Here’s a reader’s success story that everyone wants to know about – the Maldives. And Turkey. And Paris. Three countries, one trip with points and miles! Unbelievable. Thanks for your submission Devan!

 

Devan’s Story

Hi Alex + Pam,

I wanted to submit a response about the redemption/trip that I recently went on!

My partner and I went on our first points and miles trip together! It was his first time traveling abroad and his first time dabbling in points and miles. He didn’t really believe that it could happen, he thought there had to be hidden costs, but after a successful three weeks of traveling for a fraction of the price, he is now hooked on points!

Trip travel dates: Maldives- Sept 7-13^th, Turkey- Sept 13-Sept 17^th, Paris Sept 17^th to 21^st.

 

Credit Card Points and Miles Trips

Maldives

Singapore Air: 46K + $10.91 from Los Angeles to Male. We transferred from Chase Sapphire Ultimate Rewards. We ended up with “poor man’s business class”!

Le Meridien Maldives (Marriott resort): 120K points for six nights. Two nights were free- used a free annual night certificate from my Chase Marriott Boundless Card and got a 5^th night free.

I opened up the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card when there was a 100K welcome offer back in March 2020 (right when the pandemic hit), and I wasn’t sure how I would use those points at the time. When the new Le Meridien Maldives property opened their booking starting at 30K a night, I knew exactly what I would use my points on. I made the extra 20K points with 5X categories on the card during COVID- easy redemption! We paid $72 in taxes and $450 each for the seaplane transfer. We also got automatic Gold status with Marriott through my partner’s AMEX Plat. This got us an automatic upgrade to a Sunset Overwater Villa.

 

Turkey

Turkish Air: 45K + $126 USD from Male to Kayseri, Turkey, in Business Class. I transferred my Capital One Venture points to Turkish Air to book.

Turkey Hotel: No points and miles for this one- too cheap, so we purchased out of pocket at $138 for 3 nights. (Sometimes that is the best call -save those points for more expensive hotels and just earn points for the cheap stays or flights).

Turkish Air: 17.5K + $32 USD from Kayseri to Paris, economy class. I used the United points from my United Explorer card to book.

 

Paris

Paris Hotels: I used my AMEX Platinum $200 hotel credit with The Hotel Collection. We stayed at the Hilton Opera Paris for two nights- $293 total. We also received a $100 food credit, a room upgrade to a Deluxe Room, and a free breakfast due to Hilton Gold status. The next two nights were spent at Hotel Mayfair using Chase Ultimate Rewards for 37.5K and $12 in taxes.

Avianca: 27K points + $90 USD from Paris to San Diego. I transferred AMEX points to Avianca LifeMiles with the current (at that time) bonus offer of 15% point savings to fly home.

 

Bottom Line

Devan’s my type of points and miles user. When I travel, I like to go for it and see several places at once too. Three countries, one trip with credit card points and miles is right up my alley!

Want to see more of Devan’s (and her sister Kelsi’s travels)? Check them out on Instagram @thepointsisters. They also offer award booking services for those who would like some help in that area!