续谈穷人撸卡之酒店篇

s
smlandlord
楼主 (文学城)

上次写了撸卡航空篇, 今天谈一下酒店的积分系统.

我前面说过,撸卡要有目的, 1. Cash back, 2. 信用卡积分, 3. 航空公司积分, 4. 酒店积分, 因为大部分人一个月就刷几千刀,所以刷卡要刷到刀口上, 做生意一个月可以刷几万,那么就需要分开撸,因为很多卡刷过一定数额就没什么更大好处.

酒店卡也是分几大,你要想一下那个chain你住的多,然后就专攻那个,一直到有 status, 一般来说,Hilton 和 AMEX关联,Hyatt和chase关联,Marriott 两边都行, 其实出门旅游,最大的消费是酒店,欧洲一般300-500/一晚,海边的800-1000一晚是经常性的, 所以积分/free night certificate能省很多.

酒店积分,Hyatt是最值钱, 一分可以经常换到2cents,美国低档 Hyatt Place之类的,经常就5000分,Hyatt 和 chase是关联的,所以如果有 sapphire 或者ink biz premier,分数可以直接转到 Hyatt, 这样就能撸到1分=4 cents, 但是,Hyatt的 status最难撸,必须老老实实的睡足50晚,Hyatt和AA有关联,如果link Hyatt 和 AA,第一次可以睡20晚得到 globalist, 这个 benefits有 free parking, free breakfast, after that first year, 之后就必须老老实实的睡,当然也有解决办法,就是 virtual mattress run, 办法就是book las Vegas的 Excalibur, $25 / night, online check in, mobile key request, online check out, 所以如果只是差几晚,这个不错的选择.  Hyatt家的 footprint比较小,所以很多地方没选择,但是Hyatt家比较有保障, 我去 Cancun, 一般都是Hyatt家的 all inclusive, 他家吃的相当有水准,法国大餐有模有样.

Marriott and Hilton, 就不需要睡了,直接可以刷出 status, 万豪家,以前也是要睡50天,但是reward system改革以后,也就是dilute 了以后,可以刷到.   万豪刚买下 Starwood 的时候,由于 Starwood 的积分价值很高,所以刚 merger以后,一段时间 Marriott就给 Starwood的gold same benefits as Marriott platinum, 但是后来改革了 reward systems, 就是说 diluted积分后,信用卡分开 Chase and amex 两家,每边都给15个 night credits, 如果两边都开卡,就是说有30个 credits, 这样只需要睡20个晚.  去年,amex 的 高端万豪卡,年费涨了, 但是直接就给了 platinum, 不需要睡了.

万豪的积分,欧洲亚洲大概可以换到1分钱,美国只能大概0.5cents, 万豪的信用卡,Chase 和amex都有, Chase家的有个人和biz 卡,年费95,AMEX有个人卡和高端卡,年费是$95 和$595, 两边的$95都是每年送一个3万5千的 Free night certificate, 这个确实是比较鸡肋的,因为大部分好的Marriott都需要5万分,所以去年改了政策,可以 free night certificate + up to 15000 points去换.  以前chase家还offer ritz Carlton 卡,后来收回了,所以现在万豪高端卡只有amex的,年费595,这个卡每个月给25刀的 dining credits, 和一个8万5千分的 certificate, 这个 certificate有时候可以换到2000刀一晚的酒店.

接着说一下 Hilton家的系统, 三大酒店品牌里,H家的积分是最不值钱的,一般来说在美国只能换到0.3cents,所以H家信用卡起步都是花$1赚3points, 酒店品牌里,H家 footprint 最大的, 也就是说基本上去哪里都有 Hilton, but H家的Status基本上烂大街,原因就是开卡就是Gold,然后每年花4万刀,就是platinum.

以前H家在美国里的酒店,是包早餐的,积分改革以后,美国的酒店一般都是给F&B Credit, 大城市里是$18x2一天, 小城市是$15x2一天, 而且H家把美国国内所有的 lounge都关了, 所以H家status在美国国内,只有一点升级的好处,其他就没什么好的, 但是出了美国,H家的status好处就多了,欧洲亚洲非洲市场H家最多酒店,高端的基本上还开着 lounge, 就是说如果想省饭钱,一年3餐都可以蹭 lounge, 晚上还开酒.

Hilton家送的 free night certificate, 以前是只能周末用,covid以后开放了,can use in any day of the week, 它家的比万豪家的好,没有限制,所以要用在最贵的东西,好像 Tahiti/Maldives/south beach/keywest 之类一晚1000-2000的,夏威夷都不值得.

我一般是专攻Hilton, 所以我H家帐上经常有几百万积分.

说完3大酒店品牌,继续说一下2. 就是通用信用卡积分, 而且这个也就很好的回答了上面的问题,就是欧洲出了大城市,没大品牌的酒店,然后保证酒店的质量,  AMEX本身是旅游公司,它家首先推出了自己的 luxury 的定位,就是fine hotels+ resorts这些都是各地最高端的酒店,质量非常保证,通过AMEX定,可以升级和包早餐. AMEX还有次一级的,也是高端品牌的酒店,是Hotel collections, 这个基本上定2 nights, 送$100 的food credits, 当然现在AMEX现在给 Priceline and Expedia打的满地找牙,Priceline/ Expedia 价钱更便宜,但是今天的 topic是如何不花钱的住酒店, 所以如果撸AMEX,除去航空公司的优惠,通过它定酒店,也是能拿到 benefits.

我也专攻AMEX积分,去年最好的deal是new biz platinum user开卡25万分, 没有 life time language的现在还能找到16万分的.

Chase家的积分,系统方便,选择多,大部分人比较喜欢,我不大专门撸,因为 Chase 有5/24的limit, 就是说无论你开任何信用卡,只要信用报告显示,都算,所以你开卡要有目的, 如果两年超过5个 hard pull, chase不欢迎你, 所以撸AMEX比撸chase容易.


R
RunningCow
H家还有用积分在同一酒店订4送1。刚看了一下原来我已经Diamond会员10年了

Amex Hilton 还可获得免费priority Pass会员,享受一年10次免费进机场lounge. 这些lounges大机场都有,有些机场还好几个lounge 任选。

s
smlandlord
这个 benefit每个品牌都一样.
螺丝螺帽
你真牛, 佩服
h
hz82000
手工点赞,我用 Marriott, 很不错
雨城岁月
谢谢分享!请问Hilton什么level 的Status 是可以免费升级到Club level 有酒店lounge

access? Diamond 或Gold可以吗?有一张$450 年费的信用卡, 直接给diamond status, 值得吗?

 

 

雨城岁月
再请教:marriott 的Gold status 和Hilton 的Gold Status哪个更好?
威伯
现在的Marriott gold基本没用。Hilton gold“有机会“进出贵宾室,包早餐。
威伯
弄个lifetime status,得益终身(希望)。大多数人是用工作机会攒点,自己做不见得合算。
雨城岁月
谢威伯!
w
windyLL
满满的真货啊!老大真是钻研的很深了,哈哈哈!

Hyatt对美国人很友好,对外国人不好。出了美国,Grand Hyatt的早餐都很有保证,lounge也不错。

南沙翁
比我会赚钱还比我会撸卡,叫我怎么活
h
happymom
+1
g
grapevine
谢谢分享,信息满满。请问航空篇的链接?

找不出来读了

雨城岁月
请问platinum 酒店会给 Club lounge access吗(定的房间不是Club level)
s
smlandlord
Hilton platinum出了美国是直接 lounge access floor, 高档H品牌还可以直接要求lounge c
s
smlandlord
说到底还是钱不够….
s
smlandlord
platinum是保证能入,Gold是看前台,$450年费的直接给白金,或者低年费的年刷4万
R
Runnymede
这个要顶,简直是酒店积分大全
雨城岁月
谢smlandlord回复!学习了。
N
NPshowway
W
Wei_PDX
marriott bonvoy怎么样?

以前常出差送了一个,很久都不用了。

F
FL330
请问AMX有个Hilton Honors Aspire, 年费450, 开卡就是Diamond, 值得申请吗?
d
dogmom2019
Marriott 白金卡可以任何地方进入Club lounges, 美国的club是服务和东西最差的,欧洲·和亚洲拉丁美
d
dogmom2019
club的食品和服务非常赞
h
houmajsa
难道是泥坛大佬?赞
雨城岁月
谢谢您的留言!就定普通房间就行对吗? 不是club level 的房间 但凭白金卡就可以进club lounge?
g
goingplaces
粗看了一下 文章大部分正确但最少有两点谬误。見内

1) Chase 停发 Marriott biz card 已经很多年  Marriott 買了 SPG 后 很 ”狡猾” 令 Chase 和 AMEX (SPG cards) 分领 Marriott 市场.  Chase 現在主要发的是中级个人卡 Boundless 去年底從 $95 年费起到 $250 了。  AMEX 发的是 Biz card, 己经 $125 年费 多年了, 和 高级个人卡 。去年底改板 起价 現在是 $650 年费, 取消了 在 万豪品牌消费可以有 up to $300 statement credit 而给予非常讨厌 的每个月 up to $25 的 dining credit.  同时加送 Platinum status.  和加到 25 elite qualify nights vs 15 before.  如果你能记住每个月都用了那个 $25 credit, 那么实付 $350 一年 换一个 BonVoy Plat status 不用实打实住店 加 CC nights 共 五十晚一年才能賺到,还是值得的。在外國住店时有 Plat status 还是化算的.  在中级 elite status 中 BonVoy 的 Plat 性价比最高,因它家的是 guaranteed 的。就是品牌太多 elite benefits 每个品牌都不一樣 需要一个表格來搞清楚。 而且貴的品牌 如 Ritz Carlton 和 Edition 是不給 Elite benefits 的! 

Bonvoy 的信用卡规则太复杂 Elite benefits 也太复杂 好在是网上很多 bloggers 都有专题教学。

另外 那个 AMEX 高级个人卡的 additional 10 more nights 也可帮助快些达到 life time Plat (六百晚 十年 Plat status) 

其实很多人都是 自己旅行 住店 賺的 elite status, 並不是靠工作出差的。 我识几个朋友 和我们自己都是 100% personal travel earned 的。就是因為全是自己荷包出的 所以如你所说 要做功课 專攻一两个program 才能有成效。

2) H 家 没有 Platinum 等级 它是 Silver, Gold and Diamond. 你大概把 AMEX Plat card 送的 Honor Gold 给搞混了  它也送 BonVoy Gold.  但如你所说 BonVoy gold 是没什么用的。

https://www.hilton.com/en/hilton-honors/member-benefits/

AMEX 的 无年费 Hilton 卡带 Silver status.  符合資格订 5th night free 的 reward booking.  去年我订了一个去 New Mexico 看熱汽球节 的 5 晚 点数值到近一毛钱一点。 我非常怀疑酒店会否 honor 那个 reservation.  我们最后是決定不去湊熱閙 自己把它取消了。曾经在欧洲一些住了 Hilton Garden Inn 和 Hampton Inn, Double Tree 之类 值到近一毛一点。不过在美国本土大多时候是 $0.003 to $0.004 之间。 今年見到在 Luxor 的 Hilton Resort 三万点 可以订两个相連的家庭房间组合 cash rate was $200 多 也是超值了。 

HHonor 的 Diamond 只要申请个 AMEX 的 Hilton 高端个人卡 Aspire card 就有了。不用花那个四万块 那是 Surpass 卡 送 Gold status 但你可以儍儍地靠刷卡去拿 Diamond.  申请个 Aspire 化算太多了。 Marriott 就是今年学 Hilton 让 AMEX Brilliant 送 Pkat status.  

还有一个 program IHG  未有提及。 它去年大大改善了 top tier elite benefits. 不过这个 program 最大的价值是 在欧洲很多地方 都有合理的 reward redemption value, 包括非常昂贵的倫敦。 而且 sign up bonus 很高。只是现在 Chase 也把它 5/24 了 还像蓝宝石一様 整个 portfolio 你只能有一張个人卡 。 那个 $49 年费的 Select 也是停发多年 要想有 Premier 只能是申 Biz 卡。 两个卡的 benefits 不一樣 合併起来很给力。 Select 給10% rebate on reward redemption, Premier enjoys 4th night free.  

g
goingplaces
IHG 是 订 3 送 1 Hyatt 没有这个 benefit IIRC
g
goingplaces
如果它的 benefits 你都用得上 银行倒貼你了。这个是性价比最高的酒店卡如果你常住 H 品牌的
s
smlandlord
lol, 高手来了..我家蹭点是为了好玩,我的目标是一年蹭出5万的效果.

我家一年刷个1-2百万的信用卡,当然要 maximize回报啊!

我定的2月 Honolulu, 机票是蹭 United award tickets,酒店是蹭Marriott 和 Wyndham timeshare, 3月份去Lisbon,机票是US bank reward出的票, 酒店蹭AMEX rewards fine hotels and resorts,  4月马尔代夫,机票也是蹭USBank,酒店蹭Hilton  和Marriott free nights.

Maldives Hilton能蹭出1分=1分钱.

 

d
dogmom2019
是的,只要是白金卡,就能进Club, 国外的club早餐和下午的snack质量很好,一般在最高层,景观也很好
雨城岁月
多谢您的答复!
雨城岁月
"BonVoy 的 Plat 性价比最高,因它家的是 guaranteed 的" - 请问您Bonvoy 的

"Guaranteed"是什么意思?是说我定了一个普通房, 但我持有platnium 信用卡所以有marriott platnium status, 就能保证我进入club lounge access 吗?

我一直很困惑酒店的club lounge access 是否根据我是platnium status 就可以给我club access, 有当晚的人数限制吗?还是guarantee club access.   像航空公司的business classs 一样, business class seat 是limited, 不能保证。

只有marriott 的platnium 可以guarantee吗? 其他 HHonor Diamond vs. IHG platnium 有什么不同吗?marriott 的platnium vs. HHonor Diamond vs. IHG platnium 哪个卡的性价比更好一些。

谢谢goingplaces 的分享。

 

d
dogmom2019
酒店的status和信用卡的不一样,Marriott Platinum 是根据前一年住的nights决定的,即使用点换的
d
dogmom2019
也算·。我是住超过650nights,是lifetime platinum。用它的信用卡自动算上15 nights。
雨城岁月
这些高端酒店卡不是用户付了高年费能拿到酒店的platnum status吗?怎么不一样呢?谢谢留言
d
dogmom2019
要仔细读读帖子·,高年费有的可以给你一些nights as a base. 每家不同,我只是关心Marriott。
g
goingplaces
我家蹭点是为了好玩 - 很对 收益最大化也需要得到最好的产品 比如最好的商务舱 高档酒店

高档酒店容易弄清楚  飞最好的商务舱需要一些知识 联盟伙伴的概念来了  因为成本通常是相同的,但最终产品的质量可能相差十万八千里 !  还有一点就是,所有常客计划都是不一样的! Cherry Picking is a good skill to learn.

Business class long haul flights with flat beds to us are the most important, more so than luxury hotels.  The quality of a 10 hours+ flight in business class with flat bed is of much more value of the quantity of how many flights you can redeem.

Very Important - NOT all airlines business class seats are the same.  We try to avoid flying US airlines.  Used United Miles many times but never have flown a United long haul anywhere - used their miles to fly for example, Singapore airlines,  Turkish airlines,  TK has one of the top 5 lounges among all top airlines though most Chinese may not ever think it is a good airline.  Before Covid, TK flew to the MOST destinations in the world.  Who would have thought?  On the other hand, even though SQ is always among the top airlines in the world voted by business travelers,  SQ actually is a Very Small airline with a Very Limited network. 

What are the airlines you used to Maldives?  Personal opinion, the best airline to fly this route should be in Qatar's QSuites.   I am sure you know QR belongs to OneWorld.  AA has the lowest miles requirement but AA does not have transfer partner.  QR last year starts use the same Avios as BA, and linked accounts can transfer the Avios seemlessly.

The beauty is, Avios is transfer partner of both Chase and Amex, and often have 20 to 40% transfer bonus, as well as Capital One.  Since you spend a lot on business expenses,  the CapOne Spark business card might be of interest to you.

You surely know how to maximize the earning of Chase UR points and AMEX membership points.

Last Dec we had a 40 days trip to Middle East, London and a Transatlantic cruise back home.  The flights to Middle East were using AA miles to fly Qatar.  Qatar's lounges in Doha probably are among the top 3 in the world.   The flights among Middle East were usng BA Avios to fly Royal Jordanian,  UA miles to fly Egypt Air when it was the Only Choice.  Then used BA Avios to fly BA from Middle East to London.  Later from London to Rome to board our cruise.

Yeah, you can say for our trip those are all 蹭的.  The Qatar tickets if purchased, would be $6 to 7,000 per person.  The remaining stuff were really trivial by each one, could add up to another couple thousands. 

A good example on cherry picking - the Amman to Cairo Royal Jordanian flight, AA wants 23K miles + Taxes, but BA only wants 6K + same Taxes and another $60 BA surcharge.  Look at the difference in mile costs ...   If using UA miles to fly Egypt Air, it is 8K + Taxes.  Yet Aeroplan, another Star Alliance Partner, also a transfer partner of Chase and AMEX, wants 15K + Taxes + $39 AC partner booking fee... 

Hotels on that trip I used Marriott brands as much as possible because I was at the last month to make nights to keep my lowly Plat.  Some eye-opening redemption value though.  Marriott Mena House in Cairo, a historical establishment,  if paid by cash, it was $500+ and a whopping 28% tax!  Yet it only costs 28 to 30K pts.   St. Regis Cairo, a 2 years old high rise, the cash rate is $650 again + 28% tax.  On the night we stayed, the retail rate that night was $800 + 28% tax for an eye-watering well over $1100 price tag...  I used a Chase credit card's 35K Free Night Cert topped up with 5K pts.  My Suite Night Award request was cleared.  They gave us a 1500 sqft 2 bedroom apartment. 

The 3 years Covid has dampened our travel desire A Lot.  Somehow I dont have the desire to make trips.  In the past I would randomly look up award availability on various programs, and if there were something jumped out at me, we would make a trip out of it.  One year we found Qantas First Class, an Unicorn so to speak, were available to book with AS miles on Melbourn to Los Angeles.   We jumped on it.   Then we found US-HKG-SYD on Cathay Pacific, with AS miles again, to comlete the outbound leg.

Somehow I no longer have the passion to do the hunt.  It used to give me a lot of joy doing the hunt. 

Yet we need to get to Hong Kong to take care of some personal matters.  Was lucky enough to find 2 Cathay Pacific business class seats US-HKG-TYO to and from,  using Alaska Airlines miles at 50K per person one way,  + taxes + $12.50 partner booking per person per ticket, for travel in Sept.  A friend did a trip SFO-HKG-SFO last Sept.  He paid $8,200 for the business round trip ticket on Cathay Pacific.  So I guess I can say our upcoming trip the air portion alone would be $20K, because it has the portion of HKG-TYO-HKG. 

Yup, those were long time ago from Bank of America 蹭的.  

Just doing the hotel bookings now, a total of 27 days hotels.  2 stretches in Hong Kong, 21 days in total, all using Marriott points and FN certs.  Tokyo portion use IHG pts and FN cert for 6 days.  All from Chase, with 1 Marriott FN from AMEX.  Hotel portion might worth $7 to $8K I believe.   That would be close to $30K worth from points and miles just on this trip.

I dont know between now and Sept where we might go or just stay home.  We have done enough traveling around the world.  Probably have been in Lisbon 5 or 6 times,  all were port visit / overnight visit on Transatlantic cruises.  We have been in Hawaii many times decades ago when the islands were not run down as now.  Though we never really like Hawaii.  Besides, it is TOO LONG A Flight from East Coast.  Much nicer to go to Caribbeans if we care for some leisurely sun and sea days.  (not our cup of tea though - we dont even get off the ship on a Caribbean cruise, lol.)

Likewise, never understand people's desire to go to Maldives - can't stay more than 2 days on an islet that you only need a few hours to walk around it.  And it is such a long way.  Even the Polynesia does not appeal to us any more.  Still like Australia a lot despite been there and New Zealand many times in the 10 years period between 2000 and 2010.  Now we only go to Australia if we happen to go to Asia or a Round the World trip.  

A little pro tip - if you like to go to Australia, it is much easier to find award seat from Europe.  AA has a great redemption level that is, from Europe to Australia, you are allowed to use Doha to fly Qatar or use Hong Kong to fly Cathay Pacific.  You often can find seats from unexpected European cities to Doha, such as Zagreb, Croatia's capital.  QR flies Zagreb- Doha.

IF and When, Cathay Pacific resumes services to South Africa, and if anyone wants to do a Safari,  AS miles on Cathay Pacific US-HKG-JNB is a great value.  Key is of course, many people know this, so finding availability is not easy.

Alaska Airlines program has some gems but they may be gone sometime this year, as they are way too undervalued than other airlines.   For example, AA would require 70K on US-Asia 2,  UA is 75K on the same if booked with partner flights.  AS only requires 50K, plus allowing stopover at HKG.  It is a miracle this gem has stayed for so long, might be because AS miles are hard to earn, and not a transfer partner of the "flexible currencies".

Looks like you have a full travel schedule in 2023.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

g
goingplaces
Hotel Status does not equal Hotel CC

More importantly,  each program has DIFFERENT RULES.   If you really want to learn,  you should go to program's website to read the details and learn the basics.

It is very difficult for others to help you to understand how things work, if you dont even spend time to learn the basic by going over the programs you are interested in, and understand the very fundamentals. 

雨城岁月
好的。谢谢goingplaces 和dogmom2019回帖。