Clients will frequently tell me that they are going to use their frequent flyer miles to book business class flights for their vacation. But I’ve been playing the points game for years and I know how tough it is. You may think you have a lot of miles, but sending four people to Italy or Vietnam in Business Class is going to cost a lot! And we don’t often know or understand all the options.

So I am excited to announce that I am now partnering with Point.me to help clients maximize their frequent flyer miles. Try out this exciting concierge service for your next trip! The fee is $200 per passenger but it could save you thousands AND get you seats the front of the plane. With the point.me concierge, you interact one-on-one with a specialist to construct your dream trip. The concierge will search for the best flights that can be booked with your points and handle every step of the booking process. I highly recommend working with a concierge for complex itineraries, round-the-world trips, hard-to-find rewards, or special occasions such as honeymoons. The concierges can also assist with ‘Mileage Run’ consulting to help you pursue and maintain elite status. (I strongly advise using the full Point.me concierge service over their self-service option.)

A Few Insider Tips for Points Users

Don’t Hoard: Points lose value over time. Use them regularly!
Look Outside the U.S. Carriers: International airline programs like Turkish Airlines, Avianca LifeMiles, and ANA often offer better value for the same routes. Point.me can show you those hidden gems.
Mix and Match: You don’t always need roundtrip in business class. Splurge on business class for your overnight flights and then fly economy or Premium Economy in the other direction.
Be Flexible: The best deals require some flexibility. If your dates and airports are set in stone, using points might not make sense.

Ready to give this service a whirl? Try Point.me here. To get the most out of the service, do a complete audit of all your miles and points accounts first.

Where to Burn Your Marriott Bonvoy Points

Probably the most popular hotel points program where clients are sitting on a lot of points is Marriott Bonvoy. I am sitting on over 500,000 Marriott Bonvoy points myself so I’ve been thinking about how to use them. So I started doing some research…you might find these ideas helpful too!! Note these points and prices are just approximate based on a quick search of September and October dates. Taxes and fees not included.

If you do decided to do a big points booking, I can still help with transfers and touring. I can also work with a points booking as part of a larger itinerary. (For example, maybe you use your points in Rome but I handle transportation, touring, and your hotels in Florence and Venice.) Book a complimentary vacation consultation here to talk more.

🌴 Caribbean & Mexico

The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort – Puerto Rico

Lush rainforest surroundings and private beach
Often around 180,000 points/night (cash rates can top $1,500)
No passport needed for U.S. travelers!

Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – Los Cabos, Mexico

Ultra-luxury, all suites with private plunge pools
Redemption rates vary but worth it—sometimes 275,000 points for a $2,000+ room

🏰 Europe

The Gritti Palace – Venice, Italy

One of the most iconic hotels in Venice
240,000+ points/night, but rooms easily go for $1,500–$2,000/night

The Bodrum EDITION – Bodrum, Turkey (I think Bodrum is the new hotspot for Americans looking for a luxury getaway at a relative value.)

Chic and beachy, with Mykonos vibes but better value
100,000 to 200,000 points/night depending on season

🌊 Asia & South Pacific

The St. Regis Bali Resort – Nusa Dua, Indonesia

Lavish beachfront villas and incredible service
Around 200,000 points/night (cash rates often $800–$1,200)

The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto – Japan

Understated, elegant, and perfectly located on the river
Around 200,000 points/night

🐪Middle East

The St. Regis Doha

Expansive views across the Arabian Gulf
Incredible value at about 70,000 to 100,000 points/night depending on the time of the year

Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa – Dubai, UAE

All-inclusive desert safari resort with private pools
About 200,000 points/night, but includes all meals and excursions—wild value

Pro Tips for Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy Points:

Look for Off-Peak Dates: You’ll often save tens of thousands of points per night.
Use the Fifth Night Free Benefit: When booking 5 nights with points, the 5th night is free. Great for longer stays! This is really the best way to get value out of your Bonvoy points.
Watch Conversion Rates: Try to look for conversion rates of at least .06 cents but ideally .07 to .08 cents.
Get a Bonvoy Credit Card: if you get a Bonvoy credit card that gives you a free night award each year, you can use up to 15k points to increase the value of the free night. For example, if the free night is good for a stay up to 35k points, you can add 15k of your own points in order to book a nicer hotel. SIgn up for the Marriott Bonvoy Amex here.
Book Early: Award availability can disappear quickly, especially at the top resorts.
Transfer from Chase or Amex if Needed: You can top up Bonvoy points using Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards (via Marriott transfer, but note the transfer ratio isn't amazing—1:1.2 from Amex, but takes a few days).

Ready to plan your next vacation? Book a complimentary vacation consultation here.

About Krista

I’m a Virtuoso luxury travel advisor based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Prior to moving to Florida to take care of my elderly mom with Parkinson’s Disease, I spent over 11 years living and working in London, England. My career and personal travel have taken me all over the world. To date, I’ve been to 78 countries. Now I bring the joy of travel to others as a Virtuoso travel advisor. I offer a 30 minute complimentary vacation consultation for anyone looking to plan their next trip.

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Ways I Can Help You

Knowledge and experience. I’ve been to 78 countries.
I can offer VIP perks and amenities at thousands of hotels around the world. Virtuoso perks are just the start. I can also VIP you at Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Four Seasons, and Rosewood properties…among others. What does VIP mean? Free breakfast, priority for upgrade, a hotel credit, and more! (See my website footer for all the brands I work with And yes, you can double dip between your hotel status and mine, supercharging your stay and potential for upgrade! This works particularly well with Marriott and Hilton.)
I have a huge storehouse of luxury cruises: I partner with all the major cruise lines…Royal Caribbean, Silversea, Viking, Ama Waterways, Tauck and more. I can add onboard credits and other perks that you cannot get by booking direct.
I have vetted villa rentals with concierge service all around the world
Private jets.
Yacht charters.
Small group and private touring through my partners Project Expedition and Tours by Locals.
Airport transfers.
VIP on arrival and VIP on departure airport services. (Get met at the plane door!)
Travel insurance. Don’t leave home without it!

Burn Your Miles for Less: My New Service for Luxury Flights! Plus Marriott Bonvoy Tips