$26,000 Trip to Australia for $208

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Australia is one of my favorites countries to visit. Especially when you can use miles and points for an almost free trip! Here’s how to take a $26,000 trip to Australia for $208.

We flew roundtrip First Class from the United States to Australia and stayed in five star hotels for 8 days for a tiny fraction of what our vacation would normally cost. All thanks to travel hacking.

$26,000 Trip to Australia for $208

We fell in love with Australia when we first visited in 1994.

This was our second trip and it was even better. Because this time instead of paying cash, we used miles and points.

So we got a fantastic $26,000 trip to Australia for $208.

Here’s how we did it.

Airfare

First Class from Honolulu to Sydney

Jeff and I flew First Class from Honolulu to Sydney on Hawaiian Airlines.

You can read my review of our First Class Hawaiian Airlines Honolulu Sydney Flight for $63.

American Airlines used to allow a free stopover in Hawaii when you flew to Australia. So our flights were free. Technically the Hawaii portion was free but I already calculated those into our free trip to Hawaii.

On the way back, we couldn’t get two First Class seats on the same flight so I flew First Class on Qantas from Sydney to Los Angeles with a stop and plane change in Melbourne. I picked this flight because the Melbourne Los Angeles flight was on an Airbus A380.

My flight cost 72,500 American Airlines miles and $102.20 in airline taxes and fees.

Jeff flew First Class from Sydney to Honolulu on Hawaiian Airlines. Then he flew First Class on American Airlines from Honolulu to Dallas and then from Dallas to San Diego.

His flight was 72,500 American Airlines miles with airline taxes and fees of $106.10.

Hotels

We stayed at four different hotels in Sydney. This gave us a chance to see more of the city, save time and money on transportation, and save money on food because of hotel elite status.

Best Western Plus Hotel Stellar

Our first night, we stayed at the Best Western Plus Hotel Stellar in a King Deluxe Room for 20,000 Best Western points.

The hotel is walking distance to several sites including the Australian Museum.

Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel

Then we moved to the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel. Who doesn’t love a gorgeous flat iron building!

We used 50,000 Radisson points to stay 2 nights in a 1 Bedroom Spa Suite. We saved 50,000 points because the Club Carlson Premier card offered the second night free on award stays of two nights or more. This benefit is no longer offered on the card.

Hilton Sydney Hotel

To be close to the heart of the city we stayed 2 nights at the Hilton Sydney Hotel in a King Executive room. This made it easier to take the morning train to visit the Blue Mountains.

Our stay was free thanks to the 2 free nights from the Citi Hilton Reserve card. (This card is no longer available.) The card came with free Gold status which meant access to the Executive Lounge for free breakfast, tea, drinks, and evening canapes.

Park Hyatt Sydney

view from our room

For our last 2 nights, we used the World of Hyatt credit card’s 2 free nights to stay in a King with Opera View Deluxe room at the Park Hyatt Sydney. Check out the current bonus on the World of Hyatt credit card.

You can’t beat the views! And it made for a short walk to the ferry to visit Manly Beach.

We also saved on activities, tours, transportation, and food. Read the How to Luxury Guide to Sydney for $85 a Day for a complete breakdown.

Since this trip, I’ve visited Australia a third time and spent two weeks.

How to Earn the Miles and Points

The fastest way to earn miles and points is through credit card bonuses.

Flights

I’ve been earning airline miles and points since 1994 so I already had the American Airlines miles.

Cards That Earn American Airlines Miles

But if you don’t have the miles, these are the cards I would get to earn American miles:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Mastercard®
• American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®/li>

Hotels

Knowing that we wanted to go back to Australia, I applied for the Citi Hilton Reserve, the Hyatt card, and the Club Carlson card. But now the bonuses are different and the Citi Reserve and Club Carlson cards aren’t available.

Cards That Earn Hilton Points

Here are the cards that earn Hilton points:

• Hilton Honors American Express Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Business Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
• Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Cards That Earn Hyatt Points

You can earn Hyatt points by getting the World of Hyatt card, The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, or one of the many cards that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Hyatt on a 1:1 ratio. Points transfer instantly so you can quickly book hotels without waiting.

These cards earn Hyatt points:

• The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card
• World of Hyatt credit card
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® – when paired with a card like the Sapphire Reserve

Easy Ways to Earn Miles and Points

Credit card bonuses are the fastest way to earn thousands of miles and points. But there are a few tricks and easy ways to earn miles and points without welcome offers.

I use a combination of extreme mile and point collecting and an easy & quick way to earn unlimited miles and points.

Look for the latest travel rewards cards.

Conclusion

Who would have thought a $26,000 trip to Australia for $208 was possible? It is, and you can do it too.

By getting new credit cards, or just the best card for travel hacking, using cards that give you bonuses, and creatively spending, you can travel the world with miles and points.

You can even travel hack Hawaii, Las Vegas, and Europe.

Where was your favorite trip using miles and points?

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All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by TravelingWellForLess. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through TravelingWellForLess.

Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.

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Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card

The Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card is currently offering a quick way to get up to two years of free flights. The welcome offer is up to 120,000 points: 60,000 points after spending $3,000 in the first three months. And another 60,000 points after spending a total of $15,000 in the first 9 months. This offer will end soon.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 3X points per $1 on Southwest purchases, 2X points on rideshare, 2 free Earlybird checkins, and no foreign transaction fees.

 

Review of the Southwest Premier Business card.

 

Learn more about the Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Premier Business Credit Card and how to apply

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Capital One Venture X Business

With the Capital One Venture X Business the welcome offer is 150,000 mile bonus after spending $$30,000 on purchases in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are free Capital One Lounge access, earning 2X points on all purchases, and transferring miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.

 

Learn more about the Capital One Venture X Business and how to apply

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and how to apply