Testimonial: A student exchange in Asia with points
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Through a series of testimonials from our readers, Milesopedia presents what you can achieve with credit cards and loyalty programs.
Here’s Philippe’s four-month trip to Asia as an exchange student in Hong Kong.
Philippe’s Testimonial – Who are you?
I’m 24 and have been reading Milesopedia since 2018. I usually travel in backpack mode.
I’m also an entrepreneur and a full-time student. I’m always on the lookout for unforgettable experiences. As part of my bachelor’s degree in software engineering, I had the opportunity to study abroad.
Philippe’s Testimonial – Your travel project with points: 4 months in Asia
After a process lasting several months, I was selected to spend four months in the magnificent city of Hong Kong!
On my way there, I spent two weeks in Zurich, with a three-day getaway in Lake Como, Italy. I did this first part of the trip with my girlfriend.
Then, from Hong Kong, I went solo to:
- Taipei ;
- The Philippines ;
- Macau ;
- Shenzhen, Beijing, Shanghai;
- Seoul;
- Vietnam.
I also studied at times… 😉
Transportation
To book my plane tickets, I used the Aeroplan program.
I took advantage of the Aeroplan stop to make a trip within a trip. For an additional 5,000 points, the program allows you to add a stopover in a city for up to 45 days. This allowed me to stop for two weeks in Zurich, before completing my journey to Hong Kong.
Here are my booking details:
| Flight | Carrier and cabin | Number and type of points used | Money saved |
| Montreal-Zurich (Aeroplan stop) | Swiss business class | 92,500 Aeroplan | $5,000 |
| Zurich-Frankfurt | Lufthansa business class | ||
| Frankfurt-Hanoi | Bamboo Airways business class | ||
| Hanoi-Hong Kong | Cathay Pacific business class | ||
| Hong Kong-Saigon | Cathay Pacific business class | 87,500 Aeroplan | $6,200 |
| Saigon-Bangkok | Thai Airways business class | ||
| Bangkok-Copenhagen | Thai Airways business class | ||
| Copenhagen-Paris | Lufthansa business class | ||
| Paris-Montreal | Air Canada business class |
Transportation savings
For a round trip from Montreal to Hong Kong in business class, I used a total of 180,000 Aeroplan points. In cash, I would have paid over $11,200 for those same tickets!
Over there, I paid for my flights in cash. As these flights are less than three hours long, I don’t mind flying economy or low-cost airlines. My personal strategy is to save my Aeroplan points for longer flights.
Accommodation
As far as accommodation is concerned, my experience was rather special. I went from youth hostels, where I shared dormitories with up to 16 people and where the atmosphere was festive, to chic five-star hotels the next day!
In Hong Kong, I stayed in residence in a room that was as small as my closet, but incredibly pleasant. It was also a gratifying experience to allow friends who had never had this opportunity to discover the luxury of five-star hotels.
| Accomodation name | Number of nights | Number and type of points used | Money saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| W Taipei | 1 | Free night certificate Marriott Bonvoy (US) | $550 |
| Hilton Manila | 1 | 30,000 Hilton Honors | $250 |
| Hilton Beijing | 4 | 100,000 Hilton Honors | $650 |
| The Ritz-Carlton Shanghai – Pudong | 1 | Marriott Bonvoy (US) free night certificate + 4,000 points | 520 $ |
| Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund | 1 | Hilton Honors free night certificate (US) | $630 |
Thanks to my Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Diamond status, I got numerous upgrades to suites and rooms with city views.
Savings on accommodation
With :
- 130,000 Hilton Honors points ;
- Two Hilton free night certificates;
- 4,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and ;
- One Marriott free night certificate;
I was able to stay in five-star hotels for eight nights, free of charge! My savings amount to $2,600 on accomodation.
Testimonial – Credit cards used
I’ve been collecting points since I was 18. I constantly read Milesopedia and revise my strategies frequently.
For this travel project, I was the only one collecting points. In total, I used rewards from four different credit cards. In fact, my strategy focused mainly on US credit cards.
I prefer these cards for the time being, as they are very lucrative and allow me to keep my Canadian credit rating in good health, which is essential for my real estate investments.
| Credit card | Accumulation period | Points used | Points redemption method |
| Business Platinum Card® from American Express | 2 years | 92,500 Membership Rewards points | Transfer to Aeroplan |
| Chase Aeroplan® World Elite Mastercard® | 1 year | 87,500 Aeroplan | Flight booking |
| Chase Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card | 1 year | 2 free night certificates | Hotel booking |
| American Express Hilton Honors Aspire card | 1 year | 135,000 Hilton Honors + one-night free certificate | Hotel booking |
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,360Total$1,360$680 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,360
- Welcome offerAfter $15,000 in 3 months
- Up to 120,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
The benefits
Thanks to my credit cards, I enjoyed additional travel benefits, including:
- Unlimited access to airport lounges worldwide, Marriott Bonvoy Gold status and a $200 annual travel credit with the Business Platinum CardMD from American Express;
- 25K Elite status on Air Canada with the Chase Aeroplan® World Elite Mastercard®.
Tips to help you save more
During my trip, I used Hostelworld and Google Flights to find the best prices on hostels and flights.
Summary
In the end, I saved $13,800 on flights and accommodation during my student exchange in Hong Kong. Here is a breakdown of the savings in each category:
| Type of expense | Savings |
|---|---|
| Transportation | $11,200 |
| Accommodation | $2,600 |
| Grand total | $13,800 |
The final word
If I had to choose just one card to keep in my wallet, it would be the American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Card. It offers many advantages, and in the end I receive more credits than it costs me in annual fees.
Initially, I started collecting points to save money. My goal was to travel more, for less, and this motivation persists to this day.
Initially, I considered traveling in business class and staying in luxury hotels an unnecessary use of my points… until I experienced it. These are experiences I would never have been able or willing to afford with money. They open the doors to a special world with incredible memories.
Let’s face it, being an effective points collector takes organization and time. For me, it’s a real passion and I love reading about it. To reward myself for all these efforts, I decided to use my points to live these extraordinary experiences, a decision I greatly appreciate.
Of course, my friends and family have varying reactions: some are impressed, others don’t understand, or even think I’m doing fraud! However, when they see photos of my adventures, they are always amazed. That’s why I always refer them to the best: milesopedia.com.
Thank you Milesopedia!
- Annual fee
- $799
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$1,190Total$1,190$510 deferred bonus, excluded from the first-year estimate and not counted in this total.Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $1,190
- Welcome offerAfter $10,000 in 3 months
- Up to 100,000 points
Apply Now
on American Express's website
Apply with confidenceCheck whether your application will be approved before you submit it, with no impact on your credit score*When you apply for a personal American Express Credit Card, we will tell you whether you are eligible without affecting your credit score. So you can apply with confidence.*Instant decisions are only available for consumer Card applications (also called “personal Cards”).
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For your next Hilton stay, see the Hilton Honors American Express® Card available in Canada and the terms of its current offer.
