This collection of articles about bank cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is introduced to you in partnership with The Points Man.

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All details about the Alaska Airways Visa® card, the Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise Card, the Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Crimson World Elite Mastercard®, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® Mastercard®, the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® Mastercard®, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Government Mastercard®, the Bilt Mastercard®, the American Categorical® Inexperienced Card, the Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise Card, the Citi Premier® Card and the United Membership℠ Enterprise Card has been collected independently by Lonely Planet. These playing cards usually are not accessible by means of Lonely Planet.

What comes to thoughts if you consider Australia? For me, it’s watching the surfers at Bondi Seashore, that first glimpse of the Twelve Apostles alongside the Nice Ocean Highway and visiting Steve Irwin’s beloved Australia Zoo.

For these with restricted trip time, a visit to Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane is a terrific introduction to Australia. Every metropolis is a superb base for day journeys to nationwide parks, close by seashores and different standard sights throughout the area by automobile by way of guided tour.

In case you’ve obtained a versatile schedule — or the power to spend a 12 months doing the Working Vacation Visa (for 18 to 30-year-olds, or up to age 35 if you happen to’re from sure international locations) like I did — catch a brief flight to distant locales equivalent to Darwin, Perth, Adelaide, Hobart, Canberra, Alice Springs or Uluru–Kata Tjuta Nationwide Park to expertise every little thing Australia has to provide.

Nervous this could be an costly endeavor? There are many methods to convey prices down, from sticking to your price range to utilizing points and miles to pay on your flights, lodges, automobile leases and excursions. 

Right here’s every little thing you want to find out about touring to Australia with points and miles.

How to get began with travel points and airline miles

The most cost effective award flights to Australia

If the concept of spending a whole day on an airplane makes you sweat – 15.5 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco and roughly 17.5 hours from Dallas or Houston – I don’t blame you. However I promise you it’s price it.

Whereas jet lag doubtless received’t spare you, I discover it helps to get as a lot sleep as I can on the way in which there so I’m prepared to hit the bottom working after I land. On the way in which again to the US, attempt to keep awake so long as attainable (film marathon!) so you’ll be able to go to mattress shut to a traditional time if you land.

Additionally remember that you’ll want to apply for an ETA (Digital Travel Authority) visa for about 20 AUD (US$12), which helps you to go to Australia for up to three months every time you enter the nation inside a 12-month interval. For peace of thoughts, apply early, as processing instances range.

As for reserving flights with points and miles, you’ll discover the perfect offers from airport hubs in cities with nonstop flights to Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL) or Brisbane (BNE). Meaning Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), Honolulu (HNL) or Vancouver (YVR). 

In case you’re planning to enterprise out to different Australian cities, test Google Flights to see what costs are like on home carriers like Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, Rex and Bonza. 

You may additionally have the opportunity to use points and miles to cowl brief hops, as Jetstar is related to Qantas (and companions), and Virgin Australia is companions with United Airways. Signing up for travel bank cards so you’ll be able to maximize welcome bonuses and reserving with airline companions are the important thing methods to develop your pile of points and miles and lower your expenses on a visit to Australia.

• Least expensive economic system class ticket to Australia: 75,000 ANA Mileage Membership miles round-trip
• Least expensive business-class ticket to Australia: 110,000 Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles round-trip (to fly on Qantas)
• Least expensive first-class ticket to Australia: 140,000 Alaska Airways Mileage Plan miles round-trip (to fly on Qantas)
   

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Alaska Airways Mileage Plan

Whereas Alaska Airways doesn’t function flights to Australia, you’ll be able to nonetheless use Mileage Plan miles to e-book journeys on its Oneworld companions, Qantas and American Airways. Right here’s what number of you’ll want to fly on American Airways:

• Economic system Class: 80,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 160,000 miles round-trip
• First Class: 220,000 miles round-trip

Right here’s what number of Mileage Plan miles you’ll want to redeem flights on Qantas:

• Economic system Class: 85,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 110,000 miles round-trip
• First Class: 140,000 miles round-trip

When it comes to award availability, it’s going to be harder to e-book a flight redemption with Qantas than American Airways, so look early and infrequently.

To earn Mileage Plan miles shortly, join one in all two cobranded bank cards to take advantage of the welcome bonus. Thanks to a brand new partnership, Bilt Rewards will be transferred to American Airways, whereas you can too join a cobranded bank card to construct up your AAdvantage miles stash.

Alternatively, you’ll be able to switch Marriott Bonvoy points to Mileage Plan and AAdvantage at a 3:1 ratio.

• Alaska Airways Visa® card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $3,000 throughout the first 90 days of account opening — and earn Alaska’s $99 Companion Fare (plus taxes and charges from $23) annually after you spend $6,000.
• Alaska Airways Visa® Enterprise Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles, plus Alaska’s $99 Companion Fare, after spending $3,000 throughout the first 90 days of opening your account.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card: Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first six months from account opening. Plus, Earn up to 14X complete points for each $1 spent at 1000’s of lodges taking part in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card: Earn Three Free Night time Awards (every night time valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Categorical® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you employ your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases throughout the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you employ your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases throughout the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Crimson World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first buy and paying the $99 annual price throughout the first 90 days of account opening.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® Mastercard®: Earn 65,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 throughout the first 4 months of account opening.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Government Mastercard®: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• The Bilt Mastercard®: No welcome bonus, however you’ll be able to earn points on lease and switch to plenty of airline and resort companions.

Greatest bank cards for airport lounge entry

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas Frequent Flyer opens its availability choices 353 days forward of time, giving the primary selection to its members when it comes to redeeming points for business- and first-class seats (in contrast to these redeeming by way of companions). 

Whilst you may discover a higher deal by reserving Qantas award tickets with different Oneworld companions like American Airways or Alaska Airways, it’s nonetheless price checking the Qantas points calculator on its web site, because it normally depends upon the space you’ll be flying. 

Right here’s an concept of what you’ll discover for a pattern flight from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD):

• Economic system Class: 83,800 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 216,800 miles round-trip
• First Class: 325,600 miles-round-trip

For comparability, right here’s a seek for a flight from Dallas (DFW) to SYD): 

• Economic system Class: 102,400 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 253,000 miles round-trip
• First Class: 379,600 miles-round-trip

Qantas points will also be redeemed for flights on Jetstar and American Airways, amongst different Oneworld airline companions.

A number of versatile rewards applications, equivalent to American Categorical Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards and Capital One Rewards, allow you to switch points to Qantas at a 1:1 ratio, whereas Marriott Bonvoy points will be transferred at a ratio of three:1.

• American Categorical® Inexperienced Card: Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 throughout the first six months of opening your account.
• American Categorical® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 throughout the first six months of account opening
• American Categorical® Enterprise Gold Card: Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• The Platinum Card® from American Categorical: Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 throughout the first six months of opening your account.
• The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical: Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 throughout the first three months of account opening.
• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.

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All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Membership

Whereas All Nippon Airways (ANA) is the flag provider of Japan, you’ll be able to nonetheless use ANA Mileage Membership miles to e-book flights by means of its Star Alliance companions, equivalent to United Airways and Air Canada. 

There’s one catch: you’ll want to e-book a round-trip award redemption, as one-ways aren’t allowed. Right here’s what number of ANA Mileage Membership miles you’ll want to redeem a round-trip flight on both companion airline:

• Economic system Class: 75,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 120,000 miles round-trip

The simplest methods to earn ANA Mileage Membership miles are by utilizing the 1:1 switch ratio from American Categorical Membership Rewards or by maximizing the welcome bonus of both The Platinum Card® from American Categorical or The Enterprise Platinum Card from American Categorical, which might every present sufficient points to cowl your round-trip flight.

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Avianca LifeMiles

Utilizing Avianca LifeMiles to e-book flights on Star Alliance companions United Airways and Air Canada is among the greatest points and miles candy spots, particularly after United devalued its MileagePlus program this summer time.

• Economic system Class: 80,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 160,000 miles round-trip

To rack up Avianca LifeMiles in a rush, switch points at a 1:1 ratio from Citi ThankYou Rewards, Capital One Rewards or American Categorical Membership Rewards, or from Marriott Bonvoy at a ratio of three:1.

• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• American Categorical® Inexperienced Card: Earn 40,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 throughout the first six months of opening your account.
• American Categorical® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 throughout the first six months of account opening.
• American Categorical® Enterprise Gold Card: Earn 70,000 bonus points after spending $10,000 throughout the first three months of opening your account.
• The Platinum Card® from American Categorical: Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 throughout the first six months of opening your account.
• The Enterprise Platinum Card® from American Categorical: Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $15,000 throughout the first three months of account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Daring® Credit score Card: Earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases throughout the first six months from account opening. Plus, Earn up to 14X complete points for each $1 spent at 1000’s of lodges taking part in Marriott Bonvoy.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit score Card: Earn Three Free Night time Awards (every night time valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy® American Categorical® Card: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you employ your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases throughout the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Good® American Categorical® Card: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you employ your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases throughout the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Must you e-book travel with money or points?

United Airways MileagePlus

Whereas admittedly, this isn’t your greatest redemption choice, I’m together with it as a result of it’s nonetheless one for many who depend on transferring points from Chase Final Rewards to United and its many Star Alliance companions.

• Economic system Class: 110,000 miles round-trip
• Enterprise Class: 200,000 miles round-trip

A number of cobranded United bank cards provide profitable welcome bonuses, as do the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, to assist you to get began in your United MileagePlus miles-building journey. United can be a companion of Bilt Rewards (1:1) and Marriott Bonvoy (3:1).

• Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first Three months from account opening. That is $750 if you redeem by means of Chase Travel℠.
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first Three months from account opening. That is $900 towards travel if you redeem by means of Chase Travel℠.
• United Gateway℠ Card: Earn 20,000 miles after spending $1,000 throughout the first three months of account opening.
• United℠ Explorer Card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open.
• United Quest℠ Card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open.
• United Membership℠ Infinite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first Three months from account opening.
• United℠ Enterprise Card: Earn 100,000 United MileagePlus Miles after you spend $5,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months of opening an account. Provide ends April 3, 2024.
• United Membership℠ Enterprise Card: Earn 75,000 United MileagePlus Miles and 1,000 PQP after you spend $5,000 on qualifying purchases within the first three months of opening an account. Provide ends April 3, 2024.

Greatest bank cards for journey travel

Australia lodges you’ll be able to e-book with points

Among the greatest points lodges on earth will be present in Australia, regardless of which a part of the nation you’re in. With choices from most chains accessible in each main metropolis, plus a number of Accor properties outdoors Uluru–Kata Tjuta Nationwide Park, there’s no want to go with out the same old creature comforts, even in the midst of the Australian Outback.

You’ll encounter resort and resort choices from Marriott Bonvoy, IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, Alternative Privileges, Wyndham Rewards and Accor Dwell Limitless. It’s free to join all of those, and if you happen to occur to have your most popular model’s resort rewards bank card, you’ll have the opportunity to rack up a ton of points very quickly, thanks to their respective welcome bonuses.

A number of travel bank cards actually go the additional mile to assist you to reduce prices. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® features a $300 annual travel credit score. The Hilton Honors American Categorical Aspire Card affords an included good thing about $200 in assertion credit, which will be put towards resort charges and different purchases made at Hilton lodges two instances a 12 months.

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Cease 1: Sydney

Most vacationers will begin their huge Aussie journey in Sydney, New South Wales, residence to the well-known Opera Home and Harbour Bridge. When you’ve checked out the oldest a part of town, a neighborhood generally known as “The Rocks,” unwind with a soothing stroll by means of Royal Botanic Backyard Sydney.

If time permits, head to Bondi Seashore, the place you’ll be able to have a swim and see the surfers do their factor. For an actual deal with, plan a day journey (by prepare or automobile) to Blue Mountains Nationwide Park and hike out to the Three Sisters viewing space in Katoomba for unbelievable views of the rock formation and the valley under.

The Park Hyatt Sydney, a class Eight World of Hyatt property positioned proper within the coronary heart of all of the motion in Dawes Level, has room charges from 35,000 per night time. With 155 rooms and suites (lots of which provide views of Sydney Harbour), a swanky rooftop pool and an opulent spa, it’s a terrific place to lay your head after an extended flight — or an enormous day of sightseeing.

The welcome bonus from the World of Hyatt Credit score Card, Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® could be sufficient to cowl one night time (or two nights if you happen to join each – simply ensure you aren’t violating Chase’s 5:24 rule, which received’t allow you to add a brand new Chase bank card if you happen to’ve already signed up for 5 playing cards within the final 24 months).

In case you’re nonetheless brief, you’ll be able to all the time switch Final Rewards points to World of Hyatt, because it’s one in all Chase’s resort companions. 

Greatest travel bank cards for lodges

Cease 2: Melbourne

Positioned in Victoria, Melbourne is residence to vigorous espresso and foodie scenes, world-class museums and unbelievable nightlife all through the Central Enterprise District and only a tram journey away by the seashore in St Kilda. 

Preserve your eyes peeled for colourful murals and road artwork as you wind your manner by means of town’s many laneways. Don’t depart with out doing the 90-minute Aboriginal Heritage Stroll on the Royal Botanic Backyard, which affords an opportunity to be taught extra about native flora in addition to the historical past, tradition and modern-day expertise of Australia’s Indigenous individuals.

5-star resort Le Méridien Melbourne got here onto the scene in March 2023, providing room charges from 31,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night time. With 235 guestrooms, an elegant pool deck and a location inside strolling distance of the Melbourne Museum, Fitzroy Gardens and Melbourne’s busy central enterprise district, it makes an excellent base for exploring the remainder of town.

Since Marriot Bonvoy is a switch companion of American Categorical Membership Rewards and Chase Final Rewards, you’ll be able to swap points over from both loyalty program to bump up your stability. 

The welcome bonus alone from the Marriott Bonvoy Good American Categorical Card would deal with a free night time (up to 95,000 points). Members earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after utilizing their new card to make $6,000 in purchases throughout the first six months of card membership. Card members additionally obtain up to $300 yearly ($25 per thirty days) in credit for eating at eating places and a free night time on their anniversary.

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Cease 3: Brisbane

Positioned in Queensland, Brisbane is greatest identified for its farmers’ markets, public artwork museums, zig-zagging Riverwalk and vibrant stay music scene. 

It’s additionally an excellent base for making day journeys to Mount Coot-Tha, the Glass Home Mountains, Crocodile Steve Irwin’s beloved Australia Zoo in Beerwah or one in all Australia’s many theme parks – Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Film World, WhiteWater World, Moist’N’Wild or Sea World – close to the Gold Coast.

Lodge X Brisbane Fortitude Valley, a part of the IHG One Rewards Vignette Assortment, has room charges from 26,000 points per night time, placing you inside strolling distance of the scenic Story Bridge, the Wilson Outlook Reserve, and all of the procuring and nightlife the Fortitude Valley neighborhood has to provide.

The welcome bonus from the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit score Card affords sufficient points to cowl a whopping 5 nights at this resort, whereas the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit score Card’s would cowl three. Alternatively, the welcome bonus from both the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® Card or the Chase Sapphire Reserve® might cowl two nights.

To prime up your IHG Rewards One points stability, you’ll be able to switch points from Chase Final Rewards or Bilt Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.

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Actions and floor transportation

In case you’re planning to lease a automobile, bear in mind that you simply’ll want to drive on the left aspect of the highway and from the correct aspect of the automobile.

Whether or not you determine to go for it or depend on public transportation or ridesharing apps like Uber to get round, you’ll have the opportunity to “wipe” these transportation prices you probably have sure travel bank cards.

The Capital One Enterprise and the Capital One Enterprise X permit cardholders to redeem points to cowl travel bills, sometimes at a price of 1 cent per level. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® additionally affords a $300 annual credit score, so that you’ll obtain assertion credit meant to cowl sure travel prices. 

To assist decrease the price of automobile leases, guided excursions and different actions, Chase Sapphire Most well-liked® and Chase Sapphire Reserve® cardholders can redeem Final Rewards points to cowl them at a price of 1.25 cents per level or 1.5 cents per level, respectively, by means of the Chase travel portal.

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Backside line

There’s no cause a dream journey to Australia has to break the financial institution. By being conscious of airline alliances and the various methods to save on points and miles redemptions by means of reserving with switch companions, you’ll have the opportunity to cowl your flights and resort stays very quickly.

Signing up for travel bank cards with beneficiant welcome bonuses and specializing in versatile rewards applications with transferable points will assist increase your stability in a rush, releasing up extra of your hard-earned {dollars} for enjoyable actions like an evening out in town or dinner at a elaborate restaurant.

*Eligibility and Profit stage varies by Card. Phrases, Circumstances, and Limitations Apply. Please go to americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for extra particulars. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Firm.

Phrases apply to American Categorical advantages and affords. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Categorical advantages and affords. Go to americanexpress.com to be taught extra.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed listed here are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, airline or resort chain, and haven’t been reviewed, authorized or in any other case endorsed by any of those entities.