I’m Using Credit Card Points and Miles for an African Safari Trip
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- After the COVID travel downturn, many folks are sitting on a huge stash of unused points and miles.
- Now is the time to book award travel while availability is plentiful, even to far-flung destinations.
- I turned points and miles into a bucket-list trip to Africa I plan to take later this year.
- Read Insider’s guide to the best travel rewards credit cards.
Few industries felt the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as dramatically as travel and hospitality. Airlines were grounded and hotels were shuttered for months, and then only slowly began to reopen as new safety and health measures were put in place. Even as vaccine rollouts proceed here in the US and abroad, many international travel restrictions remain.
At the same time, several of the top rewards credit cards, including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, posted some of their best-ever welcome bonuses.
The lack of travel opportunities combined with incredible credit card deals means that many travelers are sitting on mountains of unused points and miles. Now is the time to redeem them, though, while award availability remains abundant and before airlines and hotels raise their prices.
Read more: The 5 best credit card rewards programs for socially distant travel in 2021
Personally, I cashed in a combination of airline miles and hotel points for a dream trip to Africa at the end of 2021, which gives me something to look forward to. Here’s how I put it together, and the credit cards I’m considering opening in order to stock back up on travel rewards.
The trip: A South African safari
Regular APR
15.99%-22.99% Variable
Pros
- High sign-up bonus starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Best offer ever! Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,250 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn 2X points on dining including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out and travel. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 100,000 points are worth $1,250 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories.
- Get unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and reduced service fees on eligible orders over $12 for a minimum of one year with DashPass, DoorDash’s subscription service. Activate by 12/31/21.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get up to $60 back on an eligible Peloton Digital or All-Access Membership through 12/31/2021, and get full access to their workout library through the Peloton app, including cardio, running, strength, yoga, and more. Take classes using a phone, tablet, or TV. No fitness equipment is required.
Read Our Review
Right in the midst of the pandemic, in December 2020, I actually took a trip to Kenya with Micato Safaris and the Elewana Collection of luxury lodges and camps. Over the course of 10 days, I visited the Masai Mara, Amboseli National Park, and the Lewa Conservancy. Being out in nature with only animals and practically no other humans in sight felt like the perfect (and safest) possible pandemic-era adventure. So when I was thinking about where it might be possible to go in 2021, another safari was high on my list.
Read more: How I used a credit card rewards sweet spot to turn a business class fare sale to Europe into free flights
Looking at dates around the holidays in order to maximize the time my partner could take off, I began searching for award tickets from Los Angeles to Johannesburg and back, figuring I could slot the hotel and safari portions into place later. In an almost unbelievable stroke of luck, I managed to book the perfect tickets right off the bat.
Using Delta SkyMiles to fly Virgin Atlantic
United recently launched flights from Newark to Johannesburg, and Delta usually flies there from Atlanta (this service is currently suspended, but due to return later this year). However, one of the best ways to get to South Africa from Los Angeles is to hop aboard Virgin Atlantic and fly via London Heathrow. The airline deploys Airbus A350-1000s on these two routes with its newest Upper Class (business class) suites aboard.
Read more: How to earn, redeem, and maximize Delta SkyMiles
Virgin Atlantic is partners with Delta, so you can book tickets on Virgin using Delta SkyMiles. Firing up Delta.com’s flexible calendar search, I was able to find two seats from Los Angeles to London and then continuing to Johannesburg after a five-hour layover just a few days before Christmas.
The cost? I redeemed 115,000 Delta SkyMiles plus $60.50 in taxes and fees for each ticket instead of paying $3,000 in airfare per person. Not bad for 21 hours in Virgin Atlantic Upper Class and a leisurely stop in the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse.
Delta credit cards I’m considering
Annual Fee
$0 for the first year, then $99
Regular APR
15.74% – 24.74% variable
Featured Reward
70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in purchases (plus a $200 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase) within your first 3 months (offer expires 7/28/2021)
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (offer expires 7/28/2021)
Pros
- Earns bonus miles at restaurants and US supermarkets
- Annual fee is waived the first year
- You get a free checked bag and Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights
Cons
- Doesn’t go above and beyond in terms of benefits beyond Delta perks
- Limited Time Offer: Earn 70,000 Bonus Miles after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months and a $200 statement credit after you make a Delta purchase with your new Card within your first 3 months. Offer expires 7/28/2021.
- Limited Time Offer: Plus, get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable 15.74%-24.74%. Offer expires 7/28/2021.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights.
- Earn 2X Miles on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery and at U.S. supermarkets.
- $100 Delta Flight Credit: After you spend $10,000 in purchases on your card in a calendar year, receive a Credit to use toward future travel.
- Enjoy a $0 introductory Annual Fee for the first year, then $99.
- Terms Apply.
Read Our Review
Spending 230,000 SkyMiles for both our tickets depleted nearly my entire Delta account balance, so I was looking for ways to stock back up on miles. Luckily, there are some sky-high welcome bonuses available with Delta’s co-branded American Express cards now through July 28, 2021.
Read more: The best Delta credit cards in 2021
I’m probably going to go for the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card since I am doing well on requalifying for Medallion elite status. But if I find that I’m making a lot of Delta plans for the remainder of the year, I might go for the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card instead in order to enjoy Delta Sky Club access while traveling with the airline.
Read more: Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold card vs Amex Delta SkyMiles Platinum card: Which is a better option for you?
Using American Airlines Miles on Qatar Airways
After our outbound portion was booked, it was time to sort out the return. One of my favorite ways to fly business class between the US and Africa is in Qatar Airways Qsuite. Not only do their closing doors provide more privacy for peace of mind while COVID-19 is still an issue, but the airline’s service is stellar. It currently flies to 10 US cities, so award availability is typically easy to come by if you can be a little flexible on dates.
Read more: The best credit card rewards sweet spots that get you the most from your hard-earned points and miles
Case in point, I was able to book us two seats from Johannesburg to Doha and then continuing on to Los Angeles, all in Qsuite business class, the second week of January. Qatar Airways is a Oneworld alliance partner with American Airlines, so I searched on AA.com and booked the awards for a mere 75,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles plus around $71 in taxes and fees per ticket … instead of the $4,200 or so Qatar Airways would have charged for a paid fare.
Credit cards I’m considering
Annual Fee
$99, waived for first 12 months
Regular APR
15.99% – 24.99% variable
Credit Score
Good to Excellent
Featured Reward
50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
Pros
- Bonus categories help you earn miles on everyday purchases
- Fee checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights
Cons
- $125 American Airlines flight discount is nice, but you need to spend $20,000 in a cardmember year to earn it
- The information related to the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected by Business Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
- Earn 50,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after $2,500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent at gas stations and restaurants
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases
- Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your cardmembership year and renew your card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees
- First checked bag is free on domestic American Airlines itineraries for you and up to four companions traveling with you on the same reservation
- Enjoy preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 15.99% – 24.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
Read Our Review
Redeeming 150,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles put a big dent in my balance, so I am planning to top my account back up with a well-timed American Airlines credit card application.
Read more: The best American Airlines credit cards in 2021
Hotels and safari
Annual Fee
$89 (waived the first year)
Regular APR
15.99% – 22.99% Variable
Credit Score
Good to Excellent
Featured Reward
150,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
Pros
- Anniversary reward night can be worth more than the annual fee
Cons
- Could offer better rewards on non-IHG purchases
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening
- Enjoy a Reward Night after each account anniversary year at eligible IHG hotels worldwide. Plus, enjoy a reward night when you redeem points for any stay of 4 or more nights
- Earn up to 25 points total per $1 spent when you stay at an IHG hotel
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on purchases at gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Platinum Elite status as long as you remain a Premier card member
- Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® Fee Credit of up to $100 every 4 years as reimbursement for the application fee charged to your card
- IHG Rewards Club Bonus points are redeemable at hotels such as InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Kimpton®, EVEN® Hotels, Indigo® Hotels & Holiday Inn®
Read Our Review
Although we still have to work out our on-the-ground details, we will spend one or two nights in Johannesburg at either end of our trip. The Hyatt Regency Johannesburg requires just 8,000 points per night for a standard room, or 12,000 for a Regency Club room with lounge access. I will either just use Hyatt points, or perhaps an annual free night from my The World Of Hyatt Credit Card
, which is valid for awards of up to 15,000 points.
Read more: The best hotel credit cards in 2021
The Intercontinental Johannesburg Sandton Towers has rooms starting at 34,000 points per night in December and January. Thanks to the IHG® Rewards Club Premier Credit Card, I have more than enough points to cover a few nights there. However, I have also hung onto two annual free night awards from the card that are worth up to 40,000 points each, which I might use instead.
As for the safari portion of the trip, it will probably not be possible to redeem hotel points for any of the luxurious outfitters I’m interested in. However, I might just pick up the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card while it’s offering an elevated welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $20,000 on purchases within the first 12 months from account opening (or 50,000 miles if you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months). Those miles will be worth $1,000 toward travel, which should take care of at least a night or two out in the bush.
Read more: I haven’t paid for a hotel room in 10 years — here’s how I stay for free
Bottom line
After over a year of nearly no travel at all, I’m looking forward to getting back out and exploring the world. Luckily, I have a diverse portfolio of points and miles with which to book my dream South African safari, and was able to put some of them to use reserving airline tickets to and from Johannesburg.
Read more: 5 credit card offers to take advantage of right now if you want to take a big trip when the pandemic ends
Thanks to the unprecedented crop of stellar credit card welcome bonuses available at the moment, I should also be able to replenish my points and miles accounts quickly for even more exciting trips in the future.
Eric Rosen is a travel and credit card expert who has been helping readers reap the rewards of loyalty programs for over a decade. Eric is based in Los Angeles, though you’ll often find him globetrotting to destinations like Australia, Kenya, and Laos on assignment.
100,000 points
Good to Excellent
Featured Reward
3 Free Nights (valued up to 50,000 points each) after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, plus 10x total points per $1 spent on up to $2,500 in combined purchases in select categories within your first 6 months
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
Featured Reward
$200 after spending $500 in the first three months from account opening
Credit Needed
Good to Excellent
