Real redemptions. Fully documented.
Every trip on this page is one we (or our family, or our clients) actually booked. Cabin, airline, exact miles spent, transfer partners, hotel costs — nothing hidden, nothing rounded for marketing.
Bora Bora & Tahiti
Three nights at the Conrad Bora Bora — top-of-hill villa upgrade, free breakfast, all booked with Hilton Honors and a single free-night certificate. Outbound via Polaris, return on Air Tahiti Nui Premium Economy.
Maldives via Qsuites.
DFW-DOH-MLE in Qatar Q-Suite for 70k miles + ~$200 each. Five nights at Le Méridien Maldives stitched together with 40k free-night certificates. Doha stopover at the Hyatt Regency on the return.
Europe & Italy archive.
A decade of European trips — Lufthansa First on the way over, Emirates First out of Milan, ITA Airways Business out of Rome. Family + clients booked, every redemption traced.
Hyatt Ziva, three couples.
Family trip with 3 couples — 3 separate Alaska companion fares for the flights, 25–30k Hyatt points per night for 5 nights × 3 rooms. All rooms upgraded to club tower + ocean view + hot tub thanks to status.
Hawaii — when cash wins.
A case study in when NOT to use points. SEA-OGG for $130 each (used expiring Alaska credits), Hyatt Regency Waikiki on a 20k night with a suite upgrade, then 40k Alaska miles for the lie-flat 787 home with a baby.
Tokyo → Sydney → Fiji.
A future trip already locked in: JAL Business to Tokyo, Park Hyatt Tokyo on points, ANA to Hong Kong, Langham via Amex FHR credits, Singapore Suites SIN-SYD in First Class on the A380, Fiji Airways Business home.
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