Trip Report: France, March – April (12 day total) UA – Roundtrip in Business. Total: 264,000 Miles + (Cash price $6,000)* EWR-CDG
2 - Nights at the Les Sources de Cheverny, in Loire Valley (Vineyard). A Hyatt’s SLH Collection. It felt unreal, it was like being in a Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. First night, 25,000 Hyatt points, second night 21,000, 4044 points back (2022 per night bonus earn)= 18,956 per night. We were upgraded to a Jr. king suite. (UR were transferred to WOH). Cash price: 1,800 EU
We spent a day exploring Loire and checked out the Château de Chenonceau. Very convenient to Chateau Chambord and other local castles.
We drove from Loire Valley to La Seyne-sur-Mer and stayed at the Grand Hotel des Sablettes Plage, Curio Collection by Hilton.I booked King ocean front. We were upgraded to the Presidential Suite. 51,000 points for 1 nights, second night was covered by the annual one night Hilton award.$250 Hilton Resort credit, that resulted in two fantastic dinners at the hotel’s Navigator restaurant, take a peek at the meals we had below, all thanks to AMEX Aspire CC. Despite the annual fee of $495, between the $200 Annual airline credit, $250 Resort credit, 1 night free per year, the card practically pays you to keep. Breakfasts were amazing and covered by the Diamond status. We explored Cannes (which we didn’t like), and Saint Tropez which we loved.
Cash price: 2200 EU
We then drove to Lyon(Saint Priest) for a two night stay at the DoubleTree. While breakfasts were included and we loved Lyon and it’s beauty and food, we hated the DoubleTree. Our upgrade was one level up, to a “king lakeview”. More like a puddle view from a jail like window, a mattress that was a double and sagging to such an extent that I kept rolling toward the middle of the bed all night long. A hair dryer that didn’t work (It was in the high 20’s, and I had to go out to dinner with wet hair), and a TV that just didn’t work. The two nights were a total of 36,000HH* points and I got 20,000 points back after complaining to Hilton.
Cash Price: 244 EU
Best part of the trip was Paris, we drove from Lyon to Paris for a four night stay at the Park Hyatt (Vendome).And let me tell you, this should be on everyone’s bucket list. We were upgraded to the executive suite courtyard view (which is what I was hoping for).I booked King Standard. Four nights for a total of 135,000 (-4044 for Bonus Journeys) so roughly 130,000 for 4 nights in an executive suite that goes well over 1000 EU per night. Breakfasts were outrageous, and most precious of all was the day when we checked out. We had a 9:30am flight back to EWR. The hotel delivered our breakfast to the room at 5:45am before the restaurant was open. The breakfast at the Park Hyatt is something that I can write a book about. This hotel should be on everyone’s bucket list.
Cash price: 4,300 EU
Overall this was a trip that was fully covered by points and miles. Our out of pocket spend was only for incidentals such as food (outside of breakfast).We paid for a total of 8 dinners and a lot of great street food for lunch on this trip. France is a stunning country. I was warned that people hate Americans, but nothing could be further from the truth. Language barrier everywhere except Lyon and Paris.
We’re going back again, there is lots of goodies that we want to see and couldn’t on this trip.
* On the way back, my entertainment unit wasn’t working for the bulk of the trip, UA gave a $350 travel voucher to use. You too, can just as easily take advantage of the same by applying and earning the bonuses of the credit cards below: Amex Consumer Platinum earns Membership Rewards transferrable to many hotels and airlines: Hilton Apsire for Hilton Hotels. The Aspire card comes with a 150,000 sign up bonus, $200 Airline credit. Annual free night. $250 Resort credit.
Hyatt credit card. To experience the magical places with amazing breakfasts all over the world.
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