Why I’m obsessed with a new way to use points to book hotels

With the entire adjustments which have occurred not too long ago with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see charges and costs) and Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see charges and costs), it has admittedly change into powerful to instantly deep dive into each single factor to determine the precise constructive (and even not so constructive) implications for every scenario.

But now that the Sapphire-colored mud has began to settle, I’ve had time to do a variety of real-world searches within the Chase Travel℠ website utilizing a new characteristic known as Points Boost and … I’m low-key obsessed.

If you are not but acquainted with Points Boost, it’s a brand-new characteristic from Chase that will increase the worth you possibly can generally get to your Chase Ultimate Rewards points when reserving journey on the Chase Travel website, up to 2 cents per level when you’ve got the Chase Sapphire Reserve, like I do. (If you may have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, Points Boost maxes out at 1.5 cents for hotels and 1.75 cents for some flights.)

Previously, the max worth you may get to your Chase points for those who used them at a fastened worth to book issues within the Chase Travel website, like hotels and airfare (as opposed to transferring to these points companions like World of Hyatt or British Airways Avios) was a flat 1.5 cents per level with the Sapphire Reserve or 1.25 cents per level with the Sapphire Preferred.

While a few of how all of that works is altering, wanting simply at Points Boost for now, that valuation ceiling has gone up to 2 cents per level on some hotels and a few airfare, relying in your card. And whereas it isn’t all the time out there, primarily based on my searches, it’s really a materials distinction that adjustments the sport on what’s the greatest way to book sure parts of a journey utilizing your points.

Pro tip: Click the button to present Points Boost solely.

Here are a few real-world Points Boost examples I discovered whereas beginning to worth out some holidays which have made me a fairly massive fan.

Hotels close to Disneyland from 17,000 Chase points as a substitute of 57,000 Marriott points

I’m engaged on planning a household journey to Disneyland this fall.

Disneyland is definitely a good spot to use your lodge points. There are a ton of walkable mid- to barely upper-range hotels out there because the park is basically in the midst of Anaheim.

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Marriott particularly has a variety of properties inside a five- to 10-minute stroll to the parks. But, not surprisingly, a lot of the properties I’m contemplating begin at 50,000 to 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night time whereas we’re there, which is not an insignificant variety of points.

However, a number of dozen Anaheim properties are eligible for Points Boost for the weekend we’re contemplating in October, which will increase the per-point worth up to 2 cents per level with my Sapphire Reserve.

One instance of that is the Fairfield Anaheim Resort, which I’ve stayed at earlier than and is a very quick stroll to Disneyland.

Marriott Bonvoy desires 53,000 Marriott points per night time for our desired weekend. However, the exact same room and dates are bookable for simply over 17,000 Chase points through the Chase Travel website, thanks to the lodge being Points Boost eligible.

While generally transferring your points to Chase’s nice lodge and airline companions stretches their potential worth, on this case, it’s really a a lot better deal to simply book the room through the Chase Travel website and pay 17k points there as a substitute of transferring these Chase points to Marriott, the place it could have price 53k points for the very same room.

You might discover that the money worth listed for the room is completely different between Chase vs. Marriott, and that’s one thing to be careful for.

In this case, a lot of the distinction is that Marriott is providing a pay as you go nonrefundable fee for much less, which is not what I might need to book anyway. However, do verify money costs, too, to ensure your 2 cents per level in Chase through Points Boost actually is the very best route earlier than assuming that it’s.

Favorite lodge in Hawaii is now bookable through Chase points

One of my favourite hotels I’ve ever stayed at is 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay on the north shore of Kauai.

It’s a magical spot with a beachfront location, virtually each day rainbows, beautiful swimming pools, distinctive meals and high-end design. I’ve stayed there earlier than on a media journey (aka I did not pay my very own money) and all the time dreamed of having the ability to return … although my pockets had different ideas as it’s common for rooms right here to begin at $1,000 to $1,200+ per night time.

However, I see that the lodge is now a part of Chase’s The Edit, which implies perks akin to free breakfast, late check-out, a property credit score, and so forth., to title a few.

That’s thrilling, however equally thrilling is which you can now book the lodge for round 60,000 Chase points per night time since The Edit hotels can be found with Points Boost. This brings it again into the realm of doubtless attainable once more in the future utilizing points.

Nice hotels in The Edit from round 15,000 to 20,000 points per night time

Yes, there are very good $1,000+ per night time hotels in Chase’s The Edit program that persistently supply Points Boost, however there are additionally hotels that are available in at cheaper price points some nights — and you will nonetheless get these good The Edit perks like breakfast, $100 property credit score, and so forth.

Another real-world instance I’m now very a lot contemplating for a night time close to Disney World once I want late checkout (after one of many Run Disney races) is the J.W. Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. It’s a very good resort in its personal proper, and since it’s in The Edit program, Points Boost was assured and drops the speed to simply 27k Chase points for the beautiful busy night time I want. That’s actually a fairly improbable deal for all that you simply’d get in return.

In distinction, if I booked utilizing Marriott points for that night time, it could price 74,000 Marriott points, which once more highlights how Points Boost is form of altering the sport. In this case, as you possibly can see beneath, I’d additionally earn Marriott elite nights, and so forth., by it being Marriott Bonvoy eligible.

Or, say you need to spend a while in Las Vegas, someplace just like the Bellagio.

That can be a property that’s a part of The Edit, and a night time I picked there this summer time is pricing at below 16,000 Chase points per night time, thanks to Points Boost — and also you’d nonetheless get all these The Edit perks, such because the free breakfast and $100 property credit score.

P.S. The breakfast at Sadelle’s within the Bellagio is de facto good, in order that’s the place I’d use that credit score, particularly in case you are into bagels and lox.

Bottom line

In my real-world searches, I feel midrange to barely upscale hotels are literally a improbable candy spot for Points Boost that takes hotels that weren’t traditionally essentially excellent level redemptions and it opens all-new doorways … particularly on dates the place money charges aren’t loopy excessive (since Points Boost charges are inherently tied to money charges).

This new way to use points makes the Chase Travel website someplace you must actively verify now earlier than transferring your points or reserving hotels to see if the very best award deal now may be one which wasn’t out there even simply a few weeks in the past.

But for now, put me firmly within the class of being very excited about this new way to use my Chase points.

If you need to get a card with Points Boost with a limited-time elevated welcome bonus, listed here are two choices:

Chase Sapphire Reserve® — Earn a best-ever supply of 100,000 bonus points plus a $500 Chase Travel℠ promo credit score after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening (see charges and costs).

Chase Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ — Earn a powerful 200,000 bonus points after spending $30,000 within the first six months after opening an account. (see charges and costs)