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How I’d Turn 250K Amex Points Into a 10-Day Dream Trip Abroad

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Andrew Kunesh
Updated: 
Edited by: Michael Y. Park
& Jestan Mendame
How I’d Turn 250K Amex Points Into a 10-Day Dream Trip Abroad
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American Express Membership Rewards points are among my favorite travel rewards currencies for booking travel, and it’s always fun to imagine how I’d spend them to get the most out of dream trips.

I like Membership Rewards points in large part because they’re so versatile. These points transfer to 18 airline and 3 hotel loyalty programs, including some of my favorites, like Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue, and Hilton Honors. Since I started collecting points and miles in 2014, I’ve earned and redeemed millions of Membership Rewards points, and I’ve managed to go on plenty of great trips with them.

In this article, I’ll show you what I’d book if I had to redeem 250,000 Membership Rewards points on a single trip — and how to earn 250,000 points of your own.

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How To Earn 250K Membership Rewards Points

Earning a quarter million points isn’t as difficult as you might think. The key to earning this many points in a short amount of time is applying for new American Express cards. Typically, you can earn a welcome offer when you open a new card and spend a certain amount of money after receiving it.

The chart below lists some of the best publicly available American Express welcome offers, but you might find a better deal through CardMatch, a friend’s referral link, or a targeted offer in the mail. For example, we’ve seen targeted offers of 125,000 points or 150,000 points on The Platinum Card® from American Express — compare that to the standard welcome offer of 80,000 points.

Please note that these offers are not available to all applicants. Any information related to targeted offers has been collected independently and has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS
The Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
The Platinum Card® from American Express
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.
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 to $1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
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
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 (enrollment required), 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.
  • With American Express Global Lounge Collection® you can enjoy access to over 1,400 airport lounges globally, including The Centurion® Lounge, Unlimited Delta Sky Club® Access when flying an eligible Delta flight, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Lounges when flying Lufthansa Group, Plaza Premium, Priority Pass™ Select Lounges, & Additional Global Lounge Collection Partner Lounges subject to visit limitations. Lounges may have their own rules, like additional access rules and guest fees, and for Priority Pass Select, you need to enroll and there are unlimited airport lounge visits for Card Members. With Delta Sky Club Access, Card Members will receive 10 Visits to the Delta Sky Club to be used from February 1 until January 31 of the next calendar year and can unlock Unlimited Delta Sky Club Access by spending $75,000 in eligible purchases on their Card in a calendar year. To find a lounge, visit the membership section in the American Express® App or visit http://www.americanexpress.com/findalounge#/loungefinder.
  • $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 ride or dine in style with $15 in Uber Cash each month, plus a bonus $20 in December after adding their Card to their Uber account. Use your Uber Cash on rides and orders in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
  • $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
American Express® Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
American Express® Gold Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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!
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 to $1,200
$325
See Pay Over Time APR
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
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
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 get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $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

LIMITED TIME TRAVEL OFFER
The Business Platinum Card® from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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 card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
150,000 points + $500 statement credit
Up to $3,800
$695
18.49% - 27.49% Variable
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
Why We Like This Card

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight and hotel packages booked through Amex Travel
  • Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection (as of 10/2024).
  • Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (on up to $2 million per calendar year)
Cons
  • High annual fee of $695 (rates & fees)
  • Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
  • 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 10/2024.
  • Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
  • Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
  • NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
  • Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases.
  • Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
  • $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
  • $695 Annual Fee.
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

ELEVATED OFFER
American Express® Business Gold CardTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
American Express® Business Gold Card
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)
American Express® Business Gold Card
Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
100,000 points
Up to $2,200
$375
18.49% - 27.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
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
Why We Like This Card

The American Express® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categories each month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
    • Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
    • U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
    • Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
    • U.S. purchases at gas stations
    • U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
    • Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
  • 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
  • Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
Cons
  • $375 annual fee (rates and fees)
  • No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Welcome Offer: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
  • 0% Intro APR ¤ for 6 months from the date of account opening on purchases eligible for Pay Over Time, then a 18.49% to 27.49% variable APR.*
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the top two eligible categories where your business spends the most each month from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.*
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.*
  • Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.*
  • Get up to a $12.95** statement credit back each month after you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. **Up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes on one membership fee.*
  • The Business Gold Card comes in three metal designs: Gold, Rose Gold and White Gold. Make your selection when you apply on Americanexpress.com.
  • *Terms Apply
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 18.49% - 27.49% Variable,0% on purchases for 6 months from date of account opening
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: None
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American ExpressTerms Apply / Rates & Fees
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
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U.P. Rating 
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs 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.

Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)
The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
Earn Membership Rewards for your business spending the easy way: get 2x points for the first $50,000 in purchases per year.
Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
15,000 points
Up to $330
No annual fee
0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%.
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
Why We Like This Card

As a business owner, getting a credit card that maximizes each dollar you spend does not have to be complicated or expensive. Especially when you opt for The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express.

With the Amex Blue Business Plus card, you’ll earn 2x Membership Rewards points on everyday business purchases throughout the year (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter) and receive purchase protections and no-additional-charge employee cards all for no annual fee (see rates and fees).

The simple and straightforward earning structure makes it a great fit for those looking to earn flexible rewards, without having to fixate on which purchases earn the most points.

Let’s take look at all that the Amex Blue Business Plus card has to offer.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 2x Membership Rewards points per $1 on everyday business purchases (up to $50,000; 1x thereafter)
  • Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
  • No annual fee and employee cards at no additional cost
Cons
  • No unique bonus categories and 2x earnings are capped at $50,000 in annual spend
  • No elite travel benefits like lounge access or elite status
Read Full Review
Card Highlights
  • Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
  • 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
  • Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
  • You’ve got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
  • No Annual Fee
  • Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
  • APR: 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%.
  • Foreign Transaction Fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Of course, you can also bulk up your Membership Rewards balance by putting your everyday spending on existing American Express cards. You might consider charging your utilities, rent, and tax payments to your card to earn more points. Just be sure to run the numbers and make sure it’s worth it if you’re charged a transaction fee.

» Related: How I Earned Nearly 1 Million Amex Membership Rewards Points in a Year

How I’d Redeem 250K Membership Rewards Points on 1 Trip

There are endless ways to redeem Membership Rewards points, but here I’m focusing on a single, 2-region solo trip from the U.S. to Europe and Asia spanning 10 days. My parameters are that all flights and hotels must be covered with Membership Rewards points and that I must get as close as possible to redeeming the full 250,000.

1. Flying From New York to Istanbul in Business Class

First, I need to fly from my home in New York City to Europe. I scanned for award space for this upcoming October using AwardTool Pro and found an excellent deal on flights from New York (JFK) to Istanbul (IST) via Paris (CDG) on Air France.

Air France Business Class A350 9 V2 angle
A flight in Air France’s newest business class product can be booked for 60,000 Membership Rewards points. Image Credit: Juan Ruiz

This award ticket was only 60,000 Air France-KLM Flying Blue points, plus $256.20 in taxes and fees, which is as low as Flying Blue tickets to Europe often price out. Membership Rewards points transfer instantly to Flying Blue at a 1:1 transfer ratio.

An Air France award ticket from New York City to Istanbul
A Flying Blue award ticket from JFK to IST. Image Credit: Air France

At the time of writing, the JFK-to-CDG portion of this itinerary is operated by Air France’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft. This is the newest plane in the French flag carrier’s fleet and has its best business class seat, which offers sliding doors and in-seat storage.

For reference, this same flight would cost $4,828 in cash. This means I’d get more than 7.6 cents per point in value, nearly 3.5 times our Membership Rewards valuation of 2.2 cents per point.

Hot Tip:

You can use award search tools like Points Path, Point.me, Seats.aero, and PointsYeah, so looking for flight redemptions is as easy as looking for a flight on Expedia or Google Flights.

2. Booking a Brand New Moxy Hotel in Istanbul

There are a plethora of Marriott properties in Istanbul, and while I rarely recommend transferring Membership Rewards points to Marriott Bonvoy, it can sometimes make sense. This is especially true in places like Istanbul, which often have ultracheap award nights.

Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu Room
Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu guest room. Image Credit: Marriott

On more extended stays, you can take advantage of Marriott Bonvoy’s fifth-night-free benefit, which gives all members a free night on every 5-night stay booked with points. Marriott will give you the lowest-priced night for free, but this still extends the value of your Bonvoy points.

Looking at award stays in Bangkok, I landed on the Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu. This is a new Moxy hotel that opened in late 2024 and is near Taksim Square and a variety of transit links. Better yet, a 5-night stay is just 49,500 points when the fifth-night-free benefit is factored in.

Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu Award Pricing
Award pricing at the Moxy Istanbul Beyoglu. Image Credit: Marriott

On the dates I searched, a 5-night stay at this hotel costs $834.50, yielding almost 1.7 cents per point in value. While not the best redemption value for Membership Rewards points, this is a solid redemption rate for Marriott Bonvoy points and a decent Membership Rewards redemption.

3. Flying to Bangkok With Gulf Air

Looking at flights to Asia, I quickly found award space from IST to Bangkok (BKK) with Gulf Air. This Bahrain-based airline is an Air Canada partner, which means I could book it by transferring Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan. As with Flying Blue, these transfers usually process instantly.

Gulf Air Boeing 787
You can book Gulf Air flights by transferring Membership Rewards points to Air Canada Aeroplan. Image Credit: Slava Taukachou via Unsplash

This flight costs 60,000 points plus $66.43 in taxes and fees for a single business-class ticket, which is not a bad deal for 10-plus hours in business class. The second flight from Bahrain (BAH) to BKK is on the carrier’s Boeing 787-9, which features large lie-flat seats in business class.

Aeroplan award ticket from IST to BKK on Gulf Air
Gulf Air award flights from IST to BKK. Image Credit: Air Canada

Compared to the cash cost of $1,912, giving me 3+ cents per point in value from my Membership Rewards points. Again, this is higher than Upgraded Points’ valuation of 2.2 cents per point.

Hot Tip:

You can even add a stopover to one-way Aeroplan award tickets for 5,000 extra points to stretch your itinerary further!

4. Staying at a Hilton Hotel in Bangkok

Transferring to Hilton Honors is often considered the best way to book hotels with Membership Rewards points. This is mainly because Membership Rewards points transfer to Hilton at a 1:2 transfer ratio, meaning 10,000 Membership Rewards points equals 20,000 Hilton Honors points. American Express routinely runs transfer bonuses to Hilton Honors throughout the year, making these transfers an even better deal.

Metropolis Suites Bangkok Tapestry Collection by Hilton Suite
Metropolis Suites Bangkok guest room. Image Credit: Hilton

Hilton elite members also get a fifth night free on award stays. I’ve included this in my calculations since The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express both include Hilton Honors Gold elite status as a benefit (enrollment required).

Hot Tip:

The Amex Platinum card and the Amex Business Platinum card include elite status with various hotel groups and rental car companies. Read our full guide to Amex Platinum elite benefits for more information.

The Metropolis Suites Bangkok — part of the Tapestry Collection by Hilton — quickly stood out as a good option in Istanbul. On the days I searched, it costs just 20,000 Hilton Honors points per night for a King Studio room, meaning a 5-night stay costs just 80,000 Hilton points with the fifth-night free benefit. Even better, I’d have to transfer just 40,000 Membership Rewards points to cover the stay.

Metropolis Suites Bangkok Hilton Award Pricing
Metropolis Suites Bangkok award pricing. Image Credit: Hilton

Meanwhile, the cash cost of this stay (after taxes) is $527.49 on the same nights I searched. This gives me 1.32 cents per point in value from my 40,000 Membership Rewards points. While not the best redemption value, it’s still better than redeeming for hotel stays through AmexTravel.com, which will only result in a value of 1 cent per point.

» Related: Why I Love Transferring Amex Points to Hilton Honors

5. Flying Home in Economy With Emirates

Running low on Membership Rewards points, I looked for economy flights for my return ticket to New York City. The best option when I checked was to transfer Membership Rewards points to Emirates Skywards (1:1) to book a flight back via Dubai (DXB).

Emirates A380 arriving at gate Sao Paulo GRU
Emirates Airbus A380. Image Credit: Ryan Smith

This flight costs 37,500 points plus $347.16 in taxes and fees. The fees were too high for my liking, but they allowed me to use up the remainder of the 250,000 Membership Rewards points allocated for this trip.

Emirates award ticket from BKK to JFK
Emirates Skywards award ticket from BKK to JFK. Image Credit: Air Canada

This is the lowest-value redemption of this itinerary. A cash ticket costs $769.85, meaning I’d only get 1.13 cents per point in value. If I weren’t tasked with using only Membership Rewards points, I would likely pay for this ticket outright and save my Membership Rewards points for a future trip.

» Related: When To Use Cash or Miles for Airline Tickets [10 Helpful Tips!]

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Final Thoughts

It’s possible to book a 2-stop international trip with 250,000 Membership Rewards points. This itinerary has me going from New York City to Istanbul and Istanbul to Bangkok in business class and staying in midtier hotels in both cities. Further, it covers my economy flight home on Emirates, albeit with high taxes and fees. In the end, I’d still have 3,000 Membership Rewards points left over.

As you probably noticed, redemption rates can vary. For the long-haul business class flights I theoretically booked, I would’ve gotten well over the Upgraded Points’ valuation of 2.2 cents per Membership Rewards point. But I got less than that from the hotel bookings and an economy flight.

Keep this in mind when you redeem Membership Rewards points. While you should try your best to redeem them for the highest value possible, if you need a flight or hotel room in a pinch, there’s no shame in redeeming for less than our estimated valuation.

Featured Image Credit: Nick Ellis
Andrew Kunesh's image

About Andrew Kunesh

Andrew was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs but now lives in Queens, New York.

He’s a lifelong traveler and took his first solo trip to San Francisco at the age of 16. Fast forward a few years, and Andrew now travels just over 100,000 miles a year, with over 40 countries, 20 travel credit cards and 3 airline statuses under his belt. Andrew was formerly a Senior Editor at The Points Guy and CNN Underscored.

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