I’m posting about the things that I’m doing on my trip with points and miles to help anyone who might be interested in doing the same or wants ideas / has questions on how to use their points! I’d also love to hear ideas from anyone else on how I can use my points!

I’ve been messing with the points and miles thing for about a year now, and I knew I wanted to use some techniques / resources I had on my trip. I did a card run maybe two months before I left, and I applied for the Amex Platinum, SPG Amex, and the Club Carlson US Bank card all on the same day (same day, same bank = one credit pull). All approved.

• FREE PRIORITY PASS. The main reason I wanted the Amex Platinum was for the free Priority Pass, which gives Lounge Access to several hundred airport lounges all over the world. So far, I’ve used it to get free meals / internet / comfy seats / showers (if I wanna) in:
  1. Los Angeles (LAX) – KAL Lounge
  2. Shanghai (PVG) – First Class Lounge
  3. Phnom Penh (PNH) – Plaza Premium Lounge (awwesome! the best thing abt PP)
  4. Chiang Mai (CNX) – Coral Executive Lounge
  5. Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) – CIP First Class Lounge (there are four in the int’l terminal – Concourse G is biggest one)
  6. New Delhi Indira Gandhi (DEL) – Plaza Premium Lounge (there are two in the int’l terminal)
  7. Kathmandu (KTM) – Executive Lounge
  8. Chennai (MAA) – Travel Club
  9. Colombo Bandaranaike International (CMB) – Lotus First Class Lounge
  10. Mumbai Chattrapathi Shivaji (BOM) – Loyalty Lounge (International Terminal) & Carnations Lounge (Domestic Terminal)
      • I also used the American Express Lounge in the domestic terminal in Mumbai… it was small, but it had the best food and service😄 (Amex lounges are always the best…)
  11. Goa Dabolim (GOI) – Port Lounge (Domestic Terminal)
• AUTOMATIC SPG GOLD STATUS. Gold status is automatically given with the SPG card. Gold status can get you free room upgrades and early check-in / late check-out (up to 4pm!). I also have Platinum Status with Hyatt and Gold Status with Club Carlson. I’ve had upgraded rooms in:
  1. Nadi, Fiji @ Westin (two nights)
  2. Osaka, Japan @ Sheraton (two nights)
  3. Siem Reap, Cambodia @ Le Meridien (three nights)
  4. Bangkok, Thailand @ Plaza Athenee, Royal Meridien (upgraded to lounge level – cocktail hour = free dinner!)
  5. Bangkok, Thailand @ Aloft Sukhumvit 11 (two nights)
  6. Chiang Mai, Thailand @ Le Meridien (two nights)
  7. Kathmandu, Nepal @ Hyatt Regency (two nights)
  8. Mumbai, India @ Hyatt Regency
  9. Goa, India @ Grand Hyatt (this room they upgraded me to was amazing…)

• FREE HOTEL ROOMS. I’ll keep a list here of all of the hotel rooms I stay at or book with points / miles or cash & points.
  1. Hiroshima, Japan Comfort Hotel (two nights) – 8k points transferred from Amex Membership Rewards to Choice hotels account.
  2. Narita, Japan Radisson – 5k Club Carlson points & $33.
  3. Angkor, Cambodia Le Meridien (three nights) – 4k Starpoints (per night) used from SPG – Amex sign-up bonus.
  4. Hanoi, Vietnam Sheraton – 3k Starpoints.
  5. Bangkok, Thailand Aloft (two nights) – 3k Starpoints (per night).
  6. Chiang Mai, Thailand Le Meridien (two nights) – 2k Starpoints & $35 (per night).
  7. Kathmandu, Nepal Hyatt Regency (three nights) – 5k points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt (per night).
  8. Kathmandu, Nepal Radisson (two nights) – 15k Club Carlson points (per night).
  9. Goa, India Radisson Candolim (two nights) – 9k Club Carlson points (per night).
  10. Goa – Panjim, India Country Inn & Suites – 9k Club Carlson points.
  11. Goa, India Grand Hyatt – 12k points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards.
  12. Coimbatore, India Le Meridien – 3k Starpoints.
  13. Chennai, India Le Royal Meridien – 3k Starpoints.
  14. Chennai, India ITC Grand Chola – 3k Starpoints.
  15. Abu Dhabi, UAE Aloft – 4k Starpoints.
  16. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Protea Hotel Courtyard – 7,500 points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards to Marriott.
  17. Istanbul, Turkey Four Points – 2k Starpoints.
  18. Zagreb, Croatia Westin – 4k Starpoints.
  19. Budapest, Hungary Park Inn (two nights) – 9k Club Carlson points (per night).
  20. Budapest, Hungary Radisson Blu (two nights) – 15k Club Carlson points (per night).
  21. Marrakesh, Morocco Le Meridien – 4k Starpoints.
  22. Madrid, Spain Sheraton Mirasierra Hotel – 4k Starpoints.

**33 totally free hotel nights booked so far!  And 13 almost-free hotel nights:)**

• FREE FLIGHTS. My flights I’ve booked with points & miles:
  1. Mumbai to Goa, India on Jet Airways (one way) – 10k Amex Membership Rewards points transferred to AsiaMiles.
  2. Istanbul to Skopje, Macedonia on Turkish Air (one way) – 15k United miles & $15 (partner flight).
  3. Skopje to Zagreb, Croatia on Croatia Airlines (one way) – 15k United miles & $15 (partner flight).
  4. Zagreb to Dubrovnik, Croatia on Croatia Airlines (one way) – 15k United miles & $15 (partner flight).
  5. Santiago to Punta Arenas, Chile on LAN Airlines (round trip) – 15k Amex Membership Rewards points & $20 (booked through Amex Travel).

**6 free flights booked**