Best Points and Miles Deals to Book Now for Summer Travel
With parts of the country still getting pounded with snowstorms time and time again this spring, it can seem like summer will never arrive, but now’s the time to start planning your summer travel. There are multitudes of amazing points and miles deals that align with summer trips, no matter your destination, so you can earn more points and miles and get the best redemption deals, regardless of your favorite loyalty program.
Check out some of the best deals available for earning more rewards while spending less, and start planning with your points and miles goals in mind.
This is an excellent system-wide bonus (especially when airline flight bonuses can seem far and few between) and, if you’re a Miles & More member, you’re going to want to take advantage. Right now, you can get 50% extra award mileson Lufthansa flights. It’s a super-easy bonus to cash in on — all you have to do is book your flight on LH.com by May 31 and fly before Aug. 30. (The only catch: the deal isn’t available to travelers residing in Austria, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.)
Radisson
If you have 10 or more nights of travel you still need to book for early summer, this deal could be right for you. When Club Carlson (the loyalty group for the Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Plaza, Park Inn, Country Inn & Suites and Prizeotel properties) switched over to a new name, Radisson Rewards, earlier this year, it also unleashed an opportunity to earn up to 120,000 bonus points.
All you have to do to participate is book before April 15 for stays through June 30. Stay two nights for 5,000 bonus points; five nights for 15,000 bonus points; 10 nights for 50,000 bonus points; or 20 or more nights for 120,000 bonus points.
Club Carlson was always a great value loyalty program, and it seems Radisson Rewards will continue that trend, as it’s made it even easier for members to achieve higher tier status. Plus, they have tons of airline partners, so converting your points to miles is easy.
Fairmont
Each year, Fairmont generally unveils a Fairmont Suite Moments offer and this year is a little special, because it extends to hotel stays in the Americas, as the very last Suite Moments offer available to members did not. What do you get? Five hundred bonus miles per day with airline partners (Aeroplan, AAdvantage, Avios, Etihad, British Airways, Miles & More and United MileagePlus), and a $50 daily hotel credit with amenities like complimentary breakfast and cocktails.
There are some amazing Fairmont properties around the world that are perfect for a summer getaway, from Barbados to Bermuda, Montreal to Maui. Book by April 30 for stays through June 30.
JetBlue
If you’re looking to book an award flight to the Caribbean this summer, and your airline of choice is JetBlue, you’ll want to make sure you take advantage of this offer ASAP. Currently, Citi ThankYou Premier cardholders can receive 30 percent more TrueBlue points when they transfer before May 19. While typically these aren’t two types of points you want to convert between, just because they aren’t normally a great deal (the ratio is 1,000:800), the limited-time offer makes the exchange justifiable, with a transfer ratio of 1,000:1,040.
Hyatt
Members of both World of Hyatt and American Airlines AAdvantage can benefit from this offer for stays through June 30. You’ll get 1,000 Advantage bonus miles per stay at Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels around the world. Just register by April 30 and book your stay to qualify.
Hilton
Hilton Honors has been sending out some targeted offers for upcoming travel, so be sure to check your inbox. You could benefit from deals like 50,000 bonus points when you complete four stays in 90 days, or 5,000-10,000 bonus points for your next stay of two or more nights. If you didn’t receive one of these great offers, though, you can still take advantage of some of Hilton’s destination-specific offers, like 5,000 bonus Honors points for stays of two or more nights in Texas properties. This includes properties in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas and Houston, and the offer is available through the rest of the year.
Starwood
Starwood Preferred Guest members looking to earn gold or platinum status fast need to really hit the road this summer for this deal. Register through June 30 and earn gold status with just nine nights (typically 25 are required) or platinum status with just 18 nights (typically 50 are required). You’re eligible for these offers if you have not held gold or platinum status in the last five years and haven’t previously completed a status challenge promotion.
With such an easy deal, it’s hard to not take advantage of this one. Platinum member benefits include three Starpoints for every dollar spent on stays, welcome gifts, upgrades, complimentary WiFi, club access, extra points with airline partners and more. Gold member benefits include three Starpoints for every dollar spent, late check out, upgrades, welcome gifts, complimentary WiFi and extra points with airline partners.
Marriott
Take advantage of some destination-specific summer deals from Marriott. The brand often offers 1,000 or 2,000 bonus points for stays at certain properties, but they’ve amped up the benefits for a few. Stay at Domes of Elounda, an Autograph Collection property through June 20 for 5,000 bonus points, or if you’re looking to head out on your vacation a little earlier, you can even get 10,000 bonus points at Portland’s The Hi-Lo, Autograph Collection, through April 29.
Hertz
Lastly, if you’re going to be needing a rental car during your U.S., Canadian or Puerto Rico travel this summer, make sure you get your fair share of points and miles from your purchase, by renting from Hertz through July 31. You’ll get your seventh day free, plus double points or miles from Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Amtrak, Frontier, Hawaiian Airlines, Marriott or Spirit.