Hilton properties), and other grocery and restaurant spending we put on that card, I had about 311,000 points in my account.
To make up the balance, I turned to the Membership Rewards points I had amassed from my sign-up bonus (at the time) for the Platinum Card from American Express. Hilton is an Amex transfer partner at a ratio of 1:1.5, so I was able to transfer 46,000 Membership Rewards points to get the remaining 69,000 Hilton points. Finally, I got the Citi Hilton Honors Reserve Card and earned the sign-up bonus of two weekend night certificates after spending $2,500 on the card in the first four months. Those certificates are stackable with my points awards, and I called ahead of time to make sure they were redeemable at the Conrad Maldives.
To cover our airfare, my wife got the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card and netted the very lucrative 100,000-point bonus. I transferred about 60,000 of my Ultimate Rewards points to her account (which you can do as a couple or family residing at the same residence), and we booked two round-trip, economy tickets on Cathay Pacific through the Chase travel portal. We also used Ultimate Rewards to book a night at the Hotel Jen Malé, since our flight didn’t get in until late on our first night in the Maldives. In both cases, we got a redemption rate of 1.5 cents per point.
We paid nothing for our hotels and airfare, and while we couldn’t get around the cost of the seaplane transfers ($560 per person), we did save $70 thanks to an Amex Offers discount at Conrad properties. We spent liberally on food and entertainment, and ultimately spent less than $4,000 for what would have been a $20,000 vacation. The room rates were pretty high during our stay (the first week of January), so we got a great redemption rate for our Hilton points, and booking an award helped us avoid a lot of hotel taxes and service fees.
We loved the Conrad Maldives and found the service to be impeccable. As Gold members and honeymooners, they honored my request (made when booking) and upgraded us to an overwater villa. Champagne and roses awaited us when we walked into our beautiful and spacious room, which came with its own plunge pool on a private deck over the water. Snorkeling all around the island, we saw everything from sea turtles to reef sharks, and even came across an octopus. The house reefs were simply incredible!
Our Gold status also got us complimentary breakfast each day, which at this hotel was quite a spread, complete with one of the most elaborate juice bars I’ve ever seen and free flowing champagne. We were treated to a complimentary cocktail hour each evening, afternoon tea, and complimentary massage ad-ons at the spa. As honeymooners, the Conrad also gave us a complimentary three-course dinner at their Mandhoo restaurant. We found the food and drink at this resort to be exceptional. This is definitely the best points redemption we've experienced, and we will absolutely return here in the future!
If you're looking for an exclusive beach getaway, the Maldives is the ultimate honeymoon destination. The trade-off for the intimate location is that the islands are far away and expensive (both in terms of getting there and once you arrive). It's difficult to cover an entire trip there with points and miles, but you can get excellent value by booking flight and hotel awards to make your visit more affordable.
Paul and his wife smartly began planning far in advance, which gave them ample time to earn sign-up bonuses and find award availability. That made it easier to schedule their stay so they could redeem their free weekend nights and take advantage of Hilton's fifth night free benefit, which saved them 95,000 points. You can sometimes find award availability at the last minute, but booking early gives you the best chance at the seats and rooms you want.
In order to maximize your rewards, make sure you use the best sign-up offers available. Paul got 50,000 points from the Hilton Surpass card, but you can commonly find much a higher public bonus for that card — for example, the current offer gets you 100,000 points after you spend $3,000 in the first three months, plus a free weekend night after your first anniversary as a cardmember. Amex generally limits bonuses to one per card per lifetime, so don't settle for a smaller one unless you need the points right away.
Paul and his wife enjoying paradise at the Conrad Maldives.
I love this story and I want to hear more like it! To thank Paul for sharing his experience (and for allowing me to post it online), I’m sending him a $200 Visa gift card to enjoy on future travels, and I’d like to do the same for you.
Again, if the strategies you’ve learned here have helped you fly in first class, score an amazing suite, reach a far-flung destination or even just save a few dollars, please indulge me and the whole TPG team by emailing us with your own success stories (see instructions above). Feel free to also submit stories of your most egregious travel mistakes. In either case, you’ll have our utmost appreciation, along with some extra spending money for your next trip.
Safe and happy travels to all, and I look forward to hearing from you!
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
