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After a decade holding my Gold Card, I’m sitting on almost 1 million MR points and it’s time to start spending them.
My top idea right now is Marriott redemptions for 10 nights at the RC Maldives and StR Maldives, costing 800k MR. I’m painfully aware this would have been much cheaper pre-dynamic pricing days, but given the cash rates hover around $3k/night now it seems like still good value.
I’m not Avios-poor to use MR to buy Avios (I collect through my BAPP and Barclaycard), and I often buy Hilton points in the 100% promos so I have a cheap supply of those already. I don’t want any low-value redemptions like statement credits.
Does the HfP collective have any better ideas to maximise the value of a large MR stash?
@iamlost this is a nice dilemma to have ! Can you give any clearer idea of the sort of holidays / experiences that you enjoy or aspire to so that we can be a bit targeted in our recommendations?
My mind goes to Necker island in the BVI, courtesy of virgin points, if the redemption is still around, not seen a promo for it in ages
Definitely at least a virgin voyages cruise for 80k next time it comes around
My mind goes to Necker island in the BVI, courtesy of virgin points, if the redemption is still around, not seen a promo for it in ages
Definitely at least a virgin voyages cruise for 80k next time it comes around
This is an interesting one I hadn’t thought about. I found an HfP article from Dec 2022 that priced it at 1.7m points for a week and Virgin Red now shows it at 2m points, so I’m a fair way off unfortunately. I’d have gone for it nearer the 1m mark. I see some curious high-end safari resort options on Virgin Red that I will look into now though. Thanks!
I have to say I’m not sold on the cruises though, as a guy who recently turned 30…
@iamlost this is a nice dilemma to have ! Can you give any clearer idea of the sort of holidays / experiences that you enjoy or aspire to so that we can be a bit targeted in our recommendations?
Generally geared towards higher-end, but I’m open to any ideas that maximise value of my MR stash. Some memorable destinations / hotels in the last 3 years have been Four Seasons Desroches Seychelles, St Regis Venice, Waldorf Maldives, Canaves Oia Santorini, Shangri-La Mauritius, Chedi Andermatt, Anantara Layan Phuket, Mandarin Doha/Dubai – so I do a mix of exotic and city luxury travel. Thanks in advance.
If you can get two 5 for 4 redemption, then I think this is a great use of the points, as I assume you’ll smash the target 0.5p value target. Transferring to Bonvoy is one of the higher value uses of the points anyway, before you add the 5for4. There is something to be said for the warm fuzzy feeling of a high value redemption over slowly grinding through £6,600 worth of necter points! I used points for a 5 for 4s at the W Maldive and Conrad Rangali just before the pandemic, and still look back with fond memories. Just be warned, the transfers, special dining event, excursions etc will add up quickly, but we thought it was worth it.
The only other things I’d personally consider would be Eurostar redemptions, or perhaps transferring to an airline you don’t normally fly (perhaps via Bonvoy transfers) for an aspirational redemption – for example, if there is a first class product you always wanted to try.
My mind goes to Necker island in the BVI, courtesy of virgin points, if the redemption is still around, not seen a promo for it in ages
Definitely at least a virgin voyages cruise for 80k next time it comes around
This is an interesting one I hadn’t thought about. I found an HfP article from Dec 2022 that priced it at 1.7m points for a week and Virgin Red now shows it at 2m points, so I’m a fair way off unfortunately. I’d have gone for it nearer the 1m mark. I see some curious high-end safari resort options on Virgin Red that I will look into now though. Thanks!
I have to say I’m not sold on the cruises though, as a guy who recently turned 30…
Glad I could help! An old work colleague got to go on one of those safari holidays, they loved it and indeed they do look great!
As for the cruises, I’m early to mid 20s and I think from some friends experiences, virgin voyages are a world away from traditional cruises. Think more concert / night club vibes on a boat than drunk old people around a pool… I mean there app has a function where you shake your phone and they bring you bubbly!
Just be warned, the transfers, special dining event, excursions etc will add up quickly, but we thought it was worth it.
The only other things I’d personally consider would be Eurostar redemptions, or perhaps transferring to an airline you don’t normally fly
Having done Waldorf/Conrad Maldives on points and a few other similar island resorts, I’m all too familiar with the cash burn and agree these places are worth throwing money at.
SQ First redemptions could be fun – any idea how I can check availability / how many points needed by route?
How did you accumulate 1million MR points – assume this is not your general every day spend?
You can check SQ pricing here:
https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/ppsclub-krisflyer/use-miles/redeem-miles/
You can sign up for a Krisflyer account and check availability.
However it’s not the best use of MR points as it is now 3:2 for SQ. I think the International Card arbitrage has closed also. HSBC is 1:1 so it would pain me to redeem for SQ.
Only piece of advice from me is don’t let the tail wag the dog. Have a think where you would like to go and then see if the points can help on that.
@iamlost SQ First one-way SIN-LHR 141k Miles + cca £30 in taxes. Search via Singapore Airlines Krisflyer as they don’t release these to partners.
I’d actually try and do RTW with ANA in J or F.
For about 420k Marriott points you could get 170+k ANA Miles which would give you up to 29,000 miles RTW ticket. Or if you add another 210k or so Marriott points you could throw some F in the mix.
There are other options that require more or less miles.
https://www.ana.co.jp/en/gb/amc/partner-flight-awards/around-the-world/
You do need to do a lot of research to find the availability and routes. So it’s not any easy redemption.
How did you accumulate 1million MR points – assume this is not your general every day spend?
He collected over 10 years so it’s only 100k per year. If you count sign up bonuses, possible retentions, bonus points on spend, etc. It doesn’t require that much spending as people think.
It’s the somewhat unloved dark horse Amex card and by far the highest earning one for regular travellers; not difficult to accumulate a big MR pot.
Didn’t someone do a review of Necker Island where the food was limited and people were left hungry for parts of the day? The tv doc about it some years ago suggested a certain licentious vibe amongst the staff, indeed expected from the top down, which would not sit well with me.
@Froggee thanks for the link, albeit you put me off with the HSBC comparator. Perhaps not the ‘cleverest’ use of Amex MR after all. PS I was under the weather last weekend and pored over every one of your trip reports, which made for riotous reading!
@meta @JDB are on the money that it wasn’t a stretch to accumulate over 10 years, as my effective earning rate is 1.5-2 MR/£ when factoring in bonuses, airfares and foreign spend. Deciding how to spend these points is harder!I have to say I’m not sold on the cruises though, as a guy who recently turned 30…
As a recent 30yo who went on the virgin cruises with much skepticism… you should reconsider this!
As per above – it’s a very different sort of cruise.
Floating pool party with excellent food and music.Didn’t someone do a review of Necker Island where the food was limited and people were left hungry for parts of the day? The tv doc about it some years ago suggested a certain licentious vibe amongst the staff, indeed expected from the top down, which would not sit well with me.
HfP ran this as a special but here’s the full unredacted version. Hilarious 😀 …
https://dorsiatravel.com/review-necker-island-british-virgin-islands/
Oh yes, it’s very amusing. I fell out with the bearded one when he demanded that British taxpayers foot the bill for hurricane damage to the BVIs tax haven a few years ago.
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