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.
Continue reading: 24 Of The Best Points Hotels I Hope To Stay At, From Iceland To The Red Sea
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka is fabulous! Fukuoka is also a great city to visit. Much more relaxed and manageable than Tokyo and great food.
I just stayed at the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur on my recent trip to Asia, and from the moment I walked into the lobby on the 75th floor and see the view of KL behind the front desk agents, I knew I was going to be impressed. Got upgraded to a Twin Tower view room (via Hyatt Prive) on the 106th floor, and that view was nothing less than spectacular. The service was also impeccable, and the dining and drink options are worth stopping at even if you don't have a stay planned there (all 3 of the dining venues are on the 75th floor). Definitely worth the price premium to stay here.
Always enjoy when you update this list. regarding Fukuoka, check out Lee abbamonte's instagram post from today about it, seems like a worthwhile city to checkout.
Park Hyatt Saigon is a bucketlist hotel if you have not been there.
I'd add the Conrad Osaka to that list as well. I picked that over staying at the Waldorf Osaka. As to why, check out one of the many youtube video reviews of the hotel (the design below me away).
Osaka Station salon access also gets you into the Onsen, which is otherwise only open to those in high-level suites. You’ll be swoon by the speakeasy train bar as well, but the food outlets may not impress as much. Practically walking distance to the new Waldorf as well. This is a sleeper. Please don’t blow it up before my next (third) points stay there!
Stayed this year at Osaka Station and Marques de Riscal, both are very good by the latter is even better.
Have stayed at Park Hyatt Jakarta twice and in 2 weeks will be there again. Got upgraded to a Mona View Suite last time and it was incredible. ALL staff greets you by name! Spectacular property!
Next Sunday we will be at the Alila Jabal Akhdar!
I know you said points hotels. But in Faroes, you want to stay at Hotel Føroyar.
Have a wonderful time at Alila Jabal...one of my favorite properties in the world. The rooms are nothing to write home about but the food, service and, of course, views, are out of this world. Just stayed there in August and was blown away. One advice on rooms...try for the Alila or Jabal Terrace rooms. The terrace is truly breathtaking and will have a hard time leaving it for activities. Avoid (if you can) the Loft upgrade as, while wonderful if you are a family with kids, it is less than ideal for a couple, loses a lot of the views, and they are awkwardly on the walkway that everyone uses next to the dining. As to food, just tell the fantastic Indian chef to "surprise me." He will do so and it will be fantastic, especially the lamb cooked overnight in the ground in front of the dining room.
I was in Melbourne in July for work and decided to book at the RC Melbourne, even though a Lifetime Globalist and regularly at the Park Hyatt there. I thought it might be nice to try something new. When I arrived to the hotel around 10AM after the slog from LA on UA I was informed that all their systems were down until later in the afternoon and they had no ability to check anyone in. They did have plenty of rooms that were available but insisted that they could not just let me into a room without formally checking me in on their system. I canceled, went to Park Hyatt and was nicely upgraded with 20 minutes notice to the Diplomat Suite. Not sure I will give RC a chance again. It really ruined me for the property at how the desk people (who appeared less than concerned) just brushed off my simple request with no outside the box thinking.
Just got back from The Reykjavik EDITION and wow, what a letdown for the price. Staff was completely indifferent from check-in to checkout - no one greeted us, no help with bags, zero interest in making the stay special. Paid for their most expensive room and got a view of work vans in a car park.
Room build is very cheap, there was a huge crack in the bed frame and they couldn't even be bothered to fill the body wash properly until requested thrice. When I mentioned it at checkout, the front desk person didn't care.
For what we paid, could've gotten a park view suite at Hotel Borg. Definitely going there next time. This place feels like a wannabe luxury hotel that's all style and no substance. Staff acts like they expect guests to just accept mediocrity. If you've stayed at actual 5-star places, you'll see right through this. Save your money and go to the Hotel Bord.
I stayed at Paragraph Freedom Square (Tbilisi) this summer and was not really a fan. It's a huge hotel with no sense of place and gave off conference hotel vibes. I way preferred my stay at the Stamba (not a points hotel), which is the original luxury option there. Marriott actually has a few Luxury Collection and Autograph Collection there and Yerevan. I had a great stay at the Alexander in Yerevan (Marriott Luxury Collection), and I highly recommend visiting both countries on a trip as they compare and contrast really well.
Second PH Saigon. I was at the Sofitel (which was fine and I absolutely love the one in Hanoi) but after visiting a friend's room at PH, I was a little jealous.
As for Japan, I'm a weirdo but I love the business hotels. Small comfy rooms, nothing essential forgotten and beer/beverage vending machines on each floor. All while totally quiet and peaceful. I spend 90% of my time in Japan off-property, so never have splurged. Would like to check out a lux property there one day.
(And I get that business hotels don't work for families or couples.)
Paragraph Tbilisi maybe the best elite lounge I’ve been to. Crazy views and great food and drinks. Excellent service. Breakfast good and didn’t even get to make it to their spa which looked ridiculously good as well. Yes many rooms empty on my floor but felt more comfortable zclusive that way I supose. Not worried about blowing up this hotel because I probably won’t be back to Georgia soon but highly recommend and is a standard against which I rate other hotels
Its really odd to say "you can’t beat being able to redeem points for a stay" at the Reykjavik EDITION. The hotel is priced ~30% higher than any other hotel in the city, and the main reason to visit Iceland is see nature, not the hotel stay.
There are so many better ways to use Marriott points elsewhere in the world.
I’ll offer up what’s probably the most remote points hotel- Mantis Jamestown St. Helena (Accor). It’s reached by a once a week flight Johannesburg flight that has a technical/fuel stop in Namibia to get there. Mantis is a really niche southern Africa brand with assorted safari and city properties and at one point was the only way you could get to Antarctica on points.
As a Melburnian I'd take the Sofitel over the RC any day, but with Accor's microscopic presence in North America it seems to escape the attention of US points redeemers. PH Melbourne has recently changed hands, and it will be interesting to see if the new owners plan anything in the way of renovations, as the faux Deco decor needs a bit of a tweak in places. Grand Hyatt Melbourne is definitely getting a complete redevelopment in the near future, with a "façade redesign" and "reimagining and refurbishment of interior spaces". Hopefully this doesn't mean a full transformation into the dreaded "international beige".
Any particular reason you mostly ignore Accor/LHW/Choice/I Prefer ? Think they have some interesting options
I do not think you will make it to Lhasa anytime soon. A Chinese tourist visa, visa free, or arrival transit visa is not enough for travel to Lhasa. It requires you to be on tour through a registered travel agency and for you to obtain a permit. The policies of issuing permits are always on and off. It is difficult if you are not based in China to go because the policy could change any time.
PH MEL is, no doubt, tired. I have been staying there for years and, well, nothing has changed, lol. Service is still wonderful though. I imagine they will have to undergo a serious reno to compete. But it still has a character even today. Charlie has died though so it's a good time for the new owners to gather up a new vision (and dog).
Fukuoka has a great food scene but in my humble opinion is just a bit of a meh city. Nothing wrong with it but nothing unique or interesting that makes me desperate to return. It is however a good place to base yourself for a trip around Kyushu which has some spectacular places to visit. I highly rate Nagasaki - so much more to it than the atomic bomb site, an equally awesome food scene and a chilled, laidback coastal city atmosphere. If only it had a St Regis of its own 😉
This is not true. I visited Tibet last year and it was easy and drama-free. If you book an organized tour, you get in; if you don’t, you don’t. Pretty simple.
Let’s be honest, Ben is not going to be hiking in an ice cave or driving the Ring Road.
Hilton Garden Inn Faroe is an eyesore in a beautiful place. Luckily its far out of town.
Waldorf Astoria Osaka is good until you waited 30 mins for breakfast with tens of Aspire holders.
I would recommend Fukuoka—laid-back but still a major city, great food, and off the beaten path. I agree with the comment about Nagasaki being better, though. The Marriott in Nagasaki is great.
I highly recommend the St Regis Osaka - beautiful rooms and views, fantastic breakfast, excellent location.
Great list Ben! What about the Conrad Hamburg? You stayed there when it was a Hyatt, sure it would be cool to see the same hotel under a new brand. Plus: Hamburg (my hometown 😉 ) is always a great place to visit.
You must be kidding, Park Hyatt London on the river in that dangerous neighbourhood and that dangerous underground metro station? Why would anyone want to go there? Points or cash.
Surprised not to see Cap Rocat in Mallorca on your list. We stayed there in May on Hilton points and it was amazing!
If you liked the Fogo Island Inn, you should love the Radisson Spitsbergen in Longyearbyen, with a heated pool overlooking the tundra. Or the Funken Lodge in the same town(bookable through Choice)
Booking a trip to Lhasa is very straight forward and not difficult. I booked a private tour without any issues. While yes, you need to be with the guide for the main sites (ie Potala Palace) you are also able to walk around Lhasa city on your own. We stayed at the St. Regis and while the property and location are nice, it is not at the same level of luxury as other St. Regis properties. This being said, I would stay there again.
We lived in Tbilissi and in Kazakhstan.
Arguably the hotel scene in Tbilissi isn't fantastic but the city is amazing. If you visit in winter, you could also take a short ski trip to Gudauri or Bakuriani.
Kazakhstan: make yourself a favour Ben and visit Almaty. Astana is okish, but Almaty is a much more interesting city.
The Ritz-Carlton Fukuoka is fabulous! Fukuoka is also a great city to visit. Much more relaxed and manageable than Tokyo and great food.
I just stayed at the Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur on my recent trip to Asia, and from the moment I walked into the lobby on the 75th floor and see the view of KL behind the front desk agents, I knew I was going to be impressed. Got upgraded to a Twin Tower view room (via Hyatt Prive) on the 106th floor, and that view was nothing less than spectacular. The service was also impeccable, and the dining and drink options are worth stopping at even if you don't have a stay planned there (all 3 of the dining venues are on the 75th floor). Definitely worth the price premium to stay here.
Super list, Lucky. Lots of good ideas.
Always enjoy when you update this list. regarding Fukuoka, check out Lee abbamonte's instagram post from today about it, seems like a worthwhile city to checkout.
Park Hyatt Saigon is a bucketlist hotel if you have not been there.
I'd add the Conrad Osaka to that list as well. I picked that over staying at the Waldorf Osaka. As to why, check out one of the many youtube video reviews of the hotel (the design below me away).
Second PH Saigon. I was at the Sofitel (which was fine and I absolutely love the one in Hanoi) but after visiting a friend's room at PH, I was a little jealous.
As for Japan, I'm a weirdo but I love the business hotels. Small comfy rooms, nothing essential forgotten and beer/beverage vending machines on each floor. All while totally quiet and peaceful. I spend 90% of my time in Japan off-property, so never have splurged. Would like to check out a lux property there one day.
(And I get that business hotels don't work for families or couples.)
Osaka Station salon access also gets you into the Onsen, which is otherwise only open to those in high-level suites. You’ll be swoon by the speakeasy train bar as well, but the food outlets may not impress as much. Practically walking distance to the new Waldorf as well. This is a sleeper. Please don’t blow it up before my next (third) points stay there!
Stayed this year at Osaka Station and Marques de Riscal, both are very good by the latter is even better.
Have stayed at Park Hyatt Jakarta twice and in 2 weeks will be there again. Got upgraded to a Mona View Suite last time and it was incredible. ALL staff greets you by name! Spectacular property!
Next Sunday we will be at the Alila Jabal Akhdar!
Have a wonderful time at Alila Jabal...one of my favorite properties in the world. The rooms are nothing to write home about but the food, service and, of course, views, are out of this world. Just stayed there in August and was blown away. One advice on rooms...try for the Alila or Jabal Terrace rooms. The terrace is truly breathtaking and will have a hard time leaving it for activities. Avoid (if you can) the Loft upgrade as, while wonderful if you are a family with kids, it is less than ideal for a couple, loses a lot of the views, and they are awkwardly on the walkway that everyone uses next to the dining. As to food, just tell the fantastic Indian chef to "surprise me." He will do so and it will be fantastic, especially the lamb cooked overnight in the ground in front of the dining room.
I know you said points hotels. But in Faroes, you want to stay at Hotel Føroyar.
I was in Melbourne in July for work and decided to book at the RC Melbourne, even though a Lifetime Globalist and regularly at the Park Hyatt there. I thought it might be nice to try something new. When I arrived to the hotel around 10AM after the slog from LA on UA I was informed that all their systems were down until later in the afternoon and they had no ability to check anyone in. They did have plenty of rooms that were available but insisted that they could not just let me into a room without formally checking me in on their system. I canceled, went to Park Hyatt and was nicely upgraded with 20 minutes notice to the Diplomat Suite. Not sure I will give RC a chance again. It really ruined me for the property at how the desk people (who appeared less than concerned) just brushed off my simple request with no outside the box thinking.
As a Melburnian I'd take the Sofitel over the RC any day, but with Accor's microscopic presence in North America it seems to escape the attention of US points redeemers. PH Melbourne has recently changed hands, and it will be interesting to see if the new owners plan anything in the way of renovations, as the faux Deco decor needs a bit of a tweak in places. Grand Hyatt Melbourne is definitely getting a complete redevelopment in the near future, with a "façade redesign" and "reimagining and refurbishment of interior spaces". Hopefully this doesn't mean a full transformation into the dreaded "international beige".
PH MEL is, no doubt, tired. I have been staying there for years and, well, nothing has changed, lol. Service is still wonderful though. I imagine they will have to undergo a serious reno to compete. But it still has a character even today. Charlie has died though so it's a good time for the new owners to gather up a new vision (and dog).
Just got back from The Reykjavik EDITION and wow, what a letdown for the price. Staff was completely indifferent from check-in to checkout - no one greeted us, no help with bags, zero interest in making the stay special. Paid for their most expensive room and got a view of work vans in a car park.
Room build is very cheap, there was a huge crack in the bed frame and they couldn't even be bothered to fill the body wash properly until requested thrice. When I mentioned it at checkout, the front desk person didn't care.
For what we paid, could've gotten a park view suite at Hotel Borg. Definitely going there next time. This place feels like a wannabe luxury hotel that's all style and no substance. Staff acts like they expect guests to just accept mediocrity. If you've stayed at actual 5-star places, you'll see right through this. Save your money and go to the Hotel Bord.
I stayed at Paragraph Freedom Square (Tbilisi) this summer and was not really a fan. It's a huge hotel with no sense of place and gave off conference hotel vibes. I way preferred my stay at the Stamba (not a points hotel), which is the original luxury option there. Marriott actually has a few Luxury Collection and Autograph Collection there and Yerevan. I had a great stay at the Alexander in Yerevan (Marriott Luxury Collection), and I highly recommend visiting both countries on a trip as they compare and contrast really well.
Paragraph Tbilisi maybe the best elite lounge I’ve been to. Crazy views and great food and drinks. Excellent service. Breakfast good and didn’t even get to make it to their spa which looked ridiculously good as well. Yes many rooms empty on my floor but felt more comfortable zclusive that way I supose. Not worried about blowing up this hotel because I probably won’t be back to Georgia soon but highly recommend and is a standard against which I rate other hotels
Its really odd to say "you can’t beat being able to redeem points for a stay" at the Reykjavik EDITION. The hotel is priced ~30% higher than any other hotel in the city, and the main reason to visit Iceland is see nature, not the hotel stay.
There are so many better ways to use Marriott points elsewhere in the world.
Let’s be honest, Ben is not going to be hiking in an ice cave or driving the Ring Road.
I’ll offer up what’s probably the most remote points hotel- Mantis Jamestown St. Helena (Accor). It’s reached by a once a week flight Johannesburg flight that has a technical/fuel stop in Namibia to get there. Mantis is a really niche southern Africa brand with assorted safari and city properties and at one point was the only way you could get to Antarctica on points.
Ben Nujuma Ritz Reserve Red Sea is much better than St Regis
Any particular reason you mostly ignore Accor/LHW/Choice/I Prefer ? Think they have some interesting options
I do not think you will make it to Lhasa anytime soon. A Chinese tourist visa, visa free, or arrival transit visa is not enough for travel to Lhasa. It requires you to be on tour through a registered travel agency and for you to obtain a permit. The policies of issuing permits are always on and off. It is difficult if you are not based in China to go because the policy could change any time.
This is not true. I visited Tibet last year and it was easy and drama-free. If you book an organized tour, you get in; if you don’t, you don’t. Pretty simple.
Booking a trip to Lhasa is very straight forward and not difficult. I booked a private tour without any issues. While yes, you need to be with the guide for the main sites (ie Potala Palace) you are also able to walk around Lhasa city on your own. We stayed at the St. Regis and while the property and location are nice, it is not at the same level of luxury as other St. Regis properties. This being said, I would stay there again.
Cairo, eh? Ben, of all people!