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Maria Points The Way

AWARD TRAVEL I FAMILIES | LUXURY VACATION | ASIA PACIFIC

Home » Redemption strategies

Redemption strategies

Hotels · April 14, 2026

4 Kyoto Hotels I’d Book with a Hilton Free Night Certificate Before These Rare Offers End

Photo Credit: Hilton – FAUCHON L’Hotel Kyoto, an SLH Hotel Limited Time Offer:  the current offers with Free Night Certificate ending on 4/15 and two unusually rare welcome offers on the Surpass and no-fee Hilton cards. Can we talk about…

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Airlines · April 5, 2026

Cathay Pacific Award Changes 2026: A Simple Family Strategy for Booking Asia Flights

If your family flies to Hong Kong and beyond, Cathay Pacific is a program I would pay attention to right now. And this time, there is actually a lot of good news. Cathay Pacific is growing again. Seattle flight is back….

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Airlines · March 18, 2026

Two Reasons AA Miles Not Good for Families To Asia and How To Fix It

American Airlines (AA) miles are still one of the most popular airline currencies in the U.S. Honestly, it makes sense why. AA is a major U.S. airline. Its mileage program is familiar. Its partner list (aka friends list) looks exciting….

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Airlines · February 19, 2026

Amex Cathay devaluation could cost your family more than a seat. Here’s what to do now.

A month ago I opened my Amex account “just to check something.” I didn’t plan to make a decision and I saw the date: March 1, 2026. “Effective Match 1, 2026, the ratio for transferring Membership Rewards points to Cathay…

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Airlines, Asia, Japan · February 4, 2026

How to unlock multiple business class for family of 4-8 to Japan with points

Most people read about points and think in terms of one seat. Families live in a different reality. You’re not trying to find one business class award. You’re trying to find four, five, sometimes eight seats that line up with…

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Airlines · November 20, 2025

The Behind-the-Scenes Of Our Winter Trip: What This Journey Can Teach Your Family About Award Travel

If you’ve ever tried planning travel while every member of your family is in a different season of life… this story is for you. Because this winter, every part of our family was moving….and the trip had to move with…

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Credit Cards · November 13, 2025

Bilt × Rakuten: Your New Pathway for Asia-Pacific Travel With Families

Let’s face it. Online shopping is part of everyday life. From replacing household essentials to finding that perfect gift, it’s fast, convenient, and surprisingly rewarding. But here’s the real question: are you getting paid to shop? If not, meet Rakuten….

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Airlines · November 6, 2025

Do These 3 Things for ANA Award Tickets Now

ANA = The Taylor Swift of Award Travel?! Let’s be honest. Booking ANA award seats feels like trying to score Taylor Swift tickets at midnight. You refresh, you pray, you blink, and poof, those dream Business Class seats are gone….

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Airlines · October 30, 2025

Warning: You Might Fall in Love With Alaska Atmos Rewards After Reading This (And The Redemption Rule Nobody Talks About)

If you’ve been looking for a frequent-flyer program that actually works for families, not just solo travelers chasing status, Alaska Airlines might be your hidden gem. Even after merging with Hawaiian Airlines, Alaska Airlines didn’t go down the usual road…

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Airlines · October 25, 2025

How To Brainwash Yourself To Be “Family Award Tickets” Rich

I love a good award search tool — PointsYeah, Point.me, AwardTool, Roame, Seats.Aero — they’re like having a whole flight crew in my browser. But lately I’ve been hearing from families who’ve gone from hopeful to helpless because they think…

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Hotels, Japan · September 10, 2025

How To Save $2000 In ROKU Kyoto (It’s Damn Awesome!)

I Almost Let A Hilton Free Night Certificate Expire When planning our nine-day Kyushu journey, I never thought I’d divert north to Kyoto. That little certificate sat in my partner’s Hilton account, and my first thought was, maybe we’ll just…

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Hotels · August 30, 2025

How To Book Park Hyatt Saigon Without Overspending (3 Day Itinerary Bonus)

After landing from Singapore on Vietnam Airlines Business Class, fresh off my Etihad First Apartment ride, I stepped into Vietnam with a mix of excitement and nostalgia. A decade ago, I was here almost every month for work in apparel…

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hey there!

I'm Maria—an award travel writer, miles & points strategist, coach, and speaker. Since 2019, I've been all about planning for families of 4, just like yours! My gig is helping "self-defined" families chase and achieve their points travel dreams. Thanks a bunch for dropping by!

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