colombia 2434911

Use your points to travel to Colombia

To the point Following the announcement of Air Canada's new flight to Colombia, let's find out how to travel there using points to save money!

This post is also available in: FR

Destination: Colombia!

Air Canada will connect Montreal to Bogota, Colombia, year-round, starting June 2, 2020.

3 flights per week will be offered:

Flight Departure Arrival Days
AC1952 Montreal 22:45 04:15 (+ 1 day) Bogota Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
AC1953 Bogota 09:00 16:20 Montreal Wednesday, Friday and Sunday

This is an opportunity to analyze the possibilities offered with the points and miles to this destination.

With Aeroplan

Flights are displayed on Aeroplan for 50,000 Aeroplan miles round-trip and $372 in taxes and carrier surcharges:

yul bog ac fr
Montreal - Bogota on Aeroplan

There are significant carrier surcharges here. If you want to travel to this destination and avoid these surcharge you will have to make a connection using Copa, Avianca or United. To learn more about carrier surcharges, read our ultimate guide on Aeroplan.

To earn Aeroplan points, here are several recommended credit cards:

With travel points

From time to time, cheap flights to Colombia appear on the market. These often include connections that can lengthen the duration of the trip, but this may be suitable for some travellers.

Be aware that it is possible to use travel points from some loyalty programs to save money on airline tickets!

American Express Membership Rewards

For example, this is the case with American Express Membership Rewards Points, and in particular with the American Express Cobalt™ Card! You could use 10,000 Membership Rewards Points to save $100.

Here is the use of membership rewards on a airfare with Air Transat

cobalt transat
Using Membership Rewards points on an airline ticket

Scotia Rewards®

The Scotia Rewards® program allows you to do the same by applying points on your airfare purchase made on your credit card!

Here are the 3 best credit cards deals of the moment for this program:

Hotels with Marriott Bonvoy

Colombia is an accessible destination with points and miles.

Whether it’s Aeroplan for airfare – or with travel points to have discounted airfare – or with Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays.

A dozen Marriott Bonvoy hotels are present in Colombia.

Here is our selection in 4 destinations:

Bogota

In Bogota, there are 6 Marriott Bonvoy hotels classified in categories 1 to 3:

Our first choice would be The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection which is in category 3 and therefore costs between 15,000 and 20,000 points per night instead of CA$ 253.

the artisan d c hotel autograph collection 1

This is an extremely well-located hotel to explore Bogota. In addition, it is one of the “Autograph Collection” hotels that are well known establishments!

bogak room 0011 hor feat

5 nights at this hotel would cost between 60,000 and 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points taking into account the option“Stay 5 nights at the price of 4”!

If you want to spend a little less points, our 2nd choice would be the Sheraton Bogota Hotel which is Category 2 and therefore costs between 10,000 and 15,000 points per night instead of CA$ 176.

sheraton bogota hotel 1
cable 881759 1280

Medellin

In Medellin, there is a Marriott Bonvoy Hotel in Category 2: Four Points by Sheraton Medellin. This costs between 10,000 and 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night.

four points by sheraton medellin
cat 3300371 1280

Cali

In western Colombia, in Cali, there are 2 hotels in Category 1 and 2

The Four Points by Sheraton Cali is Category 1 and therefore costs between 5,000 and 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night instead of CA$136.

four points by sheraton cali 1

The Cali Marriott Hotel is a Category 2 hotel and therefore costs between 10,000 and 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night instead of CA$212.

cali marriott hotel 1

Our choice would be the Cali Marriott Hotel of excellent value between them .

clomc guestroom 0048 hor feat

Santa Marta and Baranquilla

In northern Colombia, in Santa Marta and Baranquilla, there are 3 hotels classified in category 1 to 3.

The Four Points by Sheraton Barranquilla is Category 1 and therefore costs between 5,000 and 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night instead of CA$110.

four points by sheraton barranquilla

TheAC Hotel Santa Marta is a Category 2 hotel and therefore costs between 10,000 and 15,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night instead of CA$134.

ac hotel santa marta 1
tayrona park 3752794 1280

The Santa Marta Marriott Resort Playa Dormida is a Category 3 and therefore costs between 15,000 and 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night instead of CA$165.

santa marta marriott resort playa dormida 1

This hotel is brand new and waterfront!

smrmc suite 7793 hor feat

A 5-night stay at the Santa Marta Marriott Resort Playa Dormida would cost only between 60,000 and 80,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, taking into account the option“Stay 5 nights ata price of 4“!

Get Marriott Bonvoy points

The easiest way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points in Canada is via one of these credit cards:

Each one offers a nice welcome bonus and the ability to earn Marriott Bonvoy points on each of your purchases.

You could have both Marriott Bonvoy cards and collect your points in your Marriott Bonvoy account!

If you are in a relationship (or 2 friends…), you could each apply for to these cards and then collect your points in one account!

You have the right totransfer up to 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy points from one account to another in a calendar year!

An Airbnb rental with travel points

Do you prefer Airbnb to hotels? Be aware that it is possible to use travel points to save money on your airbnb rentals!

For example, the use of American Express membership rewards points on an Airbnb rental:

cobalt airbnb
The use of membership rewards for an airbnb rental

As with airfare the best travel points programs are American Express Privilege Points and Scotia Rewards®.

Here are the best credit cards for using your travel points on Airbnb:

Don't pay any foreign currency conversion fees!

Finally, for your purchases made in Colombia with your credit cards know that it is possible to save a lot of money thanks to cards that do not charge any conversion fees in foreign currency!

For example, these credit cards do not charge any conversion fees for transactions in foreign currencies (this is a saving of 2.5% on each transaction):

Conclusion

Air Canada’s new flight from Montreal to Bogota makes it much easier to get to Colombia. Also, as you’ve seen, it’s a destination where you can use points to save money!

This post is also available in: FR

Come to discuss that topic in our Facebook Group!
Jean-Maximilien
Jean-Maximilien is an expert in Canada and France about Loyalty programs, Credit cards and Travel. He is the Founding President of Milesopedia.

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