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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Incase last weeks Pointbreak offer did not have anything you’d want to travel to for a mere 5000 points ( 35$ per night) this offer surely will tempt your travel spirits. Have a look at IHG Maldives rate below, This is the cheapest ive seen their rates. ( Read my trip review to the resort of IHG Kandooma, Maldives HERE ).
If you have 35000 points, you score a free night.
3) Saudia Al-Fursan buy miles get 50% bonus – twice?
I’ve been emailed quite a few time this week regarding Saudia’s offer of buy miles and get 50% bonus. This is the exploration and outcome.
Number of Miles
Buy / Gift Miles
Transfer
1,000 – 9,000 Miles
20% Bonus
10% Bonus
10,000 – 19,000 Miles
30% Bonus
20% Bonus
20,000 – 29,000 Miles
40% Bonus
30% Bonus
30,000 – 39,000 Miles
50% Bonus
40% Bonus
40,000
50% Bonus
50% Bonus
41,000 – 60,000
Not applicable
50% Bonus
Terms and Conditions
•
The Buy Miles promotion is valid from now until 31st of August 2014
•
Bonus Miles from Gift/Transfer transactions will be in the account of the friend/family member for whom the Miles are gifted or transferred to.
•
Miles may be purchased or gifted for SAR 0.1125 per mile.
•
Miles may be transferred for SAR 0.05625 per mile.
•
Minimum amount of Miles that can be purchase or gifted is 1000 Miles.
•
A maximum of 40,000 Reward Miles can be purchased or gifted in a calendar year.
•
A maximum of 60,000 Reward Miles can be transferred in a calendar year.
•
Additional GST/HST will be charged to Canadian residents.
•
Purchased Reward Miles are non-refundable.
•
Reward Miles purchased, gifted or transferred will be posted within 24 hours.
•
Purchased Reward Miles do not count towards status upgrades.
•
All standard Alfursan program rules and conditions apply.
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A few decent Intercontinental hotels this time, Turkey has some good Crowne Plaza’s, I have a review of the one in Antalya read more on it here. Johannesburg’s Holiday Inn Rosebank is on too, save R800 via this special per night. Port Ghalib on the Red Sea makes another appearance this year, great property to visit and experience other awesome hotel chains close by.
2) IHG Points sale
In need of points to top up your account, IHG has a limited 60% bonus sale running. Mathematically the trick method of book and cancel works out cheaper..
For a limited time, you may experience Diamond membership with Hyatt as part of our world exclusive offer.
The offer includes 4x confirmed suite upgrade certificates valid for up to 7nights each (28 nights total!) plus you get 20% off exclusively on their lowest rates.
Hyatt is the ONLY hotel chain to confirm suites at time of booking.
Read a detailed trip on scoring the best suite in a Hyatt hotel here
All existing subscribers may contact me for their free Hyatt Diamond trial package.
Please note: this is a limited time offer, first come first served. Don’t miss out.
4) Emirates Europe Sale
Book by July 28th. Fly from August 15th – December 3rd ( I’ve found sale airfares after this date as you will see)
Dublin is the cream of the crop here. Mid R5000 return airfares out of Johannesburg.
RSA passport holders don’t require visas for Ireland.
Tip: Sign up for a Skywards family account ( if you do not already have). Nominate as many member who fly as you can. You as the head get 20% bonus skyward miles every time they fly..
Below: Availability for upcoming school holidays are plenty as well as in December.
Please copy and paste the link below for direct newsletter subscription with anyone and everyone you may know who loves to travel.
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We have 10x double tickets up for grabs for our subscribers worth R499 each.
All you have to do to enter is subscribe to our newsletter ( if you have not already – link is below) and pop a email to zaheer@traveloyalty.co.za with your name and surname with the subject: Robin Sharma Comp.
Entries close 6pm on Wednesday the 23rd July 2014. Winners will be notified by email. Each winner will receive 2x tickets to the event.
Robin Sharma is the globally celebrated author of 15 international bestselling books on leadership including The Leader Who Had No Title, the phenomenal #1 blockbuster that is inspiring a movement around the idea that “Now, anyone – in any organization – can show Leadership”. His work has been published in over 62 countries and in nearly 75 languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world. He shot to fame with The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, which has topped international bestseller lists and sold over 4,000,000 copies. Robin is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc., a training firm with only one focus: helping people in organizations Lead Without a Title. Clients comprise of many of the FORTUNE 500 including Microsoft, GE, NIKE, FedEx and IBM. Organizations such as NASA, IMD Business School, Yale University and The Young President’s Organization are also SLI clients. Robin is a former litigation lawyer who holds two law degrees including a Masters of Law (Dalhousie Law School).
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.
If you’d love (who wouldn’t?) to win a 5 night stay each year at any participating Radisson hotel for life ( up to 58 years) click the offer link below:
There are also 5 weekly prizes leading up to the Grand Prize.
Terms and conditions:
RADISSON FOR LIFE SWEEPSTAKES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open only to persons who are 21 years of age or older at the time of entry. Sweepstakes ends at 11:59:59 AM CT on 8/17/14. Void in Australia, Brazil, Cuba, Czech Republic, France, India, Iran, Malaysia, North Korea, Quebec (Canada), Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and where prohibited or restricted by law. Subject to the Official Rules available at www.radissonforlife.com. Sponsor: Carlson Hotels, Inc., Minnetonka, MN USA. SEE OFFICIAL RULES
Related:
Read more on getting Club Carlson GOLD instantly for upgraded rooms and royalty perks here
Read more on Traveloyalty’s latest Radisson trip here
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1) Fairmont complimentary night + 25$ credit – Amex offer
Fairly good offer in most hotels and includes suites. Minimum stay of 3-6 nights.The blackout period differs at each property.
Makkah Royal Clock Tower and Zimbali feature, although the rates cant beat the Great Rates special they have offered in the past. Rates seem cancellable up to 24 hours ( please check as each property may differ here again), so if Great Rates special in the future does have them lower simply cancel and re-book. I’ve had a few sticky issues with Fairmont’s website with previous bookings on special rates, if you encounter any simply call the toll free number.
There is also a SUMMER OFFER- 20% OFF OR A FREE NIGHT
The most insane hotel special for scoring free 5* hotel rooms (or 35$ if you don’t have 5000 points) is coming in the next 1-2weeks.
Make sure you have enough points loaded if you have plans for travelling during August and September as the best hotels fly off the list within the first or second day it goes live.
Stay glued..
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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.
We have now added “Car Rental” to our links on the website because earning points through car rentals have become so easy with the massive amounts on offer bringing about quicker free stays at hotels. Not failing to mention Instant Sixt Platinum Membership offer for Club Carlson Gold Elite Members.
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.
During May I wrote about Daily Getaways Mega points sale that comes about once a year, read more by clicking here and here.
Fortunately there is still IHG points up for grabs (they had the largest quantities of packages on sale from all the other chains).
American Express Credit cards gets you a further 10% off.
Points never expire.
You can buy up to three packages per offer, basically for R18000.00 you could spend 2 months / 60 nights in a 5* hotel which normally sells for R2000+ per night. ( Read a tried, tested and proofed review here ).
100,000 Points gets you 20 nights on Pointbreaks special. (only 5000 points per night for a Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday inn) for a mere $567 if paying with Amex. That’s the lowest you can ‘pay or redeem for any 5* hotel.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–Below: A screenshot of one of Traveloyalty’s package subscriber’s, absolutely milking and maximising the easiness of pilling on the points and unique bonus points through our world exclusive offer.
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.
For those who love to travel and in the process earn heaps of miles and points, get this: Award Wallet.
Register online, download the app on your mobile devices and start adding from 630 loyalty programmes.
Award Wallet is really awesome it logs, keeps track of all your frequent flyer and elite status programmes, future travel plans, point expirations and best of all just one click and you logged into your respective website account.
Explore Hyatt Hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai this summer. Stay with us from 11 May to 30 September 2014 and enjoy one free night on us, along with numerous benefits:
20% discount on treatments in any of our Hyatt spas, excluding retail items
20% discount in all participating restaurants and bars located in Hyatt hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, excluding tobacco and retail items
Complimentary breakfast, lunch and dinner for children*at the hotel you are staying in
Complimentary stay for children*
Complimentary access to all swimming pools, gyms and recreational facilities across the six Hyatt hotels in Abu Dhabi and Dubai
* Maximum of two children below 12 years, accompanied by paying adult(s).
Conclusion: I wouldn’t mind burning a free 7 night suite certificate for a confirmed suite upgrade at any of the 6 Hyatt properties on offer.
Every Traveloyalty reader who partook in Hyatt’s Diamond status offer before end April should have 4 certificates at their disposal.
3) Free Platinum status with Sixt car rental
Traveloyalty will soon have to add a new link to the menu bar for car rentals as its loyalty seems to be increasing with popularity, such as the many Club Carlson 9000 Gold point offers for 3 days rental with Avis and Budget read more here.
That said and done i’ve just manged to get a free Platinum status with Sixt car rental instantly (and not going through the trauma of renting 20x to qualify for it!). All you need is a top-tier level with an airline or a hotel group. Eg: Etihad Guest Gold, Hilton Diamond, Club Carlson Gold (We offer this one instantly) etc.
The benefits of platinum is 15% off, quick check-in, mobile check-in and a upgrade / double upgrade( nice!). Miles and points with airlines and hotels should be magnified with this level too.
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1) Club Carlson’s buy one night get one night free
Dragon fruit for breakfast, sunrise at the gymnasium, panoramic sea views, top suite on the top floor, R700 per night (serious) read it all here
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