As many of you know, I’m extremely picky when it comes to renewing credit cards. I have to be because we are not “one-percenter” family. I’ve said many times that “free” travel in this hobby can get expensive, fast.
So, the annual fee better give me something of value upfront, or the card goes on the chopping block. That’s why I only keep a few cards that give hotel certificates upon renewal.
The challenge: I have to be careful not to over-optimize. That means either sticking to locations in our state of Florida (where we can drive our own car) or burning them on trips I have planned already, even if it’s just an airport property. Since the certificates usually expire 12 months after issue, I don’t want to be so picky that I end up losing them.
Fortunately, Florida has quite a few decent options, so I don’t have to work too hard in order to find a nice place for a getaway. It’s finding the perfect weekend to go (due to my husband’s busy career) that usually presents a challenge.
A few weeks ago I’ve mentioned my dilemma on staying at Waldorf Astoria Orlando vs. humble beachfront hotel in Clearwater. A good problem to have, right? By the way, it looks like due to worsening Red Tide situation we will end up going to Waldorf Astoria after all.
I have a few other certificates that I need to burn between now and next September, so let me share my actual plans vs. travel fantasies.
1) Chase IHG Rewards Credit Card (the old version with $49 annual fee)
This is the last hoorah for the uncapped certs from mine and my husband’s cards. We have two certificates that we can use anywhere in IHG chain, provided there is award availability. Next year they will be valid at properties that cost 40,000 IHG points or less.
Technically, you have to redeem the certificates before expiration, but not necessarily stay at a hotel by that date. But I like to play on a safe side since the terms are not very clear.
Where I want to use them: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa Oh, if I could somehow teleport my family (for free) to Bora Bora for two nights… Beam me up, Scotty!
We stayed at this resort few months ago and it was the most gorgeous place I’ve ever seen in my life. The overwater bungalow can fit four, as long as kids are under 15 years of age.
Unfortunately, flying four of us to Bora Bora next year isn’t exactly in the family’s budget. My husband already feels we spend too much on travel and he is not wrong. Plus, finding award availability at this resort is very tricky.
A more realistic option is to use the certificates on new Kimpton resort in Grenada when it opens in 2019. My husband and I could fly to this Caribbean island from Miami via non-stop American Airlines flight, and it would only take a few hours. The cost is 10,000 Avios one-way, plus taxes. Definitely cheaper and easier than shlepping to Tahiti from Florida. The resort will be located on a beautiful stretch of beach and judging by photos, looks boutique yet low-key. Just the way I like it.
However, I don’t really want to fly to Grenada for only two nights. That means I would have to burn 60,000-70,000 IHG points on a third night. Add to it high taxes on award flights to Caribbean, plus the hassle of getting to Miami from Central Florida, and this plan doesn’t seem quite so simple or cheap.
That’s why we will probably end up going to Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel and Spa for two nights. It’s located a little over two hours from our house, no airfare required. The cost is 65k IHG points or $350 per night. So using a $49 certificate instead is a pretty good deal if I say so myself. It ain’t Grenada or Bora Bora, but it will have to do.
Heads up! The 100,000 points offer on IHG credit card with $50 statement credit is still available. Update: unfortunately, it looks like the link has died since I wrote the post.
2) The World of Hyatt Credit Card (the old version with $75 fee)
I have one certificate valid at Category 1-4 Hyatt property. My husband also has 15,000 points left in his account, which is enough for a Category 4 hotel.
Where I want to use the cert+points: Hyatt Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort. It’s a category 4, so we could potentially book two nights there. The resort has been on my bucket list for quite some time. The problem: it’s too far from Arenal volcano, and I can’t go to Costa Rica without visiting Arenal. That just seems like travesty to me.
The hotel looks beautiful, don’t get me wrong, but you don’t go to Costa Rica for beaches. At least that’s what I’ve been told. Plus, we would have to drive to Miami in order to catch the flight to Liberia airport. All of that effort for a two-night stay? It just doesn’t seem worth it. But if Jet Blue adds flights from Orlando, I would be mildly tempted. Otherwise, we will just plan a family trip to Costa Rica where we can explore the interior of the country while staying in a rental home.
So, it looks like we will be using points and certificate on a two-night getaway at Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa… again. We’ve been there many times, and kids absolutely love it. See Nancy’s detailed review of the property.
You just can’t beat this place whether you choose to use points or renewal certificates. The value really is that good. During spring and holidays the rates hover around $450 per night.
My husband is an Explorist, so we had a club lounge certificate which we were able to attach to points reservation. This will give us free breakfast and snacks in the evening. I used points for the first night and my renewal cert for the second night in hopes that the hotel will let us keep the club lounge access. They certainly don’t have to, but they might.
The current version of Hyatt credit card has a $95 annual fee, and for most people will still be worth paying. The sign-up bonus is currently the highest it’s ever been, and the card is not yet subject to Chase 5/24 restriction. Update: it appears that has recently changed.
Be aware that hotel categories can change without notice, so don’t get attached to one specific property if you choose to apply for the card.
Leana’s Hyatt card personal referral link
Nancy’s personal referral link
Bottom line
Unfortunately, it’s not likely that I will be going to Bora Bora, Grenada or Costa Rica next year. Cue the tiny violin. But spending four nights in beautiful resorts in Florida is nothing to sneeze at, that’s for sure.
I’d say that’s a pretty good deal for $173+15,000 Hyatt points, especially considering the fact that we will be using our certificates during high season. Sure, there will be additional costs like gas for our van and dining, but still. It’s a good value in my book, and the reason I keep paying annual fees on these cards year after year.
Readers, share your plans/dreams for the renewal credit card certificates!
Click here to view various credit cards and available sign-up bonuses
Author: Leana
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.
So excited for your Waldorf stay. We had an amazing stay there in August. We’d definitely stay again. We’re headed to Orlando tomorrow but sadly staying onsite at WDW. Looking forward to your trip report. We have ihg old card and Hyatt and Hyatt only will be renewed.
@Natasha Thank you so much for your recommendation! I was already wondering if we should talke a chance on this awful red tide being gone from the Clearwater area. Unfortunately, it still seems to be “hit or miss” situation, and I don’t want to drive there just to be stuck in the room. Based on glowing reviews of WA property, I decided to reconsider. Plus, my in-laws will be in Orlando, so we will stay with them one night.
This year we redeemed 3 IHG certificates at the Holiday Inn Express next to Disneyland in September. Rooms were around $250 per night including taxes. Two of the certs were from last year. I booked the stay before the certs expired since it seems that you can book IHG certs past the expiration date, but if you cancel (perhaps make any changes?) after the expiration, you will lose them so you do need firm plans. The 3rd night was a new IHG certificate from this year. We have one left, but I have no idea where we’ll use it!
We used two Marriott certificates for a luxurious weekend in Vernal, Utah 😉 We were visiting family. It saved us about $40 per night. Not exciting, but we didn’t have any other uses for them before they expired.
Hilton weekend nights were a little more exciting…Memorial Day weekend at the Huntington Beach resort in California (highly recommend!). I think rooms were around $400 per night including taxes. Then in August we did one night away up in Park City at the Waldorf Astoria because the certificate was expiring. Rooms were around $300 I think (low season). Nice property about an hour from where we live.
You can definitely end up spending a lot to “save” money when you don’t have specific uses for “free” nights planned. Other times they can sure come in handy!
@Tammie Thank you so much for sharing your experiences! I totally agree that it’s very easy to get carried away when trying to maximize the points/certificates. I’m certainly not immune to that. I’ve been trying to rationalize going back to Bora Bora so we can use IHG certs at an overwater bungalow. LOL Of course, it’s completely nuts. First, it would cost a fortune to fly there plus, we literally just went to Tahiti. But the allure is very strong indeed.
So I’d say you should be very proud to save $40 per night with your Marriott certs. That’s probably the best use of all because you would otherwise have to pay cash.
2 IHG certs – Kyoto Crowne Plaza in Tokyo
2 Marriott certs – Tokyo Courtyard
2 Hyatt certs – Osaka Hyatt Regency
2 weekend Hilton certs – Osaka Hilton
3 weekend Hilton certs – Waldorf Astoria Versaille
— I know we went a little crazy w/the Hilton cards… but I’m a HUGE fan of Hilton (my go-to for work trips) and we parlayed the welcome bonuses into planning my dream vacation to London (Conrad London St. James for 5 nights!) and Amsterdam (Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam for five nights!). We’ll end up keeping all of the hotel card combination (except Hilton, only keeping our two Aspire cards). I feel so incredibly fortunate and lucky that I discovered (and became obsessed) with this hobby. <3
@Army That’s great! I remember you’ve mentioned that you currently live on the road, so getting all the Hilton cards doesn’t sounds crazy at all. Sounds smart! As soon as I saw Aspire Card, I thought it’s a no-brainer for those who live in hotels. Looks like you got a ton of value from your weekend certs.
Just redeemed 2 old Hyatts @ Hyatt Centric New Orleans and I have 1 old IHG to use until June 2019. We have too much going on early next year and I don’t want to use a ton of points for a 2nd night so I’m thinking 1 night in Vegas — if I can use it.
@Stephanie I love New Orleans, and heard that Hyatt property is really nice. Someday I hope to go back with just my husband. It seems like the perfect place for an anniversary getaway. Alas, like you, we have a lot of plans in 2019 already.
@Stephanie Sounds like a good plan! I want to take my kids to New Orleans and to Vegas.
I love reading about everyone’s plans!
I haven’t really thought about where I’d use our renewal certs. We opened Hyatt and IHG cards this year, so we will have renewal certs next year.
The most logical choice for Hyatt would be Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort in San Antonio. We went there in the winter, but I’d love to go in the summer to really get some good use out of those pools and lazy river. The problem is that the rooms only have double beds, and that’s tight with 5 people.
Another logical choice would be to use our Hyatt certs at the Hyatt Regency MCO before a cruise. Rates are frequently $300+ at that hotel.
If we don’t use our Hyatt points for an all-inclusive, I could see us combining them with the renewal certs to stay at Hyatt in Costa Rica or at Hyatt Coconut Point. We could get two rooms for 5 nights at either of these resorts if we combined points with renewal certs.
As for our IHG certs, I’m thinking we could use them on a Denver visit or maybe college campus visits that we are starting next year.
@Nancy For some reason, I really like to hear other people’s travel plans too! Even if there is zero chance of me ever doing the same thing, it’s fun to know what folks are up to. I especially enjoy hearing about super high-value redemptions.
Man, I hope you get to Costa Rica. Leave the kids at home, and just do a getaway with your husband! They will be fine for few days (most likely). 🙂
$250+ SFO airport hotels are a fine use of certificates in my book.
I’ll try to defend Costa Rica’s beaches (although people are right to point you to many other things available in the country). We went to a couple last fall that were lovely. But this is coming from someone who doesn’t have a whole lot of beach experience. I also thought the beach at Cape Canaveral was wonderful.
@Ian Honestly, I’ve never “met” a beach I didn’t like. I’m certain I would enjoy Hyatt Andaz Papagayo. But is it worth the trouble of flying all the way to Costa Rica? I’m not sure. I’ll have to hit you up for some advice if we ever go that country. It’s definitely on my list.
Love this post! This is where I burned my certs:
Hyatt: this year I used it at Park Hyatt Hamburg, Germany. Next year I will probably use it at Hyatt Centric Santa Barbara.
IHG: this year I used them at Intercontinental Monterey Bay. Next year probably at one of the Kimptons in Boston.
Hilton Aspire: this year I used the certs along with the $250 resort credit at Waldorf Astoria Biltmore Arizona. Next year I will probably use the certs at Hilton Tokyo and the resort credit at a property near Joshua Tree area.
Marriott: Thinking of burning them at Renaissance Montreal next year.
Radisson Reward: will probably let the 40k accrue in my account for now. They will come in habdy for a trip to Scotland in the not-so-near future
@Winnie Glad you enjoyed the post. Wow, that’s an impressive list! I’m actually looking forward to my first Waldorf Astoria stay in Orlando. I’ve heard good things from readers, so I’m excited. I’m debating on adding Hilton Aspire Card to my portfolio. If I can think of some great uses for weekend certificate, I probably will.
I’m using the Renewal and Annual Spend certs from the Hilton Ascend card for two nights at the Conrad St James in London in April…
@Chris That sounds like a good plan! London is crazy expensive, that’s for sure. A good place to burn hotel points or certs.
I have old IHG, old Hyatt, SPG, and my husband has new Aspire.
IHG: Holiday Inn Express in Phoenix. (I have been disappointed in award availability for family of 5 woth this chain). Still, cash rate was $300+.
Hyatt: was a night in Arizona, but I’m switching to Hilton when the weekend certificate arrives. Using Hyatt in Portland, Maine now.
SPG: planning on using it in Montreal.
I try to use them based on our travel plans.
Kacie, sounds nice! We were just talking about Maine the other day. I’ve never been and my husband has really fond memories of the area. Cheap lobsters!
It is unfortunately tough for families of five to utilize the certificates. Hotels don’t make it easy with “4 person” occupancy limits.