The most exclusive travel experiences you can book with points and miles
You don’t need me to remind you that points and miles can get you fancy flights and posh hotel stays.
But did you know that your rewards can also land you personal butlers and stays on private islands?
Points and miles can do wonders. This post examines the most exclusive travel experiences your rewards can buy. Not only are these uber-cool experiences, but they also offer a decent value for your points and miles.
Spend a long weekend at Richard Branson’s private island
You can redeem 630,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points plus $5,700 to get a three-night stay for two at Richard Branson’s Necker Island.
Necker Island is a 74-acre private island oasis east of Puerto Rico in the British Virgin Islands. The resort sleeps up to 40 people across 15 total rooms. Amenities include infinity pools, serene relaxation spaces, several bars, elegant dining spaces, lawn games, tennis courts, water sports and a hot tub directly on the beach.
Bookings are restricted to those who have Virgin Atlantic Silver or Gold status, though you may be able to status match to Virgin Atlantic from another airline or hotel program.
Check in to Etihad’s A380 Apartments
The first airline to introduce a single aisle on the Airbus A380, Etihad Airways offers first-class “Apartments” with an incredible amount of personal space; it allows you to walk around inside your private area. Each seat in an Apartment consists of a wide armchair and a separate couch that converts into a 6-foot, 10-inch bed. Nine Apartments alternate between forward- and rear-facing; they also alternate between being closer to the window and closer to the aisle.
Rows 3 and 4 are ideal if you’re traveling with someone, as you can lower a partition to connect the seats. It doesn’t form a true double bed like you can find on Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways, but with the doors closed, it’s about as private as you can get in commercial aviation. First-class passengers can freshen up by taking an onboard shower before landing.
Etihad flies the A380 between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) and London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR), New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG). You’ll pay 160,000 Etihad Guest miles when booking the JFK-AUH route.
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In the front of the Etihad A380 first-class cabin (where you’d expect to see seats 1A and 1C) is the “Residence.” It’s a three-room mega suite complete with a separate living room, a bedroom and a bathroom (with a shower, of course). While you cannot book the Residence with points and miles, you can upgrade with cash.
Standard one-way Residence upgrade prices on the New York route total $4,790 per person.
Stay at the North Island resort in the Seychelles
If you’re sitting on a large stash of Marriott Bonvoy points, you can use them to stay at the incredible North Island, a Luxury Collection Resort, Seychelles.
You’ll get to stay in a two-bedroom villa that covers nearly 5,000 square feet. Your stay will also include complimentary breakfast, use of an island buggy, morning yoga and kids activities.
Award nights cost more than 400,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night, and the hotel has a four-night minimum-stay requirement. This rate also doesn’t include the 1,110 euros ($1,200 at the time of writing) you’d need to pay for a helicopter transfer each way. However, considering cash rates regularly cross $7,000 per night, this could be considered a great value — as long as you have a massive stash of Marriott points.
Retreat to the all-inclusive, private Calala Island hotel
Hilton Honors members can redeem as few as 50,000 points per night to stay at uber-exclusive Calala Island, an SLH Hotel — assuming they can find award availability.
Calala Island is an all-inclusive, private island retreat off the coast of Nicaragua. It’s so exclusive that it has just four beachfront suites and can only accommodate eight guests at a time.
Room rates regularly top $4,000 per night, so it’s an absolute steal with points. Stays include food, drinks, activities and airport transfers.
Shower on board in Emirates first class
There aren’t any ways to redeem points and miles for private jet travel, but Emirates first class is the next best thing. You can book these awards through Emirates Skywards, Qantas Frequent Flyer or Air Canada Aeroplan.
If you want to experience gold-studded suites and onboard showers and bars, you’ll want to fly on Emirates’ flagship A380 aircraft. If modern sports car-inspired interiors are more your style, opt for Emirates’ newer 777-300ER planes with the game changer fully enclosed suites. No matter what plane you end up on, you’ll enjoy Emirates’ same top-notch food and drinks (including caviar and Dom Perignon) and service.
Emirates generally charges lower redemption rates than Qantas or Air Canada, with first-class flights between JFK and Dubai International Airport (DXB) costing 163,500 miles each way. You can transfer points to Emirates from six transferable points programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One, Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt Rewards.
Related: You can now use Aeroplan points for Emirates first class, but it isn’t cheap
Fly in style in Air France’s La Premiere first class
Another top-notch first-class product is Air France’s La Premiere, available exclusively on some of the carrier’s 777-300ERs. The cabin features just four seats across a single row, making it one of the smallest and most exclusive cabins in the sky.
La Premiere seats are elegant and private, featuring an individual lamp at every seat and floor-to-ceiling curtain dividers. The food is world-class, and the ground experience is unparalleled; passengers get chauffeured from an ultraluxe first-class lounge and the plane in a private car.
Unfortunately, this product is extremely hard to book with miles. To book La Premiere awards with miles, you must hold Air France-KLM Flying Blue Platinum elite status or above. Further, eligible elite members can only redeem at the “flex” level (not saver), so a one-way ticket between the U.S. and Europe will typically cost at least 220,000 miles.
If you’re eligible to book these awards, you can transfer points to Flying Blue from Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, Citi ThankYou Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Bilt Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards.
Related: Bucket list achieved: Reviewing Air France’s incredibly hard-to-book La Premiere first class
Enjoy double beds in Singapore’s first-class suites
If you’re traveling with a significant other, you can’t beat Singapore Airlines’ A380 suites.
Each suite features an impressive 50 square feet and contains not just a reclinable armchair but an entirely separate bed. If you’re traveling with someone, you can combine two suites to create a double bed and have up to 100 square feet of space.
Singapore doesn’t release first-class award space to partner programs, but it does make it available through its own Singapore KrisFlyer frequent flyer program. Unfortunately, Singapore Airlines doesn’t fly its A380 to the U.S., so you’ll have to fly between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and somewhere like LHR or Sydney Airport (SYD) to experience it.
It’s easy to get your hands on KrisFlyer miles since the program is a partner of Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One.
Related: How to book Singapore Airlines first-class suites with points and miles
Unwind at luxurious Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties
You can earn and redeem Marriott Bonvoy points at Ritz-Carlton Reserve properties. Previously, the brand did not participate in the loyalty program.
Ritz-Carlton Reserve is one of Marriott’s most exclusive brands, with just seven properties worldwide in locations such as Japan, Thailand and Mexico. It’s a step above the standard Ritz-Carlton brand, emphasizing luxury, tranquility and sustainability. The properties are intimate, each composed of as few as 50 rooms, and they are typically in remote locations.
Award stays generally range from 80,000 to 240,000 points per night. Although steep, the cash rates at these hotels are often north of $800 per night. As with other Marriott Bonvoy award stays, you can get a fifth night free for every four consecutive nights you book with points.
Bottom line
You can redeem points and miles for some truly luxurious flights and hotel stays that would normally cost tens of thousands of dollars.
By capitalizing on a few large sign-up bonuses and being strategic with your spending, an extravagant first-class flight or trip to a private island could be within reach.
