luxurytraveling

Most savvy travelers know that joining a hotel or airline’s loyalty program gives you perks on top of the points.  For instance, Starwood and Hilton have separate check-in lines for members.  Also, many of these programs offer credit cards through Mastercard and American Express.  You can actually plan an entirely free luxury vacation by taking advantage of the loyalty programs along with the credit card offers (just remember to pay the balance off monthly)!  Two of my favorites…

SPG (Starwood Preferred Guest) along with the SPG American Express Card - Starwood hotels include Le Meridian, W Hotels, Rotz Carlton as well as Westin, Sheraton and aloft.  In addition to the points you get for staying, the SPG Amex card offers 10,000 bonus points with your first purchase.  If you spend $25,000 per year on the card, you are automatically upgraded to SPG Gold status, which gives you free room upgrades, gifts upon check-in and more.  You can also link these rewards up to your corporate Amex, giving you all the more reason to pick up the tab for that client dinner.  Soon, you’ll see your Starpoints skyrocket and free nights adding up.  With hotel visits ranging from 2,000-25,000 points per night, depending on the destination and chain, you’ll be able to afford a much nicer vacation.  Also, the SPG program offers flexibilityof points plus cash, which allows you to buy down the cost of rooms with points for great deals. www.spg.com for details.

 American Airlines AAdvantage with Citi AAdvantage Mastercard or Amex - Ok, so I’m not such a fan of the service on American Airlines, but 25,000 bonus miles for charging $750 in four months on their credit card is not a bad deal at all.  In fact, it is one of the best that I have seen.  That is almost enough to get a roundtrip ticket.  One issue to watch…with rising fuel costs, American and other airlines have adjusted their mileage programs to need more miles to go shorter distances.  However, upgrading classes is still a great use of points.  www.aa.com for details.

Everyone knows that these trying times, where gas prices are through the roof and airlines are cutting service and routes, are affecting the travel industry.  So whether you are planning a family vacation or a romantic trip with your significant other, it’s time to start looking for ways to extend the weak dollar.  The good news is that hotels are slashing prices and while service on U.S. airlines is subpar at best, international airlines are still proudly focusing on their high standards of service.  In this blog, I will share with you trends in the industry, how to spend less for more and what locations are a good value.  I’ll also share travel tips and information on rewards programs that will truly help you to plan the best vacation possible.  I hope you will enjoy these and feel free to comment on topics that interest you.