Best Bets – September, 29 2006

Best Bets – September, 29 2006
  1. Serious stuff. goldpoints plus: Stay two or more times and earn triple points on the second and all subsequent stays at Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson and Park Inn properties around the world. For more details and to register, visit http://www.triplepoints.goldpointsplus.com
  2. It’s back! Priority Club has brought back its famous Double Points or Double Miles promotion. Until Dec. 15, members will earn double starting with their first qualified stay. Visit http://www.priorityclub.com/double to register.
  3. Through Dec 15 (from Oct 10) members of Best Western’s Gold Crown Club and the NASCAR-themed Speed Rewards will earn double points for every Sunday-Thursday stay with the Double Up promo. Register prior to your first stay at http://www.bestwestern.com or call 1-800-WESTERN. Want something even better? Members of the Gold Crown Club AAA Preferred program earn triple points or triple airline miles with every stay seven days a week. As with the other promo, members must register prior to the first stay.
  4. Best Western is marking its 60th Anniversary by offering lifetime Diamond Elite status to Gold Crown Club members who stay a total of 60 or more qualified nights at Best Western hotels around the world during 2006. To be eligible, guests must be members of Gold Crown Club, but no registration is required.
  5. Choice Privileges has been great all year in terms of promotions, and this fall is no different. Until Dec. 15th, Privileges members who stay two separate times at most Choice properties in the U.S., Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean will earn enough points for a free future stay. That’s points, not a time-limited voucher. Check out http://www.choicehotels.com for the scoop.
  6. American Airlines has brought back its short-hop MileSAAver awards, allowing AAdvantage members to fly roundtrip on nonstop routes under 750 air miles one way for 15,000 miles when booking travel on the AA.com Web site. Economy Class roundtrip awards are available for 15,000 miles, a 10,000-mile savings. First- or Business-Class roundtrip awards are available for 30,000 miles, a savings of 15,000 miles. Short-hop MileSAAver awards are available for travel through Feb. 28, 2007.
  7. AirTran Airways is letting A+ Rewards members earn roundtrip tickets when they purchase Internet access or voice services from EarthLink. Members can earn at least 16 credits, equal to a roundtrip ticket, when they sign up for EarthLink dial-up, high-speed DSL or cable, or trueVoice Unlimited Internet phone service. Visit http://www.earthlink.net/partners/airtran/voice/16online for more information. Here’s the kicker: Though the offer lasts a “limited time,” no specific end-date has been given. We suggest that if you’re interested, you get moving!
  8. The new Marriott Rewards Premier Visa Signature Card is almost too good to be true. In fact, we called a few times just to be sure we were reading this right. You’ll earn five Rewards points for every dollar spent on the card at any Marriott property, plus two points for every dollar spent on qualified dining, airline and rental car purchases, and one point for all other purchases.
    Premier cardmembers receive a 15,000-point bonus upon the first use of the card; a free night certificate valid at category 1-4 hotels, which is awarded upon account approval; a two-for-one golf certificate for use at participating Marriott-managed golf courses; a free-night certificate valid at category 1-5 hotels every year on the account anniversary date; and 15 nights toward elite status every year, which makes every cardmember a Silver Elite member and also gives a boost toward Gold or Platinum Elite status. This is not to be missed. http://www.marriottrewards.com/premiervisa

  9. Through Dec. 14, AAdvantage members can redeem just 50,000 miles for economy-class travel on Air Pacific between North America and Fiji — a savings of 25,000 miles. Travel is valid one-way or roundtrip and all travel must be completed by Dec. 14. To claim the reduced mileage award, call the AAdvantage department at (800) 882-8880 and ask for the Air Pacific reduced mileage award to Fiji.
  10. Southwest and Diners Club have teamed up to offer a 25-percent discount on flights to any Southwest destination. The offer — a perennial Freddie Award favorite — allows members to redeem 18,000 Club Rewards points (normally 24,000 points) until Oct. 15, for a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards roundtrip.