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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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Christmas in July: Points Resorts That Still Have Holiday Availability
Andrea M. Rotondo has traveled to 50+ countries using points and miles. She's a luxury, small-ship cruise expert and hotel maven who can share the not-to-be-missed spots in her adopted home state of Florida. She will also talk all day long about her ancestral homeland: Italy.
July 27, 2019 • 15 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.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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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.
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Quick summary
There are still opportunities to book holiday vacations at top resorts using points, even for high-demand dates like Christmas and New Year's.
Options span exotic destinations such as the Maldives, Thailand, Bora Bora, Hawaii, ski resorts in Colorado, the Caribbean and Orlando theme park areas.
Some resorts require both points and cash, and availability varies by location, but notable properties still have award nights open for late December.
Be aware that many resorts charge daily resort fees and may require payment for special holiday dinners or events, even on award stays.
What to consider
Some loyalty programs waive resort fees on award bookings, while others do not—check each property's policy before booking.
Mandatory holiday event charges and resort fees can apply even when redeeming points, so review all potential costs in advance.
Award availability is subject to change and some offers mentioned in the article are no longer available.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed list of specific resorts and destinations with current award availability for the 2019 holiday season, plus tips for maximizing your points.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
It may be a scorching 100 degrees where you are right now, but winter is coming back . . . eventually. And, when it does, will you be ready with holiday vacation plans?
You may be thinking that you missed the boat if you haven't already made a points reservation at your favorite resort. But we have great news! It is not too late to plan a pull-out-all-the-stops Christmas or New Year's vacation using points. While plenty of in-demand resorts are already booked to capacity, you may be surprised by the excellent options we unearthed when searching for availability from Dec. 23 to 28, 2019.
Just keep in mind that many resorts charge a daily resort fee -- even on a points reservation -- so be sure to look for those pesky details when searching for your holiday resort destination. If you're staying on an award reservation, Hilton and Hyatt consistently waive resort fees.
Also, resorts usually have special dinners and parties on Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year's Eve. Oftentimes, it's mandatory for overnight guests to pay for those events. Check on those details, too, before booking your award.
Spend the Holidays in an Exotic Destination
Let's start with some aspirational points redemptions: While not everyone wants to be far away from friends and family during the holidays, it may be how you're picturing this Christmas for yourself. If so, you can stay at some pretty swanky resorts using your points.
The Maldives
Visiting the Maldives in the middle of the Indian Ocean is about as exotic as it gets. SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton is joining Hilton Honors, and taking reservations for Sept. 1, 2019, and beyond. This includes Christmas week with wide-open availability at 85,000 points per night for a 473-square-foot Sky Room that accommodates two adults and one child. The cheapest paid rate for Christmas week is $562 per night but it's nonrefundable. Otherwise, you'll pay $750 per night and would have to cancel your reservations 60 days in advance if your plans changed.
SAii Lagoon Maldives (Photo courtesy of the hotel)
Koh Samui, Thailand
In Koh Samui, Thailand, spend 85,000 Marriott points per night at Vana Belle, part of The Luxury Collection. Your five-night stay will actually only set you back 68,000 points per night since you'll get your fifth night free on an award stay. The cash rate is $655 per night.
Photo courtesy of Vana Belle
While Vana Belle is south of the airport, you can find The Ritz-Carlton, Koh Samui to the north. It has award nights available from 60,000 points per night. If you stay five nights, that reduces the rate to 48,000 per night. The cash rate is $582 per night.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
If Thailand isn't of interest, you could instead head to French Polynesia — but you'll need to pay a combination of points and cash -- a lot of cash. Marriott has two Bora Bora resorts with availability: Le Meridien Bora Bora for 60,000 points per night plus a cash supplement, or the St. Regis Bora Bora Resort for 85,000 points per night plus a cash supplement.
We loved our stay at Le Meridien Bora Bora, which is located on its own motu requiring a short boat transfer from the main island. You can book an overwater lagoon bungalow for five nights for 240,000 Marriott points and about $1,850.
The St. Regis is significantly pricier, with a five-night stay in an overwater lagoon villa costing 340,000 Marriott points and about $2,900.
St Regis Bora Bora (Photo by Zach Honig / The Pints Guy)
Use Your Points in Hawaii
Hawaii might not be as exotic as some of the choices we've already talked about, but it's pretty much the holy grail for miles and points fans. There is actually quite a bit of availability at points hotels across the islands for the year-end holidays. Hilton has a strong presence in Hawaii and a handful of hotels are bookable with points for the entire week of Christmas. Marriott also has some options, but our favorite on the list is probably the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. This is the resort Mommy points calls the "crown jewel of award redemptions."
Grand Hyatt Kauai (Photo by Summer Hull / The Points Guy)
Here are some best bets in Hawaii that you can book on points for Christmas or New Year's right now:
The W Aspen, a new property pegged at Category 8 that opens this August, is now taking reservations. It's got award availability for the entire week of Christmas. Nightly redemptions are 85,000 but as a Marriott Bonvoy member, your fifth night is free on a points stay. That brings the nightly rate down to 68,000 points. You can book into a Fabulous guest room with a king bed and city view. If you paid cash for that same room, it would cost $1,674 per night with the Marriott member rate.
The rooftop deck at the W Aspen. (Photo courtesy of the hotel)
Bachelor Gulch
If you prefer The Ritz brand over the W, you can get a similar points deal over at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Avon, Colorado. Also a Category 8 property at 85,000 points per night, redemptions are available for the week of Christmas. Stay five nights on points and only pay for four. Nightly cash rates here are $1,917 for the same dates so it's a tremendous use of your points. Here's a review of The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch (Photo courtesy of the hotel)
Less Expensive Ski Options
The Westin Riverfront Resort and Spa, also in Avon, has Christmas week availability as does Vail Marriott Mountain Resort. Both are Category 7 properties with redemptions starting at 60,000 Marriott points per night. Stay five nights and get the fifth free on points, bringing the nightly rate down to 48,000 points. Rooms at the Westin are going for $635 on those dates and prices at Vail are even steeper, tipping $1,000 per night.
For 15,000 World Of Hyatt points per night, you can book a room with a king bed, one with two queen beds or a king plus sofa bed at Hyatt Place Keystone. Best of all, breakfast is free. Earn points with the World of Hyatt Credit Card or transfer Ultimate Chase points to your Hyatt account at a 1:1 ratio. You can earn Ultimate Rewards points from a variety of cards, including Chase Freedom (No longer open to new applicants), Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Meet Santa in the Caribbean
Want to get away from it all but stay relatively close to the US? Look no farther than the Caribbean.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
You can use your World Of Hyatt points at The Liming Bequia, a Small Luxury Hotels of the World property. I've been checking for award availability for the fall and, when I looked today, Christmas week was available. Book a one-bedroom villa with a private infinity pool for 40,000 points per night. The cash rate for the same dates is $1,600 per night.
The Liming Bequia (Photo courtesy of The Liming Bequia)
Cayman Islands
Another great Caribbean resort is the Kimpton Seafire Resort and Spa. You can stay there for Christmas week for 70,000 IHG Rewards Club points per night for an oceanview room (choose a room with one bed or two). The cash rate for those rooms on the same dates is $1,473 per night. If you've got the IHG Rewards Premier Credit Card, you get the fourth night free on award bookings.
Kimpton Seafire Resort beach bungalow (Photo courtesy of the hotel)
Jamaica
While the Hilton Rose Hall Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, Jamaica, may not be as polished as the Kimpton Seafire, for 70,000 Hilton Honors points per night you can enjoy an all-inclusive experience. Plus, kids under 5 stay and eat free and you'll pay just $75 per night for kids 6 to 14. According to Hilton's website, this rate is charged even if you're on an award redemption.
The Bahamas
Finally, the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar at the Baha Mar megaresort in Nassau, Bahamas, is a solid choice for anyone who loves sprawling resorts, direct beach access and a dizzying number of swimming pools. Book a Grand Queen or Grand King room from 20,000 points per night. Read TPG's review of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.
(Photo courtesy of Grand Hyatt Baha Mar)
Celebrate With Mickey Mouse or Harry Potter
We were pretty surprised to see so much availability in the Orlando area during the week of Christmas. Just be aware that the parks -- like Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- can get crazy crowded between Christmas and the New Year. In fact, it's the one time of year that even Mommy Points refuses to visit Orlando.
But, if your family has its heart set on an Orlando getaway, you'll find some especially good options using your Hilton Honors points. Look to the properties that are an "official" WDW hotel, which means you may get perks like Extra Magic Hours and extended FastPass+ bookings.
My favorite off-site but "official" WDW hotel is the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, but it costs 80,000 points per night. A less expensive alternative at 60,000 points per night is the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, which is right next door and has an awesome lazy river that you can easily spend all day enjoying. If you stay over a weekend, you could use your Free Weekend Night that is a benefit of a variety of Hilton credit cards, including:
Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express: You'll receive a 150,000-point welcome bonus plus one Free Weekend Night upon opening the card and each year after your account renewal. You need to spend $4,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months.
Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card: As part of a limited-time offer, new cardholders can earn 130,000 bonus points and a Free Weekend Night Reward after spending $4,000 in purchases on the card within the first four months of card membership. Offer ends Aug. 28, 2019.
The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card: Also as part of a limited-time offer, new cardholders can earn 130,000 bonus points and a Free Weekend Night Reward after spending $5,000 in purchases on the card within the first four months of card membership. Offer ends Aug. 28, 2019.
The Hilton Honors American Express Card does not convey any free night certificates, but you will receive a 90,000-point welcome bonus after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first three months. This is a limited-time offer that ends on Aug. 29, 2019.
The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you'd rather spend Marriott points, there are also solid options. Stay right on Disney property at the Walt Disney World Swan (a Sheraton) and Walt Disney World Dolphin (a Westin) for 50,000 points per night. Cash rates on those dates start at $323 per night. You could use one a Marriott up to 50,000-point free night certificate at either the Swan or Dolphin. You can earn a free night certificate with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
If you'd like to spend the holidays away from home this year, there's still time to plan a vacation on points. Just be sure to also check cash prices and find out if there are any extra charges (like resort fees or special holiday dinners and parties). Use our suggestions as a jumping-off point and start searching for resorts in your destination of choice. You may be surprised by the great deals that are still available. If you end up booking something, let us know!
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.
