The Best Ways To Fly and Stay in the Maldives With Points and Miles

The Maldives is considered one of the most sought-after luxury vacation destinations in the world. Made up of more than 1,000 coral islands, the Maldives is a tropical archipelago located in the Indian Ocean.

With its incredible white sand beaches, extensive coral reefs, and crystal-clear blue water, the Maldives is the perfect island excursion for a relaxing vacation or special honeymoon destination.

And the Maldives can be a fun adventure, too! With an endless amount of water sports to choose from, no visit is complete without experiencing some of the best snorkeling and diving spots in the world (think manta rays and whale sharks).

While the Maldives does have some budget-friendly accommodations, most of those are in or very close to the capital city of Malé (MLE), and might not meet your high expectations for the Maldives.

This guide will help explain the best award programs for you to upgrade your entire dream vacation to the Maldives. From flights to hotels, we’ve got you covered to help you experience the Maldives in style without the high price tag.

Best Programs to Book Award Flights to the Maldives

Getting to the Maldives sounds like it could be a difficult task — a group of islands thousands of miles away in the middle of the Indian Ocean doesn’t seem like it would be super easy to get to!

But since this is such a sought-after destination, many airlines do offer flights to the Maldives. While no U.S. airlines offer flights directly to the Maldives, there are plenty of other options utilizing your flexible reward points and partner award charts.

Award availability may be a challenge when looking for flights to the Maldives, but we’ve got a great guide to help make searching for award space easier.

Hot Tip: If you’re running into a lot of dead ends, consider flying into Colombo (CMB), Sri Lanka. It’s just about an hour away by air to the Maldives and often has much more award availability.

American Airlines AAdvantage

The American Airlines AAdvantage program can help you get to the Maldives even though American Airlines doesn’t operate flights there.

On its partner award chart, the Maldives falls into the Indian Subcontinent region. Here are the one-way rates for award flights on Oneworld Alliance partners and partner airlines from the U.S.:

• Main Cabin: 40,000 AAdvantage Points
• Business: 70,000 AAdvantage Points
• First: 115,000 AAdvantage Points

American Airlines offers some great options to get to the Maldives by booking on its partner airlines. Here are some of our favorite partners to redeem AAdvantage miles to the Maldives.

Etihad

Etihad offers flights from the U.S. to the Maldives via Abu Dhabi (AUH) in the United Arab Emirates.

American Airlines does not show Etihad award availability or allow you to book these award flights online. You can search for award availability directly on Etihad and look for Etihad Guest seats since those are what American Airlines usually has access to.

Etihad offers an incredible first and business class product on its long-haul flights from the U.S., including the famous Etihad First Class Apartment on its A380 aircraft, which flies from New York’s John F. Kennedy (JFK) airport.

Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi from the following cities in the U.S.:

• Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• New York-John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
• Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Award availability is usually pretty decent. Be sure to search segment by segment to increase your odds of finding the Etihad Guest award seats.

Hot Tip: If you are looking specifically for business or first class award seats on Etihad, the U.S. reservation agents are known to have difficulty in seeing that award space. Try calling other American Airlines reservation centers like Australia or Singapore, who can usually see Etihad’s availability.

Want to know other ways to book Etihad airways to the Maldives in style? Check out our in-depth guides to the best ways to book Etihad business class flights and Etihad first class flights in a step-by-step guide.

Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific offers flights to the Maldives via Hong Kong International (HKG), where it operates direct flights 4 times a week.

American Airlines also does not allow you to book or see award availability on Cathay Pacific flights on its website. You can search award availability on British Airways or Qantas, and once you find your preferred seats on Cathay Pacific, call AAdvantage to book.

Cathay Pacific offers an incredible business and first class product on all flights from the U.S., but only offers business class flights on the 6-hour flight to the Maldives from Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific flies to Hong Kong from the following cities in the U.S. and operates the Hong Kong – Malé route on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

• Boston Logan International (BOS)
• Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• New York-John F. Kennedy International  (JFK)
• Newark Liberty International (EWR)
• San Francisco International (SFO)
• Washington Dulles International (IAD)

There are a few more ways to get access to Cathay Pacific award seats using other airlines’ programs. Alaska Airlines actually beats American Airlines in rates, but it doesn’t seem to have as much access to award seats.

Hot Tip: You do have other options to fly up front with Cathay Pacific to the Maldives. Check out our step-by-step guide for booking business class flights and first class flights on Cathay Pacific.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways offers flights to the Maldives via Hamad International in Doha (DOH) and operates flights from 10 U.S. cities while providing daily flights from Doha – Malé.

Award bookings and availability for Qatar Airways flights are not available when searching on American Airlines. Instead, it’s best to check the award search engines on British Airways or Qantas to find availability before calling AAdvantage.

Qatar Airways does not offer any of its first-class products from its U.S. destinations. Don’t let that deter you if you’re going for ultimate luxury since its business class product can easily be compared to some other first class products out there!

We would highly recommend trying to get availability on its business class product QSuites, which is among the best business class products on the market.

Qatar Airways flies to Doha from the following U.S. cities:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
• Boston Logan International (BOS)
• Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
• Dallas-Ft. Worth International (DFW)
• George Bush Intercontinental-Houston (IAH)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• Miami International (MIA)
• New York-John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
• Philadelphia International (PHL)
• Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Best of all, all Qatar Airways U.S. routes have QSuites!

For even more information, check out our article on the best ways to book Qatar Airways QSuites.

Bottom Line: American Airlines AAdvantage provides some of the best award rates (70,000 one-way in business class) and best premium cabins in first and business class (Etihad Apartments) when using its award miles to book flights to the Maldives on partner airlines. 

How to Earn Enough AA Miles to Fly to the Maldives

There are so many ways to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles. Some of our favorite methods to earn lots of AAdvantage miles are the many credit cards that earn with (or can transfer to) American Airlines.

Both Citi and Barclays offer quite a few different flavors of American Airlines AAdvantage credit cards for both personal and business use. Each comes with unique benefits that will help you earn lots of AAdvantage miles and other great perks when you fly American Airlines.

Marriott Bonvoy has also enhanced its airline transfer program and added even more partner airlines you can transfer your Marriott Bonvoy points to, including American. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to American at a 3:1 rate with a transfer time of 2 days.

Recommended Marriott Bonvoy Cards

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card

A great option for Marriott hotel fans who want a no annual fee card and automatic Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Bonus Points plus 1 Free Night Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Free Night valued at 50,000 points. Certain hotels have resort fees.

60,000 points + 1 Free Night Award

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$770

Annual Fee

$0

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Casual travelers who like to frequent properties that are part of the Marriott Bonvoy collection of brands may want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card.

The Marriott Bold card rewards cardholders for Marriott stays and gives them a boost towards Marriott Bonvoy elite status.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Up to 14x points per $1 on Marriott purchases
• 2x points at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services
• 5 Elite Night Credits each year

Cons

• Lower point earn rate than other Marriott Bonvoy cards
• Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Pay no annual fee with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Credit Card from Chase^®!
• Earn up to 14X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Bold^® Card.
• New! Earn 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, cable, and phone services.
• 1X point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
• New! Travel now, pay later - Break up purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest plus no plan fees on qualifying travel purchases. Terms apply.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card

Marriott loyalists will love this card's annual Free Night Award, automatic elite status, and up to 17x points per $1 on Marriott hotel stays.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$875

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re a frequent traveler and a Marriott loyalist, there’s a lot to love about the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card. The card comes packed with several great benefits like a free hotel night once a year, automatic Silver Elite status (with a fast-track to Gold Elite status), and multiple options for redeeming points.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn big when you use your card at thousands of participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels
• Earn big at grocery stores, gas stations, and dining
• Automatic Silver Elite Status

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Marriott Silver Elite Status is the lowest status tier

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after qualifying purchases.
• Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on grocery stores, gas stations, and dining.
• Earn 1 Elite Night Credit towards Elite Status for every $5,000 you spend.
• 1 Free Night Award (valued up to 35,000 points) every year after account anniversary.
• Earn up to 17X total points per $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^® with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Card.
• Receive 15 Elite Night Credits annually, automatic Silver Elite status, and path to Gold Status when you spend $35,000 on purchases each calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Your points don't expire as long as you make purchases on your card every 24 months.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy card gives you automatic Marriott elite status and helps you earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on your everyday purchases.

Welcome Offer

Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you spend $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

85,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$595

Annual Fee

$250

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card, the latest mid-tier offering in the Marriott Bonvoy lineup of cards, offers cardholders automatic elite status and ways to earn more Marriott Bonvoy points on each of their stays and daily purchases.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy
• 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases per calendar year, then 2x points)
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $250 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Free Night Award certificate is not an automatic benefit

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Earn 4X points at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on up to $15,000 in combined purchases at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets per calendar year, then 2X points).
• Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases with the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card.
• Marriott Bonvoy 1K Bonus Points Per Stay: Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points per paid eligible stay booked directly with Marriott for properties participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
• With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elites status, earn up to 2.5X points from Marriott Bonvoy^® on eligible hotel purchases with the 25% Bonus Points on stays benefit, available for Qualifying Rates.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy Free Night Award: Earn 1 Free Night Award after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® points) at a hotel participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• 15 Elite Night Credits: Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express Card^® you can receive 15 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express. Terms apply.
• Plan It^® is a payment option that lets you split up purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee. Plus, you'll still earn rewards the way you usually do.
• $250 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card

A premium card for Marriott fans who want perks like an annual statement credit and Free Night Award, plus a fast track to Marriott elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

95,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$665

Annual Fee

$650

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card is a premium card designed with road warriors and Marriott Bonvoy loyalists in mind.

So is the card a worthwhile addition to your wallet?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 6x points per $1 at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy program
• 3x points per $1 on flights booked directly with airlines and restaurants worldwide
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Steep annual fee of $650 (rates & fees)
• 6x points per $1 is the same earn rate offered with lower annual fee alternatives like the Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express^® Card

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy^® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card at restaurants worldwide.
• With Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status, you can receive room upgrades, including enhanced views or suites, when available at select properties and booked with a Qualifying Rate.
• Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy^® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Earn 3X Marriott Bonvoy^® points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines and 2X Marriott Bonvoy^® points on all other eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card.
• Free Night Award: Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy^®. Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
• $100 Marriott Bonvoy Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton^® or St. Regis^® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
• Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck^® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
• Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy^® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
• Enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, which offers unlimited airport lounge visits to over 1,200 lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks, and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
• With Cell Phone Protection, you can be reimbursed, the lesser of, your repair or replacement costs following damage, such as a cracked screen, or theft for a maximum of $800 per claim when your cell phone line is listed on a wireless bill and the prior month's wireless bill was paid by an Eligible Card Account. A $50 deductible will apply to each approved claim with a limit of 2 approved claims per 12-month period. Additional terms and conditions apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
• $650 Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Marriott Bonvoy

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan is a unique award program since it doesn’t belong to any airline alliance. Instead, Alaska Airlines has direct partnerships with several global airlines to expand its reach.

Each partner airline has a special award chart with Alaska Airlines, and the Maldives falls into the India and South Asia region category for its awards.

Here are the one-way rates for award travel on its partners that fly to the Maldives — and don’t forget to check out the best ways to earn lots of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles.

Cathay Pacific

• Coach: 50,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles
• Business: 62,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles
• First: 70,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles

Emirates

• Coach: 42,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles
• Business: 82,500 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles
• First: 150,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles

Korean Air

• Coach: 100,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles
• Business: 140,000 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles

We’ve already discussed flying Cathay Pacific with American Airlines miles. Even though Alaska Airlines has better rates, it seems it has even more limited award access compared to American Airlines AAdvantage.

Here, we’re going to focus primarily on Emirates award flights using Alaska Airlines miles.

Emirates

Emirates offers multiple flights via Dubai International (DXB) on its exclusive A380 and Boeing 777 fleet, with both first class and business class options all the way to Malé.

Making an award booking on Emirates using Alaska Airlines miles is easy. Both award availability and booking can quickly be done online using an Alaska Airlines award search.

Want to add a couple of days in Dubai on your way to the Maldives? Alaska Airlines awards are perfect since they allow a free stopover, even on one-way flights!

Emirates has an incredible first and business class product on its fleet — including the showers on its A380 — and award availability is usually easy to find using Alaska Airlines miles. You can get an in-depth look at flying first class on the Emirates A380 with our detailed review.

Emirates also offers the most flights to the Maldives via Dubai, with several nonstop options and even more with short stops in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Emirates flies to Dubai from the following U.S. cities:

• Boston Logan International (BOS)
• Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
• Dallas-Ft. Worth International (DFW)
• Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)
• George Bush Intercontinental-Houston (IAH)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• New York-John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
• Orlando International (MCO)
• San Francisco International (SFO)
• Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)
• Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Want more options to get to the Maldives with Emirates? We have a step-by-step guide with the best ways to book business class flights and first class flights on Emirates.

Bottom Line: Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan offers incredible rates to the Maldives, but they’re different for each partner. The best part about booking Alaska Airline award flights is when you have the opportunity to utilize a free stopover in the airline’s “hub” city. 

How to Earn Alaska Airlines Miles to Fly to the Maldives

Alaska Airlines has co-branded credit cards with Bank of America that can help you earn some extra Mileage Plan miles. Alaska Airlines also is a partner airline for Marriott Bonvoy, giving you even more flexibility when looking to book Alaska Airline partner awards.

We’ve covered some of the great benefits of transferring Marriott Bonvoy with partner airlines above, but you can see our guide on how to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points if you need more inspiration.

Korean Air SKYPASS

Korean Air offers flights to the Maldives via Seoul Incheon airport (ICN), but it’s important to note that the flight from Seoul to Malé makes a quick stop in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Your best use of Korean Air SKYPASS miles will be directly on Korean Air award flights.

Hot Tip: With the loss of Korean Air as a transfer partner for Chase Ultimate Rewards, you might think it’s difficult to get more Korean Air SKYPASS miles — check out our favorite ways to earn lots of Korean Air SKYPASS miles.

The Maldives falls into the Southwest Asia region on the Korean Air award chart; here are the award redemption rates for one-way flights:

Off-Peak

• Economy: 42,500 Korean Air SKYPASS miles
• Business: 85,000 Korean Air SKYPASS miles
• First: 105,000 Korean Air SKYPASS miles

Peak

• Economy: 70,000 Korean Air SKYPASS miles
• Business: 127,500 Korean Air SKYPASS miles
• First: 157,500 Korean Air SKYPASS miles

Hot Tip: Check out our in-depth guide to booking first class on Korean Air since you can only experience Korean Air’s first class is by using its own SKYPASS miles. Partner airlines do not have access to Korean Air’s exclusive first class seats.

Korean Air offers an incredible first and business class product on flights to the U.S., which provides easy connections to the Maldives. The flight from Seoul to the Maldives also offers first class, but it’s basically the same seat as business class with an enhanced menu.

It’s easy to search and book award flights using Korean Air SKYPASS miles directly on its website. Just watch out for those taxes and fees, since they’re on the higher side compared to other programs.

The good news is that award availability is usually pretty easy to find on Korean Air, and most of it will fall in the off-peak rates.

Korean Air flies to Seoul from the following U.S. cities:

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
• Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
• Dallas-Ft. Worth International (DFW)
• Honolulu International (HNL)
• Harry Reid International (LAS)
• Los Angeles International (LAX)
• New York-John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
• San Francisco International (SFO)
• Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)
• Washington Dulles International (IAD)

Even though Korean Air makes its first class redemptions exclusive to its own SKYPASS mileage program, there are other ways to book business class. Take a look at the best ways to book Korean Air business class flights for other redemption options with other travel programs.

How to Earn Korean Miles to Fly to the Maldives

Korean Air does have co-branded credit cards with U.S. Bank. It also used to be one of our favorite transfer partners with Chase Ultimate Rewards, but unfortunately, that partnership has ended.

Hot Tip: The best way to earn lots of Korean Air SKYPASS miles is by transferring from Marriott Bonvoy. Here is our guide on how to earn lots of Marriott Bovnoy points so you can transfer them to Korean Air.

United Airlines MileagePlus

United Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, which allows quite a few different options when looking for award flights to the Maldives using the United MileagePlus program.

United MileagePlus uses a variable award pricing system, but you can expect this approximate mileage price on flights from the U.S. to the Maldives.

• Economy: 44,000 United MileagePlus miles
• Business: 99,000 United MileagePlus miles
• First: 154,000 United MileagePlus miles

Star Alliance carriers that offer regular service to the Maldives are Air India, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines. Other carriers sometimes operate seasonal service to the Maldives.

When using MileagePlus, you could easily be flying with multiple carriers on a wide range of routes throughout the U.S. and beyond.

The best part of the program is that there are so many ways to earn lots of United MileagePlus miles!

Hot Tip: Don’t forget to check out our review of United Airlines in its own dedicated piece!

How to Earn United Miles to Fly to the Maldives

We’ve covered many ways of earning United MileagePlus miles, but if you’re in a rush for a one-way business class ticket to the Maldives, check out our guide on how to earn 100,000 United MileagePlus miles in 90 days!

Chase Bank does have United Airlines co-branded credit cards, but our favorite way to earn MileagePlus miles is by transferring from Chase Ultimate Rewards — it has lots of great airline transfer partners that transfer 1:1.

Marriott Bonvoy is another flexible option when looking to transfer points into United MileagePlus.

Here are our favorite Chase Ultimate Reward credits cards that will help you earn points to transfer directly to United Airlines:

Recommended Chase Cards (Personal)

BEST BEGINNER CARD

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 bonus points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.74% - 27.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred^® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance. With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.74% - 27.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$550

APR

21.74% - 28.74% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025

Cons

• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $120 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.74% - 28.74% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Chase Ultimate Rewards

If you’re a business owner, see our list of the best Chase business credit cards.

Best Programs to Book Hotels in the Maldives

The Maldives is a very popular bucket-list destination, but you have to book right to make it live up to the hype. Staying at the right hotel in the Maldives will definitely help this dream destination live up to your expectations.

Luckily, there are plenty of options to find your perfect stay in the Maldives using points. Here, we’ll cover the top hotels in the Maldives to stay at using points.

It’s important to consider the additional costs of staying at a popular but remote tourist destination.

For example, traveling from the international airport in Malé to some of these resorts can cost $500+ per person to transfer by seaplane or speedboat!

Hilton Honors

The Hilton Honors loyalty program is a great way to have a luxurious stay in the Maldives. It can be incredibly easy to earn lots of Hilton Honors points and make sure you have an extended stay in paradise.

There are currently 3 Hilton resorts in the Maldives: the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, and the SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

The Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is one of the best options to book using points in the Maldives because it’s the only one that offers an overwater bungalow for the standard award price.

That’s right: you can stay in an overwater villa in the Maldives on points! The Conrad Maldives is one of Hilton’s highest-tiered properties, costing 95,000 points per night for the standard award rate.

But you don’t have to stay in an overwater villa for 95,000 points per night if you don’t want to — the resort offers some fabulous beach bungalows in the same award category. Beach bungalows are generally around double the size of overwater villas and have easy beach access. Beach villas tend to be popular for smaller families, while overwater villas tend to be popular with the younger crowd.

Having elite status with Hilton Honors will give you even more value for your points for longer stays. Starting at Silver status, Hilton Honors members get the fifth night free on a standard room award booking.

That means you can stay in an overwater bungalow for 5 nights for just 380,000 points. That might sound like a lot of points, but there are plenty of American Express Hilton Honors credit cards to consider applying for that can help you get there and even enhance your stay!

Some of these Hilton Honors credit cards give you Gold or Diamond status, which will provide tremendous value when staying at this resort. For example, Gold status gives you free breakfast during your entire stay, which includes 2 different restaurants (one on each island) at this resort.

The Conrad Maldives also goes above and beyond to provide a complimentary afternoon tea and happy hour for elite guests. You can get afternoon tea each day from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. with small sweets and light snacks. Immediately afterward, Gold members also are invited to a free happy hour with beer, wine, and mixed drinks at the Rangali bar from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.!

Bottom Line: For an average of just 76,000 Hilton Honors points per night, you can stay in an incredible overwater bungalow using the fifth-night free benefit and get free breakfast, tea, and happy hour with Hilton Honors Gold status — which is instantly earned just by having a Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.

How to Earn Points to Stay at Hilton Hotels in the Maldives

American Express has quite a few co-branded Hilton Honors credit cards that can easily get you enough Hilton Honors points for your stay in the Maldives.

Another huge perk is that some of these credit cards can instantly get you elite status with Hilton Honors. As mentioned above, that benefit alone can save you hundreds of dollars with free breakfast and other perks during your stay at Hilton properties in the Maldives.

Hilton Honors is also an Amex transfer partner — it often has a transfer bonus, but the standard transfer rate is 1:2.

Don’t forget to bring your Hilton credit card with you to the Maldives and use it for any extra charges during your stay — you could be earning up to 14 Hilton Honors points per dollar on eligible purchases at Hilton properties.

Recommended American Express Cards (Personal)

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Business owner? Several American Express business cards earn points that can be transferred to Hilton.

Recommended Hilton Cards

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.

100,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$500

Annual Fee

$0

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.

Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
• 5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
• Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• No Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors Loyalty Program

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card

An excellent high-earning Hilton credit card that comes with perks like Hilton Honors Gold status and up to $200 in Hilton credits every year.

Welcome Offer

Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.

165,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$825

Annual Fee

$150

APR

20.24%-29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

If you’re someone who loves traveling and loves staying in Hilton hotels, adding a co-branded Hilton hotel card to your wallet is almost a no-brainer. From automatic Hilton elite status to up to $200 in Hilton credits every year, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card can be a great fit for Hilton loyalists looking to up their travel game.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 12x points per $1 at Hilton hotels
• 6x points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants
• 4x points per $1 at U.S. online retail purchases

Cons

• Annual fee of $150 (rates & fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 165,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
• Get up to $200 back each year on eligible Hilton purchases after you use your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.
• Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 6X Points for each dollar of purchases on your Card at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 4X Points for each dollar on U.S. Online Retail Purchases.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Earn a Free Night Reward from Hilton Honors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors ™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors American Express Surpass^® Card.
• Spend $40,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn Hilton Honors™ Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
• Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club^® program is required. Terms apply.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• $150 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

All information about Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Points.

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership

175,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$875

Annual Fee

$550

APR

20.99% - 29.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

---

Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership
• Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible travel purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Earn 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for other eligible purchases on your card
• Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Enjoy complimentary Diamond status
• $550 annual fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

An excellent option for business owners and business travelers who stay at Hilton properties often and want perks like Hilton Honors elite status.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

An excellent option for business owners and business travelers who stay at Hilton properties often and want perks like Hilton Honors elite status.

Welcome Offer

Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 1/8/2025.

175,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$875

Annual Fee

$195

APR

20.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

For frequent business travelers who regularly stay in Hilton hotels, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a great option.

Not only will the card help you earn more points on all of your Hilton stays, but you’ll also receive automatic elite status and travel protections.

Here’s a detailed look at all the benefits this card offers so that you can determine if it’s a good fit for you.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Earn 12x points per $1 on eligible Hilton purchases
• Earn 5x points on other purchases made for the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3x points thereafter.
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, and the ability to spend your way to Diamond status

Cons

• $195 annual fee (rates and fees)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 1/8/2025.
• Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
• Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
• Get up to $60 in statement credits each quarter for purchases made directly with a property in the Hilton portfolio on your Hilton Honors American Express Business Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. With Hilton Honors Gold status, you can enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, earn an 80% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay getting you to free nights faster.
• You may receive an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status through the end of the calendar year if the total eligible purchases on your Card Account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more.
• As a Hilton Honors American Express Business Card Member, you can enroll to receive complimentary National Car Rental^® Emerald Club Executive^® status through the link on your American Express online account. After you’re enrolled, you can reserve a rental car by calling National Car Rental directly, using your travel service, or by booking online or through the National Car Rental mobile app. Terms apply.
• Terms apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Hilton Honors loyalty program

World of Hyatt

The World of Hyatt loyalty program is another fantastic option to consider for staying at an incredible remote resort in the Maldives.

There are plenty of opportunities to earn lots of World of Hyatt points to help you get there. You will have only one Hyatt property to choose from, but the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is definitely worth a visit.

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

The Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa is an incredible resort with a 360-degree house reef just steps away from each villa. The standard award room is a Park Villa, and direct beach access makes it easy for you to snorkel just by walking out the door.

Your standard award room rate will be 30,000 World of Hyatt points per night. While you can’t get an overwater bungalow just on points, hotels will often offer you paid upgrades, which could be worth it in this case. Those rates can depend on status but mainly depend on availability.

To get any exclusive benefits from elite status, you’ll have to go big — only Globalist elite members receive extra benefits.

If you are a World of Hyatt Globalist elite member, you’ll get free breakfast for up to 2 guests, plus complimentary cocktails and canapés from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There’s also a chance you could get a complimentary Pool Villa upgrade.

The hotel also provides snorkel gear for all guests that you can borrow from its dive shop for your entire stay, and free yoga classes and kayaking to keep you active!

You can also stay active by participating in some of the paid activities to really enhance your experience in the Maldives. This could include a private island picnic, visiting a local island, or snorkeling with whale sharks and manta rays!

Hot Tip: There’s nothing worse than forgetting to pack essentials. To ensure you’re beach ready, explore our Ultimate Beach Vacation Packing List to make sure you have everything you need. 

How to Earn Points to Stay at Hyatt Properties in the Maldives

Chase offers The World of Hyatt Credit Card and World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, but another way to rack up even more World of Hyatt points is by transferring from Chase Ultimate Rewards. World of Hyatt is a Chase transfer partner with Chase Ultimate Rewards at a rate of 1:1.

Hot Tip: Check out our guide on the best ways to redeem your World of Hyatt points, which includes the easiest way to earn points transferring from Chase Ultimate Rewards.

Marriott Bonvoy

You have lots of options to use the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program for your stay in the Maldives. Bringing together 2 major hotel brands also offers many great opportunities to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points.

Marriott currently operates 6 resort properties in the Maldives, including the Le Meridien Maldives Resort & Spa, Lhaviyani Atoll.

Don’t forget that all Marriott Bonvoy members get a fifth night free on award bookings, which can add significant value to your reward stay in the Maldives.

St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort can go for thousands of dollars a night, but luckily this property is now much easier to get on points. That’s if you can find availability, which is rare. Award rates start around 70,000 points but get progressively more expensive during times of demand.

Hot Tip: Award availability is hard to find for the St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort. Be sure to check the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app when looking for your reward stays because sometimes it shows more availability than what’s on the website. The search is definitely worth it, because this property is one of the best St. Regis hotel point redemptions out there!

It’s important to account for the cost of transportation to these remote resorts in the Maldives. This property probably has one of the most expensive seaplane transfer costs, running at $665 per person!

But with high costs come high rewards, and the St. Regis Maldives won’t disappoint on service. It provides a butler to help plan your stay with dinners and activities, offers free bike rentals to ride around the island, and also provides free yoga and other group exercise activities daily.

You can even rent your own 68-foot private yacht named Norma to go island-hopping (or escape the island for an overnight getaway)!

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort will definitely make your dream of the Maldives a reality and provide the most value for your points, especially if you take advantage of the fifth-night free!

W Maldives

The W Maldives is an incredible private island resort and makes for a great redemption using your Marriott Bonvoy points.

This could cost you as few as 70,000 points per night but the price will increase during times of higher demand. It’s also possible to book an overwater bungalow on points. This will be at a higher rate than the standard room and starts at 135,000 points per night.

The W Maldives offers both seaplane and speedboat transfers — the seaplane costs around $500 and the speedboat costs $350.

The W Maldives does have a house reef, so you can just snorkel right out from your room. It also has plenty of additional activities you can book, like swimming with whale sharks and manta rays, or sunset sail cruises.

JW Marriott Maldives Resort & Spa

JW Marriott opened in 2019, and it’s shaken up the competition in the Maldives.

It’s is situated on Vagaru Island on the Shaviyana Atoll, meaning you’ll have to pony up $600 per person for a round-trip seaplane transfer to access this resort.

Perhaps the coolest part about this resort is that the “base” level rooms are overwater villas, which means you can book these for as few as 70,000 points per night during periods of low demand.

There are 5 restaurants and 3 bars, in addition to 2 outdoor pools, a kids’ pool, game room, gym, spa, and even a salon. If you’re looking for activities during your stay, you can go boating, kayaking, snorkeling, jet skiing, sailing, scuba diving, water skiing, and even play table tennis or volleyball!

Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort

The Westin Maldives Miriandhoo Resort is a Marriott property focusing on sustainable luxury. Standard rooms at this property start at around 50,000 points per night during periods of low demand. 

This is one of the newer Marriott options, which makes it an appealing property for honeymooners and other demographics.

You’ll also have to take a 35-minute seaplane flight to get to this resort costing $550 per person round-trip, but once you’re there, you can explore all the resort has to offer.

Located on Baa Atoll, this property features 3 eateries, a luxe bar, barbecues, and even tennis courts. Notably, this resort is within a biosphere reserve, and you’re close to snorkeling with sharks and manta rays.

Of course, water sports are available, such as kayaking, jet-skiing, and more. To pamper yourself, you can check out the spa with a classic glass floor looking into the depths of the sea.

Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa

The Sheraton Maldives Full Moon Resort & Spa would probably be our last choice when looking to redeem points for an award stay in the Maldives.

It is not far from the international airport (only 15 minutes by speedboat), making it a less remote destination compared to other resorts. Also, the shared speedboat transfers are complimentary to all guests at this resort. That does help save a bundle on costs, especially compared to the $500-$800 per person you’ll pay at other properties.

The Sheraton Maldives starts at 40,000 points per night during periods of low demand. 

While redeeming points at this property will still provide tremendous value, it is usually the least expensive when booking regular rates with cash.

How to Earn Points to Stay at Marriott Properties in the Maldives

We’ve already covered multiple ways to earn lots of Marriott Bonvoy points from our favorite Marriott Bonvoy credit cards.

If you’re not transferring your Marriott Bonvoy points to its many airline partners to get you to the Maldives, using your points to cover your stay is another great option!

With tons of fantastic properties available, you have plenty of options to use your Marriott Bonvoy points for your stay in the Maldives.

Final Thoughts

We hope that this guide will help you make the trip to the Maldives — one of the most sought-after dream vacation destinations — for a fraction of the cost by utilizing your points and miles.

While the Maldives is a luxury destination, we don’t want you to pay luxury prices! Taking a special trip to the Maldives is the perfect time to start using your hard-earned points and miles to upgrade your travel style.

Our recommendation for the best airline reward program for your luxury business or first class flight is either:

• American Airlines AAdvantage for Qatar Airways QSuites — 70,000 one-way in business class
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan for Cathay Pacific — 70,000 one-way in first class

For the best hotel loyalty reward program to use for your exotic private island resort in the Maldives, we recommend:

• Conrad Maldives for 78,000 points per night using the fifth-night free benefit
• W Maldives for 68,000 points per night using the fifth-night free benefit during the standard season

We know availability can be tough to find, but it’s worth spending some time looking into all your options! Persistence is key — sometimes hotels and airlines release reward space sporadically, so it’s always best to keep checking and using different avenues to search for award space.