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.
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2) Please note: Hyatt Diamond suite certificates expiry date of 28th February 2015.
If you took up Traveloyalty’s offer before the 31st October 2014 for direct taste of Hyatt Diamond status for 60 days blended with 4x confirmed Diamond suite certificates please take note, unused certificates will expire on the 28th February 2015.
You may forward book a confirmed suite using the certificates for a year forward before the expiry date. Please check the hotels cancellation policy as this differs resort to resort.
If you completed the 12 night challenge window you will be loaded with another 4x suite certificates on 1st March 2015.
Each suite certificate is valuable: about R20,000 – R30,000 in value and perks which a 7 night stay could yield.
Using the suite certificates on personal trip reports, read HERE and HERE.
3) Qatar has a really good sale again.
Qatar must be the most consistent of its Gulf counterparts with the low priced sales.
Book by 20th February 2015, fly by 10th December 2015.
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.
Traveloyalty has a limited amount of ONLY 8x Star Alliance Gold statuses on offer starting 23 February 2015.
This world exclusive offer is sold on a first come first served basis. Payment confirms your order.
More than 1000+ lounges are at your disposal to relax, shower and complimentary eats and drinks.
The normal requirement to attain Gold status in Star Alliance is about 240 economy domestic flights or about 10 international business class flights per calendar year costing about R250,000.
Having airline status is extremely valuable for any savvy traveller. The main benefits include:
Business class check-in.
Lounge access to more than 1000+ international Star Alliance operated.
Priority Boarding.
Extra Baggage allowance.
Priority baggage handling.
Bonus miles.
Business class upgrade on overbooked flights.
Check-in here.
Priority tagged baggage ensures yours comes first. Quicker out the terminal = quicker to your destination.
Another Bonus:
Traveloyalty’s offer has added benefits !
4x seat upgrades
2x 50% discount on tickets.
All these bonuses are yours.
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Amazing the above mentioned hotel is still available on IHG Pointbreaks ( free for only 5000 points per night). If you managed to max out the easy last 2 promos IHG dished out you’d have about 16 free nights you could redeem before end of February.
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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.
Radisson’s loyalty programme, Club Carlson is seriously in a points give away mood this last few weeks. First they were mailing out promotions for 2k – 10k in free points that anyone could register for, then extended the 9k points off a 3day Avis rental for 2015 and now this new promotion is no exception.
1) Earn 30k points for each 3 night stay and 15k points for each 2 night stay.
If you have a Gold elite Club Carlson membership ( normal requirement 35 nights per year – or we offer it instantly HERE ) you could take advantage of buy 1 night get 1 night free / buy 2 nights get 2 nights free over weekends in Europe, Middle East and Africa and earn the 15k bonus ( 16k points will get you 2 free nights at a catergory 1 Radisson worldwide like the fantastic Radisson El Quesir on the Red Sea in Egypt ).
PLEASE VOTE FOR TRAVELOYALTY at the SA 2014 Blog Awards.
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More info to follow in the coming days. Its a taste of platinum for 60 days whereby if you stay 6x you keep the status until 2016. If you stay 12x you get upgraded to Diamond until 2016, with 4x confirmed suite certificates valid for 7 nights each.
I love this hotel chain, they set the benchmark in the hospitality’s elite loyalty industry despite being so much smaller compared to the other bigger establishments.
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If you planning to do Dubai for the upcoming shopping festival which runs from 1 Jan – 1 Feb 2015, you may want to take advantage of Atlantis Big 3 day sale that just started at midnight, its basically their usual off peak rate of AED995.
2) Etihad’s Christmas day offer of $178 return. Say again ??
That’s New York to Abu Dhabi Return for R2050,00
Johannesburg [JNB] – Under $700 from San Francisco
Mumbai [BOM] – Under $600 from San Francisco
Abu Dhahi [AUH] – $187 – $465 for all the listed cities.
Seychelles [SEZ] $588 from JFK
3) Avis and Club Carlson have extended their offer.
The super generous offer of 9250 Club Carlson Goldpoints per 3 day rental has been extended to December 31st 2015.
Cant wait to get rolling into this unlimited offer again, as mentioned in previous email 9000 Goldpoints can score you a free night at some fabulous hotels at Radisson’s abroad. Blend that with our world exclusive offer of direct Club Carlson Gold elite membership and you’ll find yourself in a suite worth thousands of rands per night, free.
9000 Goldpoints is worth $63 and should surpass the cost of your standard rental (less fuel) over the 3 day period.
This card also gets you buy 1 night get 1 night free or buy 2 nights get 2 free over weekends in Europe, Middle East and Africa. Look forward to upgrades, bonus points and private check in facilities.
Club Carlson Gold Elite takes 35 nights per year to attain, costing about R70,000. We get it done instantly for a fraction of the cost in our world exclusive offer. Read more HERE.
Look forward to exciting new changes to our exclusive offer in 2015 with new hotels and elite statuses joining Traveloyalty’s portfolio within 2 unique offers.
PLEASE VOTE FOR TRAVELOYALTY at the SA 2014 Blog Awards.
Kindly click this LINK or copy the one below and vote in BOTH categories. Takes only 10 seconds. http://website.sablogawards.com/2014/vote/voteforme/397,245
Please copy and paste the link below for direct newsletter subscription with anyone and everyone you may know who lives, loves & breathes travel.
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Our Winter Sale opens to everyone on 2nd January 2015, but for now you have the pick of the cars and the bargains. The deals are valid on rentals of 3 days or more for pick-ups until 31st March 2015.
Note: I find way more value in using Avis and Budgets offer of netting 9250 Club Carlson points off a 3 day rental. Read more on what sort of value 9000 Club Carlson points can bring you. The offers ends 31 December 2014.
Read my tips on car rental with unlimited mileage HERE.
2) Last call to finalise points on offer for 2014.
IHG “In to the nights”‘ promo ends 31 December 2014. Finalise your unique challenge to score 10 free nights worth R40,000 +.
If you have not been milking Avis / Budgets Club Carlsons offer its not too late. 9000 points gets you a free night at a category 1 Club Carlson hotel like the fantabulous 5* Radisson Blu Resort in El Quesir, Red Sea resort in Egypt.
How many free nights have you received through car rentals to stay at a hotel like this ?
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Earn 500 bonus Starpoints® per stay, up to 3 stays, when you register for this offer and use the SPG® app to book a stay at Starwood hotels and resorts with your American Express® Card, December 10, 2014, through March 31, 2015. All stays must be completed by March 31, 2015.
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Getting the second night free, upgraded to a suite, divine breakfast, trick to save on parking fees and enough bonus points earned on check-out to score another night at half the going rate.
2) SAA Voyager has some big changes coming 1 Feb 2015.
Voyager will move to a revenue based programme.
“While we continue to honour withdrawn MileageKeeper Awards, SuperPlus Awards and AnyDay Awards in alignment with their validity periods, these Awards will be discontinued effective 1 February 2015.
We understand that some customers enjoy taking advantage of the low mileage threshold Awards such as the MileageKeeper Awards which commanded flexibility and understanding of the restricted capacity.
It is with this in mind, that we are delighted to introduce JourneyBlitz Awards exclusively on SAA operating flights* which will be offered at astonishingly low mileage thresholds and on a promotional basis. The relevant levies / taxes / surcharges will be for your account, payable in cash or card payment.”
“The redemption structure for flights within the Star Alliance network, code share airline partners, SAA marketing flights**, Mango, SA Express, Airlink or Swaziland Airlink remains the same.”
These are the changes:
1. All SAA Voyager members world-wide will earn Miles for travel on flights operated by SAA, based on the ticket price (base fare and fuel levy) rather than the distance travelled. Under the new SAA earning structure, all members will receive 1 SAA Voyager Mile per ZAR 1.60 spent and the accumulation of Miles under this earning structure, will count towards Tier status. Silver, Gold, Platinum and Lifetime Platinum members will earn additional miles based on their status on the day of departure. SAA will furthermore no longer restrict its SAA Voyager members to a minimum or maximum amount of miles when travelling on flights operated by SAA.
2. All SAA Voyager members world-wide will be able to spend their Miles for any available seat for travel on flights operated by SAA.
3. The redemption of Miles under this new structure will be applicable to the base fare and fuel levy of a member’s requested flight(s), referred to as an SAA exclusive Dynamic Award. During the initial phase, SAA Voyager members will be able to use their Miles as full payment. During the course of 2015, part payment of Miles and cash will be introduced and members will be informed when the technology supporting this feature, has been finalised for implementation.
4. Based on the new SAA exclusive earning and spending structure, SAA Voyager members’ loyalty towards SAA will be rewarded with a leading principle of at least 5% return on their SAA spent when requesting an SAA exclusive Dynamic Award for an SAA operating flight. Therefore, if an SAA Voyager member has spent R5 000 on an SAA operating flight, a value of R250 in loyalty Miles as a currency will be available to spend towards an exclusive SAA Dynamic Award.
5. As part of these changes, which will be effective 1 January 2015, SAA Voyager reviewed and improved the benefits of members based on their status in the programme, ensuring that loyalty over time is rewarded.
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Access the trip HERE.
