Given that my schedule is fairly flexible I tend to plan trips last minute. This is for a couple of reasons. First of all, award availability on the better products seems to be most readily available within a week or two of departure. And second of all, I always want to try the latest airline…
Continue reading: Time to plan my travel around hotel stays for the rest of the year!
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Go to Switzerland and stay at the Park Hyatt Zurich, then go to Genéve and stay at the Hotel President Wilson?
Have been looking into Machu Picchu myself. FYI on recent kidnapping threats:
http://lima.usembassy.gov/warden/emergency_messages.html
I just used up my last hilton points for the Hilton Stucky in Venice in June. (I fortunately didn't have to work so hard to find uses as I never created such an excess pile of points)
I went to Park Hyatt Maldives with my wife we both had the two nights so stayed four nights. I was diamond last year and talked my way into getting a water villa for three of those nights. It was great. Expensive for food at 50 for implement dinner per person. Most people don't eat lunch and just eat big breakfast. Also can't get anything free to get to the island from Male (where international ones on) that was additional 475 a person to get to hotel.
If you can't burn them all yourself, take mom, dad, an old friend; a shared journey is often more than just a trip
That Machu Pichuu kidnapping threat sure puts a crimp into travel planning, eh?
How about just hitting the Hilton in Barbados or Jamaica like a normal person ?
🙂
If you haven't been to Bora Bora, worth the trip. Haven't been to the Maldives yet as a comparison, but a suite over the water is a cool experience, just everything except baguettes costs a fortune there.
Off subject, (if you have been to all 3,) would you prefer the Maldives, Seychelles, or Mauritius?
Can I book hotel rooms for my parents using my points? I have access to the AXON rewards and they do not.
I think I'm going to burn my Hilton points at the WA Park City and possibly a tropical location such as Barbados or possibly Puerto Rico. Not as glamorous a list, but I'm taking along a husband and 4- and 6-yr old boys. The Maldives are just not calling me yet.
Oh, come on, stop being such a drama queen. Pick a "Park Hyatt" already, most of us can't even stay at one even if we aspire to.
If you can't make up your mind, I'm sure many of us don't mind taking your place and getting some donation of your Hilton Dongs.
@ Randy -- I've only been to the Maldives, though hope to hit the other two very soon.
I just finished a stay at the Park Hyatt Sydney using my two free suite nights. Got an Opera House Delxue King since they don't give suites. Still very happy with it!
Have you considered the Conrad Seoul, a cat 7 property? Also, Conrad Beijing just opened a few days ago as a Cat 7.
Lastly, not as axon award but more of a VIP or standard reward, the Waldorf Astoria Shanghai is going for 50k points for the larger part of the year.
I am peruvian, there is really no threat. There were 3 americans that were attacked by native people in cuzco a month ago because they were wondering outside on their grounds at night, but thats just going out of the trail.
I was just this weekend on Tambo del Inka and its beautiful, the hotel is magnificent. Along with my wife, we have 15 stays booked throughout the year both on Tambo del Inka and Hotel Paracas. You could also stay at the Westin (the first and i believe only in south america) in Lima, which is awesome.
I'll give you a tip...Hotel Palacio del Inka which is owned by the same company as the other two LCs in Perú will also become a LC starting in may, it is located in Cusco and it is supposed to be awesome.
Tambo del Inka has its own train station and has one train that departs early morning for a one day trip to Machu Picchu, returning at around 6 pm.
I'll be glad to give you all the advice I can, too bad the Aerolineas Argentinas call I made didn't serve you well.
Cheers,
Alonso
How about the new Conrad Pezula in South Africa which came on only a few months ago?
i think you should go where you want to visit, not where you would maximize value. or, better yet, let us decide by voting on where you have to go.
Any bachelor parties coming up? Book a bunch of rooms for the boys and just drink until you forget the word 'devaluation'.
I'm glad we've got our Tambo del Inka reservations already! We're going in June; family of five so requires 2 rooms.
As for the kidnapping threat, we'll keep our wits about us but it isn't going to change our plans.
Park Hyatt Paris, definitely! Suites are divine, great location, wonderful staff, splendid breakfast!
Tambo del Inka is super fantastic, think you will enjoy it, plan your Machu Picchu excursion well in advance, space is limited.
For your Hyatt nights, just do PH Tokyo, end of story.
For your 3 AXONs, i would do Koh Samui, Maldives, and Bora Bora. Just suck up the various costs, you are getting the rooms, internet, and breakfast for free.
We loved Conrad Maldives and felt that the beach villa was more than adequate. http://boardingarea.com/milesquest/2011/06/07/beach-villa-at-conrad-maldive/
The over the water bungalows were a tad overrated as they were actually pretty close to land. Yes, technically over water, but not as exotic in our opinion as Bora Bora.
The new Andaz in Maui if it'll be open before your certificates expire? Probably not as exciting as a PH though.
Regarding the PH Sydney, while it may not technically be a suite, the Opera Deluxe rooms they use as upgrades are incredible. Factoring in the view from two balconies, it is hands down the best hotel room I've ever had, suites included. I also found the service level to be top notch.
It's not as much of an aspirational redemption, but if you got in on that LAN SCL fare madness, there are two Starwood LC's in Chile: San Cristobal Tower in Santiago, and Villarrica Park Lake Hotel in the Lakes Region. Do it before May and it won't be too chilly down there. Combine that with a jaunt to Machu Picchu on the way and maybe a hop over to Buenos Aires to burn those Hyatt nights for a stay at the PH and you've got yourself a proper trip. Easy to book inter-SA flights on LAN using Avios, right?
Agree with Shawn. Stayed there for 2 nights and got Opera deluxe with 2 balconies, since wife is an employee. Lovely property and great service. While doing bridge climb, guide remarked "this is where rich people stay in Sydney . LOL" Try tAlking them into upgrading you to One of 3 Governers suites. They go for 17k/ night
IIRC you've only been to one Hawaiian island and didn't even leave the resort.
Try Kauai (if you can stomach domestic narrowbody 1st or a 717/Dash8). Try Grand Hyatt Kauai in the south (great suite redemption) them the St Regis in the north (going from 20K-30k soon). Hands down the best resorts on the island.
Hilton sucks in Hawaii (unless you have kids).
Peru is awesome! Visited last summer. Did the 4 day Inca Trail. Stayed at Tambo del Inka before and after hike- very nice hotel. Can't wait to go back again someday.
Everyone I know is going to Peru. Sounds like a good idea. As for where to use your free suite nights, IMO Hyatt makes it easy enough to book an award night in a suite using points. It's more expensive, yes, but not as bad as with Hilton or SPG. So I wouldn't worry too much about maximizing value because I'm sure you'll have enough Gold Pasport points to book another award stay in a suite sometime soon.
I want to burn a bunch of HH points, too. I'm thinking about Bora Bora, and definitely about Koh Samui. If I do Koh Samui, why not include a stop in Hong Kong and stay at the Conrad there.
We were in the Conrad Maldives this year, and I think it's a stellar property. While I haven't been to the PH to compare, I can't really imagine that it's any better. We did stay in an overwater villa as an upgrade, but I agree that the beach villas look pretty nice too. However we were able to skinny dip off our overwater villa at dawn and dusk, and I don't think that would be an option at a beach villa. Diamond recognition is great at the Conrad, including an evening cocktail hour, and an amazing breakfast (brunch?) buffet.
As for the PH 2-suite-nights, no question: PH Tokyo. Those suites are awesome.
How about someplace new? PH Tokyo, Paris and Maldives are over-blogged...
Rebranded Park Hyatt Siem Reap, Cambodia? It should open in April. I guess the $ value would be too low though, probably $300-400/night.
I think I will do Seoul and Tokyo though...4 days in each is just right, and it would be a nonstop from SFO on a variety of airlines.
Grand Wailea on Maui is pretty nice. You could burn through 500k pretty easily here. Plus, it is a nonstop flight on Alaska from SEA to Maui.
If you want to walk the Inca Trail you will want to take a look here ( http://incatrailreservations.com/travel/inca-trail-permits-availability/) which lists the number of permits available. They sell out quickly.
How about Hilton Moore? Just a ferry away from Tahiti, and there's definitely more to do than Boar Bora. My favorite Hilton property by far!
We are doing an AXON here: http://conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/hotels/south-africa/conrad-pezula-GRJPRCI/index.html
why no love for the Conrad Bali? only 35k/night right now (or less using VIP awards, as low as 26.5k/night) and soon to be 60k/night seasonally. Bali makes your top 5 destinations list, no?
What are te most reasonable options to get to Thailand (stopping in Tokyo) with UR points?
Tokyo for the PH, Thailand for the Conrad...
Ceylonese saying: "Just because the knife is gold, doesn't mean you should kill yourself with it."
Ben
We are headed to both of the the properties in Peru next week and the Westin Lima. While we are excited by the the properties, we are already concerned about the quality of the service. We have already had several emails go unanswered even after contacting the Luxury Hotel Collection Concierge. Additionally, at Tambo del Inka the hotel tour operator has been very sketchy in arranging visits to Machu Picchu. In our case we agreed to a package, sent confirmation and then received an email a month later that our tickets had not been purchased and the price had conveniently gone up $150 per person. Only time will tell, but frustration seems to be high on the agenda in Peru travel.
The wife and I will be at the PH ZRH for 3 nights and 2 nights at the Hilton in Basel during the week of 3/3 if you want to come hang out.
Agree with other commenters. PH Sydney Opera Deluxe room >> PH Tokyo Park Suite. I don't think the Tambo Del Inka category shift requires urgent action. Category 5 seems fair to me based on the quality of the property.
The Park Hyatt Syndey Opera Deluxe Room is larger than the Cove Suite (75 sq meters vs. 73 sq meters). I used my two free nights there and the hotel is absolutely amazing. The location can't be beat.
A lot of the other hotels in Sydney/CBD are in older sky rises with out any sort of view because new construction has blocked any previous view the hotel had (i.e. Four Seasons and the Intercontinental).
Definitely worth the stay!
+1 to Angela's post...the Hilton in Moorea is much easier to get to than Bora Bora (take the ferry, the flight isn't worth it), and we found a TON of things to do for the 6 nights we were there. Renting a dune buggy was the best...we drove the entire island!
Another poster mentioned the Seychelles...the wife and I are heading to the Hilton Labriz in May for 6 nights, and for Diamonds, a 5-night stay gets you free boat transfers. Maybe book an AXON and use one of the certificates?
The WA in Park City is another FABULOUS use of the free night certificates; my wife and I just stayed there last weekend and got upgraded to a gorgeous 1-bedroom residence with a full kitchen. The service is outstanding, and how can you not love a place with free hot chocolate/hot cider after skiing and free s'mores around the heated outdoor pool every evening??
I second using HHonors points to visit the newly branded Conrad Pezula. Stayed there for a couple nights in January with some friends. It's a spectacular property surrounded by a golf course community in semi-secluded part of Knysna, although you will only get partial ocean views and not the lagoon. Great value for golds with breakfast buffet. There is a world class fine dining restaurant on property. If you really want to find an easy way to blow those 500k points try to see if you can do a premium redemption to the Pezula Castle, which is a separate part of the property that is on a cliff side with a private beach and has its own butler service. Before joining Hilton, Pezula was a hidden gem for the well to do of south Africa and foreigners in the know, really a steal at 50k per night.
the embassy suites at niaraga falls, ontario, ca, is worthy of at least one night stay if you choose a fallsview room, which costs 50,000 pts (yr 2012's price). you have to stay at hilton because marriott does not offer fallsview room for award stay.
Another Hilton suggestion...Conrad Knysna (or whatever they're calling it.) It's a new property to Hilton and it's in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
If you had bought AA tickets to Rio/Brazil recently when they were really low out of MCO, consider planning a lengthier Brazil vacation to multiple cities. There at Hilton and Starwood properties all over the country. You are already investing in the costly visa, might as well get the most out of it. You should be able to buy with your US CC on Brazilian domestic carrier sites like Tam, Gol, and Azul. You can also try to buy at decolar.com. Just call your US CC issuer in advance to say you're going to make a big purchase on XYZ Brazilian site, because the sites often go unrecognized and raise a red flag.
Having stayed for 5 nights at the Park Hyatt Tokyo recently, I would definitely use at least one of the Suite Awards there. The suite is very large (I would argue it's large even compared to the larger-than-average regular rooms at the PHT) and the service is amazing. In addition, the Diamond benefits are phenomenal. You've touched on them before, but they go above and beyond with the NY Bar benefit. A friend and I had ~six drinks every night we went completely free, and they even brought us food on two nights as well. Certainly a better redemption than in Paris or Zurich (I haven't been to the PH Milan) where the suites are smaller, or in most other hotels in Asia/Middle East/South America where rates are not as high.
As for HHonors, I'd say Koh Samui is the best. Maldives looks nice enough, but the PH looks much better (and I must admit there's just something about the feel of all HHonors hotels that doesn't do it for me).
Burned 4 nights + 2 free (Hilton Reserve) at the Conrad Ko Samui for late July/early August the day before the "enhancements" came out. Long shot, but let me know if you're going to be in Bangkok or KSM during that time, Lucky. My girlfriend's fluent in Thai, a Bangkok native and she knows all the fun spots.
I don't see any HHonor points redemption availability for Conrad Koh Samui. Is this gone?
@ Alan -- There's still reward space, it's just a bit tougher to come by than at the beginning since a lot of people are redeeming for it.
Any suggestions on the best way to spend 3 days in Hong Kong? First time traveling there. Will probably stay at the Conrad HK or the Peninsula HK.