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| How I maximize points for hotel stays |
| by Brian Kelly |
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Once you get used to luxury hotels, it’s hard to go back. And I can stay at some of the best hotels in the world using Chase Points Boost. Recently, I’ve used the program to stay at Bulgari Hotel Tokyo and the Ritz Paris, where I was able to get the most value from my Chase Ultimate Rewards Points.
I realize you were probably expecting to see something Hyatt or Marriott when I first mentioned my top hotel loyalty program. After all, Chase Points Boost is relatively new, and it’s part of a credit card travel portal, not a traditional hotel loyalty program.
But something a little different is exactly what I need. I’ve fallen out of love with major hotel programs, where pricing for luxury properties is astronomical due to the shift to dynamic pricing. Even though I’ve previously moved Bilt Points and Chase Ultimate Reward Points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio, now that Hyatt’s program is restructuring (which feels like a step toward dynamic pricing, even though technically they’re maintaining the award chart), I just don’t see myself getting nearly as much value out of these more traditional programs.
Instead, I’ll focus on maximizing my points with Chase Points Boost. Read on to see why I think it’s one of the most lucrative hotel programs out there, especially if you want to stay at coveted luxury properties.
What is Chase Points Boost?
If you don’t know how the Chase Points Boost program works, here’s a brief explanation:
If you have a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your points can be worth 2 cents each when you book a hotel through The Edit or other top-rated hotels and flights with certain airlines (and there have been times when I’ve gotten outsize value of more than 2 cents per point). I’ve also seen hotels on the Chase Travel℠ portal offering up to 1.65 and 1.5 cents per point. If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, your points are worth up to 1.5 cents each on select hotels.
Points Boost has hotels you can’t stay at with traditional programs
I was dying to stay at the Bulgari Tokyo, and although the property is part of Marriott, you can’t earn or redeem points. Instead, I used Chase points, which were worth 2 cents per point, to book the property (where rates start around $1,500 per night for the lowest-category room).
I also got a superb value at 2 cents per point with Chase Points Boost to book the Ritz Paris, one of the most famous historical luxury hotel properties in the City of Light.
It’s easy to earn a lot of Chase points
I’m able to earn a lot of Chase points thanks to my Chase Sapphire Reserve, which offers 4 points per dollar spent on airfare and hotels, and my Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠, which offers 3 points per dollar spent on social media and search engine advertising. The earning potential is generous on the Sapphire cards, which means I can build up a big balance of Chase points quickly.
Redemptions can be lucrative
With a 2 cents-per-point Chase Points Boost redemption rate, I’m getting up to an 8% return, in some cases. With Amex, I’m lucky to get 1 cent per point, but Points Boost offers 1.5-, 1.65-, or 2-cent options. (Recently, a few luxury hotels have been added to the program that are 2.5 cents per point.)
You can still get traditional loyalty program benefits and points
If I do stay at hotels that are part of traditional loyalty programs, I can also earn points and have my elite status recognized by adding my loyalty program number to my reservation, which feels like the best kind of double-dipping.
I highly value Chase The Edit’s benefits
I love getting Chase’s The Edit benefits, because I often find them more valuable than certain elite status benefits. Hotels always treat me phenomenally when I book through The Edit, and I don’t need to qualify for the elite status benefits like I would with a traditional loyalty program.
These are the perks you’ll get when booking with The Edit:
- Daily breakfast for two
- A special benefit worth up to $100 (unique to each property)
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- A room upgrade at select properties (when available)
- Early check-in and late checkout at select properties (when available)
The bottom line? You won’t find me digging for decently priced traditional hotel loyalty redemptions, at least for now. Instead, I’ll be surfing the Chase Travel portal for the best luxury hotels in the world that I can book using Chase Points Boost.
Have a great weekend,
BK
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| Photo Credit: JONNO RATTMAN. |
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