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Generating a large sum of credit card points can feel overwhelming for those new to the world of points and miles. The idea of juggling multiple cards, managing annual fees, and tracking spending may not appeal to everyone. Thankfully, there’s another way to access luxury travel: buying points and miles.
Most major hotel and airline loyalty programs allow you to purchase points, which can then be used for stays or flights. While these points are often sold at high rates — typically aimed at members looking to top up their balances for a redemption — there are times when discounts or bonuses make buying points a smart move. During these buy points promotions, the cost of buying points can drop significantly, creating opportunities to save big on travel.
In this article, I’ll share two real-life examples of how I helped my family save thousands of dollars on trips to Maui and Puerto Rico — and how you can do the same.
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Buying Points Can Make a Waldorf Astoria Stay in Maui Affordable
In late 2021, as the Covid pandemic eased, my family was eager to escape New York’s chilly winter after two years without a vacation. We set our sights on Hawaii, specifically Maui and Honolulu. Despite not being fully immersed in the points and miles game at the time, planning vacations was already a passion of mine.
Hilton's Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Maui, immediately caught my attention. Its sprawling water park, beach access, luxurious restaurants, and spacious rooms made it look like a destination in itself.
However, the price tag for our planned dates was steep: $1,250 per night for the cheapest room. But just as I was about to rule it out, I noticed that rooms were available from 110,000 Hilton Honors points per night. This makes it one of the best uses of Hilton points for luxury stays.
Through some research, I discovered a Hilton promotion offering points for just 0.5 cents each. This reduced the cost of the stay to $550 per night.
While still expensive, the deal became hard to refuse when I factored in Hilton’s Fifth Night Free benefit, available to those with any tier of Hilton Honors elite status (which you can earn instantly via Hilton Honors credit card). This brought our average nightly cost down to $440 — a third of the original price!
The resort itself was extraordinary. My favorite feature was a scenic running trail along the property’s outskirts, offering breathtaking views of Kaho‘olawe mountains, the ocean, and lush greenery.
Related: Best Ways to Book Flights to Hawaii With Points and Miles
Buying Wyndham Points Can Turn Christmas in Puerto Rico Into a Luxury Escape
Fast-forward to December 2024. My family wanted a warm getaway for the holidays, and Puerto Rico — with its beautiful beaches, vibrant culture, and lush rainforests — seemed the perfect choice.
Planning a trip just days in advance during the peak holiday season wasn’t easy. I scoured major hotel chains for redemption opportunities or attractive cash rates, but nothing stood out — until I found the Wyndham Grand Rio Mar.
This stunning property is just a short drive from El Yunque Rainforest and features a championship golf course, four pools, ten restaurants, and a private 2-mile beach.
Wyndham Rewards prices rooms at three tiers: 5,000, 15,000, or 30,000 points per night. Understandably, the Grand Rio Mar is designated as a top-tier property, costing 30,000 points for a standard room.
But instead of paying the peak season nightly rate, my family strategically bought Wyndham points when they were on sale for a best-ever 0.715 cents apiece. This dropped the cost of our stay to just $214 per night, saving us hundreds!
Another highlight? Multiple room types — including oceanview and poolside suites — were available for the same price. I booked a suite for my parents, which included a living room and sofa bed. It’s rare for premium rooms to be offered at standard rates, so this was a pleasant surprise.
The resort — and Puerto Rico — did not disappoint. Some of our trip highlights included exploring Old San Juan’s historic streets and ziplining through the El Yunque Rainforest, which were both unforgettable experiences.
Related: How Many Points Can I Earn on Wyndham Stays?
How You Can Buy Points and Save Money on Hotel Stays
If the examples above don’t align with your travel goals, don’t worry — there are ways to find your own great deals using purchased points.
- Start with research: A quick Google search like “Best hotels to book with points in…” can yield articles highlighting points-friendly properties. From there, check if your desired hotel has current promotions on purchasing points. But if you need some quick expiration, here are a few of our favorites:
- Hilton: Best Hilton Redemptions for Luxury Stays & Best Hilton Redemptions for Budget-Friendly Stays
- IHG: Best IHG Redemptions for Luxury Stays & Best IHG Redemptions for Budget-Friendly Stays
- Hyatt: Best Hyatt Redemptions for Luxury Stays & Best Hyatt Redemptions for Budget-Friendly Stays
- Marriott: Best Marriott Redemptions for Luxury Stays & Best Marriott Redemptions for Budget-Friendly Stays
- Use specialized tools: Nifty tools like Rooms.aero (the hotel version of Seats.aero) or MaxMyPoint can help you simplify the process. Each lets you filter results by rewards program (e.g., Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, IHG) and location, then sort by point value to find the best options. Note that for programs like Wyndham or Choice Hotels, you’ll need to check their respective websites directly.
- Be patient: It's not every day that hotel points go on sale. Thus, you'll need to be patient and wait for sales. Otherwise, if you make your purchase without a sale, it's more than likely what you pay for the points will exceed what you would have otherwise paid if you booked your stay outright with cash. One helpful way to monitor sales is to bookmark AwardWallet's post on the current buy points promotions.
Related: What Credit Card To Use When Buying Points and Miles
Final Thoughts
Buying points can be a powerful tool to save thousands on luxury trips — without needing to accumulate credit card points. As my experiences in Maui and Puerto Rico show, strategic use of buy-points promotions can unlock incredible value.
Start by researching high-value properties in the destination of your choice, and use tools like Rooms.aero or loyalty program websites to find the rooms available to you. And with a little effort, you can make your dream vacation a reality for a fraction of the cost.
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