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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Finally Mango has lowered its ridiculous threshold to burn voyager miles in its metal. Its still not as low as SAA Voyager redemption which runs at 19000 miles for a return but the taxes on Mango are incredibly low. PE to JNB return costs just R334 with utilising 21,500 miles.
I checked and double checked – NO LUCK to get to Zanzibar for that amount. HERE is a Mango – Zanzibar Trip read.
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1) IHG PointbreaksNovember 24th 2014 – February 28th 2015.
Port Ghalib Intercontinental is up for a FREE savouring if you have 5000 points or you can get it for 35$ per night..
The hotel industry’s un-matched and un-rivalled special is about to go live.
Booking list will be live November 24th after mid-day however you may be able to sneak in a booking manually on the respective hotel on the website earlier.
Book the best brands for FREE such as Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza for a mere 5000 points ( value 35$).
Don’t have enough points? Use our book and cancel trick method to buy as many points as you’d like unlimited. Read here.
Book early as hotels tend to sell out fast, you may cancel and get all your points back (without penalty) up to day of check in. You cannot loose.
Port Ghalib on the Red Sea makes another appearance this year( that’s like the fourth time), but its the Intercontinental this time, great property to visit and experience other awesome hotel chains close by. Egypt air is a St Alliance member and you could fly in from any city in SA for about R3000 burning 40k in Voyager miles.
Holiday Inn Mauritius Airport is brand new, its perfect for that late flight in or early flight out or rent a car and tour the island each day.
Crowne Plaza Kochi is a great break if you want to skip over to Lakshadweep islands ( 100km north of Maldives but Rupee rated not USD..)
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.
You could get some good value out of converting the Starpoints to a host of airlines loyalty programmes including the major Middle Eastern airlines for upgrades or free flights. Limit to purchase is 20,000 for $525 with the 25% discount. Most airlines have conversion bonuses during the year where you can score 1:2 instead of the normal 1:1 transfer ratio. + SPG adds 5000 bonus Starpoints for every 20,000 you transfer.
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.
Simply update your stay preferences on your spg.com profile and they’ll give you 500 bonus Starpoints if you do so by December 15, 2014.
After log in go to ‘my profile’ then click on ‘ my stay preferences’.
Free points as easy as it gets! Pile it in your SPG account for your next free night or you can convert into airline miles. This offer will also extend the expiration date of your Starpoints.
Marriott has been added to our HOTEL list. Marriott has acquired the Protea hotel chain earlier this year and will bring Marriott Rewards live in 2015.
We will be updating on their promotions abroad and locally as soon as they eligible. Currently we may not earn nor burn Marriott Rewards locally within the Protea chain.
Marriott currently has a mammoth 75 night per year requirement to reach top tier Platinum status. We will get the statuses easier for subscribers. Stay tuned.
This could be a great offer to top off your account for a free night or to redeem points rather than cash at expensive hotels. On the other hand 12000 Goldpassport points costs $288 (+bonus 3600), your could earn that FREE off a one night stay during promotion bonus point offers during the year.
Read a trip report HERE that netted me nearly14000 points off one paid night costing R1568 for the standard room, and redeeming a confirmed free suite certificate for the presidential suite worth a whopping R9500 per night.
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.
Timing: Bookings for the Offer opens at 00:01 GMT on Thursday 30 October 2014 for Platinum IHG® Rewards Club Members (to book only via the IHG app) and 00:01 GMT on Friday 31 October 2014 for all other IHG® Rewards Club Members. The Offer closes for all members at 23.59 on Saturday 1 November 2014 (“Promotional Period”).
IHG Platinum elite members have the perk to book 24 hours before the sale starts.
If you have any Europe staycations, vacations or paycations lined up for the next few months you could save a lot of money with this sale especially within hotels like Holiday Inn Express which allows 4 in a room and includes breakfasts. All from 29 Pounds.
Access TraveLoyalty’s landing page for the offer HERE.
2) Le Club Accor Private Sales. Up to 50% off worldwide.
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Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) has been upgraded to a “Gold Light” / Preferred Plus membership on TraveLoyalty’s world exclusive package.
The Westin, Cape Town could upgrade you to a dragons den.
The next time you stay at a Westin, Le Meridian or Sheraton etc. You could look forward to the following benefits:
The only difference of Gold elite level is 3 points per dollar spent.
Existing subscribers to TraveLoyalty’s Package are welcome to email me for the complimentary upgrade. New subscribers will also have this added benefit.
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If you have any plans on visiting Thailand in the next 2 months, you may be pleased to know there is a interesting fare development in Business Class between Bangkok – Hong Kong return on Kenya Airways.
The fare seems to be good until December 16th 2014. (There may be other routes as well ). I doubt it will last more than a few days if not hours at this rate.
Cathay Pacific charges more than double the amount for the same journey.
Access the page with all the present and past offers HERE.
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.
