This brand-new travel app offers a loyalty program for boutique hotels
Editor's Note
For me, one of the biggest drawbacks of hotel loyalty programs is that they leave out many unique independent hotels. In fact, some of my most spectacular stays didn’t offer a way to reward guests. Enter: Journey, a new travel app that hopes to change this with a loyalty program exclusively for boutique hotels.
Here’s what we know so far about the recently launched app and travel platform called Journey.
What Journey offers
Journey partners with a curated network of roughly 1,500 independent hotels and private rental homes, with more than 1,500 in the process of being added in the coming weeks. These include some stunning properties, from boutique hotels and ski chalets to treehouse resorts and floating homes.
The goal? To let members earn and redeem points on “stays with soul,” rather than the cookie-cutter properties that make up the bulk of other, more mainstream hotel loyalty programs. Journey’s current offerings include Onera Wimberley’s treetop villas near Austin, Nihi hotels in Indonesia and Black Forty Glamping in Meaford, Ontario.
Although the Journey app seems to be aimed at luxury travelers, its properties run the gamut in terms of price point. You’ll find options that cost $300 a night, as well as those priced at $3,000 a night.
"For too long, loyalty in travel has meant choosing between points and personality — between earning rewards and staying somewhere that actually inspires you," said John Sutton, founder and CEO of Journey. "We built Journey to close that gap. We've curated the first platform of truly independent hotels and private rentals, enabling travelers to earn meaningful rewards without sacrificing character, to use their points (and even their pending points) in real time for unforgettable experiences."
Based on the website, most of Journey’s current properties seem to be concentrated in North America, but this network will presumably grow with time.
We noticed that there may be some overlap with other loyalty programs. For example, one of Journey’s alliance properties, Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado, is a Mr & Mrs Smith property bookable through World of Hyatt.
Beyond providing unforgettable stays, Journey hopes to elevate guests’ experiences with personalized recommendations. According to the site, Journey AI analyzes guest behavior to create a profile — and refine it with each stay — to “predict what a guest needs before they ask.” So, in theory, a hotel could know before you arrive that you prefer a martini instead of Champagne as a welcome drink, for example.
The idea is that the longer you’re a Journey member, the better the app and its partner properties will get to know your individual travel style.
How the Journey loyalty program works
The process of joining Journey seems a bit daunting, as the website encourages guests to “apply” and “request an invitation.” But all I had to do was enter a few basic details like my name, birthdate and phone number. Then, I had the option to fill in my Instagram handle (to potentially get special offers and rewards) and mention my favorite hotels (for Journey to consider adding to its alliance). Once I completed those steps, voila! I was a member.
The app also asked for my other phone numbers and email addresses so it could search for past stays with alliance properties. I didn’t have any, but according to a Journey representative, "Journey may grant you points for that past stay depending on what campaigns our partners may have in place and how recent the stay was." So, retroactive points are never guaranteed, but still, this is a nice feature that most loyalty programs don’t offer.
Once logged into my account, I could explore properties by type — from castles to yurts — and see special bonus point offers.
You can join Journey for free here.
Although Journey is fully up and running, details on how the loyalty program works are a little thin. Here’s what we know so far:
- Basic members earn 5 points per dollar spent on stays booked directly with Journey alliance properties.
- Members can pool points or transfer points to others with no fees, minimums or maximums.
- To guard against devaluations, Journey guarantees “the value of points at redemption will never be below $0.01 USD.”
Another interesting feature is the ability to use pending points during a stay.
"Depending on your status level with Journey, you can use 50-100% of your pending points for on-stay purchases," Journey claims.
For example, let's say you booked a $1,000 stay, which would earn you 5,000 points after you checked out. As a basic member, you could redeem up to 50% of those points (or 2,500 points) for food, drinks or other on-site purchases during your stay, before the points even land in your account.
There are four elite tiers you can unlock by earning a set number of points:
- Nomad: 18,000 points
- Navigator: 50,000 points
- Ambassador: 125,000 points
- Legend: 250,000 points
- Icon: invite-only
Perks for earning status include waived resort fees, waived pet fees, suite upgrades and flexible check-in and checkout times.
Bottom line
The gap between points and personality has narrowed in recent years, with major points programs incorporating more original stays like glamping and programs like One Key offering a wider range of independent hotels. However, Journey is the first program to include only boutique properties.
The newest loyalty program on the hotel scene is still getting its legs under it, but it seems like a promising addition to the world of points and miles, especially for luxury travelers seeking unforgettable stays.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.