3 Best Ways to Redeem Points in Hawaii
3 Easy Ways to Redeem Points in Hawaii
I was recently interviewed by Julia Menez from Geobreeze Travel to discuss credit and travel hacks to Hawaii. Click here to listen to the Podcast.
My Credit & Travel Hacking Journey
I was born and raised here in Hawaii and grew up around the travel business. My grandfather & father were in the travel business, both owning a travel booking service and tour bus company.
I started to travel and credit hack in early 2016 because I was eager to find a cheaper & more efficient way to travel, while still saving up for financial investments. So I got my first credit card, the Barclay Arrival+ card. The 80,000 points sign-up bonus is what attracted me to the card, but I later realized that after redeeming the points earned from the sign-up bonus, points were hard to earn afterward and that Barclay’s points weren’t valuable, each point only worth 1 cent.
Following this discovery, a friend turned me onto the Chase Trifecta, which is the trio of these 3 Chase credit cards the CHASE SAPPHIRE PREFERRED, CHASE FREEDOM UNLIMITED, & the CHASE FREEDOM FLEX. With these three cards, I built a more sustainable model to earn points and my points are worth more when redeeming them through the Chase travel portal at 1.25-1.5 cents per point.
After mastering the Chase trifecta, I then opened a dozen more credit cards, using my own strategies as well as tips from other travel hackers, while still maintaining a credit score over 800. This is only a short summary of my journey, but I did want to share some deals with you all as a credit hacker and resident of Hawaii.
Look for these Deals when traveling to Hawaii
1.WEST COAST TO HAWAII UNDER $60 or 10,000 points on Southwest Airlines.
In March 2019, Southwest Airlines announced it would begin routes from the west coast to Hawaii. Prior to their arrival, Hawaiian airlines held the majority of the interisland travel and west coast travel, but Southwest Airlines has come in and taken the majority of those routes. Their cheap prices, customer service & unique boarding style have made it the preferred choice of travel to and from the islands.
On low travel seasons, direct flights can be purchased at under 10,000 southwest points. Not enough Southwest points? Apply for the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card for an extra 40,000 southwest points or transfer your points directly from your Chase account at a 1 to 1 transfer ratio.
2. INTER-ISLAND TRAVEL UNDER $30 or 2,000 Points on Southwest Airlines.
Along with the cheap west coast flights, Southwest started routes in between the islands of Hawaii. Those routes include flights between the Big Island (Hawaii), Maui, Kauai, & Oahu. Prices average between $39-59 (2500 - 5000 points) one way, but on occasion, prices have dropped below $29 (2,000 points ) during off-seasons. Do your research and look for these deals on inter-island flights.
3. LUXURY STAY at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort at 30,000 points a night.
Hyatt is regarded as the best hotel transfer with Chase, with The Points Guy valuing one Hyatt point at 1.7 cents (April 2021). This is an incredible redemption rate, but the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort is part of the Hyatt Collection boasts an even higher value for your points at over 3 cents per Hyatt point. At the time of this article, booking a standard room costs $1097.00 per night. Hyatt’s category point system allows this Category 7 resort to be priced no more than 30,000 Hyatt points a night! If you do the math, that’s 3.65 cents per Hyatt point. To top this amazing deal off, Chase transfers points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. Chase also has a co-branded Hyatt Visa credit card that you can get for a 60,000 point sign-up bonus, a free anniversary night, and other travel benefits.
Updated Nov 2023: As a Category 8 Hyatt, the Andaz Maui at Wailea will cost you 35,000-45,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
There are many other travel deals when traveling to Hawaii, but these 3 will bring the most value to your points. If you would like to get started with your credit/travel journey, you can support our channel by applying for your cards HERE.
Airport Lounges that are open at the Daniel Inouye International Airport HNL in Hawaii in 2021
Airport Lounges that are open at the Daniel Inouye International Airport HNL in Hawaii in 2021
It’s been almost a year since Covid-19 impacted travel to Hawaii, and many of the airport lounges are still closed.
Finding updated lounge info online has been inconsistent, so here is an updated status on lounges at HNL as of January 20, 2021
The New Ko Olina Lounge at the DAniel Inouye International Airport
Open:
✅ The Plumeria Lounge (Priority Pass)
✅ Hawaiian Airlines Premier Club
✅ United Airlines United Club
✅ Four Seasons Lanai Lounge
✅ Ko Olina Club Lounge
✅ USO Honolulu International Airport
✅ China Airlines Dynasty Lounge
✅ JAL Sakura Lounge / American Airlines Admirals Club
Closed:
🅾️ ANA Lounge & Suite Lounge
🅾️ Delta Sky Club
🅾️ Korean Air Lounge
🅾️ IASS Lounge
🅾️ Quanta Airways Lounge
The great thing is that the only lounge you have access to with Priority Pass is still open, which is the Plumeria Lounge. I hope you all have safe travels!
These 4 credit cards can help you pay off your debt on time!
Do you have existing credit card debt or have accumulated credit card debt due to COVID-19?
STRATEGY: Pay off credit card debt by opening a credit card with an introductory period of 0% APR
One way to alleviate the stress of accumulated credit card debt is to transfer an existing credit card balance to a credit card that offers the benefit of no transfer fees and 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases for a period of time. An added bonus is that all of the credit cards listed below currently do not have an annual fee! As this article was being published, the Chase Slate card was removed from the Chase website, probably as a result of COVID-19 changes by chase. We added an extra BONUS card that can help you transfer your debt.
1. Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
BENEFITS:
No balance transfer fee for transfers within 60 days of account opening
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from account opening
Earn 10,000 membership rewards points after you use your new card to make $1,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. If you’re saving money to pay off your credit card debt, but want to take advantage of this introductory offer (which you should), contact The Credit Hacker for creative ways on achieving the minimum spend requirement
Approx minimum credit score 660-700
2. Chase Slate
* Currently removed from the Chase Website as of 4/16/2020
BENEFITS:
No balance transfer fee for transfers within 60 days of account opening
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from account opening
Approx minimum credit score 690
CON:
No rewards
3. Citi Simplicity Card
BENEFITS:
Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each credit card balance transfer, whichever is greater
Get 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and for 12 months on purchases. Balance transfers must be completed within the first 4 months
Approx minimum credit score 670
CON:
No rewards
4. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
BENEFITS:
Balance Transfer Fee: Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
Get 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 billing cycles. Balance transfers must be within 60 days from account opening
CON:
Approx minimum credit score 750
No rewards
Transferring debt between cards with the same issuer is typically not allowed.
Please note that introductory rates on credit cards increase SUBSTANTIALLY after the introductory period. Please check the terms of your credit card agreement. Minimum credit score thresholds may vary and are at the discretion of the credit card company you’re applying to. The information provided above is current as of the date of the blog post.
We at The Credit Hacker want to emphasize that we encourage EVERYONE out there to eliminate credit card debt and develop healthy spending habits by utilizing a budget. The credit cards listed above are a tool to get you out of debt, but the reality is that spending habits may need to be adjusted in order to alleviate the debt that was accrued.
How Airline and Hotel Loyalty programs are changing due to COVID-19, coronavirus.
Given the global situation concerning COVID-19 (the coronavirus), frequent travelers have stayed at home and are practicing social distancing instructions in order to prevent further spread of the illness. As we hope for the safe health of others, we're all dreaming of a return to normal travel. While no one can quite predict when that might be, travel companies have made moves to keep their programs active and members engaged. Here's a list by Ramsey Qubein on what to know about travel loyalty program changes, elite status, and qualifications moving forward.
Accor Live Limitless
Accor’s loyalty program is crediting 50 percent of the status nights and points required to requalify for your current status level. This automatically gets you halfway toward the same status for next year.
Aeroplan
Air Canada is pausing the expiration of miles until May 14, which means if you had miles set to expire before then, they now last until mid-May. Altitude members are receiving additional eUpgrade credits in their accounts, which are valid until May 31, 2021.
Best Western Rewards
Best Western was one of the first to extend status for members until January 31, 2022. This means that your current status remains the same unless you earn a higher level this year. Plus, anyone who was downgraded in status based on travels in 2019 will be boosted to their previous level until January 31, 2022, as well.
Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club
Cathay is automatically adding monthly increments of points between now and April to get travelers closer to status thresholds even when they cannot travel. In addition, those with lounge passes, upgrade certificates, and Gold Companion Card nominations will receive six-month extensions to use them.
Choice Privileges
Any points set to expire have been extended through the end of May 2021.
Delta SkyMiles
If you have upgrade and companion certificates that were supposed to expire this spring, the validity has been extended through the end of the year.
Emirates Skywards
The airline is lowering elite threshold requirements between now and May 2020 by 20 percent.
Etihad Guest
The airline is delivering bonus tier miles on a monthly basis to pad member balances and help them toward annual elite thresholds during the travel slowdown.
Flying Blue
Miles will no longer expire this year, and for those with status expiring this spring, elite status requirements are being lowered by 25 percent.
Hilton Honors
Any points that were scheduled to expire between now and May 31 will be extended.
IHG Rewards Club
IHG was a first mover in making status easier for travelers. Travelers now have lower requirements to earn elite status. For example, Gold Elite status now requires 7,000 qualifying points (instead of 10,000) or seven qualifying nights (instead of 10) this year to earn status. Top-tier Spire Elite status only requires 55,000 qualifying points (instead of 75,000) or 55 nights (instead of 75).
Marriott Bonvoy
If you have free night or Suite Night awards (used for room upgrades on eligible stays) in your account, these will be extended until December 31, 2021. In addition, any points set to previously expire will be extended to the same date.
Qantas Frequent Flyer
Status is being extended for current elite members by 12 months.
Radisson Rewards
Current elite status has been extended through February 2022, and any upcoming points expiration has been extended through the end of August.
Shangri-La Golden Circle
The current elite status is being extended for another year to December 31, 2021.
Virgin Flying Club
Elite status is being extended by six months.
World of Hyatt
Proposed changes to award categories (the designated number of points needed to redeem for a free night’s stay) will not go into effect this month as planned. Instead, it will be postponed to 2021. That’s good news for stays at many luxury hotels, where the free-night points rate was going to increase.
Why haven’t other brands made adjustments yet?
Given the uncertainty of the current situation, some airlines or hotels may be waiting to see the extent of travel disruption before making an announcement. Even currently announced loyalty program adjustments may change again before the end of the year. As we wait for the curve to flatten, be expecting more change to occur to our favorite hotel and airline programs.
How to get Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite in 2019
Is Marriott Gold Elite worth it? in my opinion, it is! Marriott has a 5 tier reward system: Silver, Gold, Platinum, Titanium & Ambassador, but the reals perks start when you qualify for Gold Elite? Marriott Members enjoy all the benefits of Gold Elite status after completing only 25 eligible nights in a calendar year — including redemption nights, but if you don’t stay at Marriotts too often? GET A CREDIT CARD!!
Listed below are the credit cards that give you an Gold Elite status with Marriott
Penha Longa Hotel & Resort in Portugal.
1. The Platinum Card® from American Express provides automatic Gold Elite status.
2. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant™ American Express® Card provides automatic Gold Elite status.
3. The Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants) provides automatic Gold Elite status.
4. The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card allows you to earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
5. The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card allows you to earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
6. The Marriott Premier Plus Business Credit Card (no longer accepting applications) allows you to earn Gold Elite status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each account year.
What value does Gold Elite status give you? (info from @thepointsguy)
25% point bonus ($90): As a Gold Elite member in the new program, you’ll earn 25% more points than a regular member, which works out to 2.5 additional points per dollar spent at most hotels. Since I’m assuming 30 nights with an average rate of $150 per night, that works out to an additional 11,250 points, worth $90.
Kauai Marriott Resort - Kalapaki Beach
Priority late checkout ($50): Gold members also enjoy a priority late checkout of up to 2pm, though it is subject to availability. Since there’s a stated time (in contrast the the aforementioned Silver perk), I’ll bump the value up slightly.
Elite phone line ($25): Same benefit, more frequent utilization
Complimentary enhanced internet ($30): Even though all members enjoy free internet when booking through a Marriott channel, Gold members can take advantage of faster speeds with complimentary enhanced internet access. I typically find that hotel Wi-Fi is decently fast, though if you like to stream videos or engage in other high-bandwidth activities online, the faster speed can make a difference. I’ll use the same value for this perk from previous posts: $1 per night.
Upgrades to enhanced rooms ($600): Gold members are also eligible for space-available upgrades to enhanced rooms at check-in. This may include rooms on higher floors, rooms with special amenities or rooms on the Executive Floor, but it explicitly excludes suites (per the terms & conditions). Since this perk is similar to what Hilton Gold members receive, I’ll use the same valuation of $20 per night.
Welcome gift ($50): If you’re a Gold Elite member, you’ll receive a welcome gift of extra Marriott points at check-in, either 250 points for limited-service properties or 500 points for full-service locations. Given the assumed split above, you’d earn an average of 375 points (worth ~$3.38) for each of your 15 stays.