Is $40 Worth Missing Out on 1,750 Points?

Over Martin Luther King Weekend, I am taking a little trip south. The sole purpose of the trip is to use my 2 free Hilton night certificates that were expiring from my Hilton Citi card.

My free night certificates cover the first 2 nights of the trip leaving me to pay 1 night out of pocket. The cost of the 3rd night is about $175. On Saturday and Sunday, the cost of the room was about $250 a night, not a bad use of the certificates. My dilemma is how to pay for the 3rd night at the hotel.

My choices are my JetBlue American Express and Citi Hilton Hhonors Reserve Card.

You may be wondering my JetBlue American Express card. Its an odd choice. American Express has a great promotion known as AMEX Sync, which offers cash off at particular merchants if you spend $Xs. One of my offers is $40 off if I spend $175 at a Doubletree.

Since my stay is at a DoubleTree, this is a great time to use this offer. The downside of using my JetBlue AMEX is that I won't earn HHonor points for the money put on the credit card.

On the other hand, if I use the Citi Hilton HHonors Reserve card, I will earn Hilton points on my credit card spend for the hotel night. With the Reserve card earns 10 points per $1 spent at the Hilton portfolio.

My $175 hotel room with earn me 1,750 points. However, by using my Reserve card, I lose out on the $40 savings from AMEX.

Therefore, I ask...$40 or 1,750 Hilton Honors points? Which one would you choose?
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Hilton & Citi Hilton HHoners & Bonus Points

Earlier this week, I wrote about how I earned 11,000+ Hilton Points with one stay. First2Board blogger, Travelblawg,wrote a similar piece about how he earn 25,000+ Hilton Points & 3,000 United points.

I highly recommend reading his article as it gives great advice. However, one of the best pieces of advice came from a comment left by Carol:

Here is the link, she provided. The offer lasts until February 28th.

Here is what you must do to earn 2,500 bonus points:

1) If you register for the promotion,

2) Stay at a Hilton prior to February 28,

3) Pay your stay with a Citi Hilton HHonors Visa

I wish I would have know about this promotion sooner. I would be 2,500 points richer. Easy Points! All you need to do is register your card.

My recommendation is to register for the promotion regardless if you have a planned upcoming Hilton Stay. Why? Because you never know when you might stay at a Hilton.

This promotion proves Travelbawg point even further. Always Register For Promotions!

Happy Sunday!

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I Am Stuck On Hilton

I have been stuck on Hilton Hotels, as of late. Hilton, Hilton, Hilton! All I think about is Hilton!

I don't know why? But, I am kinda excited about the Hilton brand. Even after their devaluation last year, Hilton is still one of my favorite hotel brands. My fascinations could be a multitude of reasons:

First, I have an upcoming stay at the Stamford Hilton Conference center. I stayed here last February and had a great stay.

The stay in Stamford is going to earn me 7,000+ points due to Hilton's Quarter 1 Promotion, Hilton HHonors Weekend. This quarter's promotion offers you 1,000 points per Thursday-Sunday night stayed at a Hilton. If you stay two consecutive weekend nights, you earn an additional 5,000 Points.

To register for the program, go here.

On top of all that, I was approved for Citi Hilton Reserve Card.

The main benefit of this card is 2 free nights at a Hilton after spending $2,500. However, the benefit I am going after is Diamond Status after spending $40,000 in a calender year. $40,000 is alot of money to spend in a calender year, but I think its doable. Diamond status offers the following benefits:

2014 may be the year of Hilton for me.

Am I crazy to spend some much time with Hilton this year?

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Credit Card Application Time

Important Note: I talk about credit card sign-up bonuses on our blog because they are an important part of the “game.” Any credit card links in this post will be public application links taken from the issuer's direct website. I do not earn income from you applying from the links. Similarly, please take an extra minute or two before applying for credit cards. If you do not pay your credit card balance off every month then you should stay away from this aspect of the game. Credit cards can lead to major long-term problems if not used correctly. I encourage you to read my post on Young People and the Chains of Credit Card Debt for more details.  

Credit cards are the sweet honey of the miles/points game. With one single application, your miles balance can go from "0" to enough for a round-trip ticket. For this reason, you need to be strategic with your credit card applications.

My last credit card application day was back in August. I decided against applying for credit cards at the end of 2013, because I didn't like the credit card offers available then. Now that the calender has turned to 2014, I think its a perfect time to apply for some new friends (credit cards).

The one credit card I know I will be applying for is the Citi Hilton Reserve Credit Card.

Why do I want this card? I want the 2 Weekend Night Certificates after spending $2,500.  Equally, I have want to try for the Diamond Status.  If you spend $40,000 in one calender year, you earn Diamond Status.

Going for Diamond Status is a major gamble, $40,000 is alot of money to put on a credit card. This will involve a level of dedication to manufactured spending that I have never committed to. 

After the Citi Hilton Reserve card, my planned credit card application is much less unclear. The recent announcement that American Airlines World Elite Mastercard holders will have access to US Airways lounges going forward has put that credit card into the mix:

The $450 annual fee is steep, but the add benefit of US Airways' clubs make it worth it. I fly out of Washington National airport frequently and US Airway's club there is quite nice. 

The other possible credit cards are: 

Barclays US Airways Credit Card

Already have the card, but there have been recent reports of people getting approved for another card without cancelling current card. 

Barcalys Arrival 

Rumor has it that Barclay's will convert US Airways Mastercards will be converted to Barclay's Arrival after their relationship with US Airways ends. Again only a rumor but better to get this card with a bonus vs. no bonus.

Yes, two Citi and two Barclay's credit cards. I am trying to skip Chase this time around, as I have been hitting them hard lately.

Time will see if I get approved or not!

Which cards are you applying for next?

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