Maximizing Travel Rewards: Why Booking Four Seasons with Points Isn't the Best Move

Frequent travelers often wonder about the potential of booking luxury accommodations like Four Seasons using points. While the opportunity exists, the underlying value tends to be far from optimal.

Unlike hotel chains such as Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, and IHG, Four Seasons lacks a formal loyalty program, meaning there’s essentially no recognition for loyal patrons unless you hold elite status that’s difficult to obtain.

Guests won’t find free night certificates, award charts, or direct point transfers to Four Seasons accounts. Instead, redeeming points typically occurs through credit card travel portals, where points serve more like cash. However, this setup often leaves travelers with disappointing returns compared to other potential uses of their points.

Analyzing the Cost of a Four Seasons Stay

Take, for instance, a stay at the Four Seasons Hualalai in Hawaii. The expense for five nights can skyrocket to about $6,500, depending on the season and your selection of room. To use points for this stay via a credit card portal, you could need approximately 650,000 transferable points.

While securing a $6,500 hotel stay for "free" sounds appealing at first glance, it raises an important question: What else could those points accomplish?

Alternative Uses for 650,000 Points

This past March, my family flew round trip in business class from San Francisco to Singapore, utilizing credit card points transferred straight to Singapore Airlines. Since we prefer to avoid long-haul coach flights, we primarily rely on points to cover international travel – points that would have been significantly diminished had we chosen hotel stays instead.

The trip included a luxurious 16+ hour flight in lie-flat seats, complete with lounge access and gourmet meals. If we had purchased these airfare tickets outright, they'd cost range from about $15,000 to $45,000 for three travelers.

Essentially, instead of splurging on a $6,500 Four Seasons stay, those same 650,000 points could translate into tens of thousands of dollars worth of experiences in premium flights. Why settle for a mere hotel when you could vastly elevate your travel experience?

Why Hotels May Not Be the Best Points Redemption

Consider the mindset of many travelers: spending on hotel accommodations is usually justifiable, even for luxury options. However, shelling out $5,000 to $7,000 per person for airfare often feels unreasonable, making points an invaluable asset in this sphere. Instead of preserving your points for limited hotel redemptions, consider how they can unlock extraordinary travel experiences.

I advise a straightforward approach when making redemption decisions: Would I prefer to finance something I could pay for eventually, or something I wouldn't typically purchase with cash? More often than not, the answer leans towards obtaining flights.

An Alternative Approach to Hotel Stays

For my personal travels, I find it more advantageous to pay cash for Four Seasons accommodations while reserving my points for premium flights. This strategy allows us to take advantage of the Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits, which can introduce significant value to your hotel experience.

Clients booking through a Preferred Partner often receive:

• 🌺 Daily breakfast for two, worth over $120 daily
• 💰 Resort credits exceeding $100
• ⬆️ Room upgrades whenever available
• ⏰ Early check-in options
• 🌅 Late check-out privileges
• ⭐ VIP treatment throughout their stay

The value from complimentary breakfast and room upgrades can easily offset the costs incurred on your trip. Unlike points redemptions through a travel portal, these benefits relate directly to the Four Seasons experience and can only be accessed via Preferred Partners.

When Using Points Might Justify Your Choice

Using points for a Four Seasons stay may make sense for individuals with an abundance of points who favor hotels over international travel or business class. Ultimately, points should enhance your preferred travel experience. However, if your objective is to maximize value, the disparity becomes clear.

Would I rather expend 650,000 points on a hotel room, or can those same points open doors to substantial international business class flights valued at $15,000 to $20,000? For my family, the choice is apparent.

Final Thoughts

Four Seasons properties rank among my favorite hotels globally. I willingly pay cash to experience them while leveraging my credit card points to secure flight rewards. I’m reluctant to commit large numbers of transferable points to hotel rooms when they could unlock access to higher-end travel experiences.

While booking Four Seasons with points is technically an option, I seldom recommend it. Instead, use those points to enhance your travel experience through flights, pay for the hotel stay in cash, and consult a Preferred Partner advisor to maximize your perks.

This approach has proven effective for us and allows for a more satisfying exploration of travel opportunities while making the most of both cash and rewards.