Hilton HHonors 2x/3x Points (01 August to 31 October 2014)

Update: You may now sign up for up to Triple Points on stays at an eligible property between 01 August to 31 October 2014 now! Click the following link to sign up! 

Click HERE to sign up for up to triple points on all eligible stays.

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The current Hilton HHonors Promotion valid for stays between 01 May to 31 July is ending soon. In this promotion, you will receive double base points (although the bonus points are non-elite qualifying) or double miles depending on your choice.

If for some reason you have not signed up for this and will be staying at a participating property during this period, please click HERE to sign up for it now! Remember you can only make your selection once so choose wisely (go with the points!).

The Triple Your Trip promotion will run from 01 August to 31 October 2014 after the current promotion ends so there's no gap in bonus earnings. The registration link was initially provided (alongside a list of non-participating properties) but this was taken down by Hilton HHonors and it will be provided as the date draws nearer. 

Under the new promotion, you will earn 2x or 3x the usual Hilton HHonors points at a participating property depending on the day of week. 

Weekday Nights: Monday to Thursday (20 points per US$1)
Weekend Nights: Friday to Sunday (30 points per US$1)

Remember that if you are going to be staying in a participating Conrad or Waldorf Astoria property, be sure to sign up for this promotion (click HERE to access it) which will give you 2,000 bonus points per eligible night.

Also, sign up HERE to get up to 10,000 bonus points when staying at a Conrad/Waldorf Astoria for the first three times. 

1st Stay: 2,000 Bonus Points
2nd Stay: 3,000 Bonus Points
3rd Stay: 5,000 Bonus Points

ANZ Travel Visa Signature: Changes from 10 July 2014

I have previously reviewed the ANZ Travel Visa Signature Credit Card some time in June 2014 and it has come to my attention that with effect from 10 July 2014, certain changes will be put in place. This post serves as an update to the previous entry to provide supplement to the existing review as well as to reflect the new changes that will take place. 

Please click HERE to access the previous review. 

EARNING TRAVEL$ (AND MILES)

Card members will continue to earn 1.4 Travel$ for every S$1 spend. However, this is only applicable for the first S$10,000 of total retail spend in the month's billing cycle. Subsequent expenditure above S$10,000 for that month will earn 0.5 Travel$. 

Participating merchants where you could earn 2.8 Travel$ per S$1 spend have been greatly reduced. Merchants where you can earn 2.8 Travel$ for every S$1 spend only includes the following now:

1. Foreign retail spend in AUD or NZD,
2. Qantas, and 
3. Jestar Airlines 

REDEMPTION OPTIONS

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The same conversion applies: 1 Travel$ to 1 Mile on KrisFlyer or Asia Miles. Miles need to be redeemed in blocks of 2,000 and there's a administrative charge of S$25 for each conversion (so it's always wise to convert all at one go when you need it). If you do not wish to pay for the administrative charge, you have the option to offset that amount with 3,000 Travel$ which is an extremely bad idea. 

Cash credits can be redeemed at a 55 Travel$ to S$1 ratio (2.55% cash rebate on every dollar spent). If you were to redeem 3,000 Travel$ for a conversion fee of S$25, you are practically using 120 Travel$ for S$1 which is effectively only 1.17% cash rebate. 

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Conversion rates for redeeming Travel$ against cash credits remain the same. However, you now have the flexibility to redeem against S$8, S$20 and S$50. 

DISCONTINUATION OF TRANSPORT/LIFESTYLE REBATES

You used to be able to get 5% rebates for MotorPay, EZ-Reload as well as some participating merchants (e.g. Cold Storage, Golden Village, Giant, Jasons, Marketplace and Guardian). These will be discontinued after 31 August 2014. 

ANNUAL FEE 

The card member used to be awarded 12,000 Travel$ upon renewal of the annual membership from the second year (S$200 for main card holder). Since it only requires 11,000 Travel$ to redeem for S$200 cash credit, paying the annual fee allowed cardholders to earn a minimal profit (S$15) alongside some extra Travel$. 

However, the bonus Travel$ issued for card renewals will fall from 12,000 Travel$ to 10,000 Travel$, discontinuing the "profit" that cardholders were able to take advantage of previously. 10,000 Travel$ is enough for S$180 cash credit so you're essentially paying only $20 for the card - which isn't a bad deal considering the free lounge access that you get with holding the card.

CONCLUSION

With all the impending changes to the ANZ Travel Visa Signature Credit Card, is it still worthwhile to keep this card? The answer for me is yes. Since I do not fly internationally often enough on non-budget airlines, spending only S$20 a year for free lounge access is a no-brainer for me. The card also offers a flat 2.55% cash rebate for the first S$10,000 spend each month with no minimum spending required. Do keep in mind that you still have to deal with paper statements and the internet banking for ANZ Singapore right now is almost non-existent especially if you do not  have a savings account with them. 

Up to 40% off Hyatt Properties in Asia-Pacific

Enjoy up to 40% off Hyatt hotels in Asia-Pacific using the promo code APF40 in this five-day flash promotion. You will have to enter this code under the "Special Off Code" box when searching for availability. 

Booking Period: Until 06 July 2014
Stay Period: Until 31 August 2014

Click HERE to access more information regarding this offer. 

If you are interested in new Hyatt Properties, feel free to check out one of the following hotels that have opened quite recently: 

Recent Openings:

• Andaz Tokyo 
• Park Hyatt Changbaishan
• Hyatt Regency Changbaishan
• Hyatt Regency Tianjin East
• Hyatt Regency Suzhou
• Hyatt Regency Chongming, Shanghai
• Hyatt Regency Phuket
• Hyatt Place Shenzhen Dongmen

Remember that this promotion gives up to 40% and therefore this promotion may differ from property to property. For example the Hyatt Gold Passport 5 Day Flash Sale rate at the Hyatt Regency Phuket is only 30% off the Hyatt Daily Rate. It is however a great deal if you're travelling between 02 July to 31 August 2014! 

If you have an existing status in one of the following programs, it may be a good idea to consider a Hyatt Gold Passport Diamond Challenge to get complimentary breakfast or a complimentary suite upgrade:

Hilton Honors: Gold & Diamond
Marriott Rewards: Gold & Platinum
Starwood Preferred Guest: Platinum
IHG Rewards Club: Platinum

For more information regarding the Diamond Challenge and some of the cheapest Hyatt properties around Asia-Pacific to complete the challenge, please check out my previous post HERE. 

InterContinental Hotel Group - Double Points (2x) for F&B + Other Spend at Asia-Pacific Properties

Earn 20 IHG Rewards Club Points (instead of 10) per US$1 spent on room service, food and beverages, in-room movies, telephone and laundry services charged to your room from 01 July 2014 to 31 October 2014 at all InterContinental Hotels & Resorts in Asia Pacific (excluding China, Hong Kong and Taiwan), Middle East and Africa.

This offer requires registration and you can do so by clicking on this link. 

Participating hotels in Singapore include the following hotels:

• InterContinental Singapore
• Crowne Plaza Changi Airport
• Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
• Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre
• Holiday Inn Express Singapore Clarke Quay
• Holiday Inn Express Singapore Orchard Road

Terms and Conditions
Must be a IHG® Rewards Club member and must register member number in advance to participate in this promotion. 20 points per US$1 spent (“Double Points”) will be awarded on any non-room spend with a qualifying stay at any InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts in Asia Pacific (excluding China, Hong Kong and Taiwan), Middle East and Africa between 1 July and 31 October 2014. Double Points will not be awarded on room rate. Non-room spend must be charged to your room to be settled at point of check-out and can include charges on food and beverage, room service, laundry, and telephone, but will not include expenses incurred with any third party that is not hotel-managed like, Spa, or other restaurant concessionaires. Points will not be awarded for meeting and banquet charges, Business Centre services or any other facilities that are not managed by hotel. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer or promotion unless otherwise stated. Only one room per member per stay at participating hotels will be awarded the applicable bonus. No retroactive bonus points or miles will be awarded for nights prior to registration. A Stay is defined as one night or consecutive nights at the same hotel, regardless of frequency of check-ins/outs. A Stay constitutes a “qualifying Stay” when paying qualifying rates, which include most business and leisure rates. Please allow up to 4 to 6 weeks for points to be credited after checkout. This offer is subject to standard IHG Rewards Club Membership terms and conditions and earning structure, which can be found at www.ihgrewardsclub.com.

Summer Deal for Hilton Singapore and Conrad Centennial Singapore

Save 20% off Easy Cancellation rates when you stay at either the Hilton Singapore or the highly-rated Conrad Centennial Singapore from 01 July 2014 to 31 December 2014. Reservations need to be made between now and 31 August 2014. Summer deal rates are non-refundable and non-cancellable. 

For more information pertaining to this promotion, please click HERE. 

Since these are non-refundable rates, kindly make sure that your travel plans are firm before booking. You should always select the Summer Deal rate over the Advance Purchase rate since they are 20% off the Easy Cancellation rate instead of 15% for the latter.  

Remember that you can sign up for the Double Your HHonors Promotion for stays between now and 31 July 2014 where you will be able to earn double Hilton Honors points at a participating property. Hilton Honors members who are on a Points & Points Earning Style will earn double base points.

For more information on this promotion or to sign-up, please click HERE. 

If you are going to be staying in a participating Conrad or Waldorf Astoria property, be sure to sign up for this promotion (click HERE to access it) which will give you 2,000 bonus points per eligible night. Also, sign up HERE if you are going to be staying in a Conrad or Waldorf Astoria to get the following bonus points (in case you haven't already). 

1st Stay: 2,000 Bonus Points
2nd Stay: 3,000 Bonus Points
3rd Stay: 5,000 Bonus Points

As far as I know, all the promotions stack so make sure you complete your stays in participating properties before 31 July 2014 to take advantage of all 3 promotions. Otherwise, complete your Conrad and Waldorf Astoria stays before 31 December 2014 to benefit from the bonus points.