You do not want me to remind you that factors and miles can get you fancy flights and posh resort stays.
However do you know that your rewards may also land you private butlers and stays on non-public islands?
Factors and miles can do wonders. This publish examines probably the most unique journey experiences your rewards should buy. Not solely are these uber-cool experiences, however in addition they provide a good worth in your factors and miles.
Spend an extended weekend at Richard Branson’s non-public island
You possibly can redeem 630,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors plus $5,700 to get a three-night keep for 2 at Richard Branson’s Necker Island.
Necker Island is a 74-acre non-public island oasis east of Puerto Rico within the British Virgin Islands. The resort sleeps as much as 40 folks throughout 15 complete rooms. Facilities embrace infinity swimming pools, serene leisure areas, a number of bars, elegant eating areas, garden video games, tennis courts, water sports activities and a sizzling tub immediately on the seaside.
Bookings are restricted to those that have Virgin Atlantic Silver or Gold standing, although you might be able to standing match to Virgin Atlantic from one other airline or resort program.
Examine in to Etihad’s A380 Flats
The primary airline to introduce a single aisle on the Airbus A380, Etihad Airways presents first-class “Flats” with an unbelievable quantity of private area; it lets you stroll round inside your non-public space. Every seat in an Residence consists of a large armchair and a separate sofa that converts right into a 6-foot, 10-inch mattress. 9 Flats alternate between forward- and rear-facing; in addition they alternate between being nearer to the window and nearer to the aisle.
Rows 3 and 4 are excellent when you’re touring with somebody, as you’ll be able to decrease a partition to attach the seats. It does not type a real double mattress like you could find on Singapore Airways and Qatar Airways, however with the doorways closed, it is about as non-public as you will get in business aviation. First-class passengers can clean up by taking an onboard bathe earlier than touchdown.
Etihad flies the A380 between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Worldwide Airport (AUH) and London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), New York Metropolis’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). You will pay 160,000 Etihad Visitor miles when reserving the JFK-AUH route.
Every day E-newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Every day publication
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s consultants
Within the entrance of the Etihad A380 first-class cabin (the place you’d count on to see seats 1A and 1C) is the “Residence.” It is a three-room mega suite full with a separate lounge, a bed room and a toilet (with a bathe, in fact). When you can not ebook the Residence with factors and miles, you’ll be able to improve with money.
Normal one-way Residence improve costs on the New York route complete $4,790 per individual.
Keep on the North Island resort within the Seychelles
In the event you’re sitting on a big stash of Marriott Bonvoy factors, you should utilize them to remain on the unbelievable North Island, a Luxurious Assortment Resort, Seychelles.
You will get to remain in a two-bedroom villa that covers practically 5,000 sq. ft. Your keep will even embrace complimentary breakfast, use of an island buggy, morning yoga and youngsters actions.
Award nights price greater than 400,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening, and the resort has a four-night minimum-stay requirement. This price additionally does not embrace the 1,110 euros ($1,200 on the time of writing) you’d must pay for a helicopter switch every method. Nonetheless, contemplating money charges often cross $7,000 per evening, this could possibly be thought-about an ideal worth — so long as you have got an enormous stash of Marriott factors.
Associated: Finest methods to earn Marriott Bonvoy factors: From resort stays and bank card spending to journey companions
Retreat to the all-inclusive, non-public Calala Island resort
Calala Island is an all-inclusive, non-public island retreat off the coast of Nicaragua. It is so unique that it has simply 4 beachfront suites and may solely accommodate eight visitors at a time.
Room charges often prime $4,000 per evening, so it is an absolute steal with factors. Stays embrace meals, drinks, actions and airport transfers.
Bathe on board in Emirates top notch
There are not any methods to redeem factors and miles for personal jet journey, however Emirates top notch is the following neatest thing. You possibly can ebook these awards by means of Emirates Skywards, Qantas Frequent Flyer or Air Canada Aeroplan.
If you wish to expertise gold-studded suites and onboard showers and bars, you will need to fly on Emirates’ flagship A380 plane. If trendy sports activities car-inspired interiors are extra your model, go for Emirates’ newer 777-300ER planes with the sport changer totally enclosed suites. It doesn’t matter what aircraft you find yourself on, you will take pleasure in Emirates’ identical top-notch meals and drinks (together with caviar and Dom Perignon) and repair.
Emirates typically costs decrease redemption charges than Qantas or Air Canada, with first-class flights between JFK and Dubai Worldwide Airport (DXB) costing 163,500 miles every method. You possibly can switch factors to Emirates from six transferable factors packages: Chase Final Rewards, American Specific Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One, Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.
Associated: Now you can use Aeroplan factors for Emirates top notch, but it surely is not low cost
Fly in model in Air France’s La Premiere top notch
One other top-notch first-class product is Air France’s La Premiere, accessible solely on among the service’s 777-300ERs. The cabin options simply 4 seats throughout a single row, making it one of many smallest and most unique cabins within the sky.
La Premiere seats are elegant and personal, that includes a person lamp at each seat and floor-to-ceiling curtain dividers. The meals is world-class, and the bottom expertise is unparalleled; passengers get chauffeured from an ultraluxe first-class lounge and the aircraft in a non-public automobile.
Sadly, this product is extraordinarily onerous to ebook with miles. To ebook La Premiere awards with miles, you will need to maintain Air France-KLM Flying Blue Platinum elite standing or above. Additional, eligible elite members can solely redeem on the “flex” degree (not saver), so a one-way ticket between the U.S. and Europe will usually price at the very least 220,000 miles.
In the event you’re eligible to ebook these awards, you’ll be able to switch factors to Flying Blue from Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Bilt Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards.
Associated: Bucket checklist achieved: Reviewing Air France’s extremely hard-to-book La Premiere top notch
Take pleasure in double beds in Singapore’s first-class suites
In the event you’re touring with a big different, you’ll be able to’t beat Singapore Airways’ A380 suites.
Every suite options a formidable 50 sq. ft and incorporates not only a reclinable armchair however a completely separate mattress. In the event you’re touring with somebody, you’ll be able to mix two suites to create a double mattress and have as much as 100 sq. ft of area.
Singapore does not launch first-class award area to companion packages, but it surely does make it accessible by means of its personal Singapore KrisFlyer frequent flyer program. Sadly, Singapore Airways does not fly its A380 to the U.S., so you will must fly between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and someplace like LHR or Sydney Airport (SYD) to expertise it.
It is easy to get your fingers on KrisFlyer miles for the reason that program is a companion of Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Final Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One.
Associated: Easy methods to ebook Singapore Airways first-class suites with factors and miles
Unwind at luxurious Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties
You possibly can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy factors at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties. Beforehand, the model didn’t take part within the loyalty program.
Ritz-Carlton Reserve is one in all Marriott’s most unique manufacturers, with simply seven properties worldwide in areas reminiscent of Japan, Thailand and Mexico. It is a step above the usual Ritz-Carlton model, emphasizing luxurious, tranquility and sustainability. The properties are intimate, every composed of as few as 50 rooms, and they’re usually in distant areas.
Award stays typically vary from 80,000 to 240,000 factors per evening. Though steep, the money charges at these accommodations are sometimes north of $800 per evening. As with different Marriott Bonvoy award stays, you will get a fifth evening free for each 4 consecutive nights you ebook with factors.
Backside line
You possibly can redeem factors and miles for some actually luxurious flights and resort stays that will usually price tens of 1000’s of {dollars}.
By capitalizing on a couple of giant sign-up bonuses and being strategic together with your spending, an extravagant first-class flight or journey to a non-public island could possibly be inside attain.
