Dining Rewards Summer Bonus (TARGETED)

Yesterday, I got an interesting offer from United Dining Rewards.

Yes, 10,000 bonus United MileagePlus miles for 10 dines before August 15. After registering for the promotion, I learned that for a dine to count, I must spend $40+.

Since I earn 3 miles per $1 spent normally with Dining Rewards, I will earn at least an additional 1,200 miles though this promotion.

                     3 x $40 = 120 miles   -  120 miles x 10 Dines = 1,200 additional miles

Will I participate?

I don't know. 11,000 miles is alot of miles to earn from a promotion, but require me spend at least $400. If I had a few client lunches or dinners, I could swing buying gift certificates to get to the 10 dines. But as a single guy, spending $40 on meals is not easy.

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions to make.

Other Offers

I received another offer from Hilton HHoners Dinning Rewards. Unlike the United offer, this one was stingy.

2,500 bonus Hilton HHonors points after 10 dines of $40+ more.

If I am going to do 10 dines, its going to be for 10,000 United Miles not 2,500 HHonor Points. 

The decision between the two offers is a no brainier! Spending $400 for 10,000+ miles is not so easy.

Would you DO IT FOR THE POINTS?

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1 Stay = 14,543 Points

Last weekend, I had a 2 night stay at a Hilton Conference Center. Overall, the stay was good except for the lack of hot water one morning.

On Tuesday, I checked my Hilton account and learned that I earned 11,643 points from 1 stay.

As you can see, the points earned cam from multiple different sources.

First, I earned 7,000 points from the most recent Hilton promotion, as I wrote here. 1,000 points per night (2,000) + 5,000 points for staying 2 nights = 7,000!

Then the base points come from my bill. You earn 10 pts per $1 spent at the hotel minus certain expenses like taxes. I spent $266.50 at the hotel. That earned me 2,665 points.

Next, as a Gold member, I earn a 25% bonus on the base points. 2,665 x 25% = 663.

The last way I earned points is the 50% Bonus on Base Points is from choosing the Points & Points option. This option earns you an additional 5 Bonus Points per $1 spent.

Overall, the haul was pretty nice, but where did the last 2,900 points come from. Great question! One of the most important decisions on any trip is which credit card to use. This decision was easy for me. The card I used was the Citi Hilton Reserve:

The card earns you 10 points for every $1 spent on a Hilton Portfolio.

My $290 stay earned me 2,900 points from the credit card.

Credit Card - 2,900 points

Hotel Stay - 11,543 points

Total: 14, 543

A great haul for 1 stay at a Hilton!

What is the most points you have ever earn in 1 stay?

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Free Coffee or Tea On Hilton At The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

It looks like Hilton is switching their in-room coffee and tea offerings at their hotels and moving toward a product from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf . As a way to celebrate they e-mailed out that they are offering a free cup of brewed coffee or tea at a participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf locations this Thursday, May 30. All you have to do is present your Hilton HHonors card for a free cup! Check your e-mail for participating states and locations!
 
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Booking A Hilton Stay Today? Get 2,500 Extra HHonors Points

I just got a great e-mail in my inbox for those that might be booking a Hilton hotel stay today. Starting at 11:00 AM EST today if you are one of the first 4,000 people to book a stay between May 23, 2013 and September 30, 2013 and enter your confirmation number and HHonors number on the HHonors Facebook page you will earn an extra 2,500 bonus points on your stay. They full terms and conditions are below, but only one 2,500 bonus is available per HHonors number.

So it's not an Earth shattering bonus, but if you happen to be booking a Hilton stay between now and the end of September...bonus points are always nice!

For 24 hours, 2,500 BONUS POINTS ARE CALLING YOU TO BOOK YOUR NEXT STAY.

THE FIRST 4,000 HHONORS MEMBERS TO BOOK AND STAY WILL RECEIVE A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA ON THEIR NEXT GREAT GETAWAY.

The Hilton HHonors™ Great Getaway 24-Hour Bonus Offer is almost here. And because you're a valued member of Hilton HHonors we're telling you first. Starting at 11:00AM EST on May 23, 2013, you'll have 24 hours to book a stay and then enter your confirmation number for the chance to get 2,500 HHonors Bonus Points. Be ready when it opens – you'll only get your Points if you are one of the first 4,000 HHonors members during the offer to book, enter your confirmation number, and then complete your stay by September 30, 2013. When travel calls, be ready to answer in an instant. "Like" the Hilton HHonors Facebook page now to preview the Bonus Offer, and come back when it opens at 11:00 am EST.

You must be an HHonors member to participate in this offer. Offer only valid for stays booked between May 23, 2013 11:00 AM EST and May 24, 2013 10:59 AM EST through the Hilton HHonors Facebook page or other Hilton HHonors booking channels. HHonors member must visit the Hilton HHonors Facebook page and provide their valid Hilton HHonors Member number and valid booking confirmation number in order to qualify for this offer between May 23, 2013 11:00 AM EST and May 24, 2013 10:59 AM EST. You must complete your stay beginning on or after May 23, 2013 and no later than September 30, 2013. Reservations modified or altered to dates outside the eligible period are ineligible for this offer. Offer only available to the first 4,000 qualified entries received. Maximum of one (1) 2,500 HHonors Point bonus awarded per HHonors member for this offer. Please allow 4-6 weeks from completion of stay for Bonus Points to appear in your HHonors account. This offer may not be combined with other select promotions, offer or discounts and is not valid for existing reservations or groups. Bonus Points earned on Base Points do not count toward elite tier qualification. Hilton HHonors™ membership, earning of Points & Miles™ and redemption of Points are subject to HHonors Terms and Conditions.

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1,000 HHonors Points for Joining E-Miles

JD wrote a few days ago about the great changes to the e-miles program that allows you more flexibility on the hotel or airline program that you choose to transfer your earned miles/points to. This will make it much easier than previous uses which had you transferring to just one partner that you choose and limiting your options.


But, if you haven't signed up for e-miles yet look to your inbox to see if you have been targeted for a small sign up bonus by Hilton. I received the below e-mail yesterday while I was FTU DC:

GIVE A LITTLE TIME. EARN A LOT OF POINTS.

EARN 1,000 HHONORS BONUS POINTS WHEN YOU JOIN E-MILES. As a Hilton HHonors™ member, joining e-Miles can help you earn Points faster and keep the Points you've already earned from expiring. You'll earn e-Miles miles by watching video clips online and giving your opinions about marketing messages. Register and activate your account with e-Miles today to earn 1,000 HHonors Bonus Points with this special offer for Hilton HHonors credit cardmembers. This offer is for new e-Miles members only. To be eligible for the 1,000 Hilton HHonors™ Bonus Points, you must activate your new e-Miles account before midnight on May 31, 2013. To activate your e-Miles account you must read and respond to six (6) third party offers. e-Miles profile survey offers do not count toward account activation. After activating your e-Miles account, your Hilton HHonors Bonus Points will be deposited into your HHonors account within 4 - 6 weeks. Bonus Points do not count toward elite tier qualification. Hilton HHonors Points do not expire if you take one of the following actions within a 12 consecutive month period: (1) stay at a hotel within the Hilton HHonors portfolio, (2) earn HHonors Points through any participating Partner, or (3) purchase HHonors Points. For complete details, visit HHonors.com/Terms.

If you haven't joined e-miles this is a small incentive to get you going!

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Follow us on Twitter @doit4thepoints! Have a question for us? E-mail us at chris@doitforthepoints.com or jd@doitforthepoints.com