Flights > hotels for me. I sometimes stay at a more premium hotel, but only when I can combine the $200 travel credit on Platinum - and if lucky, on top of a regular $150 Amex Travel Portal Amex Offers. I don't stay much at a hotel since I am way too excited to go out and tour museums, other attractions, and attend concerts if there are any. So I don't mind spending cash on budget to mid-range hotels. My threshold is having an ensuite washroom in my room, which is a pretty low bar imo (eh, maybe not in some places like Geneva if you REALLY want to save...).
This is my plan. Since I work at a Marriot, I get discounts in general that far beat out any points stays. (Not including some special luxury trips, but this is going to change with dynamic pricing). Scotia Gold in combination with a visa/Amex Aeroplan card
Want to level up your travel game? Join us at the Prince of Travel Signature Event Vancouver 2023! Get your tickets now: princeoftravel.com/events/vancouver-2023
Having doubts, if I should transfer to Marriot to Stay at the St Regis Aspen, $2000 per night, but I feel but I’m transferring Amex points to Marriot, like 80K points……
Point aside. Would you rather: 1. Spend 70% of your travel budget on flights and 30% on hotel. 2. Spend 30% of your travel budget on flights and 70% on hotel.
Flights are usually for non married or single individual. People who are married or have children usually choose hotels because it’s hard to fly roundtrip premium cabin for 2-3 pax
For those with access to American cards, particularly Chase. You can earn and transfer UR points, transferring points to Hyatt can give outsized value, particularly for Category 1 or 2 properties. Suburban locations or cities like Houston or Vegas would be best.
Just discovered your channel since I am moving to Canada, and love it. I would prefer nicer hotels than business class flights. I am willing to pay for hotels because they have a big value in my eyes and sometimes make or break the trip. On the other hand, I wouldn't pay for business class flights because they are overpriced. Buy cheap flights, get amazing free hotels and invest the money you save.
Ricky, what would you suggest for a person traveling as a family (including a child)? I feel hotel points make more sense than air miles redemptions for biz class
Best redemption has always been flight for me. Just got a CX business class flight YVR- HK-AKL for 85,000 Asia miles + $ 319 on taxes. Such a flight normally costs $7,200 if I were to pay it cash. Result, I am getting 7,200-319= 6,881 which is 9 years of my Amex platinum annual fee. 😊
Hi Ricky, thanks for sharing. You mentioned gift card in video, just wondering I used 2-3 times for 500 giftcard purchase each time in a month, will this be risky to collect MR points? If you have time, please let me know what’s a safe amount and frequency to purchase gift card in grocery store. Thanks sooo much.
I'm from the U.S. and I tend to collect Amex points for Flights and Chase UR points for hotels. It's not strict, but generally that is what I find happens when I go to book travel.
all in on flights. Again we think biz class is just so much more value than a hotel, I guess we are still in the stage of traveling/life where we spend more time outside the hotel than we do inside it, also we don't do a lot of resort type vacations. I figure when we can't walk much anymore we would enjoy high end hotels, resorts and cruises then lol. The other thing is really just that we also do airbnb a lot as well, so then there's always that option.
this channel is all about saving money then defeats the purpose by doing high end boogie packages. if u really care aboit saving youd be at a days inn folk.
@@OleRazzleDazzler Saving money has levels to it, when I was in my 20s I backpacked and got flights to europe at like 300-400 dollars, stayed in hostels for 20/night. But in my 30-40s I can afford to pay more yet I still don't prefer spending 5-10k on a biz class ticket, but accumulating points to get them makes more sense. And I wouldn't stay in a hostel at this age either as I prefer a nicer airbnb or hotel.
If there is a 30% bonus (1:1.56) transferring to Bonvoy, there will be no harm doing that. Remember, if you travel in hot seasons, you will still get great value on Bonvoy points redemption. A great example is to visit Whistler BC Canada in December.
I appreciate the clarity and agree 👍🏼 Use points for flights first. Thx! Here's a version of the same question. Would you pay $900 for 3 nights at Hilton using Venture X and the Cap One portal thus getting 10x, meaning 9000 points; or pay with Amex Platinum directly to the hotel to get Hilton Gold perks like breakfast and (possibly) a room upgrade? I think the 9000 points that can be transferred to airline partners is more valuable, but I'm a novice and am uncertain. (Adding to the nuance, booking through the Amex portal is $160 more for the same room, but I could get $200 credit and $100 Hotel Collection services credit. Still, I don't think that makes sense and would prefer the Venture X version.) Complicated.
Thanks Ricky, good video. However, I am one of those strange travelers who desires Business/First class flights, while staying at unique mom and pop run lodgings, almost no matter where we go. Definitely earning points for flights 😃
@@traviscameron7434 Hahaha - there are too many attractive rewards everywhere! As I mentioned in the stream, buying hotel points can always be good value for those truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences
flights all the way. I love to travel to Asia, Central America, and other "cheaper" countries, which means that getting a decent place to stay is actually quite manageable. A business class flight to any country is always expensive. Plus, if you're chilling at your beautiful hotel all day are you really traveling? haha
Sorry if this is a silly question: How is 150,000 points enough for a return business class flight to Asia? As per Amex fixed points travel, we need atleast 250,000 points. If someone can link me to a video on how to get more out of the points, it would be helpful. I can only seem to get 1 cpp.
My current strategy to use proprietary travel rewards (ie: td rewards first class, hsbc world elite), air miles, and cash back rewards to redeem hotel stay. Obtaining a US credit card, ITN and mail forwarding service is too má fan for me
Right now I’m doing both (only when Amex offers 30% bonus) because we are utilizing all of our cash to cover annual fees and using the remainder to invest…. Going forward I’ll still do some hotel stuff but only in the high return options (like our trip to the cove bahamas this December where the 5 nights would be 13,000 in cash) ….so I’ll be flight only for most average trips and only using for hotel points for the highly expensive aspirations stays….as a rule I just leave MR sitting there until promos are offered or I have a specific immediate use for them
I’m thinking second camp. I want to be able to stay at some nice hotels around the world while I travel. I will probably pay cash as well but those hotels won’t be the aspirational kind.
@@PrinceofTravel well my answer was before Marriott dropped the bomb…now I’m definitely leaning towards airline redemptions and searching for cash deals.
Partner awards is where it's at. AC had the chance to go dynamic with partners too (it's programmed into Amadeus, they just haven't enabled it), so let's hope that arrangement sticks around
hmmm... probably going to be in neither camp specifically, other than transferring points for upcoming trips on an as needed basis. I have a hunch I'll mostly be favouring flights over hotels in the long run, but if I need the Bonvoy points, then a less than favourable value wouldn't deter me in it's entirety though... wow... that was indecisive!
Amazing content as always
I would prefer to put toward flights. I rarely stay in Hotels and rely on ArBNB, especially when travelling with friends who aren't doing points.
Another great video Ricky!! Thanks
Cheers Laurie
Flights > hotels for me. I sometimes stay at a more premium hotel, but only when I can combine the $200 travel credit on Platinum - and if lucky, on top of a regular $150 Amex Travel Portal Amex Offers. I don't stay much at a hotel since I am way too excited to go out and tour museums, other attractions, and attend concerts if there are any. So I don't mind spending cash on budget to mid-range hotels. My threshold is having an ensuite washroom in my room, which is a pretty low bar imo (eh, maybe not in some places like Geneva if you REALLY want to save...).
If I was to take a very nice trip. I would only fly business class to my designation but in economy back home. Therefore I would mix the two.
Scotia gold for hotels
This is my plan. Since I work at a Marriot, I get discounts in general that far beat out any points stays. (Not including some special luxury trips, but this is going to change with dynamic pricing). Scotia Gold in combination with a visa/Amex Aeroplan card
Thx so much Ricky! I totally agree with you!
Cheers
Want to level up your travel game? Join us at the Prince of Travel Signature Event Vancouver 2023! Get your tickets now: princeoftravel.com/events/vancouver-2023
Having doubts, if I should transfer to Marriot to Stay at the St Regis Aspen, $2000 per night, but I feel but I’m transferring Amex points to Marriot, like 80K points……
Point aside.
Would you rather:
1. Spend 70% of your travel budget on flights and 30% on hotel.
2. Spend 30% of your travel budget on flights and 70% on hotel.
Flights are usually for non married or single individual. People who are married or have children usually choose hotels because it’s hard to fly roundtrip premium cabin for 2-3 pax
For those with access to American cards, particularly Chase. You can earn and transfer UR points, transferring points to Hyatt can give outsized value, particularly for Category 1 or 2 properties. Suburban locations or cities like Houston or Vegas would be best.
Just discovered your channel since I am moving to Canada, and love it. I would prefer nicer hotels than business class flights. I am willing to pay for hotels because they have a big value in my eyes and sometimes make or break the trip. On the other hand, I wouldn't pay for business class flights because they are overpriced.
Buy cheap flights, get amazing free hotels and invest the money you save.
Ricky, what would you suggest for a person traveling as a family (including a child)? I feel hotel points make more sense than air miles redemptions for biz class
Best redemption has always been flight for me. Just got a CX business class flight YVR- HK-AKL for 85,000 Asia miles + $ 319 on taxes.
Such a flight normally costs $7,200 if I were to pay it cash. Result, I am getting 7,200-319= 6,881 which is 9 years of my Amex platinum annual fee. 😊
niceeeeeeeee
Beautiful
option one as I prefer to stay at airbnb's in less turisty areas of cities then stay at chain hotles
If you're Team Airbnb then there's no question
I like the new cobalt the best as I don’t like to choose the hotel with points like Marriot group as I just choose Aman and Four Seasons
Baller!
Strategy 1 is really the no brainer choice
You can pay for hotels with those gift cards
Hi Ricky, thanks for sharing. You mentioned gift card in video, just wondering I used 2-3 times for 500 giftcard purchase each time in a month, will this be risky to collect MR points? If you have time, please let me know what’s a safe amount and frequency to purchase gift card in grocery store. Thanks sooo much.
I have the same question?? Please explain if you get a chance. thanks!
I'm from the U.S. and I tend to collect Amex points for Flights and Chase UR points for hotels. It's not strict, but generally that is what I find happens when I go to book travel.
all in on flights. Again we think biz class is just so much more value than a hotel, I guess we are still in the stage of traveling/life where we spend more time outside the hotel than we do inside it, also we don't do a lot of resort type vacations. I figure when we can't walk much anymore we would enjoy high end hotels, resorts and cruises then lol. The other thing is really just that we also do airbnb a lot as well, so then there's always that option.
Agreed 100% -- although I do love high-end hotels as a guilty pleasure
this channel is all about saving money then defeats the purpose by doing high end boogie packages. if u really care aboit saving youd be at a days inn folk.
@@OleRazzleDazzler Saving money has levels to it, when I was in my 20s I backpacked and got flights to europe at like 300-400 dollars, stayed in hostels for 20/night. But in my 30-40s I can afford to pay more yet I still don't prefer spending 5-10k on a biz class ticket, but accumulating points to get them makes more sense. And I wouldn't stay in a hostel at this age either as I prefer a nicer airbnb or hotel.
If there is a 30% bonus (1:1.56) transferring to Bonvoy, there will be no harm doing that. Remember, if you travel in hot seasons, you will still get great value on Bonvoy points redemption. A great example is to visit Whistler BC Canada in December.
I appreciate the clarity and agree 👍🏼 Use points for flights first. Thx!
Here's a version of the same question. Would you pay $900 for 3 nights at Hilton using Venture X and the Cap One portal thus getting 10x, meaning 9000 points; or pay with Amex Platinum directly to the hotel to get Hilton Gold perks like breakfast and (possibly) a room upgrade? I think the 9000 points that can be transferred to airline partners is more valuable, but I'm a novice and am uncertain. (Adding to the nuance, booking through the Amex portal is $160 more for the same room, but I could get $200 credit and $100 Hotel Collection services credit. Still, I don't think that makes sense and would prefer the Venture X version.) Complicated.
Thanks Ricky, good video. However, I am one of those strange travelers who desires Business/First class flights, while staying at unique mom and pop run lodgings, almost no matter where we go. Definitely earning points for flights 😃
Well hells bells, just watching your live stream from tonight. I am changing my position, I want to earn points to stay at Calala Island. Damn!!
@@traviscameron7434 Hahaha - there are too many attractive rewards everywhere! As I mentioned in the stream, buying hotel points can always be good value for those truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences
I’ve got young kids so flying in Biz class isn’t worth it for us, so we will be slamming down points into Bonvoy points to maximize this!
All in on AP. Get the most value as possible. There is flexibility in not having to book Marriott all the time.
OK but the status perks do keep us coming back don't they? 😃
flights all the way. I love to travel to Asia, Central America, and other "cheaper" countries, which means that getting a decent place to stay is actually quite manageable. A business class flight to any country is always expensive. Plus, if you're chilling at your beautiful hotel all day are you really traveling? haha
That's a great point. I'm heading to Nicaragua soon and looking forward to some cheap accommodations
Ricky you need to put a red “On Air” light outside the door so Jess knows that you’re filming LoL
LOL yes
whats the best mastercard with zero annual fee? i was thinking of getting the RBC Cash Back Mastercard
or cibc one.
Also the new No AF Amex Green card in Canada looks very interesting. Welcome bonus of 10k MR when spending only 1,000 in the first 3 months.
Yeah great option for some easy no-fee MRs
Sorry if this is a silly question:
How is 150,000 points enough for a return business class flight to Asia? As per Amex fixed points travel, we need atleast 250,000 points.
If someone can link me to a video on how to get more out of the points, it would be helpful. I can only seem to get 1 cpp.
150,000 Aeroplan points. One-way to Asia is 55,000-75,000 points.
My current strategy to use proprietary travel rewards (ie: td rewards first class, hsbc world elite), air miles, and cash back rewards to redeem hotel stay. Obtaining a US credit card, ITN and mail forwarding service is too má fan for me
Fair enough
Right now I’m doing both (only when Amex offers 30% bonus) because we are utilizing all of our cash to cover annual fees and using the remainder to invest…. Going forward I’ll still do some hotel stuff but only in the high return options (like our trip to the cove bahamas this December where the 5 nights would be 13,000 in cash) ….so I’ll be flight only for most average trips and only using for hotel points for the highly expensive aspirations stays….as a rule I just leave MR sitting there until promos are offered or I have a specific immediate use for them
I’m thinking second camp. I want to be able to stay at some nice hotels around the world while I travel. I will probably pay cash as well but those hotels won’t be the aspirational kind.
There are deals to be hunted for on the cash side too :)
@@PrinceofTravel well my answer was before Marriott dropped the bomb…now I’m definitely leaning towards airline redemptions and searching for cash deals.
Given the crazy varied Aeroplan prices on almost all the AC routes right now, I’m worried that aspirational awards will become much harder to book
Partner awards is where it's at. AC had the chance to go dynamic with partners too (it's programmed into Amadeus, they just haven't enabled it), so let's hope that arrangement sticks around
Thumbnail 😂👏🏼
"So clearly, I cannot choose the redemption points in front of me?" 😛
I've just watched that episode of Squid Game were they vote.
So, what team are you?
hmmm... probably going to be in neither camp specifically, other than transferring points for upcoming trips on an as needed basis. I have a hunch I'll mostly be favouring flights over hotels in the long run, but if I need the Bonvoy points, then a less than favourable value wouldn't deter me in it's entirety though... wow... that was indecisive!
Not an easy choice, is it?
Lol very clickable thumbnail