Disclosure: I may earn a referral bonus if you use the links below.
Rakuten's annual Big Give Week promo is live through May 13, 2025.
You can earn up to 20% cash back on a variety of brands. However, those who have linked their Amex Membership Rewards account to Rakuten will be able to earn 20x Amex points. Please note that not all brands are eligible for this promo and some that are have only been increased to 15% back/15x Amex points.
A new sign-up bonus for the Chase Freedom Flex seems to be available for select applicants. You may need to use an incognito browser to find the offer. Even then, you might not see it.
New Sign-Up Bonus
Keep in mind that the cash back can become transferable Ultimate Rewards points at a rate of 1 cent per point if you also have a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve, and/or an Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
Bonus Categories
Keep in mind that this card does have foreign transaction fees, so it's not a great option when traveling abroad.
Annual Fee
Chase has increased the bonuses on all three of its Avios cards.
New Welcome Bonus
Bonus Categories
Benefits
Annual Fee
Learn More
The Points Guy: "Reliable information regarding hotel accessibility can be murky at best, and the broader hotel industry often comes up short in making this travel experience as easy as possible. Hyatt leaders are showing the company is taking this seriously in a new initiative highlighting the needs of neurodivergent travelers and what needs to be done to improve the travel experience from booking to checking out."
"While Hyatt played an important role in the survey, the company and its competitors still are a way out from implementing widespread offerings for the neurodivergent community throughout the entire travel journey. But leaders recognize this and maintain awareness via the survey is making a very important first step."
One Mile At A Time: "The Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Cacique is now accepting reservations for stays as of February 1, 2025. The property will feature 190 accommodations plus 41 residences. It will be located in Guanacaste, on a peninsula with unobstructed ocean views, just a short drive from Liberia International Airport (LIR)."
"The good news is that you’re able to redeem Hilton Honors points at the Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica. Rates start at 120,000 Hilton Honors points per night (compared to 95,000 points when bookings first opened), and elite members get a fifth night free, lowering the average cost to 96,000 points per night. It goes without saying that redeeming points is a phenomenal value."
Points Wire Note:
If you're booking a cash rate, make sure you book with Hilton Impresario benefits which include daily breakfast for 2, a $100 property credit, room upgrade (if available), double Hilton points, etc.
You can get a $500 Southwest e-gift card for $430 at Sam's Club. There's a limit of 2 per membership while supplies last. You should receive the gift cards via email within 48 hours.
Direct link to offer (not a referral)
Points Wire Note:
Gift cards from Sam's Club don't always track when you use shopping portals, but it's worth the extra click just in case. My go-to portal is Rakuten (my referral).
GHA Discovery isn't as well known as Marriott Bonvoy or World of Hyatt, but it's been running some interesting promos and even a lucrative status match.
Now, they're out with an impressive 20th anniversary promo. It'll take some effort to hit all of the steps, but it has the potential be quite lucrative.
The Basics
The Discovery Dollars you earn increases with each stay starting with third stay. Just remember, to qualify, each stay needs to be at a different brand. View From The Wing has a breakdown of how it works.
You'll also earn Discovery Dollars as a percentage of your spend based on your status:
Points Wire Note:
I'll note that some GHA brands can be booked with VIP perks via a luxury travel advisor like myself. Several that come to mind:
You can book many properties with perks via our self-serve portal. Perks can include daily breakfast for 2, a US$100 property credit, room upgrade (if available), welcome amenity, and more.
Travel on Points: "A fact that I am not sure everyone realizes, that they unlock extra award space. That is because all that matters in order to be able to use them is that a standard suite is available for sale for a cash stay."
Points Wire Note:
If you have Globalist status, this is a great bonus perk to keep in your back pocket!
Hilton has announced their next Points Plus promotion for stays between May 2 and September 2, 2024. For stays within these dates, you'll earn 2x points without a limit. Just make sure you register before your first stay. Stays booked prior to the promo will be eligible.
Points Wire Note:
Disclosure: I may earn a referral bonus if you use the links below.
Update: It seems Rakuten is NOT offer $40 as a sign-up bonus, but 10% cash back up to $50 back. This is a change from previous sign-up bonus offers and it was buried on the referral page. Sorry for any confusion.
Rakuten has increased their referral bonus to $40. The person who refers will earn $40 cash back if the new accountholder spends $40 within 30 days. This increased referral bonus offer ends at 11:59pm PT on May 13, 2024.
If you have an Amex Membership Rewards account, you can link it to Rakuten to earn Amex points instead of cash back. This can be a great way to earn additional Membership Rewards and is a big reason why Rakuten is a go-to shopping portal for many in the points community.
If you choose to earn Amex points, the conversion from cash back is 1 cent per point. For example, if you see a cash back rate of 5%, you'll earn 5x Membership Rewards points. It also means the $40 sign-up and referral bonuses are worth 4,000 points.
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In August 2018, I started the Straight To The Points flight alerts newsletter with the goal of making it easier to book business and first class flights with points & miles and fare deals.
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