Chris McGinnis
Cesar Millan
Sam Lowe
Jason Fogelson
Bryson Forbes
Amy Graff
Karla Henriquez
Pointsapalooza!
October 24 2011 by Chris McGinnis
Last month the folks at Best Western challenged me to spend as many Best Western Rewards points as possible on a business trip. The idea behind the exercise was to illustrate just how diverse loyalty programs can be.
While most frequent travelers prefer to use points for free nights, there's a whole world of redemption opportunities out there -- just check the "spend points" tab on the Best Western Rewards website and you'll see what I mean. And if you are earning double rewards points this fall, it should be easier than ever.
Here's how I spent my points in a business trip to New York City and Atlanta in mid-September:
Hotel: I spend the bulk of my points (36,000) for a night at the BEST WESTERN PLUS President Hotel located just west of Times Square in Manhattan. While that may seem like a lot of points considering that you can redeem as few as 8,000 for a room elsewhere, it was worth it. That's because I was in New York City during one of the busiest weeks of the year -- Fashion Week -- and every hotel in town was sold out or selling for top dollar.
Meals: I redeemed 6,500 points for a $25 gift certificate to use at the Chili's I saw on 42nd Street near my hotel the last time I was in New York. However, I was bummed to learn that it was closed, and thought I'd have to wait to use the card until I got home. However, lady luck was watching out for me... as on my way through JFK to catch an afternoon flight to Atlanta, I spotted a Chili's in the terminal and had a "free lunch" there!
Rental Car: On my way through Atlanta back to San Francisco, I rented a car from Avis using 15,800 Rewards points to make a quick trip into the city and visit with clients.
AAA Membership: Although I was unable to take advantage of this in New York where I didn't have my car, I redeemed 12,500 miles for a new AAA membership (which had lapsed). Since I drive so much while traveling on business, it always feels good to know I'm covered if my car breaks down, or if the battery dies in my driveway. Plus I like the discount that AAA membership gets me at Best Western!
Gift Card: On the home front, it just so happened that I was in the middle of a big kitchen cabinetry improvement project, so I redeemed 6,500 points for a $25 Home Depot gift certificate to help defray the cost of the brushed nickel knobs I needed for the new cabinets.
Donation: Earlier this year, heavy storms and tornadoes ravished the Southeast and Midwest. Even though the worst is over, cleanup and rebuilding efforts continue. With 4,000 Best Western Points, I was able to send a $15 donation to World Vision to help with local relief efforts.
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