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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At the start of September IHG launched Into The Nights promotion. I received a number of email queries as the promotion webpage was then shut down for 4 days and all members who registered were unable to view their challenges given. When the promotion page was again activated, I had my offer changed, a much harder challenge awaits. Upon calling in to the rewards club centre to lay a complaint they offered me 15000 bonus points as a goodwill gesture.
Seems IHG was not ready for the launch of this offer. If there is goodwill points on offer I suggest you call in (toll free )and claim it from the shut down period of the promotional webpage and/or changed offer.
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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PointsBreaks is a closely guarded secret and only those who in the know, know it exists.
The most lucrative and economical promotion in the hotel industry is IHG Rewards Club’s PointBreaks, whereby select hotels are available for just 5,000 points per night. That’s staying at certain 5 star hotels for a value of $35 per night. (If you bought points in last weeks 100% bonus special it would be $28.75).
Basically you could be paying R12000 for a FULL month stay in a 5 star hotel or you could do it ALL for free by saving earned points through stays and bonus challenges.
If you find something you like BOOK IMMEDIATLEY as the best hotels fall off the list quickly. Check the terms, they should be fully cancellable (and refundable) up to day of check-in with no penalty.
If the populated list of hotels is not updated on IHG website, you may individually search for the dates you require during the promotional period and book it.
If you don’t have any points use this trick to manufacture 5000 points at $35 HERE.
Please note the change of IHG Terms and Conditions: “Due to the limited availability, each member may only book two PointBreaks® Reward Nights reservations per hotel during the special offer time period.”
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The easiest method of attaining elite status in the Star Alliance network has made some significant changes this week to come in to effect end of November.
If you have the need for utilising Gold next year, plan well in the next two months.
The preview of the countries with the latest specials for 5000 points per night dated 29 September – 30 November 2014. Highlights: Vietnam, Jordan, Jerusalem and Turkey.
You could map a trip cost effectively to Al Aqsa via Amman.
If you bought points in last weeks sale you will effectively be paying $28.75 per room. Otherwise use this trick to manufacture 5000 points at $35 HERE.
3) Hilton’s quarterly category changes and new hotels.
Some interesting properties in rural outback of Turkey, worth a tour from mere 5000 points per room. Overpriced Seychelles drops a notch.
Hilton Garden Inn Kutahya, Turkey will soon be 5000 points per night.
Traveloyalty’s unique world exclusive offer of direct Hilton Silver status is yielding just over 5000 points of your first paid stay. That’s enough for a free night at any category 1 Hilton property worth up to R3000.
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 are able to get 100% bonus of the points purchased. Offer ends 22nd September 2014.
1) This is the lowest amount to purchase points, redeemable for free Reward Nights.
2) You are limited to purchasing a maximum of 60,000 points + 60,000 bonus points for $690 / R7590. (120,000 points will buy you up to 24 nights stay on Pointbreaks). This is unbeatable in any Hotel chain in the world.
This would otherwise normally cost $1620 / R17800.
3) That makes it possible to redeem expensive Intercontinental Hotels and Crowne Plazas for $28.75 per night (R 316 ) on Pointbreaks specials ( new list due in just over 1 week).
4) This offer is excellent to top off your points in a IHG account or add it to your INTO THE NIGHTS PROMOTION tally for a sweet full month away in various hotels utilising Pointbreaks at 5000 points per night.
5) Best of all, your points never expire and IHG point bookings are cancellable up to day of check in without penalty. You cant loose.
Above: Utilising the 5000 points offer locally at Intercontinental Sandton that normally sells for R3000 per night.
Above: Madinah, Saudi Arabia also had its turn for 5000 points per night, That’s basically R300 per night for another 5 Star stay.
Read detailed trip reports HERE, HERE and HERE on maximising the utilisation of the points.
6) Remember when you stay on points you probably wont have to pay extra exorbitant hotel taxes most countries charge. Read this: Hotel Tax Loophole.
7) If you miss this sale you can always manufacture spend to buy points indirectly and unlimited at $35 per 5000 using my method HERE.
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1) Club Carlson has some great offers that stackable.
Some offers have participating properties.
3000 POINTS PER APP BOOKING.
From September 8 to November 16, 2014, earn 3,000 bonus Gold Points for each stay booked through the Club Carlson mobile app.
BUY 2 NIGHTS GET 1 FREE.
Book 2 nights in a Standard Room and enjoy a third night on us with our ‘Buy 2 Get 1 Free’ offer. Available when you check in on a Friday or Saturday (or Thursday or Friday for hotels in Middle East) at participating Radisson Blu® and Park Inn® by Radisson hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Book your stay between September 15 and October 15, 2014 for stays between September 15 and October 19, 2014. Terms and conditions apply*.
Make it a long break with a three-night weekend, just quote promotional code WBUY2F2 when booking your stay.
STAY 2 NIGHTS GET 5000 POINTS.
Register for the Club Carlson Weekend Special from 04 September 2014 and 15 October 2014 and receive 5,000 bonus Gold Points® when you arrive Thursday through Sunday and stay two or more nights between 04 September 2014 and 15 October 2014 at a participating Radisson Blu®, Radisson Blu Edwardian or Park Inn® by Radisson hotel in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Terms and conditions apply.
DOUBLE POINTS.
Register for Club Carlson by October 15 2014 and receive Double Gold Points® when you stay in one participating Radisson Blu®, Park Inn® by Radisson or Park Plaza® hotel in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Terms and conditions apply.
Access all the above offers with terms and conditions links HERE.
Not forgetting Club Carlson’s buy one night get one night free / two nights get two nights free over weekends in EMEA for Gold Elite members. Want instant Gold Elite? Please click the world exclusive offer here or below.
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( Tip: Actually the points can yield you 10 free nights on Pointbreak special).
The offer seems to differ from each member, I have screenshot my offer below and I actually have a higher guaranteed bonus to be won of 60,500 points ( that will get me 12 free nights). All the different tiers of statuses have different challenges to be met between now and December 31st 2014. So if you have trips planed for the back end of 2014, you better start planning again for the next trip in 2015 as you going to score big here.
If you don’t have a IHG Rewards account, get one. This offer is worth about R40,000 in hotel stays.
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2) Radisson Blu’s – Buy 1 get 1 free or buy 2 get 2 free.
I’ve posted a few of stays on this offer from Club Carlson for EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa). There’s tons of availability local and abroad within this offer from their various brands. Great value at this hip 5 star hotel chain and yes, it comes standard with an upgrade.
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.
It’s quicker and simpler than it sounds. Start with the cheapest rate, does it include any meals? Does it include sought after bonus points for your next free holiday? Is there a way around the heavy taxes and service charges hotels charge on top of cash rates?
Access the article on why rate options is your best friend 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.
Enhance the trip by applying for our world exclusive offer which includes Hyatt Diamond level instantly ( normal requirement 50 nights! ) and upgrade your room at the time of booking to a confirmed suite. You can book a suite up to 7 nights at a time, 4 times per year as a Diamond member and that’s only one of the benefits..
For more info on the full package offer please click HERE
2) SAA Voyager and Total South Africa enter into a partnership.
Earn 1 Voyager mile per 1 litre fuel when filling up.
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.
