How to Maximize Your Points and Miles Strategy in May 2024

06.05.2024 - 20:25 / cntraveler.com / Marriott Bonvoy

It’s almost summertime, and those family vacations aren’t going to plan themselves. If you are hoping to earn points and miles for upcoming trips to sunnier (or cooler) climes, there are some travel promotions that can double or triple those loyalty program earnings. And for the jetsetters who want to redeem those hard-earned points and miles, now is the time to start looking to find the best deal.

But those deals are often changing. For example, United MileagePlus just quietly implemented a devaluation to their award chart without notice to members: They almost doubled the number of miles necessary to book intra-European business class flights with partner airlines like Lufthansa, and doubled the miles cost of first class flights on partner airlines for travel between the US and parts of Asia. That’s a major blow for those who have been saving miles for an upcoming trip.

To help you keep the flow of points and miles coming to offset devaluations like United’s, these are some of the best deals to keep in mind this spring.

Hilton Honors members will really rack up points after registering for a summer double points promotion for stays between now and September 2. There’s no limit to the number of points members can earn, and hotels around the world are eligible, including newly opened properties like Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, which appears on our 2024 Hot List of the best new and reimagined hotels and resorts all over the world.

Marriott Homes & Villas is Marriott’s luxury collection of residences where guests can earn or redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for a stay. To celebrate its fifth anniversary, the brand is offering bonus points for Marriott Bonvoy elite status members. Until May 10, elite travelers can earn 50,000 bonus points when booking a two-night stay for rates starting at $2,500 for dates before the end of the year. Be sure to register for the promotion before your stay. Not a Marriott Bonvoy elite member? You can get instant elite status when getting approved for several Marriott co-branded credit cards.

The GHA Discovery loyalty program, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary with its own bonus promotion, includes an array of almost 40 hotel brands like Anantara Resorts and Tivoli Hotels & Resorts—and the goal for travelers is to stay with as many as possible. The program awards “Discovery Dollars” as points, which can be redeemed for future stays. When staying with at least three of the program’s brands on stays valued at $600 or more, members would receive $300 bonus Discovery Dollars. Staying at four brands would yield $400; staying at five brands earns $500—it goes up to $1,000 in bonus dollars for staying at ten brands. All of these can be redeemed at properties