2024 Paris Olympics: How I used points and miles to save money on business-class flights and hotel nights
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2023 is coming to a close, which means the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are fast approaching. The opening ceremony is scheduled for July 26, with the Games finishing Aug. 11; the Paralympics will run from Aug. 28 through Sept. 8.
Those on top of their game have probably already booked their flights and accommodations, potentially back in July and August, when award availability calendars opened.
People like me, however, have been a bit late to the game. I wasn't planning on attending the Olympics until late November, but I was lucky enough to snag tickets to three Olympic events — beach volleyball, volleyball and water polo — for 376 euros (about $404). That includes an (admittedly expensive) 200-euro ticket to see beach volleyball played under the Eiffel Tower at night — iconic.
So, how would I get to and from Paris? And where would I stay, given that award availability is nearly nonexistent and cash prices are sky-high? Well, I've been pleasantly surprised. Here's how I've locked in my Paris Olympics plans and even saved money by maximizing my points and miles.
Related: France: 2024 will be a year of commemorations and competitions
Business-class flight to Europe for 39,000 points
For the past few years, I've attended Chicago Pride in late June and then Madrid Pride the weekend after. (I taught English in Madrid for a year and five summers, so I like to return for an annual visit.)
In July 2023, when the award schedule opened up, I took advantage of a 30% American Express Membership Rewards transfer bonus to Iberia Plus to book a one-way Iberia business-class flight from Chicago to Madrid. I transferred 39,000 Amex points to Iberia to book this award for 50,000 Avios plus $129 in taxes.
You can get nonstop Iberia business-class flights from the U.S. to Madrid for as low as 34,000 points, which would have required only 27,000 Amex points with the transfer bonus. However, I'm flying on a peak date, so the regular price was 50,000 Avios instead of 34,000.
After spending two weeks in Madrid, I'm planning a 10-day road trip through the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Then, I'm considering attending the Tomorrowland electronic dance music festival in Belgium before heading to Munich to see Taylor Swift, where I got floor tickets for 239 euros each — much cheaper than in the U.S.
Air France-KLM Business-class flight for 50,000 points
After Munich, I'll stay in Stuttgart, Germany, for three nights. From there, I was able to snag an incredibly valuable redemption with Air France-KLM Flying Blue.
First, I was surprised to find Air France business-class award availability from Paris to Los Angeles for 50,000 Flying Blue miles plus $383 in taxes for the exact date I wanted (the middle weekend of the Olympics). Though I am based in Austin, I can easily add a cheap domestic economy-class flight to get back home from Los Angeles.
Since Flying Blue offers complimentary stopovers for travel on Air France-KLM and partner airlines, I searched for and found award availability from Stuttgart to Paris and onward to Los Angeles and phoned Flying Blue to make my redemption (unfortunately, you can't do it online).
I was on the phone for 11 minutes with a very helpful agent — I told them the flights I wanted, and they confirmed the availability. Then, I asked them to hold while I transferred 50,000 Capital One miles to my Flying Blue account, which arrived instantaneously. I ended up paying an extra $87 in taxes and fees for the flight from Stuttgart to Paris, which was fine as that was what an economy-class cash ticket would have cost.
Though paying $470 in taxes for this redemption was a bit hard for me to digest, the fact that I got two flights for the price of one and will fly more than 11 hours in a lie-flat business-class seat to Los Angeles in the middle of the Olympics makes it worth it.
3 nights of accommodation for 60,000 points plus $800
The last piece of the puzzle? A hotel or vacation rental. This was the part I had the least hope for.
In searching for award availability across the four major hotel points programs (Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy and World of Hyatt), I found hardly any options within the city limits of Paris. And when paying cash, most properties were sold out or blocked by third-party booking agencies.
However, one property — the Holiday Inn Express at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) — had rooms available for 59,000 points per night. This hotel is a free eight-minute tram ride from the main train station in Terminal 2, which gets you to most attractions and venues in the city's center in about an hour.
I covered my one-night stay with points earned from a welcome bonus on the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and used cash to book two additional nights for 372 euros per night, totaling 744 euros. Luckily, I'll be splitting this cost with a friend I'm going with.
It's worth noting that both the award night and the two nights booked with cash have strict cancellation policies, with free cancellation only permitted within 24 hours of booking, so there's no turning back now.
Related: Paris Olympics: Here's everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip
Bottom line
This six-week summer trip to Europe is shaping up to be a fantastic one. In total, I've used 148,000 points plus $999 in taxes and cash bookings for my business-class flights to and from Europe and three nights of accommodation in Paris during the Olympics. If I were to have paid cash for my travel plans, these flights and the hotel would’ve cost me $9,749. Of course, I'll spend much more on accommodation and internal flights for the rest of my trip, but I’m happy I’ve substantially reduced my costs with these redemptions.
The four main takeaways from my case study are:
- Book business- and first-class flights and hotel stays 11-12 months before departure for high-demand events.
- Earn transferable points so that you can take advantage of transfer bonuses.
- Look for award availability on several routes and book positioning flights later on.
- Pay close attention to hotel cancellation policies when using points or cash.
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.