Sale at the St. Regis Monarch Beach, California

The fantastic AAA 5 Diamond resort St. Regis property at Monarch Beach, California is having some promotions.

Promotion 1
Stay two nights, get one night free. Stay two nights anytime through 12/30, you get the third night free.
Call 866-716-8135 & give them promotion code Z3R.

Promotion 2
Stay two nights by 4/30, get a $75 resort credit.
Book by 2/15 & ask for rate plan DAILYOA

Promotion 3
Stay one night, second night is 50% off.
Good any night of the week through 12/31. Mention promo code ZBT.

Promotion 4
Guests with children will receive a $100 daily resort credit, free dinner & drinks for kids age 5 & under @ Motif restaurant; half price for kids ages 6-12 @ Motif; free drinks for kids @ the Pool Bar & Grill. Mention promo code FML

You can find the details for all of these promotion at their website or call 866-716-8135

The best way to track your frequent flier miles

With all of the programs out there, it oftentimes can get confusing keeping track of all the programs. Especially the ones that are seldom used.

I’ve done quite a bit of research on the easiest ways to keep track of all of your miles and points.

My new favorite website is Award Wallet. You can add all of your frequent flyer numbers and accounts and it will send you emails with your balances. The best part is that it will also tell you your expiration dates as well.

You can also enter in your whole family to track their accounts as well.

I spent this afternoon submitting everyone’s numbers in. Here are our balances:

My Delta 250,000
My American Airlines 200,000
My HIlton 200,000
My Priority Club 260,000
My Marriott 120,000
Both of my kids Delta accounts: 20,000 each
My wife’s Delta account: 40,000
My wife’s American Airlines account 200,000
We’re also in the midst of earning enough points with British Airways to fly anywhere in the world in first class.

The point of this is not to brag, but just to show what flexibility I’ll have for our next trip(s).

We’ll have Marriott, Hilton, and Priority Club properties to choose from and three airlines to get the best tickets on.

While it certainly helps that I travel quite a bit, I also take advantage of every offer I can to earn more miles. I’ve switch to DirecTV, opened up bank accounts, and bought gold coins all for the sake of miles.

Earn frequent flyer miles and hotel points for your charitable donations

There are some great offers out there to get rewarded for your generosity to charities. Several of the airlines and hotels are currently offering bonus points for your charitable contributions. Here is a run down of the current offers:

American Airlines
* Offer valid on contributions made online at http://american.redcross.org/americanairlines-pub

** Minimum donation of $50 required in order to earn bonus miles* Members can earn a one-time bonus up to 500 miles* Promotion dates are January 14 through February 28, 2010* Donation receipts from the American Red Cross forwarded to ReliefMiles@aa.com. Miles will post to the member’s AAdvantage account approximately 14 days after the receipts are received. Please check your AAdvantage account on aa.com to verify the award.* The name on the donation receipt must match the name on the AAdvantage account.* You must be an AAdvantage member to receive the bonus miles.* Bonus miles do not count toward elite-status qualification.* American Airlines reserves the right to change the AAdvantage program at any time without notice.* American Airlines is not responsible for products or services offered by other participating companies.* For complete details about the AAdvantage program, visit www.aa.com/aadvantage* The American Red Cross name and emblem are used with its permission, which in no way constitutes an endorsement, express or implied, of any product, service, company, opinion or political position.* For more information about the Red Cross, please visit http://www.redcross.org/

Delta Airlines
5000 Skymiles for a minimum donation of $100 to the Martin Luther King Jr National Memorial Fund.

Spirit Airlines
A $5 donation equals 5000 Spirit Airlines miles.

Marriott Hotels
18,000 Marriott Hotel points for a $50 donation to the Red Cross.

Point donations
Starwood will match your donation of your own Starwood points to the Red Cross. A 4000 Starwood point donation equals $50.

United Airlines
You can donate United miles here to Haiti.

Hilton Hotels
You can donate Hilton points here.

Free Gold Status with Accor Hotels

Here is a link to get free Gold Status with Accor Hotels. For those of you unfamiliar with the chain, it includes hotel chains like Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Ibis to name a few.

The reason I post is that in Budapest, Hungary there is a Sofitel there that is a fantastic hotel. It is the softest bed I have ever slept on. You also get free casino entrance with your stay.

I was at that casino with a colleague where we made some Ukrainians very unhappy with us when my friend kept splitting face cards in blackjack.

In any case, it’s worth signing up for since it’s free!

Sign up here and use promo code CMBANKACLUB.

Earn Hilton HHonors Silver status with just two stays

Enroll in Hilton HHonors® now through March 31, 2010 and earn Silver VIP status after two qualifying stays (normally earned after 4 stays) within 90 days of enrollment. Double Dip® your way to earn both HHonors points and mile for the same qualifying stay at over 2,900 Hilton Family hotels worldwide. Enroll online or call 800-HHONORS (800-446-6677) from the U.S. or Canada and mention origin code USAB. (Existing HHonors members may call 800-548-8690 and request promotion code USAB to be eligible for the Fast Track VIP offer.)

Remembers it’s two stays and not two nights. Good luck!

If you own a corporate American Express card, register at this link and get Silver status with 2 stays or Gold status with 4 stays.

When we took our trip to Thailand last March, we went as Gold Hilton members and got free breakfast, lounge access, and upgraded to a suite. Great benefits!

I’m currently a Diamond member through their American Express card. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we stay at a Hilton on our trip!

Our International Trip announced!

Last week, our international trip was finally announced! Our EMBA class is going to Budapest, Hungary and Rome, Italy!

Unfortunately, I’ve already been to both cities. Fortunately, Budapest is easily in the top 3 of all of the European cities I’ve visited. What’s not to love – the mild climate, fantastic and cheap food, and the natural hot baths. I’ve stayed at the Marriott, Intercontinental, and the Sofitel in Budapest before. Of the three, I prefer the Intercontinental. The Sofitel had one of the softest beds I have ever slept on. The Marriott was in need of a serious overhaul. I’ve heard that they have redone the hotel since I’ve been there last.

I went to Rome in 2005, but it was only for three days. I did a quick bus tour of all of the sites, it will be fun to go back there with this group. Someone in our group even speaks Italian.

It is tempting to extend on this trip, especially if Hungary is the last leg. I have wanted to go to Croatia for a long time, especially to the coastal town of Dubrovnik. This may be the perfect time.

500 Free Marriott Rewards Points

Sign up here to receive information about Boston area Marriott hotels and receive 500 free Marriott Reward points.

Wall Street Journal article about hotel loyalty programs

The Wall Street Journal has a great article about their experiences with hotel loyalty programs. They found many benefits by just joining without even having elite benefits.

My next trip and my next goal

In 2006 I was able to take a dream vacation to Bora Bora, and Tahiti, French Polynesia staying in an over the water bungalow for 10 nights using airlines miles and hotel points.

I just booked my next trip, which will be to Hua Hin, and Bangkok Thailand. We booked the tickets through a Delta partner, China Airlines, using our Skymiles. Our first class accomodations will be covered by using our Hilton points in Hua Hin for 6 nights and then using our Marriott points in Bangkok for 3 nights.

The Hua Hilton

The JW Marriott

As I was doing research on Thailand and various beach resorts, I stumbled upon what has to be our next destination – the Maldives. I must say the only things I’ve heard about the Maldvies is their sea level continues to rise each year/ Eventually, the sea will swallow up the entire country. Until, then it appears they have some spectacular resorts! Including the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort that was twice voted “Best Hotel in the World” and several time “Best Resort”.

Conrad Maldives

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort in the the Maldives and most importantly, a Hilton partner.

Check out this underwater restaurant they have.

The total points required for the Conrad Maldives is 40,000 Hilton points per night. Here are some fantastic ways to earn enough points.
** Disclaimer ** – Earning the maximum number of points requires applying for credit card and sometimes using credit cards. Credit cards are not for everyone and the credit cards charge outrageous interest rates for carrying balances. If you have problems with credit cards, this is not for you. Please educate yourself on how applying and having credit cards affects your credit score and ability to apply for home loans, school loans, etc.

You can apply for American Airlines credit cards that are no fee for the first year. To get 100,00 American Airlines miles, apply for these four cards: the Citi® Platinum Select® / AAdvantage® World MasterCard, the Citi Select® / AAdvantage® American Express® card, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® MasterCard, and the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Visa® Card.
After 6 months, cancel them and reapply again. (This may negatively affect your credit score). This will net you 200,000 American Airlines miles total. Most of these cards require a $250-$750 minimum spending requirement on them. There are many ways to do this, including coins

With your 200,000 American Airlines miles, you can convert these to Hilton Honors points at a 1:2 ratio, in essence getting 400,000 Hilton points.

There is a no annual fee Platinum American Express Hilton Card that will give you 20,000 Hilton points upon signup. The best part about the Platinum American Express Hilton card is it allows you to do an AXON award stay. An AXON award stay is only available to those people who have an American Express Hilton Platinum card. With that card, you are able to redeem four rewards nights at any Category 5 or Category 6 Hilton Family hotel for 125,000 Hilton Honors points instead of 140,000 or 160,000 points. This would allow you to redeem 4 nights in the Maldives for 125,000 points instead of 160,000 points! So, you maximize your points and stay at a top class resort. And by hitting a spending bench mark with the credit card, you probably will earn Gold VIP status with Hilton. And guess what? More perks-like picnics on the beach, fruit and water upon arrival, lei greetings, complimetary internet access, and more.

We’ll see you in the Maldives in 2012.

Hyatt Diamond status match

If you can demonstrate elite status with another chain and 10 stays or 30 nights within the past 12 months, Hyatt will comp you to Diamond status.

Send a fax with a copy of your elite statement (online statement is fine) and elite card to the Hyatt Account Services Desk (402-593-9449).

Hyatt Diamond benefits are:

* Enjoy an upgrade to a Regency/Grand Club® room, based on availability, with entry to a private lounge that includes complimentary continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres. In the event that Regency/Grand Club rooms are not available, you will receive an upgrade to the best room available and access to the Regency Club lounge or daily complimentary continental breakfast.**†
* Receive a 30% point bonus when you choose Hyatt Gold Passport points for your stay.
* Special welcome amenity on each stay.
o A choice of Food and Beverage or bonus points will be offered at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts^^
o 500 bonus points will be awarded for stays at Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites
* A guarantee from Hyatt that the bed type you requested at time of reservation will be available.†
* 72-Hour Guaranteed Room Availability.***†
* Exclusive Diamond Reservation and Account Information Line (U.S. and Canada only).
* Use of Hyatt Web Check-In as early as 9:00 a.m. ET on the day of your arrival at participating Hyatt Hotels & Resorts (U.S. and Canada only).†
* Check-cashing privileges of up to USD$500 per stay.****†
* Exclusive Diamond members-only opportunities from Hyatt and its Partners.