Cash back from Credit Cards

[MichaelColey]

Michael, I have a bunch of Starwood points I need to use and was thinking about this same plan just today--to add a few days or a week before or after a week at the BI (maybe on another island). After accumulating these points after some time and never using them, any pointers for getting HI just over a year out?

Look for Cash & Points - those usually give the best value and stretch out the points. If you're staying 5 days or more, use the 5th Night Free offer (although at that length, a timeshare stay probably makes more sense). If you need extra space, call in to see if you can get a upgraded room or a suite for extra points. We spent 2 nights in Venice earlier this year and it was 20k points for a standard room or 22.5k points for a Junior Suite. It was VERY MUCH worth the extra points.

Why don't you use them for airfare to Hawaii?

That's another great option, too, especially if you like to fly First Class. Paying cash, FC is usually 4-5 times higher than coach. Paying with miles, it's "only" double. Domestic (48 continental states) coach often isn't a good redemption, since you can often find airfare for under $250 (vs. 25k points), but International (and Hawaii) and/or First Class usually gives great value. If you learn the ins and outs of the FF programs, you can really do great. We flew US Airways in Envoy (their international business class) for 55k miles per person to Europe earlier this year, taking advantage of several promotions.

FWIW, when you're looking for the best card to use for specific categories of purchases, here's a post that I keep updated on FlyerTalk with the best reported deals:

Which Card to use for Specific Categories?

 

[Ken555]

Domestic (48 continental states) coach often isn't a good redemption, since you can often find airfare for under $250 (vs. 25k points), but International (and Hawaii) and/or First Class usually gives great value.

FYI, I transferred another 60k StarPoints to US Air with their latest promotion, since with the bonus I only end up "paying" 22.5k StarPoints for each RT to Hawaii (at 40k; I try to get United non-stops and pay to upgrade to Economy Plus). I find this about as valuable as flights to Europe in business.

 

[travelguy]

Costco AND Amex SPG

You do not need to use the Costco Amex to get the Executive member 2% back.

I am a Costco Executive Member AND purchase everything at Costco with my AMEX SPG card. This gives me the best of both worlds - 2% back on all Costco purchases and SPG Points/Miles on all purchases as well!!

 

[Ken555]

You do not need to use the Costco Amex to get the Executive member 2% back.

I am a Costco Executive Member AND purchase everything at Costco with my AMEX SPG card. This gives me the best of both worlds - 2% back on all Costco purchases and SPG Points/Miles on all purchases as well!!

That's what I do...works great. Still, the Costco Amex cash back card isn't necessarily the best cash back card out there, as it really only provides 1% on most purchases (other than gas, dining, etc as detailed in my post below).

Getting back to the OPs question...is there a better cash back card? AMEX blue? CapOne? Other?

 

[LisaRex]

The return I get on miles is far greater than what I'd get earning cash back. So far we've redeemed over $12M worth of airline tickets to Hawaii for a fraction of that in fees, including transfer fees, etc., when they run bonuses for transferring miles.

 

[DeniseM]

We use our points for yearly tickets to Hawaii, too. Even though it's a fairly short flight from CA, tickets are expensive when we go during peak season.