Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away, and who better to get inspiration from than the queen of entertaining, Martha Stewart?
17.10.2023 - 18:45 / thepointsguy.com
As we hurtle toward the end of 2023, many travelers are shifting their attention from planning holiday travel to next year's vacations. And savvy readers know how leveraging points and miles can be a key component in a strategy to save money as they look ahead to upcoming trips.
With the anticipation of future adventures and the booking of trips for 2024 underway, we have gathered a collection of six extraordinary hotel redemptions. These carefully selected properties have piqued our interest and excitement as they offer unparalleled experiences that may appear challenging to secure — yet they're available on many dates next year.
Here are six (almost) impossible hotel redemptions you can book now.
Before we explore the properties that have sparked the excitement of TPG's staff with award availability, let's highlight some key advantages of booking with points.
Firstly, having a contingency plan in place is always important when making reservations. It's wise to prepare for any unexpected developments. Flexibility is crucial.
Hotel award bookings tend to offer greater flexibility compared to cash bookings. If you need to cancel your award hotel reservation, your free night awards or points are typically returned to your account without penalty if you cancel within the specified cancellation window.
Nonrefundable hotel award reservations are uncommon, giving travelers peace of mind and the ability to modify or cancel their plans without significant consequences.
Cash rates have increased from where they were a few years ago. Previously, travelers had to contemplate saving their airline miles and hotel points for a future period when cash rates would be expensive. While numerous hotels still offer heavily discounted cash rates, the properties with "impossible" hotel redemptions have long kept their cash prices considerably high.
With the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card and the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, you can get the fourth consecutive night for free when using points. With Marriott Bonvoy, the lowest-priced night is free when you redeem Bonvoy points, while Hilton Honors allows travelers with Hilton elite status to get the fifth night free on redemptions (and remember that all Hilton credit cards include automatic status, thus opening up this perk).
This is a fantastic way to get more value from your points, and you'll want the extra night at the hotels we have in store for you.
Related: Quick Points: Get your 4th or 5th night free on award stays
Regrettably, there has been a recent surge in devaluations within the travel industry, particularly by companies such as Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Moreover, the hotel sector is also experiencing a fair share of uncertainties.
Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away, and who better to get inspiration from than the queen of entertaining, Martha Stewart?
In the heart of South America, Bolivia is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes on the continent. From pristine rainforests and high-altitude salt flats to cities rich with cultural diversity, there’s an incredible amount to see, do, and experience here.
The southern Algarve region of Portugal has some of the warmest weather in the country and a dramatic coastline dotted by golden-hued craggy cliffs, patches of pristine sandy beaches, and quaint, cobblestone towns. While this idyllic Atlantic retreat is no secret among Europeans, it still flies relatively under the radar for visitors coming from farther afield.
With such a variety of landscapes, from iconic paddies and unspoiled rainforests to plantations and villages, Bali is a walker’s dream. This relatively compact and densely populated island is not suited to epic multi-day treks, but the range of day hikes and weekend treks will certainly keep you on your toes.
There's no better time of year for travelers to save on luggage, outdoor gear, tech essentials, home goods, premium beauty, clothing and shoes, and just about everything else than Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While we still have a few weeks to go until the mega-sales officially begin, many travel-friendly brands have already started rolling out early Black Friday deals. We're seeing discounts on everything from headphones and fitness trackers to weekender bags and luggage sets from popular retailers and brands like Amazon, Calpak, Target, Sephora, and more. Below, we rounded up the top deals for travelers to jump on now, so you can start your holiday shopping early and save on popular products before they sell out. We'll be updating this page as more sales go live, so be sure to check back here for the very best early Black Friday deals for travelers.
October is one of my favorite months in New York City. Here, you get a mix of chilly fall days and unexpectedly warm temperatures, plus the leaves change into vibrant hues of orange, yellow and red. With many schools on fall break, there are plenty of tourists in town checking out that delightful Central Park foliage (and staying at the best hotels in the area) and, for me, it's one last chance to hold onto the city before it really gets cold.
IHG Hotels & Resorts recently rolled out a function that allows guests to find and book rooms based on certain attributes, a project it says has been years in the making.
Lonely Planet, a leader in the travel industry best known for its blue-spined guidebooks, just released its annual Best in Travel report.
The capital’s biggest annual music event, the EFG London Jazz Festival, hits town next month, running from 10-19 November and tickets are already selling out. Big name international musicians like Charles Lloyd, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Joshua Redman join excellent local acts including pianist Joe Webb and saxophonist Alex Hitchcock. Look out for interesting collaborations too.
Omega Mart, a giant grocery store in Las Vegas, attracted more than 1 million people in its first year of opening — but it doesn't actually sell food.
Qatar Airways' award-winning Qsuite has long been among the world's best business-class products.
Holland America Line has just announced it will be expanding its industry-leading global fresh fish program by partnering with Vital Choice—the trusted source for wild-caught fish and seafood. The unique collaboration means that home cooks will have the chance to enjoy the exact same fresh fish and seafood recipes they enjoyed at sea—in their own kitchen.