During our nine months of living abroad we stayed in about 100 different properties. Here were our best redemptions:
Finch Hattons luxury safari tent camp, Kenya. We paid 375,000 Virgin Points for three nights and saved $6,000. Then it was so good that we stayed there again six months later.
Last Word Madikwe safari camp, South Africa. We paid 75,000 Citi points (which became 300,000 Iprefer points after transferring with the 1:4 Citi bonus) for three nights and saved $3,700.
Ritz-Carlton Cairo, Egypt. This was the nicest hotel we have ever stayed in. The hotel had stunning art work and a great lounge (where you can order dinner). It had the best breakfast buffet we have ever seen. We stayed there four nights and paid 4 Amex FHR redemptions + $744. We also received a $100 property credit for three of our four nights. We saved over $4,300.
Four Seasons Alexandria, Egypt. This hotel had the second best breakfast buffet we have ever had. We stayed two nights and used our $250 The Edit credit to bring our cost down to $472. Then we also received a $100 property credit.
Marriott Mena house Cairo, Egypt. His hotel looks right out upon the pyramids. We paid two Marriott FNCs. We were upgraded to a suite for our second night. We saved about $1,400.
Hemingways Nairobi, Kenya. Another amazing high-end property in the Karen area in Nairobi. They upgraded us to a huge Executive suite. We paid 3 Hilton FNCs for three nights and saved over $3,500.
The Westin Capetown, South Africa. They upgraded us to a king room with executive lounge access. They had a great lounge and the only sauna we’ve been in that had a view of a city. We paid 2 Marriott FNCs for two nights and saved over $1,400.
Intercontinental Resort Mauritius. They upgraded us to a honeymoon suite with a private outdoor hot tub. We paid 253,000 IHG points for four nights and saved over $3,300.
Le Mersenne Autograph Collection Zanzibar, Tanzania. They upgraded us to our own private mini-pool in our cabana. We paid two Marriott FNCs + 14,500 Marriott points for two nights and saved nearly $1,000.
Pine Cliffs Algarve, Portugal. We used two FHR credits + 58 for two nights. and saved $938.
Conrad Algarve, Portugal. They upgraded us to a Deluxe King six room suite. We paid 180,000 Hilton points for two nights and saved $1,300.
Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Italy. Great art. Awesome room with a view of the Basilica. We used 3 Amex FHR credits + $525 for three nights and we saved about $2,300. We were upgraded for all three nights. But our final night upgrade was to an upgrade to the $1,731 Vista suite.
The NoMad London, England. An incredible location in Covent Garden that let us walk to all of our shows. We paid 400,000 Hilton points for five nights and saved $5,800.
Ramada Resort Inn by Wyndham Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. We paid 13,500 Wyndham points for one night and saved $300. They upgraded us to an ocean view room. Largest pool I’ve ever seen and a great room and breakfast.
Holiday Inn Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. We paid 36,000 IHG points + $100 for four nights and saved $500. They upgraded us to an Executive room with lounge access.
Last Word Franschoek, South Africa. We paid 81,000 Choice points for three nights and saved $1,535.
