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| How I get more than 1 cent per point in value |
| by Brian Kelly |
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Flexibility and maximizing value are key elements of my points and miles strategy. One of the best ways I’ve found to maximize the value of my points has been through the Chase Travel℠ portal using Points Boost.
Doing your research is more important than ever to find the best price using cash or points, especially if you want to book a bucket-list trip. When planning an upcoming trip to Peru for my family, I found amazing value on nonpoints luxury hotels and upgraded flights through Chase.
Another advantage when booking with points directly in the portal is the flexibility it provides — especially with airfare. The price difference between refundable and nonrefundable bookings, in some cases, might only be $100, but the flexibility is worth so much more than that, so I always recommend booking the refundable option.
Last year, when the earthquake hit Thailand and I had to quickly pivot my plans with the kids, the refundable airfare booking helped me save thousands of dollars.
For this trip, there was no standard award availability to redeem on LATAM, and business-class seats were $1,500 one-way, but I was able to use Chase Travel to book each ticket for 75,000 Chase points (an impressive 2 cents per point in value), and I will still earn miles and elite status as if it were a paid ticket. Even if transfer partner award availability exists, I have found Points Boost flights to be cheaper.
Heading to Peru
For my upcoming trip, we plan to visit Machu Picchu, and I found two luxury Belmond properties for my stay: the Sanctuary Lodge at Machu Picchu and Rio Sagrado, where I was able to book a three-bedroom villa, perfect for family travel.
Historically, if you wanted to stay at a nonpoints luxury hotel and use points, you were getting 1 cent per point from most credit card travel portals. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® offered 1.5 cents per point, but with Chase’s new Points Boost feature, Chase’s luxury collection of hotels, The Edit, is now bookable at an impressive 2 cents per point in some cases.
The value per point is higher
I was able to book Sanctuary Lodge at 1.65 cents per point versus $2,178 in cash, and the three-bedroom villa at Rio Sagrado was 478,500 points versus $7,177 in cash (so 1.5 cents per point, which is the standard rate for Chase Travel), making it a great use of my Chase Ultimate Rewards points. If I had booked in Capital One Travel it would have been 1 cent per point in value; Amex Travel would have been less than 1 cent per point.
After my great experience booking The Edit by Chase properties when I went to Paris a few months ago (Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders receive an annual $500 hotel credit for The Edit stays), I decided to do it again for the perks and benefits The Edit provides:
- $100 on-property credit
- Breakfast for two daily
- Early check-in and late checkout
- Room upgrades if available
By using the new Points Boost feature and booking The Edit hotels, I can unlock stays that might have otherwise been out of reach for a splurge trip.
If you have any great Machu Picchu travel tips — let me know!
Have a great weekend,
BK
P.S. Thank you to everyone who’s already joined me in donating to support Make-A-Wish in granting life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. There’s still time to donate $10 or more to enter for a chance to win 1,000,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points for the trip of a lifetime (and trip planning assistance from me!). Use code TPG2X to receive 2X bonus entries*.
Also, for a limited time, you will automatically be entered to win an additional prize — a Rimowa suitcase (valued at $3,000)! Donate now.
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| Photo Credit: JONNO RATTMAN. |
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