It is exhausting to imagine that The Factors Man is popping 15 years outdated this month. The location — together with all of the enjoyable and informative factors, miles and journey content material on our social and video channels — has come a good distance since Brian Kelly began running a blog about his journey pastime as a small aspect hustle throughout nights, weekends and breaks from his day job again in 2010.
Whereas so very a lot has modified — not solely at TPG because it grew from Brian’s small aspect challenge into the 100-plus-employee enterprise it’s in the present day but in addition with rewards loyalty packages and the journey business — in that point, Capital One miles have at all times been central to our factors and miles technique right here at TPG.
In truth, a method Brian continues to earn most of the miles he has racked up through the years together with his personal endeavors and enterprise spending is by utilizing the Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise card for a few of his personal on a regular basis enterprise purchases.
The cardboard is presently providing an elevated welcome bonus of as much as 350,000 miles — you possibly can earn 150,000 bonus miles after spending $30,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening and a further 200,000 bonus miles after spending $200,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening. This provide ends June 9.
In case you hit these spending marks to set off the total bonus, you’ll find yourself with at the very least 750,000 Capital One miles from the bonus and the spending because the card earns 2 miles per greenback spent on purchases (and extra on journey booked by means of Capital One’s journey reserving web site). These 750,000 miles could be value $7,500 when redeemed instantly for journey purchases or probably much more by leveraging this system’s numerous airline and lodge switch companions.
So, whether or not you earn your Capital One miles like Brian does together with his Enterprise X Enterprise card or with considered one of Capital One’s different stellar playing cards, such because the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card or the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card, listed here are 15 dream-worthy methods to spend them.
Seashores and large cities in Colombia
Journey from the Washington, D.C., space to this South American gem for a stunning mixture of tradition and seaside time — all attainable utilizing your Capital One miles in just a few nice, other ways.
If comfort is what you are after, you might redeem miles instantly by means of Capital One’s journey reserving web site at a price of 1 cent apiece for airfare between Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) close to Washington (and revel in IAD’s Capital One Lounge because of the Capital One Enterprise X Enterprise card) and mountainous Bogota’s El Dorado Worldwide Airport (BOG) or beachy Cartagena’s Rafael Núñez Worldwide Airport (CTG) beginning at round $400 or 40,000 miles for economic system on numerous airways, together with American Airways and Delta Air Strains.
Or, you might switch Capital One miles on a 1:1 foundation to Avianca LifeMiles, the frequent flyer program of Colombian airline Avianca. As a substitute of paying round $650 for an itinerary from Washington to Cartagena and coming back from Bogota, you would wish simply 16,320 miles plus $138 in taxes and costs in our check searches, which is a few fairly terrific financial savings.
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In Bogota, you might put your miles to make use of by transferring them to Alternative Privileges at a 1:1 price so you possibly can redeem 12,000 of them per evening (as a substitute of paying round $120) to remain on the upscale Radisson Bogota Metrotel within the metropolis’s tony Chapinero district, the place a few of Bogota’s finest boutiques and eating places are.
Then it is off to sunny Cartagena, the place you would possibly need to splurge on a keep on the historic Sofitel Legend Santa Clara Cartagena, housed in an impressive former convent from the seventeenth century. Room charges there begin at round $349 per evening. It can save you some cash, although, by transferring Capital One miles to Accor Dwell Limitless at a 2:1 ratio after which redeeming them in parcels of 1,000 factors for 20 euros ($22) off your keep.
Alternatively, you might simply e-book by means of Capital One’s journey reserving web site and redeem your miles at 1 cent apiece for a keep at Casa Pestagua, a Relais & Chateaux-affiliated boutique lodge within the historic metropolis middle with rooms beginning at round $420 (or 42,000 miles) per evening. It’s a part of the Capital One Premier Assortment, so these with Enterprise X Enterprise playing cards are eligible to e-book and obtain perks like availability-based upgrades, free day by day breakfast for 2 and as much as $100 in assertion credit for on-property fees.
It’d rely on what number of vacationers are with you and the way lengthy your journey is, however you possibly can flip round 100,000 Capital One miles into a wonderful journey of at the very least 5 to 6 days.
(White) Lotus pose
Assume set-jetting is only for the glitterati? Assume once more.
You possibly can go to one of many tropical Thai islands, the place Season Three of “The White Lotus” was filmed, whereas sticking to a price range — and your miles will help. When there may be award availability, you might switch simply 84,000 Capital One miles to Singapore KrisFlyer and e-book a round-trip ticket in economic system on Singapore Airways from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) or San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO) to Phuket Worldwide Airport (HKT). As a substitute of paying $900 in money, you would be on the hook for under $65 in taxes and costs, plus the miles spent.
As soon as there, you might use Capital One miles transferred to Wyndham Rewards to e-book a keep on the seaside Wyndham Grand Phuket Kalim Bay for simply 12,000 factors per evening (as a substitute of round $150 in money).
Alternatively, you might keep at one of many precise filming areas for “The White Lotus,” Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas, which is a part of Capital One’s Premier Assortment, for slightly below $300 per evening and revel in all of these Premier Assortment perks. By reserving through Capital One’s journey reserving web site, you’d earn 10 miles per greenback spent in your keep, or you might redeem miles instantly for the keep at a price of 1 cent apiece.
Jet-set to Europe in Lufthansa’s new enterprise class
Lufthansa is presently rolling out its stellar new Allegris enterprise class, with plenty of personalized particular person seat sorts, even in the identical cabin. (Some are higher for colleagues or companions touring collectively, whereas others are nice for solo enterprise vacationers.) You might take that subsequent enterprise (or leisure) journey in type and arrive rested.
This new business-class seat is flying between Munich and Chicago, San Diego and San Francisco (plus Charlotte beginning in August). Be one of many first aviation aficionados (AvGeeks) to expertise this trendy new cabin for your self. You simply have to switch Capital One miles to Air Canada Aeroplan, and all it takes is simply 70,000 miles every method between (most of) the U.S. and Munich when awards can be found. Taxes and costs could be as much as $400 in every course, however tickets can value upward of $8,000 if paying with money, so you might be nonetheless attending to expertise all that luxurious at a reduction because of utilizing your miles.
A grand time in Grand Cayman
Though usually a brief distance, flights between U.S. airports and Grand Cayman could be costly — sometimes over $400 round-trip from many airports, however extra usually within the $700-$800 vary.
Nevertheless, it can save you a small fortune and take the entire household (or a gaggle of colleagues as an incentive) to the Caribbean paradise from 24,000 British Airways Avios (transferred from Capital One on a 1:1 foundation) plus round $114 in taxes and costs per round-trip ticket from Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA) or 36,000 Avios plus the identical taxes and costs from Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW). Each choices are for flights operated by American Airways.
As soon as there, you possibly can spend your days scuba diving, sunning on Seven Mile Seashore and swimming with manta rays.
Magic within the Maasai Mara
Need to think about a real splurge?
That is numerous factors, however it certain beats paying widespread charges of almost $3,000 per evening! Plus, when you earn the Enterprise X Enterprise card’s full welcome provide of as much as 350,000 miles — 150,000 miles after spending $30,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening and a further 200,000 miles after spending $200,000 on purchases within the first six months from account opening — you will have greater than sufficient miles for a memorable safari.
Sure, these spending necessities might sound excessive, but when your small enterprise can use a bank card for almost all of its bills, these numbers is perhaps extra inside attain than you suppose.
Splurge on Spain
Capital One miles convert to British Airways Avios at a 1:1 price, making it attainable to switch miles to British Airways Membership accomplice Membership Iberia Plus to redeem for Iberia flights. Why the double switch? Nice query.
It is as a result of with Membership Iberia Plus, business-class award tickets on off-peak dates (suppose: through the fall and winter when most people aren’t touring) can value as little as 34,000 Avios every method from airports like New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), so you might be attending to Europe in type at a steep low cost.
If headed to Barcelona, try the all-new, swanky SLS lodge by the Marina (it simply opened April 1), the place room charges begin at round $250 per evening — however you possibly can shave some {dollars} off that worth by changing Capital One miles to Accor Dwell Limitless factors and redeeming them in batches of 1,000 factors for 20 euros ($22) in worth off your lodge invoice.
Yay for Cathay
Some of the unique methods to fly is in Hong Kong-based airline Cathay Pacific’s decadent top quality between Hong Kong and the U.S.
Though award availability is extraordinarily tough (if not generally not possible) to return by when making an attempt to make use of accomplice miles, Capital One miles really switch on a 1:1 foundation on to Cathay Pacific’s personal Asia Miles program. There, award availability is a lot better; all you want is 125,000 Asia Miles (plus about $150-$180 in taxes and costs) in every course to expertise almost 15 hours of luxurious, together with caviar programs and free-flowing positive Champagne, when touring between Los Angeles and Hong Kong.
Aloha, Hawaii
That is a fraction of what different packages will cost you and means you might (once more, if you’ll find the supply) e-book 10 folks round-trip tickets to the islands from the U.S. mainland with the 350,000-mile welcome provide from the Enterprise X Enterprise card … and nonetheless have 150,000 miles left over!
Math could be enjoyable. Maybe that is simply the chance it is advisable to reward some high-performing colleagues for his or her exhausting work and to make the parents again residence jealous along with your actual Zoom background of sandy seashores and crashing waves.
Put the vacay in Vacasa
Because of Wyndham Rewards’ partnership with Vacasa trip leases, you possibly can redeem Wyndham Rewards factors at a price of both 15,000 or 30,000 factors per bed room, per evening for some fabulous trip leases around the globe.
The 350,000-mile welcome provide from the Enterprise X Enterprise card could be sufficient for as many as 23 nights in a one-bedroom apartment close to some fabulous seashores and golf programs in Los Cabos, Mexico, or 11 nights in a surprising two-bedroom suite at any variety of seaside resorts perched on the jungle-covered mountainsides round Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
Like Europe, however nearer
Really feel like a European getaway however haven’t got the time for a full-blown transatlantic jaunt?
Attempt a go to to Quebec Metropolis this summer time as a substitute. Because of its zone- and distance-based award chart, Air Canada Aeroplan solely requires as few as 6,000 miles every method, making it attainable to get from Boston or New York Metropolis to Quebec Metropolis on Air Canada or United for as few as 12,000 miles round-trip as a substitute of paying round $500.
Which means you will have extra miles to place towards your lodge keep at choices just like the boutique Resort Royal William, Ascend Assortment, which is a part of Alternative Privileges. Charges there begin at 20,000 factors per evening (as a substitute of round $250).
Or, you might stay it up on the historic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, which began welcoming visitors in 1893 and was one of many unique grand railway motels. It has hosted heads of state and royals ever since and occurs to be a part of Accor Dwell Limitless, so you possibly can switch Capital One miles to this system on a 2:1 foundation to assist deliver the price of your keep down.
Colorado highs and South Carolina Lowcountry
Premier Assortment and Way of life Assortment leases earn 5 miles per greenback spent on the reserving, and you may redeem your Capital One miles for 1 cent apiece towards the associated fee. To consider it one other method, when you hit the minimal spending requirement wanted to earn the total 350,000-mile welcome provide (that is a complete of $200,000 on purchases within the first six months from opening your account) on the Enterprise X Enterprise card, you’d have a complete of 750,000 miles.
That is sufficient to offset $7,500 in bills on a rental on lush Kiawah Island, a Lowcountry vacation spot lower than an hour away from Charleston that is recognized for its seashores and nice {golfing}, or a mountainside chalet in Aspen, which you might make your private home base for a ski trip in winter or a mountaineering journey in summer time.
Have a g’day Down Below
Most folk suppose the key expense of a visit to Australia is the price of simply flying there.
Nevertheless, when you get to the continent, home flights may add as much as turn out to be a big portion of your journey value. That is why it would make sense to transform Capital One miles to British Airways Avios and redeem them for in any other case expensive quick flights on the service’s Oneworld accomplice, Qantas (which can also be a Capital One switch accomplice, however its redemption charges are sometimes not as advantageous).
As a substitute of paying about $300 for a flight from Melbourne to Cairns, one of many gateways to the Nice Barrier Reef, you might spend simply 11,000 Avios plus round $70 in taxes and costs when awards can be found.
Need to fly from Perth as much as Exmouth so you possibly can swim with whale sharks alongside Ningaloo Reef? These flights can value round $1,100 round-trip. Thankfully, you solely want a minimal of 18,000 Avios round-trip to cowl the journey because of British Airways Membership’s distance-based redemptions on companions. That may quantity to huge financial savings and open up in any other case inaccessible locations Down Below.
Say ‘Sawubona’ to South Africa
In case you’ve ever needed to observe the clouds roll down the golden sandstone face of Desk Mountain because the solar rises over Cape City, your finest wager for getting there would possibly simply be transferring Capital One miles to Avianca LifeMiles. Then, you possibly can redeem them for award tickets on Avianca’s Star Alliance accomplice, United.
It would value you at the very least 55,000 miles every method in economic system or 90,000 miles in enterprise class between the service’s hubs at Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) and IAD to Cape City Worldwide Airport (CPT). From there, you possibly can discover the great thing about South Africa’s rugged coast, enterprise inland to style the vintages within the Cape Winelands or simply spend just a few days on the seaside earlier than heading out on safari elsewhere within the nation or area.
Acquire some fancy Delft homes on KLM
Amongst AvGeeks, one of many airline souvenirs of lore is KLM’s well-known Delft homes, which the Dutch airline arms out as parting items to business-class flyers.
There’s one lovely miniature constructing design created for yearly of the airline’s 105-year historical past … so we dare you to attempt to acquire all of them! The excellent news is that you’re going to want simply 60,000 Capital One miles transferred to Air France-KLM Flying Blue when out there (as a substitute of wherever from $3,000 to $9,000) to fly between a number of U.S. airports and the airline’s hub in Amsterdam with the intention to choose up the subsequent Delft home in your assortment. Simply concentrate on taxes and costs on award tickets; they value round $200 to $300 every method.
Whereas on board, count on the airline’s signature facilities, together with reverse-herringbone seats (a few of which include closing privateness panels), gourmand menus courtesy of well-known Dutch cooks and purposeful amenity kits stocked with Marie-Stella-Maris skincare merchandise. Upon getting your tiny home in hand, you might spend a part of your European sojourn really trekking to the historic constructing within the Netherlands upon which it was based mostly.
A candy spot in ANA’s The Suite
Plane outfitted with cabins that includes The Suite have simply eight of them aboard in a small cabin up entrance that options two rows of 4 seats, every in a 1-2-1 sample. Designed by famed Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, The Suite has a muted palette impressed by Japanese luxurious motels, in addition to up-to-the-minute tech options like 43-inch leisure displays. Passengers may depend on each Japanese and Western meals from Michelin-lauded cooks whereas on board.
Though award availability is difficult to return by, when it does pop up, you possibly can take benefit by transferring Capital One miles to Virgin Crimson after which redeeming 72,500 of them every method between the western U.S. and Japan or 85,000 Virgin Crimson factors every method between the japanese U.S. and Japan.
