We show middle class folks (like us) how they can leverage their good credit score to finally take that long-awaited trip. Travel isn’t free but we can help you take trips for pennies on the dollar!
Leana is the founder of Miles For Family. She enjoys beach vacations and visiting her family in Europe. Originally from Belarus, Leana resides in central Florida with her husband and two children.
[…] Using Points: Since this resort is part of the Marriott brand, you can use Marriott points or transfer points from Starwood Preferred Guest to Marriott at a 1:3 ratio. The best credit cards to earn points are the Amex SPG card and the Chase Marriott Rewards card. View more information about both of these card here. […]
[…] Wyndham Rewards Visa Signature – to cover the hotel in Miami Beach for 2 nights (read about the card here) […]
[…] The cards to get: Right now I would only consider Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card from American Express. You can apply before 7/27/2017 via my personal referral link Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the card within your first 3 months of card membership. The annual fee of $75 is not waived. See more details on this and other hotel cards here […]
[…] alternative: You could get Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card from American Express (details here) and redeem points on Doubletree Suites Melbourne Beach Oceanfront hotel The cost varies […]
[…] I would probably skip Howard Johnson due to mixed reviews, but the other hotels can be decent value during peak season. A reminder: official offer on IHG co-branded credit card is currently increased to 80k points. Read about it here […]
[…] I do think a lot of their properties are “tired” (read Nancy’s post), but many are quite decent. If you are simply looking for a hotel near an airport, don’t automatically overlook Club Carlson based on its reputation in the community. Find more details on its co-branded credit card here […]
[…] Park Inn Radisson Orlando costs 15,000 points per night and is located close to Disney parks. The reviews are somewhat mixed, but it is an affordable option for a family on a tight budget. Club Carlson program can be good for overnight stays when you have an early flight. I burned 15,000 points on one night at a Country Inn and Suites Orlando Airport for my brother-in-law, and he said it was perfectly fine. The rooms at this hotel go for $100, and include breakfast. Read more on the card and other hotel bonuses in this post […]
[…] can read about personal versions here Both pay me commission if you apply through my site. Business version of SPG card now comes with […]
[…] of you know, right now the offers on all four Amex Hilton cards are increased. See more details here Most normal people will probably be interested in Ascend version, details below if you apply via […]
[…] of you know, right now the offers on all four Amex Hilton cards are increased. See more details here My relatives were specifically interested in Ascend version, details below if you apply via personal […]
[…] The offer is as high as it gets on this particular product, though only you can decide whether you should actually apply. See my list of best hotel points bonuses. […]
[…] you are a Hyatt lover, you may want to consider getting a Chase Hyatt card (read about it here) Most people will benefit from keeping it long-term due to free Category 1-4 certificate […]
[…] hobby is that it gives you permission to travel. Parting with cash is much harder than parting with hotel points acquired via sign-up bonus or […]
[…] Those who are subject to 5/24 restriction should definitely look into new IHG credit card, especially if you currently have the old version. Though I suspect we may see a higher sign-up bonus in the future. You can view other lucrative hotel bonus offers here […]
[…] can see more details on personal versions of Marriott (subject to 5/24) and SPG card here Both cards pay us commission. Be aware that you may be able to pull up an offer of 30k points on […]
[…] you are low on money, consider skipping this deal altogether. Try to accumulate hotel points via sign-up bonuses, if at all possible. It’s the cheapest way to do it, I guarantee […]
[…] talk about IHG co-branded card in its current form (see more details here). It offers 5 points per dollar on IHG hotels (yawn, you will be better off using cards like Chase […]
[…] Doctorofcredit blog reports, the link for IHG Rewards Select credit card ( see more details on it here) has been removed from Chase site. In addition, according to at least one person, Chase rep has […]
[…] especially if you have a family of five or six. See offer details on Hyatt co-branded credit card here In addition, Hyatt Regency doesn’t have a club lounge, so certificates from my […]
[…] per night or more during spring months or Christmas break. You can read about IHG credit card in this page. Note that I have added a non-affiliate link that gives an extra $50 […]
[…] can read about both cards here. Neither pays us […]
[…] points would come in handy for overnight stays. Which is why I plan on possibly applying for Hilton co-branded cards in the second half of the year. Hilton has a fantastic footprint, and while many of their […]
[…] Not enough points for your desired length of stay? You can also transfer Marriott points to SPG at a 3:1 ratio. The Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Visa (personal version is subject to 5/24 rule) currently offers an 80k points bonus after spending $3000 in the first three months, with an additional 7500 points for adding an authorized user. The card has an $85 annual fee, which is not waived the first year. Read about both cards here. […]
[…] is also an option of applying for The Hyatt Credit Card (currently not subject to Chase 5/24 rule). You qualify for the sign-up bonus as long as you […]
[…] if you are collecting points speculatively, especially if you haven’t yet taken advantage of Hilton, IHG and Marriott cards. But if you are running out of options and like to go on road trips, it’s a solid candidate […]
[…] We have Chase IHG card X 2, Chase Hyatt card X 2 and Wyndham card X 2 (read about all three here). That’s $386 in annual fees, ouch! But those points and certificates cover three weekend […]
[…] Here is the most interesting part. While regular rooms cost 8,000 points per night, if you choose Points+Cash rate, you can book a 1-bedroom suite. I called the hotel to inquire about rollaways, and they said they don’t provide any. So, my kids would have to share a sofa sleeper in the living room. Not ideal, but we’ll survive. You can see read more details on Hyatt credit card here […]
[…] goes without saying that IHG co-branded credit card is still a keeper, even more so now. For $49 annual fee you get a certificate valid at any property, so devaluations […]
[…] If you are looking to visit French Polynesia, I highly recommend you sign up for IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card, Hilton Honors Surpass Credit Card from American Express and possibly Hilton Honors Credit Card from American Express. Find more info on all three offers on this page […]
[…] can also sign up for Chase Hyatt Signature Visa that comes with 2 complimentary nights. Update: the offer now comes with 40k points. Conventional hobby wisdom says that it’s wasteful to use those on a lowly Category 4 […]
[…] off on that one unless you have specific plans for Hilton points. Read more details on both cards here You have till 10/4/17 to […]
[…] “Wyndham Bonnet Creek is one of the best resorts you can go to if you plan on doing a few days at Disney World and a few days at the resort. It has enough going on at the resort that you can easily spend a few days lounging around there. Pools, lazy rivers, and mini golf on site, and they set up inflatables and do movies in the pool. The rooms are very nice, definitely better than what I experienced at the HIVC Orange Lake mentioned above. We had a 3 bedroom and it was the best room set up we’ve had outside of the massive Mexican resorts we stay at. Our family had a semi separate and private wing of the unit, where my wife and our 2 kids slept. Our friends had the 3rd bedroom that opened into the living room. Plenty of space, updated decor, furniture, and appliances. It’s also about as close to Disney World, the Disney resorts, and Disney Springs as you can get without actually staying at a Disney Resort. Even if you aren’t a Disney fan, being able to easily access Disney resorts and their activities as well as the food and fun at Disney Springs is a ton of fun. Try taking the boat from Disney Springs to Port Orleans. Tons of fun! Why I wouldn’t do it: While they have several separate pool / activity areas, everything is smaller than I expected. Granted, we checked into the JW Marriott after staying here for 2 nights, and that property’s pool/lazy river area is massive. Bonnet Creek’s activity area in total is huge, but each part of the whole is just a smidge smaller and less impressive than I expected. I’ve been just plain spoiled with incredible resort facilities, and this one is definitely worth a trip, it’s just not as grand as what they have at the JW, or the HIVC Orange Lakes, or a nicer Mexican resort. And food was a bit of a miss for us. We had some of the worst room service pizza I have ever had. We almost wrote a review to warn people away from it. But, you are allowed to order pizza from wherever you want off resort and have it delivered, but we opted for room service. Also, it’s not really a great resort for an adult. It’s not luxurious, and the food is definitely IHOP-Pizza Hut quality if I am remembering correctly. They do have public grills outside that are in great shape, so could definitely do some great cook outs. If you are like me, you probably cook a lot in your room too.” A reminder: the sign-up bonus on both IHG and Wyndham co-branded credit cards is currently at an all-time high. See details here […]
[…] keep in mind that the affiliate offer on Chase IHG card has been recently increased to 85K points. Some have received a targeted offer of 105K points and reportedly, Chase has been matching it. […]
[…] this offer is no longer available. See this page for list of best hotel […]
[…] P.S. Speaking of hotel points, last call (maybe) for Citi-issued Hilon cards. Find direct non-affiliate links here […]
[…] The bonuses mentioned below are no longer available. See Best Hotel Points Sign-up Bonuses for the most current […]
[…] The bonuses mentioned below are no longer available. See Best Hotel Points Sign-up Bonuses for the most current […]
[…] The bonuses mentioned below are no longer available. See Best Hotel Points Sign-up Bonuses for the most current […]
[…] Seeing how frustrating the whole thing was for me, my husband asked if it’s worth it. As in, all this miles and points rigamarole. I had to think about it for a minute and said Yes, it is worth it. My out-of-pocket cost will be $400, which I plan to partially cover with travel credit from US Bank Altitude Reserve card. I got 30,000 points via renewal of two Wyndham credit cards, at a cost of $138 total. The remaining 30,000 points were obtained via sign-up bonus ( currently reduced, read about it on this page). […]
[…] a premium card like Chase Sapphire Preferred. Of course, there is also an option of applying for The Hyatt Credit Card (currently not subject to Chase 5/24 rule). You qualify for the sign-up bonus as long as you […]
[…] hotels in Seattle are quite expensive, via cash or points. Fortunately, we were able to use our renewal certificates from Chase IHG credit card. You can’t beat that deal! We had to spend one night before our cruise to Alaska, so I wanted […]
[…] offer on regular no-fee Amex Hilton card is increased as well, and you can read about it on this page. But Amex Surpass currently outshines it, despite the $75 annual […]
[…] To be clear, if you are relatively new to the hobby, there are MUCH better options. If you are looking for hotel points, there are currently limited-time offers on Amex SPG and Hilton Honors Surpass. Also, the official bonus on Marriott co-branded card has been recently increased to 100K points, though it’s subject to 5/24 rule. You can read about all hotel credit card offers here. […]
[…] or Citi Hilton Reserve Visa (if going on a weekend). See my list of best hotel card bonuses here. Another interesting option is Wyndham Visa Signature […]
[…] IHG and Wyndham co-branded cards are listed in my “best hotel sign-up bonuses” page. Depending on your circumstances, it could make sense to get […]
[…] which is why we’ve stayed here a few times. Keep in mind that the occupancy limit is 3. See this page for more information on Chase Marriott Premier Visa. You might also want to read my post How regular families can benefit from Marriott/SPG […]
[…] I also wanted to find places that have semi-decent reviews and are located within close proximity to Disney World. No, you won’t find any 5-star accommodations on the list because once again, we are looking for bargains. Check my page of best hotel sign-up bonuses for reference. […]
[…] said earlier, which program will work for you will ultimately depend on your goals. See my list of best hotel bonuses. With that, you may want to investigate these […]
[…] IHG co-branded card is still worth applying for. Your points may not go as far as they do now, but the perks are worth it in the long run. You’ll still get anniversary night for $49 renewal fee, Platinum status, plus 10% rebate on award redemptions. The annual certificate is currently valid at any IHG property, so you would be immune to any upcoming devaluations. Availability can be spotty at the most popular properties, but if you book way ahead, you should be OK. […]
[…] not a “keeper” card for most folks. I try to update the best offers on hotel cards in this page, so always check there […]
[…] can read about both cards here Let’s say you got Marriott Visa as well as SPG card. You would have a total of 174,500 […]
[…] base was small. One of the first credit cards we got was Chase Marriott Premier Visa (read about it here). We used the bonus points from the card, combined with the Marriott points my husband was already […]
[…] are speculatively looking to apply for Chase Marriott Rewards Premier credit card (read about it here). The offer is 87,500 points after spending $3,000 in 3 months and adding an authorized user. There […]
[…] Using points: The Gaylord is part of the Marriott hotel brand. It is a Category 7 property and costs 35,000 points per night. The Marriott Rewards Premier credit card currently has an 87,500-point bonus after spending $3,000 in the first three months and adding an authorized user. The $89 annual fee is not waived the first year. The sign-up bonus alone would provide two nights at the Gaylord, with some points leftover. See more details on this offer here […]
[…] Before I list specific properties, let me mention the offers you should look into (see my full list of hotel cards and application links here): […]
[…] is, it’s almost never free. Even if you sign up for a hotel credit card bonus (see my list here), you end up channelling your minimum spending toward that card instead of cash back offer. […]
[…] The increased bonus on regular no-fee Hilton HHonors card from American Express is now 75,000 points, identical to Citi. It’s only 5,000 points extra compared to the previous offer, so probably not a game changer. But Amex Hilton HHonors Surpass offer of 100,000 points after spending $3,000 in 3 months is definitely noteworthy. Of course, you will still have to pay $75 annual fee, but in exchange you’ll get Gold status which will give you free breakfast and possible upgrades at most Hilton properties. If you’ve been thinking about applying for Amex Surpass, now is probably the time. Here is direct non-affiliate link The offer expire 5/04/2016, so you do have a month to think about it. See this list for details on various hotel card bonuses. […]
[…] find bargains where redeeming points for two rooms or a suite won’t break the bank. See this list of hotel bonuses for reference on most of the offers. I’m also assuming both spouses are able to each sign up […]
[…] to a junior suite due to my Platinum status that comes with Chase IHG MasterCard (read about it here) I love this credit card and recommend every family gets it at some point. Breakfast at this […]
[…] In this particular case, IMO hotel bonuses make the most sense. I also didn’t want them to deal with certificates that happen to have expiration date. So, it seemed better to go after hotel points. There were three cards to consider: Chase IHG MasterCard, Chase Marriott Rewards Premier credit card and Citi Hilton HHonors Signature Visa. You can read about all of them here […]
[…] Express. Confused? We are just getting started. You can read about specifics on all three in this post Neither one pays commission, so looks like Julia (my alter ego) and I we’ll be doing […]
[…] personal version will only let you collect the bonus once per lifetime. You can read about the card here Note that many have been able to get an offer of 30,000 points by creating a new account on […]
[…] Check my list for reference […]
[…] Marriott sign-up bonus has just been increased. It pays me commission and you can read more on it here While the offer is decent, if you go for it now, it will probably cost you another Chase card if […]
[…] per night or more during spring months or Christmas break. You can read about IHG credit card in this page. Note that I have added a non-affiliate link that gives an extra $50 […]
[…] You may also consider getting Chase IHG MasterCard. Right now, the bonus is down to 60,000 points but many, including my relatives, were able to get it matched to 80,000 points. Read about this card and other hotel sign-up bonuses here […]
[…] you decide to go there or stick with my recommendation of Maui/Kauai combo is up to you. See this post for reference on specific hotel credit cards. As always, I recommend you look into vacation rental […]
[…] today, I’ll focus on hotels and what IMO would be your best bet. See this post on hotel bonuses for reference. I’m looking for options that are easily achievable via new credit cards […]
[…] rooms? I mean, it’s Club Carlson points, IMO the least valuable hotel currency (but do read about Club Carlson co-branded credit card because the sign-up bonus could be worth it for some). Plus, it would give my sister’s family […]
[…] due to Platinum status which comes free with Chase IHG MasterCard. (Read about best hotel cards here) I’ve made no secret that I’m in love with that credit card because the perks continue […]
[…] That said, paying $18 isn’t going to kill me, and I’m still coming out ahead, all things considered. This bonus will give me $50 statement credit (well, $32) and 2 nights at a beachfront property that goes for $400 per night (not that I would ever pay that much). I choose to look at this incident as “glass half full” kind of thing. I’ll just make sure to be more careful next time. Side note: According to Doctorofcredit, Hyatt card offer that comes with $50 incentive is now only available to those who stayed at a Hyatt property since May 1st 2015. Check this post for more info and relevant links […]
[…] to top off your balance for a specific award. Check this post for more on hotel cards in general https://milesforfamily.com/2013/11/14/best-hotel-points-sign-up-bonuses-for-family/ I routinely recommend Chase IHG MasterCard to everyone in my family. For $49 annual renewal […]
[…] Many other brand properties near Yellowstone cost 20,000 points per night, which makes signing up for hotel co-branded cards a viable option. Of course, they are located a bit further from the park, so this could be a deal breaker. If you go for either Chase Marriott Premier Visa or Citi Hilton HHonors Signature Visa, you can get a 5-night stay from just one bonus, since every 5th night redemption is free in each program. Read more on these cards in this post […]
[…] You may also want to look at the lowest Category redemptions and programs that offer a “5th night free” benefit. Both Marriott and Hilton have this perk. Right now, the sign-up bonuses for both Chase Marriott Premier Visa and Citi Hilton Signature Visa are increased. You can read more on all hotel cards here […]
[…] You earn 2 weekend night certificates at select Hilton properties after spending $2,500 in 3 months. Annual fee of $95 is not waived. There is a non-affiliate offer that comes with $100 credit after staying at a Hilton property. You can find a link to it as well as all the other hotel cards in this post. […]
[…] Read more on the card and other hotel bonuses in this post. […]
[…] if a rollaway for a 5th person is allowed. To see more info on all the mentioned hotel cards, see this list. I’ve updated it, but if you know of a better offer, please comment or email […]
[…] There was a non-affiliate offer that came with $100 credit, but the link was dead the last time I checked it. The card comes with automatic Gold status which should give you free breakfast. You can see this offer and other hotel points cards in this post. […]
[…] compiled a list of best hotel bonuses where I’ve linked to each program’s award chart, which you can check out for yourself. In general, if you are looking to get an outsized value in a […]
[…] You can see my full list of hotel points bonuses HERE […]
[…] CITI card bonus nights are only valid on weekends. You can read more details on them in this post. As far as our flights there, Avios program probably would be the best candidate. It requires 15000 […]
[…] renewal fee. This offer does not pay me commission, and you can read more about it in my post HERE I am actually thinking about including it in my main list of bonuses, it’s that […]
[…] nights at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point. You can also sign up for Chase Hyatt Signature Visa. See this link for more […]