Natalya’s Five Day Maui Plan with Miles and Points
When Natalya heard I was making last minute plans to visit Hawaii, she was inspired. Living in San Francisco, Hawaii is perfect for a quick vacation! After all, it’s only a five hour flight and the scenery is amazing. Even better, if she can find non-stop availability on American Airlines or Alaska Airlines, it’s only 12,500 British Airways Avios each way. She will be spending four nights at the brand new Andaz Maui Wailea, which will cost her 22,000 points a night.
Non-stop flights Oakland to Maui: 25,000 British Airways Avios per ticket
British Airways has a distance-based award chart where shorter trips cost fewer miles. Although most other airlines will charge at least 20,000 miles for a one-way flight from mainland U.S. to Hawaii, redeeming British Airways miles can be a great deal when you’re close enough. Those that live on the West Coast can fly for just 12,500 British Airways miles each way provided they can find non-stop flights on Alaska Airlines or American Airlines.
Additional reading: West Coast to Hawaii for 12,500 British Airways Avios Each Way!
Fortunately, Natalya was able to find non-stop flights from Oakland to Maui on Alaska Airlines. The schedule turned out to be perfect for her. She arrives at 10 am early enough to enjoy sun and beach time and leaves around 5 in the afternoon. Definitely maximizing her time!
Another advantage of using British Airways miles is the fact that close-in booking fees are not charged. Other airlines will charge $75 for booking within 21 days, but Natalya was able to plan her trip less than two weeks ahead of time and pay no such fees. In order to book a flight on Alaska Airlines with British Airways miles, she had to make a quick call to Customer Service. After a 10 minute conversation, she had her two tickets set for 25,000 miles + $5.00 in fees each:
Additional reading: Redeeming British Airways Miles on Alaska Airlines Flights.
Hotel: Andaz Maui Wailea for 22,000 points a night
The Andaz Maui Wailea is a brand new Hyatt that just opened this past September and is the chain’s second hotel in Maui. The first is the Hyatt Regency Maui on Ka’anapali beach. Although rates were $389 + tax for her dates, Natalya is going to use 22,000 points a night to stay at the Andaz.
Total Cost for Two People: 138,000 Points
Overall, the flights and hotel will cost 50,000 British Airways miles and 88,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points total. As we will be there together, the four of us are splitting a 5 day car rental, which will cost us $200.
Natalya got all 138,000 points through transferring Chase Ultimate Rewards points to airline and hotel partners. British Airways Avios and Hyatt Gold Passport are both transfer partners of Chase and she can transfer her points at a 1:1 ratio.
The Plan
Natalya is flying to Hawaii as we speak and I am meeting her there in a few days. In the meantime, she is going to enjoy the beach, go to the Feast at Lele luau and enjoy a kayak snorkeling tour tomorrow I arranged for her as a surprise… shhh! I’m sure we’ll report on her activities after the trip with pictures!
We will be there together for one and a half days. We have an ambitious plan to:
- Drive the road to Hana.
- Have dinner at the new Morimoto restaurant at Andaz Maui in Wailea.
- Watch the sunrise from Haleakala summit.
We’ll see how much of this we manage to pull off in our 1.5 days together!
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Natalya’s not the only one you inspired! See you poolside!
Andaz is AMAZING!!! Just completed stay there first week of DEC. Did you consider the WAILEA rate as an option. (Stay two nights, get two free with $75 resort credit) although between two people final cost would be around $450 per person for entire stay.
Definitely looking forward to the Andaz. Wailea rate actually wasn’t available for our dates and we weren’t flexible with dates. Even so, $900 is not a small amount and it’s much nicer to have it with points since they’re so easy to earn :) I am definitely looking forward to the Andaz!
Hi MP, The Haleakala summit is amazing. Don’t forget to dress warm since it is pretty cold up there. Regarding to the Road to Hana, it is very curvy with many narrow bridges. It took us the whole day from the Ka’anapali beach area. Personally, coming from northern CA, I would take a pass since the scenery is pretty much like going to Lake Tahoe and/or to Yosemite National Park (with bigger water falls). However, the black sand beach and red sand beach have incredible views. Also, if you go, there is a very authentic Thai restaurant in Hana called Nutcharee. Oh, did you call the BA customer service when booking Alaska using BA points? Thanks.
Oh, I found the answer to my question on one of your former Alaska airline posts. Thanks.
I share Nguyen’s thoughts about the road to Hana, but am more emphatic about it – DON’T DO IT!!! As Nguyen wrote, it takes all day, then you have to drive back in the DARK through very narrow winding roads with hairpin turns and not safe places to pass. Of course, at night, there are no views, so all you can do is drive. It’s thoroughly exhausting. If there were a car ferry to take you back to the start, then it would be a nice drive. Drive part of it, say to the first couple of set of waterfalls, then turn back.
The drive is so arduous that the islanders sell t-shirts that state “I Survived the Road to Hana”!!! THAT should tell you something!
Go to the green turtle beach.
Eat at the Aloha Mixed Plate restaurant in Lahaina – great food, inexpensive, great views. Situated ON the beach. See: http://www.alohamixedplate.com/
bring hiking boots if you plan to hike into Haleakala’s caldera.
do you get room upgrade and breakfast with 22k points a night at the ANDAZ? Can you upgrade with points to regency club room which includes breakfast & internet?
We are planning to go to Hawaii this Christmas from Northeast. Any suggestions how and what cards to get ? We would like to rent a condo and would like to use points if possible ? Already got Barclays Arrival card but any suggestions/ideas ?