Use your credit card points for your next golf vacation and save

You’ve been saving and saving and saving those credit card points for so long that you’ve almost forgotten about them, but now is the perfect time to cash in on all of those points and put them to good use. 

The great news here is that there is so much flexibility on how you can use them and given the current price that hotel rooms, being able to eliminate some or all of those costs during your golf vacation can make a huge impact on your overall budget. It could even help you to pony up for that bucket-list course in your desired destination that you didn’t think you could afford. 

Here are a few tips that we’ve learned over the years on how to best use these points to your full advantage.

How to maximize value 

Almost all hotels utilize some sort of dynamic pricing model.  This means that a multitude of variables factor into what the given rate for a room is on a certain day can be impacted by the level of hotel occupancy, time of year and surrounding events in the area, just to name a few. 

You’ve spent a long time earning those points, so it’s best to keep as many of them as you can and still get your trip booked.  If you’re able to be flexible in your travel plans, you’d be shocked with how much you can save by going one week earlier or one week later, or if you go on a day when occupancy is lower (often the Sunday-Wednesday window) as the required points for those days can be lower, giving you the same experience at a lower cost. 

What you and your group places value on differs for everybody, so it’s always worth pricing out a few area options to see what best fits your needs and points budget.

A little research goes a long way  

When you’re planning your trip and you are going to a destination where it isn’t an all-in-one resort, you’d be surprised how quickly Google Maps can be your friend.  We like to put in the addresses of the golf courses that we are looking to play first, and then open another window or your hotel app and research the same area to see what hotels are available on your desired date and start plugging some of those onto the map. 

That way, you can make the ultimate decision on what your priorities are for the trip.  Is it worth the extra 5,000 points for the hotel that is two minutes closer but similar in quality?  That’s up to you.  But the good news is that if you are signed up for a points program at major hotel chains like with Marriott or Hilton, then you are highly likely to have a hotel option nearby for your trip in the majority of golf destinations that you choose in the United States and abroad.

Selecting the right credit card for you

If you’re not currently using a credit card with a hotel affiliation, the good news is that the two largest brands, Marriott and Hilton, both have great options for you.  This is such an effective way to build your points at these chains versus just from the points you earn during your stays, and the good news is that these offers are always fluctuating so if you work it right you can get some major points when you sign up.

Marriott 

At the time of this article (August 2021), Marriott is providing an offer for their Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card that includes 3 free night awards (up to 50,000 points per night) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months as seen here. 

With so many Marriott properties available, we’ve found this page to be helpful in finding these top category properties that you can visit based on the category level that you can afford.  With 50,000 points per night, that can get you a Category 5 property or lower at any time, a Category 6 property in standard and off-peak times, and a Category 7 property in off-peak windows.  Use the Category filter on this page to assist you in your search. 

This can get you a stay at some of the following properties just to name a few (all Category 6): 

  • JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa 
  • The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes 
  • The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain 
  • JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa 
  • The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa 
  • The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa 

Not only is this introductory offer fantastic, but for your $95 annual fee you will also be given a free night at any property worth up to 35,000 points every year that you renew.  That means the card pays for itself, and the value here is tremendous as long as you take advantage of the benefits. 

Hilton 

Our friends at Hilton are also equal to the task of providing some great value with their credit cards, and you can find all of their current offers on this page. 

In our opinion, you get a lot more value with the two lower-tiered credit cards here over the premium Aspire card.  The Hilton Honors Amex Surpass card currently offers users a 130,000 bonus points when you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases on the card in the first three months with a $0 introductory fee offer and $95 each year after that with a free weekend night reward certificate each year after you spend $15,000 on the card. 

The Hilton Honors Card has a very straightforward offer: 100,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first three months, up to $100 in Hilton statement credits, and a $0 annual fee. 

Now, let’s talk about what that gets you. We’re talking about some premium hotels that fall into these categories, and you can get multiple day stays with these kinds of points.  Here’s a look at some of our favorites: 

  • Boulders Resort & Spa, Curio Collection by Hilton 
  • La Quinta Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria Resort 
  • Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort 
  • Waldorf Astoria Orlando 
  • Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa 
  • Hilton Waikoloa Village 

The beauty of Hilton’s method versus the Marriott offer is that you can choose your own adventure on how to best utilize your points.  Looking for luxury accommodations?  Then choose from these listed here or countless others from Hilton’s site where you can usually get at least one or two nights with these bonus points if not more.  Not as concerned with the trimmings of a fancy hotel?  Then choose from a more modest brand in their portfolio such as the Hampton Inn and you can get a week-long stay or more. 

Recommendation

The great news is you really can’t go wrong with any of these offers.  As long as you’re somebody that is diligent about keeping up with paying off your credit cards every month, these cards have nothing but upside and can help you and your crew save some dollars on your next golf stay and play trip.