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Today I want to share a story from TPG reader Lauren, who used points to save a bundle on hotels. Here’s what she had to say:
Lauren made good use of her Ultimate Rewards points, but her story also illustrates that award travel strategies can be profitable even when you don’t already have points on hand. She paid 2 cents for each point she purchased, but she got five times as much in return when she redeemed them. If she had started from zero, she still could have purchased 36,400 points (28,000 with a 30% bonus) for $672. That’s a substantial out-of-pocket cost, but it’s a massive discount from the cash rate.
Buying rewards doesn’t always make sense, so learning to differentiate between good and bad deals is important. Airlines and hotels routinely offer promotional bonuses that make buying points and miles worthwhile, but you should always compare the cost to buy them with your expected redemption value. When you see an opportunity to buy low and redeem high, take it.
I love this story and I want to hear more like it! To thank Lauren for sharing her experience (and for allowing me to post it online), I’m sending her a $200 airline gift card to enjoy on future travels, and I’d like to do the same for you. Please email your own award travel success stories to info@thepointsguy.com; be sure to include details about how you earned and redeemed your rewards, and put “Reader Success Story” in the subject line. Feel free to also submit your most woeful travel mistakes. If your story is published in either case, I’ll send you a gift to jump-start your next adventure.
Safe and happy travels to all, and I look forward to hearing from you!
Source: thepointsguy.com