Air Canada will connect Montreal to Bogota, Colombia, year-round, starting June 2, 2020.
3 flights per week will be offered:
This is an opportunity to analyze the possibilities offered with the points and miles to this destination.
Flights are displayed on Aeroplan for 50,000 Aeroplan miles round-trip and $372 in taxes and carrier surcharges:
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:
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!
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 $100.
Here is the use of membership rewards on a airfare with Air Transat
The Scotia Rewards® program allows you to do the same by applying points on your airfare purchase made on your credit card!
Here are the 3 best credit cards deals of the moment for this program:
Colombia is an accessible destination with points and miles.
Whether it’s Aeroplan for airfare – or with travel points to have discounted airfare – or with Marriott Bonvoy points for hotel stays.
A dozen Marriott Bonvoy hotels are present in Colombia.
Here is our selection in 4 destinations:
In Bogota, there are 6 Marriott Bonvoy hotels classified in categories 1 to 3:
Our first choice would be The Artisan D.C. Hotel, Autograph Collection which is in category 3 and therefore costs between 15,000 and 20,000 points per night instead of CA$ 253.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our choice would be the Cali Marriott Hotel of excellent value between them .
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.
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.
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.
This hotel is brand new and waterfront!
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“!
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!
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:
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:
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):
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!
Savings are here:
