Recap: New IHG PointBreaks List, In-branch Chase Ink Preferred Offer, Cruising with Toddler and More

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1) New IHG PointBreaks list is up and bookable. 

It’s definitely a dud when it comes to my travel plans, but if you are heading to Mongolia or Kazakhstan, you are probably over the moon with excitement. In all seriousness, I’ve always said that PointBreaks program is essentially a gift from IHG. Sure, the “gift” has been a bag of coal as of late, but still.

For those who live in US there is plenty to choose from if you are looking to put together a summer road trip. Sure, you will now probably have to pay 10,000 or 15,000 points per night, but it’s not a bad rate for a clean room and a complimentary (if mediocre) breakfast.

If you need to overnight near  Oakland airport, there is an option worth considering:

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oakland-Airport

Hotels in this area tend to be quite expensive, so paying 15,000 IHG points per night is actually a very good deal.

If you are heading to Florida this summer and don’t mind not staying at the beach, here are some options for 10,000 points:

Holiday Inn Express Clermont
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Florida City-Gateway To Keys
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Largo-Clearwater
Holiday Inn Miami-Doral Area

The hotel in Clearwater is only about 20 minutes away from Clearwater public beach. Keep in mind that all these hotels are available right now, but may be gone by the time the post is published. See my post with info on how you can acquire IHG points in a hurry. 

2) Through tomorrow, you can potentially get 100k points offer on Chase Ink Preferred.

Before you get too excited, it’s only valid if you go to physical branch and if you are not under 5/24 restriction. Click for full details on Doctorofcredit Even if you are under 5/24 restriction, there is a chance that the banker may push your application through, so it doesn’t hurt to try. If you happen to have a legitimate business, you should absolutely consider applying. This offer will give you an additional 20k points compared to the official bonus.

3) Through June 15th, you can get a 25% bonus on transfers from Membership Rewards to Air France Flying Blue program.

This is actually a pretty significant news item, as it’s been many years since we’ve seen this type of promo. So, why should you care? Well, you can redeem Air France miles on Delta-operated flights. It’s not hugely advantageous on most routes, with one notable exception: Hawaii. Regular rate  to Hawaii is 15,000 miles one-way, compared to 22,500 miles via Delta program. So, this transfer  bonus will mean that you can potentially fly there for only 24,000 MR points roundtrip in economy. That is pretty sweet, especially if you live on the east coast.

A couple of things to be aware of: miles expire 24 months after you transfer them unless there is a qualifying flight on a Sky Team member airline. It’s a draconian policy, though some have reported that transfers from MR program seem to extend the validity of miles. I wouldn’t count on that and would only perform the transfer if you have an immediate use in mind.

Also, you can only book a flight 10 months in advance, so it’s a bit early for spring break of 2019. Last thing: the program is very quirky and occasionally displays phantom award availability. I strongly recommend you call first and ask them to put award seats on hold before transferring your valuable  MR points.

Read my old post where I detailed my experience with Flying Blue when it comes to booking flights to Hawaii.  Keep in mind that as of June 1st, Flying Blue will introduce new pricing on award tickets. They used to have a calculator, but the link isn’t working at the moment. Once again, don’t transfer miles speculatively.

(hat tip OMAAT)

4) Tips for cruising with a toddler by TravelCodex.

An excellent post with good advice on how to make this type of vacation a success even if you have little kids. I’ve taken my daughter on her very first cruise when she was only 8 months old. To me, it’s not that different from being at an all-inclusive resort, except the rooms are smaller. That’s where having a balcony definitely comes in handy.

5) IHG Rewards Club Mexico, Latin America & Caribbean 50% Off Reward Sale For Stays May 1 – June 30, 2018 by LoyaltyLobby. 

You have to book by May 7th. This sale comes around yearly and is definitely worthwhile if you don’t mind going during off-season.

6) Last week of Daily Getaways promo

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for this thing to be finally over.

The “Caesars” packages could be a good deal for some, just be aware of the expiration date. My problem with this type of promos is that there are just too many restrictions.

Hyatt points always go fast, and the number of packages for sale is pathetic. You may have a shot at the one on top, namely “24,000 points for $260” There are 120 of them for sale, so if you are fast, as in “Flash” speed fast, there is  a teeny tiny chance you may snag one.

To me, many of these deals are a gimmick (due to sad quantity) and nothing more than a marketing tool for hotel programs. They know that all major miles and points blogs will write about this thing, so you just can’t beat the advertising ROI. Genius!

Have a good weekend!

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