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What's a Good Tropical Destination for 3-Cabin First Class?

Oct. 25, 2015
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3 min read
Conrad Maldives boat featured
What's a Good Tropical Destination for 3-Cabin First Class?
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TPG reader Esteban sent me a message on Facebook looking for honeymoon ideas:

“We're getting married soon and deciding where we should go on our honeymoon. What's a good tropical destination that would allow us to experience a full three-cabin first class?”

There are plenty of deserted beach locales you could choose from, but one stands out clearly in my mind: the Maldives. It's a pretty long haul, and costs can add up quickly even if you're using rewards to cover your flights and hotels, but it's worth every point and penny you'll use to get there. If you're gonna go big, your honeymoon is as good a time as any.

It's a truly magical place, made even more so by features like the undersea restaurant and the awesome scuba diving. The effort you put into getting there makes it feel even more rewarding. I enjoyed my stay at the Conrad Maldives in 2013, but there are other options. The Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa recently became a Category 6 property (down from Category 7), so awards are only 25,000 points per night, or 12,500 plus $150 if you use the Points + Cash rate. Starwood and IHG have properties there as well.

If there's not enough room in the Etihad Apartment, you can hang out in the premier lounge aboard the A380.

You have a few good flight options. Depending on where you depart from, my first suggestion would be the Etihad A380 apartment once service launches between New York and Abu Dhabi in November. If you can find availability, you'll get about 14 hours in an amazing first class suite for 90,000 AAdvantage miles each way, along with a standard regional business-class seat on your connections to Malé.

Another strong option is Emirates First Class, which you can book for 90,000 Alaska miles each way. The experience isn't quite as over the top as on Etihad, but you'll get the full first-class experience both on the A380 to Dubai and on the Boeing 777 to the Maldives. I also like Cathay Pacific's first class product, but (for better or worse) it's a much longer trip, since you'll fly west and connect in Hong Kong. You'll also end up redeeming a ton of AAdvantage miles since AA prices these flights separately — 67,500 miles in first class to Hong Kong and then 30,000 miles to the Maldives in business class (Cathay doesn't offer first-class service to the Maldives), in each direction. If you're coming from the East Coast, it can take well over 30 hours, and that doesn't include the connection from Malé to your final destination.

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Bora Bora is another popular honeymoon spot, but while you'll have several options for award flights, you won't get the same full first-class experience. There are plenty of destinations in Southeast Asia that you can reach via Singapore (on Singapore Airlines A380 suites), in addition to Malé. Feel free to add your favorite beach getaways in the comments below!

If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.

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  • $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.
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  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

American Express® Gold Card

TPG Editor‘s Rating
4 / 5
Go to review

Rewards Rate

4XEarn 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.
4XEarn 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.
3XEarn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
2XEarn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
1XEarn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    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.