Leaking out in the past few hours: Hiltons new tier requiring $18,000 spend per annum and 80 nights. Somewhat similar to Marriott’s Ambassador level.
Around 2017 we posted that Hilton gave notice of their new Diamond + tier that never materialized, read more on that HERE
Judging from the status codes leaked it looks like Hilton is proceeding with this new tier shortly “tier code P” and the colour goes to Black which coincidentally Diamond had around the same time pre covid.
TL has not run a contest of this magnitude in 10 YEARS !
Tap HERE for our last comp a decade ago. Winner hailed from Thailand.
No purchase necessary.
To enter simply:
1/ follow @traveloyaltyon Instagram and tag @3 of your friends/family/besties + share the comp post on your stories. (each set of 3 tags = 1 entry. You may enter as many times as you wish.
4/ additional entry share the promo post on @facebook
Winner will be chosen on 15th September 2025 via random.org
Winner takes all Prize includes:
Hilton Honors Gold Status + Marriott Gold Status + Star Alliance Gold Status
Additional prizes may be added in the coming weeks and will be put up on Instagram stories.
Terms and conditions:
To enter this contest for a chance to win the prize(s) above you must: Be 18+ years of age. Have local or international identification.
• Winner will be randomly selected from the database of entries from one of the entry options via random.org ( or similar) at management’s discretion and announced on Instagram stories on Monday, September 15, 2025 • Winner will be notified via DM• If the person selected is unable to respond in 7 (seven) days , another winner will be selected. Prize(s) includes: • Star Alliance Gold status valid 4months pending a flight to validity of 12 months• Hilton Hhonors Gold status valid until 2030 • Marriott Bonvoy Gold status valid until 2027. Addiotional prizes may be added during the contest period and will be posted on Instagram Stories. The sponsor may require the winner and the winner agrees by entering the Competition (at no cost), to be identified, photographed, filmed and the aforegoing to be published in any media and the winner’s name and image may be published on http://www.traveloyalty.co.za/ Winners may however at any time decline the use of their name, likeness or image by the sponsor.
OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS (Terms & Conditions for Contestants): No Purchase Necessary. 1. The Contest “Promotion Period” is from 12:00 a.m (GMT), 15 August, 2025 through 11.59 p.m. (GMT) September 15, 2025. 2. Eligibility: This Promotion is open worldwide except countries where it may be prohibited / restricted. The prize(s) is transferable and cannot be substituted for cash or any other equivalent. The sponsor shall not be responsible for technical, pictorial, typographical or editorial errors or omissions in any marketing materials or these rules. Sponsor reserves the right to modify, extend, suspend, or terminate the Promotion, in whole or in part, if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Promotion is technically impaired or corrupted or that fraud or technical problems, failures or malfunctions or other unintended circumstances have impaired the integrity, administration, security, proper play and/or feasibility of the Promotion as contemplated herein. If the Promotion is terminated before the designated end date, Sponsor will (if possible) select winner in a random drawing from all eligible, non-suspect entries unaffected by the problem. Inclusion in such drawing shall be each entrant’s sole and exclusive remedy in such circumstances. By participating, you release TraveLoyalty and the other companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, employees, directors, agents, advertising agencies, from any and against any and all injury, loss or damage caused or claimed to be caused by your participation in the competition and/or the acceptance, awarding, receipt, use and/or misuse of the prize. Any information you submit online is to the Sponsor alone. All rights reserved.
No1 : Join TL Concierge, guaranteed if you not on it you paying 2x as much to travel 2x as less with little to no perks nor insights for your worldwide trips.
So this might not be the lowest Umrah we ever scored over the years due to time variations and paying ‘full price fare’ where previously we have flown in for R880 ( yes 8 hundred).
This Off-Peak trip, the breakdown for what we spent can be found on this post HERE.
By far this might be one of the most blessed Umrah trips due to maximising the absent crowds that got less and less each day, the front lines especially ability to reach Hajr Aswad 14x in 8 days.
The likes of these are covered in our FREE DIY Umrah Guide from some years back and remain in effect till today.
Flying in:
We used Etihad basic, the sale for these April dates we needed came around the previous December. Approximately R7100 per adult and R6500 per child. (Business outbound on its own was R11,600)
We scored the Space seats, a somewhat premium economy as Gold Etihad Guests, these are the best economy seats in any airline. The tricks with Etihad are many and require some playing around with such as utilising the stopover for 2days, sometimes we have stopped going and coming and playing with fares on the swop country of booking for forex rates. Sometimes we have used Open Jaw options into Cai and take the cheapest 1way flight into Jed on SV or Flynas or Flyadeal. However for this trip the lowest was Jnb-Jed return with a stopover on return in Auh.
Accommodation:
We had to change and split this multiple times due to Haj visa regulations and maximise the Haramain on the quietest times of the year. The end result was Sheraton for 9days 8 nights on discounted cash rates (2500 sar for the period) this basically gave us All Inclusive, a “private executive lounge” and a upgrade to a 3 bedroom Suite worth R12000 per night As top tier members and then onwards Intercontinental for 4days 3 nights, I had to buy points to top up my balance to the tune of R2500, here again we were upgraded to a 1 bedroom suite as Diamond members, the same suite we scored in January Umrah of 2024 ( here we paid R1300 per night peak booking almost a year in advance)
Transfers:
Jed to Makkah cost R960 in a GMC, negotiated direct at arrivals.
Makkah to Madinah took the train on 50% discount with 2 taxis total came to R3400, it would have been cheaper to just take a Staria door to door for R2200 however time and days were the issue.
The transfer from Hotel in Madinah to Jed was R 2200 in a Staria for departure.
For a full dedicated storyline on this Umrah please click HERE.
Onwards:
With Etihad bookings we were given 3x rooms Free in Abu Dhabi worth R10000 for 2 nights. Highlight reel HERE
In Auh we opted to forfeit the last night and do a beach resort with wavepool, lazy river etc.
Earnings:
Due to the low cost of the Off Peak accom we only amassed a total of 20000 points with bonuses and for the airline we credited to SAS to offset a larger earn to the tune of 4900 miles per guest as Etihad gave peanuts approx 600miles for basic tickets. travel #theSMARTERway
Note:
Scoring Umrah has been our forte since pre 2013 when one could book Ramadhaan rooms for 24000 points a night (its now 150000 points per night) depending your pref.
Traveling #theTLway with maximising scoring can and has been used the world over from Hong Kong to Europe to Usa to Hawaii and every country in-between.
Email info@traveloyalty.co.za to get our concierge offers where we work 1 on 1 with each individuals needs from wanting to experience showering in the sky to theme parks to overwater villas in Maldives on repeat.
Scoring free prime accommodation or highly discounting the accommodation is nothing new here at traveloyalty.com, infact we have published all the ways each year since the website began almost a decade back.
Here is one of the older published articles when Hilton in Makkah could have been booked for just 30,000 points (or 24,000 points on 5th night free) per night even during the last 10nights.
Link: http://traveloyalty.co.za/how-to-lower-umra-costs-with-hilton-hilton-double-points-promo-extended/ Most readers flock to Hilton to book discounted or free Umrah stays however as with Hilton’s popularity over the years they have been loading the standard room availability very very late. This year was no exception, loading standard room redemption’s – from 70,000 points – only on the 23rd of February 2023. Last year 2022 Ramadhaan the same availability was only loaded end of February for end of March start.Marriott on the other hand has been loading standard room availability from the word go – from approx 40-50,000 points per free night.
So as per yearly usual here are the mathematics breakdown on staying 5x nights cash vs 5 nights points (redemption’s get every 5th night FREE):
Staying Cash for 5x nights
Conrad Makkah – sleeps 4 adults
Almost 20,000 Riyals for 5x nights = Zar 98,500
vs Staying on points for 5x nights:
A free 5x nights stay at Conrad Makkah will set you back 320,000 Hilton Honors points
Buying the points:
If you have not earned the points free from preferably using a Diamond status membership that yields plenty in bonuses you can buy the points:
Some targeted accounts ( esp those who have bought in previous years can buy 160k and get 160k free for $1600 )
So in essence buying the points costs $1600 or ZAR 29,650 vs paying cash rate of Zar 98,500 yielding a saving of R68,850 per 5x nights
Marriott Jabal Omar – Staying cash
thats 10,565 Riyals for 5 nights or ZAR 51,874
vs staying on points
A free 5x nights stay at Marriott Jabal Omar will set you back 234,000 Bonvoy points
Buying the points:
Buying the full Bonvoy points ( may need 2x acc )will cost you $2089 or ZAR 38,715 and in turn saving you ZAR 13,159
points to note:
Buy points on a sale only, Hilton regularly offers 100% bonuses and Marriott 40-50% bonuses.
Accounts are limited to buy a certain quantity of points per annum.
With elite level status 5th nights are free, and so are breakfasts and lounge access where available. This will save you many hours standing in food que’s.
When you use points you DON’T pay taxes.
Maximising Ramadhaan rarely works over night, we work with our clients 1 on 1, sometimes from July the year before to attain the goals and max all the points promos and sales that comes up.
Accounts need to open for a set duration in order to buy points.
You can buy, gift, transfer and even pool points from other accounts into yours for no fee. Do note: they can be instant, they can also take 1-2days and in some cases up to 10days.
Night by Night Rates:
1. Staying Cash
Hilton Convention:
The cash rates for MARCH 2023 at Hilton ConventionThe cash rates for APRIL 2023 at Hilton Convention
Hilton Conrad – sleeps 4 adults per room
The cash rates for MARCH 2023 at Conrad The cash rates for APRIL 2023 at Conrad
Marriott Jabal Omar
The cash rates for MARCH 2023 at Marriott
Take note all cash prices are still subject to 20% taxes and fees after.
2. Staying free on points
Hilton Convention
The points rates for MARCH 2023 at Hilton Convention The points rates for APRIL 2023 at Hilton Convention
Hilton Conrad – sleeps 4 adults per room
The points rates for MARCH 2023 at Conrad The points rates for APRIL 2023 at Conrad
I can send you info on our elitist loyalty concierge, where you book
Diy (per room not per person) at the worlds largest branded hotels, get
all the amazing upgrades, free breakfast, free extra guest,
complimentary lounge access, free nights ahead and best of all bulk of
spend back in points to travel the world free as you may have seen on
countless of our post on YouTube and Instagram (@traveloyalty),Umrah
included, not forgetting how to do 1st class and Business class for pennies through the hundreds of tickets highlighted on our social media above. If this intrigues you or in your future let me know :
January 1 – April 30, 2023, we’re giving you two ways to earn. Enjoy Double Points on every stay, plus 1,000 Bonus Points each time you stay with a different brand within the Hilton portfolio.
Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offers, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter + Instagram+ subscribe on Youtube and NEVER miss a great deal.
All @traveloyalty
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Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) has a unique bonus incentive when transferring SPG points into airline miles with a bonus of 5000 miles per 20,000 transferred.
Sales on SPG points and airline conversion bonus offers can boost this especially to airlines with low taxes and saver awards on business / first class seat availability.
SPG often has point bonus sales as below:
Here is the current and standard points to miles transfer ratio:
1st Class suite redemption of 55,354 miles and only 80 AED in taxes. ( $22 USD ).
The maths break down:
You could buy your way into a huge discounted 1st class for a little bit over $1050 using the SPG buy points and convert offer.
The normal ( cheapest saver ) cash cost would set you back $ 6000.
Other economy options:
Etihad economy starts at just under 5000 guest miles and again, only 80 AED in taxes. ( $22 USD ).
This is a pretty good offer worth taking advantage of purely for flight redemption.
You would need a 14 day ( minimum ) old account to buy into the point offer and its possible to use multiple accounts under the same address and combine them.
Traveloyalty offers SPG upgraded status on our exclusive package ( read HERE ) deal with upgrade room benefits as below:
Only thing that catches my eye is Hong Kong for R5994. That’s a long flight direct and with that comes a lot of tier miles and double Etihad Guest miles with the current code share promo.
Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offer, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and NEVER miss a great deal.
Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offer, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and NEVER miss a great deal.
New elite tier and points now expire in 12 months.
IHG’s most frequent guests will qualify for the new un-named level after spending 75 nights each year at hotels including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, or racking up 75,000 ‘elite qualifying points’ in the same period.
Members who reach this level will earn 100% points on all qualifying stays – a boost to the current Platinum bonus of 50% – and can also choose between 25,000 bonus points when they qualify or can instead nominate a friend or family member for a free boost to Platinum status.
At the same time, Gold and Platinum status will be easier to reach for some, with Gold requiring just 10 hotel nights or 10,000 elite qualifying points and Platinum 40 nights or 40,000 elite points in a calendar year..
Beginning in May 2016, IHG Rewards Club points will also expire if the member hasn’t earned or redeemed any points in the previous 12 months, bringing an end to the current rules whereby points never expire.
Simply spending the minimum 150 reward clubs points buying merchandise online should prevent points from expiration.
As IHG releases more information I will keep the newsletters updated.
3) Hertz Elite card offer + rental report.
Instant Five Star Rewards membership can be yours.
Would you like instant Hertz Five Star status and have access to perks like this below ? Please email me regarding this offer.
The price for the booking including unlimited km’s.
Private check-in que.
Automatic sedan upgrade, nice fast and furious colour.
Electronic speedometer and LCD radio display.
Hertz has partnered with Etihad for discounted rental and triple Guest Miles This is the offer I used blended with my Hertz status. Access this offer HERE.
4) Instant Etihad Gold tier is finally being processed.
For those who took up Traveloyalty’s instant Star Alliance Gold offer in February 2015, the matches to instant Etihad Gold is finally being processed this week. If you have not received your confirmation via email yet, please mail me.
Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offer, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and NEVER miss a great deal.
The normal way to attain Gold in both Airlines ( Oneworld Alliance and Etihad) will run a bill of R250,000 in a calendar year each. Email for this special offer, limited to first come basis.
Please copy and paste the link below for direct newsletter subscription with anyone and everyone you may know who lives, loves & breathes travel.
Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offer, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and NEVER miss a great deal.
1) SAA special to Mauritius R2100 return excl taxes.
Including taxes R5400 out of Johannesburg. R6300 out of Durban.
2) Buy Hyatt points, stay large – smaller price.
The offer is extremely limited. Keep your finger on the refresh 1pm Eastern time. ( 7pm our time in South Africa).
Offer WILL sell out in 5 seconds.
Hyatt Goldpassport 30,000 points can get you 1 night at the Park Hyatt Vendome in Paris worth R12000 per night. Your cost will be R3500 utilising this special.
Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offer, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and NEVER miss a great deal.
1) Instant GOLD status with ONEWORLD Alliance + Etihad.
This is worth R250,000 hunting 60 flights / 50,000 tier miles per annum normally… x 2 with the Etihad benefit !
The airlines members of Oneworld Alliance.
Traveloyalty has brand new offer, Air Berlin, member of Oneworld Alliance is on board for instant Gold status to be used on their whole network as well as Etihad airlines network as they own a stake in the Air Berlin pie. So its basically a hybrid card like no other at the moment. When booking Kulula you can also credit miles to Topbonus instead of British Airways Avios and then redeem on Etihad.
Etihad’s logo is now embedded on the Air Berlin loyalty cards.
Qatar Airlines has been having the lowest airfares this year consistently on special, so utilising this offer will get all the royal perks on Qatar metal as well as the other airlines.
What Gold status gives:
Business class check-in.
Lounge access on Oneworld Alliance network and Etihad’s network.
Priority Boarding.
Extra Baggage allowance.
Priority baggage handling.
Bonus miles.
Business class upgrade on overbooked flights.
Abu Dhabi International’s Al Reem lounge is at your disposal.
Contact Traveloyalty for pricing on this limited offer. First come, first served.
Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offer, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and NEVER miss a great deal.
Book by April 9, 2015 11:59 AM EST for select dates until May 31, 2015.
Would you like instant Presidents Club status to get offers like this and other worlds best branded hotel chains blended with elite statuses. Read HERE.
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Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offer, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and NEVER miss a great deal.
2) Club Carlson 5000 bonus points for app booking for elites.
As an Elite member, we know you’re busy, and we want to help make life a little simpler. The Club CarlsonSM mobile app for iPhone or Android makes life on the go a breeze.
Give it a try this week and we’ll give you 5,000 bonus Gold Points. Just book on the app by April 5, 2015 and complete your stay by April 30, 2015. You’ll see a gift of 5,000 points in your Club Carlson account after checkout.
No landing page for the offer, just book on the app. If you not a Club Carlson elite and would like this instantly ( the other way s sleep 35 nights per calendar year) contact zaheer@traveloyalty.co.za
Club Carlson free nights start at 8000 points
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1) Hilton Hhonors points sale via Daily Getaways TODAY ONLY!
You can only purchase 1x points set in each offer.
Use a USA address and zip ( google) and you good to go. (keep this handy before booking).
Sale goes live 1pm Eastern Time. 1st come 1st served. So please keep refreshing before 6pm South African time.
This is THE LOWEST WAY to buy points for the year. This sale is VERY LIMITED.
It will sell out in 10 seconds.
Breaking it down for you.
100,000 Hhonors points will cost $500.
150,000 Hhonors Points will cost $750.
250,000 Hhonors Points will cost $1250.
At best value you can stay at Hilton Category 1 for a redemption of 5000 point’s per night.
(Read trip reports on Category 1 and maximising upgrades with perks in Hhonors statuses HERE and HERE.)
For top range Category 10 Properties like Maldives, Conrad Rangali island ( the one with the famous underwater restaurant). You could save more than 50% utilising points, even on peak seasons.
With Traveloyalty’s Instant Silver Hhonors status, you could get every 5th night free on points bookings + partner stays free. ( enormous savings). Also, just 4 stays to Gold Hhonors status and you can look forward too free room upgrades + free breakfast ( another enormous saving) bundle the above with the bonus points elites get and free stays are instant. Enquire HERE.
Would you like instant Club Carlson Gold status for free room upgrades, private check-in, late check-out, complimentary meals and bonus points for quicker free stays? + have exclusive access to buy 2 nights get 2 nights free or buy 1 night get 1 night free in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
“SAA Voyager members will have the opportunity to earn a whopping Triple Miles bonus (1 500 Miles) for stays across participating Best Western International hotels from 1 April until 31 May 2015.”
Would you like to bypass club/silver/gold/platinum and attain instant DIAMOND level with Best Western?
I like this challenge based promo over the yearly period. It also has bonus miles for different fare classes + they have a single class status tier upgrade. Interesting to see if they will grant Platinum status to Gold members of another Oneworld Alliance membership.
It seems possible to net 2 badges off the 1st two challenges. 4 challenges completed gets the bonus.
Sign up everyone you know to our free newsletter, tell them about our world exclusive offer, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and NEVER miss a great deal.
100,000 points can net you 20 nights in a top of the range Intercontinental hotel on Pointbreaks. $28,25 per night or it will save you half the price at high-end properties where most folks are forking out $500 per night.
You can purchase up to 3x offers per IHG account.
Use a USA address and zip ( google) and you good to go.
Sale goes live 1pm Eastern Time. 1st come 1st served. So please keep refreshing from 5.30pm South African time.
This is THE LOWEST WAY to buy points for the year and a excellent way to top off accounts for extended holidays away.
With the dollar rate going highest in 10 years, so does the value of saved reward club points increase.
With a few stays and challenges completed via Traveloyalty’s exclusive offers your account can have this many points, good enough for 4 months free stay at a top of the range Intercontinental or Crowne Plaza hotels.
Utilising top tier elite status with correct booking methods and promo’s, 60,000 points is not uncommon off one stay.
That at best =12 free nights ahead including meals, lounge access and suite upgrades.
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