Miles & points can let you have some pretty incredible experiences for pennies on the dollar. With airline miles you can fly almost any first or business class product in the world, as there are very few aspirational products that aren't bookable with miles.
Hotels are a different story, though. There are a lot of great points hotels, though the reality is that many boutique and high end brands don't belong to any of the major hotel groups with loyalty programs. That means there's no way to redeem points for stays there, short of earning cash back through credit cards and then redeeming that towards a stay.
Fogo Island Inn, one of my favorite hotels in the world (not bookable with points)
While many of us probably aren't at the point where we're planning travel yet, I think many of us are certainly dreaming about travel. Yesterday I shared some general thoughts on domestic trips I'd like to take once its responsible to travel again.
Now I wanted to update a post that I first wrote nearly a year ago about some awesome points hotels that I look forward to staying at once things return to normal.
This post was originally from last year, and over the past several months I've stayed at some incredible points hotels. Some of the highlights include the following:
Calala Island, Nicaragua
With the above out of the way, let me share some awesome points hotels that I look forward to staying at. Some I hope to stay at as soon as things improve, while others may very well remain on my bucket list for a while. In no particular order:
This hotel is fairly new, and is arguably the most aspirational Hilton property yet. I'm somewhat skeptical of the hotel based on how close it is to Male (unlike some of the other private islands, which are far away), but I've mostly heard very good things about it. It's cool to be able to use Hilton points for a hotel that retails for $1,500+ per night.
Booking with points: 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night ( how to earn Hilton Honors points)
Waldorf Astoria Maldives I haven't been to Venice in about 15 years, so I'd like to return at some point. I know it's overrun with tourists, so if/when I go, I would do so in shoulder season. When I do, I'd like to stay at The Gritti Palace, which is the Marriott Luxury Collection property, as it's regarded as one of the best hotels there.
Booking with points: 70,000-100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night ( how to earn Marriott Bonvoy points)
The Gritti Palace Venice
St. Regis is my favorite Marriott brand, partly because I like the style of most of their hotels, and partly because I like that they actually honor elite benefits, unlike EDITION and Ritz-Carlton. One of the newest St. Regis properties is in Hong Kong, and I would love to stay there.
Booking with points: 70,000-100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
St. Regis Hong Kong
I loved Alila Ventana Big Sur, so would like to stay at another Alila property, and Alila Jabal Akhdar is at the top of my list. This is a hotel in Oman that I've heard great things about, and it could be a good side trip the next time I find myself in the UAE or in Muscat.
One of the reasons I've put this off is because Alila is supposed to open a second property in Oman this year, called Alila Hinu Bay, and I'd love to go when I could stay at both of them. Unfortunately I haven't heard much about this project, so I'm not sure if it's delayed by months or years (if anyone knows, please let me know!).
Booking with points: 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night ( how to earn World of Hyatt points)
Alila Jabal Akhdar
This is a hotel that's not on my list because I think the hotel as such is that amazing, but rather because I still haven't visited Machu Picchu. The fact that Marriott has good options in both Cuzco and the Sacred Valley is all the more reason to take this trip sooner rather than later.
Booking with points: 40,000-60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Tambo del Inka Peru
In case you can't tell, I'm really excited about Hyatt's acquisition of Alila. 😉 Alila has several properties in Bali, though the one that interests me most is the Uluwatu Villas property.
The entry level rooms here are villas with pools, so this is a pretty awesome place to redeem points.
Booking with points: 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night
Alila Villas Uluwatu Bali
I love the outdoors, and have long been interested in visiting Tibet. The St. Regis Lhasa seems like a cool opportunity to check out a nice points hotel while visiting a destination that has been on my list.
Booking with points: 30,000-40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
St. Regis Lhasa
While I've visited the major cities in Spain and have also been to many of the beach destinations, I'd like to explore more of the country. Hotel Marques de Riscal is in Elciego, and was designed by Frank Gehry.
Booking with points: 50,000-70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Hotel Marques de Riscal
I'm supposed to go to Bodrum in a couple of months, though at this point that seems unlikely. I love the EDITION brand, and Bodrum looks beautiful and relaxing. If I don't make it there in June, hopefully I make it there at some point in the future.
Booking with points: 50,000-70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
EDITION Bodrum
Greece is one of my favorite places in the world, and Santorini is gorgeous (a couple of years ago I stayed at Mystique). Hyatt has a partnership with Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and that includes some of the "Canaves Oia" properties in Santorini. The nicest-looking and newest of those properties is the "Epitome" one, which seems like a great option if returning to Oia.
Booking with points: 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night
Canaves Oia Epitome
This is a relatively new addition to the Hilton portfolio, and seems like an awesome luxury option in Mexico. Hotel taxes and service charges in Mexico are really high (30%+), so being able to redeem points there is ideal, since you can avoid those fees.
Booking with points: 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night ( how to earn Hilton Honors points)
Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal
In 2017 Hyatt acquired wellness brand Miraval, and this summer they'll be opening a property in the Berkshires. I love the Northeast in summer, and think could be a cool property. Miraval stays include all food and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as many activities. When redeeming points you also get a $175 per person credit.
Booking with points: 65,000 World of Hyatt points per night (for two people)
Miraval Berkshires
New Zealand is one of my favorite countries in the world, though I don't love Auckland as such. Nonetheless I'm intrigued by the Park Hyatt Auckland. This hotel's construction has been delayed significantly, and it's now expected to open in a few months. Hopefully that actually happens, as it has already been delayed by years.
Once the hotel opens it should be impressive... hopefully.
Booking with points: 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night
Park Hyatt Auckland
Okay, my (relatively) newly found love for Japan is about to show with the next few hotels on my list. Ford and I can't wait to return to Japan, and we're probably most excited at the prospect of staying at the new Park Hyatt Kyoto. Ford has never been to Kyoto, and you can't beat Globalist benefits at Park Hyatt properties.
Booking with points: 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night
Park Hyatt Kyoto
Niseko is in a part of Japan I've never been to before. I'm not sure if I'd like to visit in summer for hiking, or in winter so Ford can ski and I can stay inside. 😉 Regardless, the hotel and landscape look gorgeous.
Booking with points: 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night
Park Hyatt Niseko
The Ritz-Carlton Nikko is supposed to be opening shortly, and is a fairly short train ride from Tokyo. The hotel is set along Lake Chuzenji, so as someone who loves nature this seems like a cool side trip the next time I'm in Tokyo.
Booking with points: 50,000-70,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Ritz-Carlton Nikko
You can file this one under "I'm a weirdo" more than anything. I've never witnessed a hotel opening that's as delayed as the one at the St. Regis Cairo.
The hotel's opening had already been delayed by years, and then the Gulf blockade happened. While it's my understanding that the hotel is more or less ready to open, it can't open because it has Qatari investors. I'm really curious to see how this unfolds, since there's no end in sight for the blockade.
Booking with points: 30,000-40,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night (if it ever opens)
St. Regis Cairo
I'll throw this one in for fun, though I doubt I'll ever make it here. Rather puzzlingly, the $8,000+ per night North Island property in the Seychelles became a Marriott Luxury Collection property, which I can't make sense of.
The points rates are totally different than any other Marriotts, so it's outrageously expensive. Also not included is food/drinks or the helicopter ride to the hotel. But it doesn't cost anything to dream, right?
Booking with points: 365,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
North Island Seychelles
More than ever before it's fun to dream of all of the great opportunities available with points. As you can see, there are some awesome opportunities with Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott, and I can't wait to check out some of these properties as soon as travel becomes a thing again.
Which points hotels do you most want to stay at?
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