Traveling to the worlds smallest continent to dive the Great Barrier Reef is not beyond your reach. You don’t have to spend $1,500 for a plane ticket to Australia. There are plenty of airline programs that will get you to the land down under with miles.
Vancouver, British Columbia, is nestled between snow-capped mountains and the warm beaches of the North Pacific. This cosmopolitan city was named one of the Top 5 Cities in Canada by Condé Nast Traveler. Trip Advisor calls it the top destination in the country. Its also very accessible from the lower 48.
The Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas is not a budget trip by any stretch of the imagination. The least expensive room will set you back at least $200 a night. These rooms are very basic. But you’re not going there to stay in your room. You are there to play in the water park or swim the private beaches and lagoons filled with tropical fish.
Disney World is not one of those exotic destinations we usually write about, where you can reap huge savings on airfare by using frequent flyer miles to get there. The tickets to Orlando don’t cost an arm and a leg, and most airlines serve the destination so it’s not difficult to get to.
Most travelers to Russia go to Moscow. Because of its proximity to the Russian capital, St. Petersburg is a great destination to add to your itinerary. Redeeming miles for a flight to Russia is not difficult. Airlines from all three alliances fly to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other parts of Russia.
Barcelona is one of the most popular cities in Europe. It’s modern yet ancient, Spanish yet Catalonian, with architecture so unique and breathtaking that you’ll be in awe.
Bermuda is a small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean off the Eastern Seaboard. Because it has a subtropical climate, many people think it is part of the Caribbean. But it actually lies north of those islands. This British territory is perfect for a short getaway from east coast departure points. It’s just a two-hour flight from New York. Late spring or early fall are the best times to enjoy this archipelago.
The beautifully restored ruins of Machu Picchu, the ancient Incan capital in the Peruvian Andes, were voted one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. An iconic destination for tourists from all over the planet, it is not an easy destination to reach.
A roundtrip award ticket to Europe from the United States usually costs an average of 50,000 miles in coach or 100,000 in business class. There are some exceptions, like a 40,000-mile American AAdvantage off-season award ticket to Europe. There is also a way to fly to Ireland for only 25,000 miles. You just have to use a distance-based program rather than a regional one.
I love traveling off season. It’s less crowded and more affordable. American Airlines AAdvantage redemption rate for off-peak travel to Europe between October 15 and May 15 is only 40,000 miles.
Easter Island is part of Chile, but its located way off the coast in the southeastern Pacific Ocean at the southernmost point of the Polynesian Triangle. There is nothing close to it for hundreds of miles. When I saw Australia in the corner of the plane monitor, I realized just how far I had flown.
Costa Rica has rainforests, miles of unspoiled beaches, volcanoes, and all kinds of lodgings from budget to ultra-luxury. Add friendly English-speaking locals, and you’ve got a clear winner. But the secret is out, and it has become a popular travel destination.
After my stay on Koh Samui, I took Cathay Pacific to get home to New York. The airlines six-seat first class cabin comes complete with gourmet food, top-shelf drinks, and over-the-top service. The carrier gives the word pampering a new meaning. Its first class service always ranks high on surveys that rank those kind of things.
I flew Bangkok Airways to my second stop in Thailand: Koh Samui. It’s the country’s second-biggest island and a major tourist destination. It’s served by Samui International Airport (USM), a facility dominated by Bangkok Airways.
After Siem Reap on the first leg of my Southeast Asia trip, my next hop was to Bangkok. Just like the next two stopovers (Koh Samui and Phuket) it was a flight on Bangkok Air, which has the best economy class of all airlines I’ve ever flown.
Most people go to Siem Reap in Cambodia to see the temples of Angkor Wat–the largest religious monument in the world. The Buddhist temple complex draws half the visitors that come to the country.
London and Paris are two of the most popular European cities and so close it is very easy to visit both in one trip. They have history, architecture, and nightlife to offer tourists. And they have another thing in common. They are very accessible from several frequent flyer programs.
I just got a free one-way ticket to Cancun in first class. I paid zero for it in cash or miles. I just used an airline stopover rule in an unorthodox way. It’s perfectly legit.
I love to travel on miles and points. I’ve been fortunate enough to find great values and visit places I wouldn’t be able to afford were it not for frequent flyer and hotel loyalty programs.
