SPG Hot Escapes (Week 31)

The weekly SPG Hot Escapes is back and it is looking good if you intend to stay in a participating property in the next 6 weeks. Remember that these are prepaid rates and therefore cannot be cancelled - please book them only if your travel plans are confirmed. 

Click on the following link to access the promotion and to see which are the participating properties: http://www.spghotescapes.com/all

Remember that you get an additional 5% off for being an SPG Member. If you are in the Asia-Pacific region, be sure to check out my previous post to find out how to get SPG Gold in just ONE stay! Click HERE to access the previous article on getting SPG Gold. 

The Westin Singapore offers pretty good rate this time at S$289++ so it might be a good time to consider that staycation and take that obligatory shot by the infinity pool! 

Hotel Promotion Round-up (July 2014)

1. Zuji.com.sg - 13% off Hotels

There's only three days left to take 13% off hotel reservations made on Zuji.com.sg with a HSBC Credit/Debit card. This promotional rate is valid for stays up until 31 December 2014. 

Click HERE to read more about this promotion! 

2. RatesToGo.com - up to 20% off Hotels

From now until 10 August 2014, take 20% off hotel stays when you book at RatesToGo.com with the promo code GETAWAY20. This is valid for stays up until 31 August 2014.

For stays after 31 August 2014, use GETAWAY15 for 15% off instead. 

RatesToGo.com ran a couple of limited time promotions that offer 20% off hotels this year. However, with that being said, it's always a good idea to cross check with other OTAs like Zuji.com.sg or HotelTravel.com.sg to make sure you're getting the best rate that matches your preferences!  

Non-Participating Properties for Hilton Triple Points Bonus (Perspective from Asia)

While a cached copy has been circulating the internet over the last couple of days, Hilton has officially released a list of hotels that will not participating in the Triple Your Trip 2014 promotion. This promotion gives you up to triple of the amount you would usually earn on eligible spends. 

For information on this promotion and how to sign up please refer to my previous link:
http://www.theshutterwhale.com/blog/2014/7/11/hilton-hhonors-2x3x-points-01-august-to-31-october-2014

Although many American travellers are furious about the exclusion of many properties, it does not actually look half bad if you are traveling in the Asia-Pacific region.

You may access the full list of hotels that chose NOT to participate here: 
http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en/promotions/triple-your-trip/non-participating-hotels.html

As usual, the largely popular Conrad Maldives Rangali Island and Conrad Bali are not participating in this promotion. However, I was surprised to see that none of the Australian properties were included here - which means you can earn bonus points from them! In Singapore, both the Hilton Singapore and Conrad Centennial Singapore are also participating in the promotion it looks pretty good for the staycation goers. 

You may access my previous reviews on some of the Hilton properties listed here below.

20% off Hilton HHonors Points (+ When to Buy?)

From now until 03 September 2014, take 20% off when you buy Hilton HHonors Points (pay only US$8 instead of US$10 for 1,000 points).  You may buy up to 40,000 Hilton HHonors Points in a single calendar year. 

Click HERE to access the promotional landing page or to purchase the Hilton HHonors Points at 20% off. 

While it is generally unwise to purchase Hilton Honors Points, it may make sense if you do not currently have any points and you wish to stay in certain properties where the Points and Money rate is significantly cheaper.

For example, at the Doubletree Johor Bahru (Category 1) that just quite recently opened next door to Singapore, the Points and Money rate should always be selected in order to minimise spending. Take a look at a King Guest Room at the Doubletree Johor Bahru below:

Since the Points and Money rate is a flexible rate, we will compare it to the Easy Cancellation rate. With an applicable cumulative tax rate of 16%, the Easy Cancellation rate would be RM452 nett (approximately S$176). However the cash component of the Points and Money rate is only RM110 nett (approximately S$43). Essentially, the 2,000 HHonors Points paid for S$133 of the room rate. Following this calculation, 1,000 HHonors Points is worth S$66.50 in this booking. 

Being able to buy 1,000 Hilton HHonors Points at US$8 (approximately S$10) under this promotion will ultimately bring your rate down from S$176 to S$63 (S$43 from the cash component and S$20 to buy 2,000 Hilton HHonors Points). This will save you over 60% off the room rate for a King Guest Room.

It may make sense sometimes to buy Hilton HHonors Points if the property that you are staying in has excellent Points and Money rate as showed in the example above. 

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Terms & Conditions
Each HHonors Member or Mutual Account may purchase no more than 40,000 “Non-Reservation Points” in a single calendar year. Any Points in addition to this limit will not be posted to your account. Points.com and Hilton HHonors reserve the right to terminate discount promotions at any time. The 20% discount (cost of $.008 per Point up to 40,000 Points) is available for purchases made between July 10, 2014 at 12:01am EST and September 3, 2014, at 11:59pm EST. All purchases are non-refundable. To purchase Points by phone please call +1 800 548 8690 or view a global list of Hilton Worldwide Reservation centers. Offer is subject to change. Offer cannot be combined with any other offer. Points will be posted to the recipient's Hilton HHonors account within 24 hours of the completed transaction. Buy and Gift Points transactions are final and non-refundable. All Hilton HHonors program terms and conditions apply.

10% off Hotel Bookings on Expedia

Enjoy 10% off on Expedia Rate hotels for bookings made online at expedia.com.sg. There is a minimum of two nights required for this promotion to be valid and payment has to be made using a UOB issued credit/debit card. 

Booking Period: until 31 August 2014
Travel Period: 28 February 2015 

Just enter promo code UOB<first 6 digits of UOB card> at the payment page to take 10% off a participating Expedia Rate hotel. 

Book on Expedia.com.sg with your UOB Card and coupon code from now until 31 August 2014 and stand a chance to win a 3D2N stay for two at Sugar Marina Resort - FASHION – Kata Beach or Avista Hideaway Resort and Spa, or a 1-night weekend staycation at the Westin Singapore!

If you do not have a UOB card but have a HSBC card instead, check out Zuji.com.sg for 13% off hotel bookings with the promo code HSBCHOLIDAY13.  

Starwood Properties in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia - Take up to 50% off!

From now until 31 July 2014, enjoy up to 50% off your stay at a participating Starwood property in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. 

Click on the following link to access the promotional landing page:
http://www.asiapacific.starwoodoffers.com/seadeals/en

The Executive Club Rooms at the Westin Singapore are going for S$400++ instead of $510++ (approximately 22% off). However you lose the ability to cancel without penalty if you opt for the sale rate. Do make sure you compare the rates to make sure you choose one that suits your traveling preferences, budget and flexibility. 

Some other hotels may offer more than just a room rate discount. For example, the St. Regis Bali Resort offers complimentary breakfast and VIP airport transfer alongside a room rate discount.

Happy travels! 

Hyatt Flash Sale - up to 30% off Asia-Pacific Properties

If you missed out on the previous Hyatt Flash Sale with up to 40% off Asia-Pacific properties, the flash sale is back with up to 30% off Asia-Pacific properties! Use the promotional code APF30 to access these rates! Albeit not as good, it's still a pretty decent deal if you have somewhere to go and have somehow missed out on the previous sale. 

Click on the following link to follow through to the promotional landing page:
http://www.hyatt.com/hyatt/specials/offers/offer-details_hotels_20.jsp?offerId=54652188

Booking Period: until 20 Jul 2014
Stay Period: until 31 Aug 2014

Save on your holiday with the Hyatt five-day flash promotion. Enjoy up to 30% off at Hyatt hotels across Asia Pacific. Book now through July 20, 2014 and stay by August 31, 2014. 

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