Over $4,000 Worth of Travel to Bangkok and Singapore With Miles and Points!

  • Andrew Wan

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    Andrew W:   The last time I traveled overseas, I visited Bangkok and Singapore.  It was part of my graduate degree program’s curriculum.  But although it was for a school program, it really didn’t feel like it with all the fun we had, and I’ve been eager to go back ever since!

    I paid cash this first time because I had not yet been introduced to the miles and points hobby.  And given how much I paid, I thought it would be years before I could make that trip happen again.

    I Was Blown Away by the Amount of Detail at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha

    So I’m thrilled to be able to share my story about the extraordinary places I visited, and highlight just how valuable miles and points from top travel rewards cards can be by showing how I’d do it differently the second time around!

    A Week Overseas in Bangkok and Singapore

    Because of my work and school schedule, I could only manage to grab a week off.  But even though some may think that’s not enough time, it was still a nice getaway from the routine activities of being at home.

    Departing from Los Angeles, I spent 3 days in Bangkok and 4 days in Singapore, and I was able to visit places like the following:

    You’ll Need to Take a Boat to Get to the Supatra River House Restaurant!

    With the following itinerary, here is a summary of what the trip would cost in cash, and how you could book it with miles and points instead!

    That’s a grand total of ~$4,120 worth of travel you could save by using miles and points!

    Here are some of my favorite credit cards along with their current intro bonuses and some tips for meeting the minimum spending requirements.  Earning these welcome bonuses alone would be nearly enough to duplicate this exact itinerary!

    The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum and CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

    Flights From Los Angeles to Bangkok and Singapore

    Looking back, the flights between Los Angeles, Bangkok, and Singapore were less than enjoyable.  I encountered long security lines at each of the airports, had to deal with expensive airport food, and had no comfortable places to relax before my flights.

    What I’d do differently with miles and points:   Now that I know about the perks of some of the best travel credit cards, I’d do things a lot differently.

    Outside of saving cash on airfare by booking with miles and points, I’d use my membership to Global Entry and TSA PreCheck to speed through security checkpoints for at least a few of the airports I went through.  And with airport lounge access on my Chase Sapphire Reserve®, I’d be able to have a nice relaxing place to rest before my flight!

    For Long Flights Overseas, Having a Credit Card With Perks Like Airport Lounge Access Can Make Your Travels Much More Enjoyable!

    Sightseeing in Bangkok and Singapore

    I’ve found that hotels in Bangkok are very reasonable in prices for what you get!  You can book top-tier hotels, like the category 5 Park Hyatt Bangkok, for less than $300 per night!  You’ll get luxurious rooms with a great view of the entire city, an on-site restaurant, spa service, and a gorgeous saltwater pool.

    And there are a lot of great places to do sightseeing.  I particularly enjoyed visiting the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.  It’s an incredibly beautifully decorated temple, and widely regarded as the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand.

    The Thonburi Klongs Tour by Boat Was One of the Highlights of My Trip!

    The Grand Hyatt Singapore hotel was just as incredible.  Prices were very reasonable at ~$330 per night with very similar amenities.  And I had a great time visiting places like Merlion Park, historic Chinatown, and Little India.

    By Booking With Miles and Points, You Could Experience Luxury for Next to Nothing!

    What I’d do differently with miles and points:   Instead of paying cash, I’d book the hotel at the Park Hyatt Bangkok by transferring 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt.  I’d do the same for the Grand Hyatt Singapore by transferring 80,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points.  The regular rates for the rooms are ~$300 per night.  So for a total of a 7-night stay at these Hyatt hotels, that comes out to a savings of more than $2,200+! 

    Bottom Line

    If you’re in a similar situation and have been putting off that overseas trip because of the cost, miles and points can end up saving you a significant amount of cash!

    Going on the same trip with cash to Bangkok and Singapore would cost more than $4,000+.  But you could go on the same trip for next to nothing with miles and points after earning the welcome bonus on cards like the following:

    Premium travel rewards credit cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® can also make the airport process more enjoyable.  That’s because it comes with benefits like Global Entry and TSA PreCheck which can help you speed through long security lines.  And airport lounge access can also give you a nice quiet place to relax and grab some food and drinks before your flight.

    With some planning and the right credit cards, you could book your next vacation for very little out-of-pocket cost!

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
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