Antelope Canyon has been on my bucket list for a long time. Seeing pictures of the gorgeous canyons all over the internet has only made me want to visit more. For various reasons, we’ve never been able to fit a visit in our schedule. Finally, last week, we had the chance to take the family and it was even better than I expected.

First, I’ll give you all of the information you’ll need to know about visiting. Then keep reading until the end to see how I used points to offset a lot of the cost.

Where Is Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is located on the Navajo Indian reservation in northern Arizona just outside the city of Page. The location is definitely what makes visiting the canyon a challenge. Unfortunately, none of the major airlines fly into Page, so it’ll be a drive no matter where you’re coming from.

The closest major airports are Phoenix (PHX) or Las Vegas (LAS). Both airports are about a 4.5 hour drive. If you fly in and rent a car, be sure to use Autoslash to save some money.

Booking A Tour

There are two different canyons you can visit; Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons. Regardless of which on you visit, you will need to book a tour in order to visit the canyon.

We decided to visit the lower Antelope Canyon and booked our tour with Dixie’s Lower Antelope Canyon Tours. Our tour guide Stacy was the absolute best! She made our visit the best it could be! At the time of publishing, the price was ~$60 for adults and ~$30 for children.

I would recommend booking directly with Dixie (or the other companies). I’ve seen tours on other sites but they were always more expensive.

Which Canyon Should I Visit

A lot of people ask what the difference is between Upper and Lower Antelope Canyons. Here’s what I’ve found based on my research and by talking with our tour guide.

Upper Antelope Canyon – The upper canyon is the more popular of the two canyons because of the light beams that can be seen during the spring and summer. While both canyon tours last about the same amount of time, the length of the upper canyon is about half the size of the lower canyon.

The upper canyon doesn’t have any stairs, so this could be a factor for those with mobility restrictions. We had young kids in our group and climbing the stairs wasn’t an issue, so I wouldn’t let that be a deterrent for those visiting with small children.

Lower Antelope Canyon – The lower canyon is located right next to the visitor’s center, so it’s only a 5 minute walk to the entrance. If you visit the upper canyon, your tour company will drive you to the canyon entrance.

The lower canyon is also more narrow along the canyon floor and wider at the top. This will allow more sunshine to enter the canyon and really highlight the color of the canyon walls.

FAQs

How Far In Advance Should I Book My Tour – Antelope Canyon has definitely become more popular lately, so I would recommend booking as soon as you can. Right now tours are operating at 50% capacity, so they’ll fill up even quicker. Dixie had a very generous cancellation policy, so there really isn’t any risk to booking far in advance.

When Should I Visit – The summer time is the most popular because of the light beams that can been seen from about March thru October. Summer is just a popular time for travel, so it will also be more crowded. Keep in mind there can be a line to enter the canyon, so if you go in the summer it can get hot. We visited in December and had an incredible experience.

What Time Of Day Should I Visit – If seeing the light beams is a must, then I would recommend visiting between 10 – 1 to give yourself the best chance of seeing them.

What Should I Bring On The Tour – Right now, they don’t allow you to take backpacks, purses or other bags. Really, the only thing you can bring is water and your camera.

Where To Stay

You’ll find several hotel options from all of the major chains in Page. No matter which hotel points you have, you’ll be able to find a property to stay at. Just book your stay as soon as you can to give yourself the best chance of finding availability.

Hyatt – We stayed at the Hyatt Place which only cost about 12k points per night. Two of my favorite credit cards that earn Hyatt points are the card_name and the card_name.

Marriott – If you like Marriott properties, they have a Courtyard hotel that will run about 30k points per night. There are a couple Marriott credit cards like the card_name that can help you earn points quickly.

Hilton – Hilton also has a couple locations in Page to choose from that will cost approximately 25k points per night. The card_name has a welcome offer can earn you a chunk of points fast.

IHG – There’s a Holiday Inn Express in the middle of town that costs a modest 12k points a night. If IHG is the brand you prefer, I’d recommend the card_name as a way to earn more points for your trip.

Final Thoughts

If Antelope Canyon hasn’t been on your travel bucket list, it should be. It’s unlike any place I’ve ever been and it’s perfect for all ages and abilities. If you ever find yourself near northern Arizona, I’d highly recommend you plan to stop and spend a day or two here and enjoy these incredible sites.

The post Ultimate Guide To Visiting Antelope Canyon appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

The Platinum Card® from American Express normally comes with a $695 annual fee, see rates and fees.  Thanks to the fee waiver, active duty military service members can have all of the phenomenal benefits for free! 

Plus, The Platinum Card® from American Express is currently offering new card holders a valuable welcome bonus. bonus_miles_full Terms apply. When you combine the welcome bonus, card benefits and no annual fee, this quickly becomes an easy decision.  Now I’ll show you how easily it is to take advantage of this offer.

How To Qualify

American Express has generously waived the annual fees on their personal credit cards for active duty personnel.  While not required by the the Military Lending Act (MLA) and the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), American Express has chosen to go the extra mile for military members.  To qualify for these benefits, you have to be on active duty for at least 30 days with any of the major branches of the military

There are a couple ways to have these benefits applied to your account.  Log into your American Express account, under Account Services, then SCRA, and then submit the required documentation.  You can also submit a request, or ask any additional questions, by calling them at 1-800-253-1720.  You can also call them collect at 1-336-393-1111 if you are out of the country.  American Express will issue you a statement credit for the annual fee within a few weeks after confirming eligibility.

Which Card Should I Get

In my opinion, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (which also waives the annual fee for active duty military) barely edges out the The Platinum Card® from American Express.  Don’t get me wrong, the AMEX Platinum is an excellent card with fantastic benefits.  Especially when you don’t have to pay the annual fee.  It really comes down to which benefits you think you’ll use the most.  I would review the perks and benefits that come with each card and choose the one you value the most.

There’s no rule that says you can’t have both cards in your wallet.  If you decide to get both, be sure to give yourself enough time to earn each welcome bonus.  I would recommend prioritizing the Chase cards you want because of their infamous 5/24 rule.  You don’t want to be declined for a card you like just because you didn’t apply for them in the right order.   Now let’s review a lot of the incredible benefits of the The Platinum Card® from American Express.

American Express Platinum Card Benefits

Centurion Lounge Access – I am a huge fan of the Centurion lounges so this is one of my favorite benefits of the The Platinum Card® from American Express.  There aren’t many of these lounges but if you can find one, they’re fantastic!

Delta Sky Club – The AMEX Platinum card also gives you free access to the Delta Sky Clubs.  Access is restricted only to the cardholder on the day you’re flying on Delta.  If you’re traveling with a companion, up to 2 companions can join you in the club for an additional fee.

Airline Fee Credit – Each year you get up to $200 in statement credits towards fees charged by an airline that you choose.  These credits can be used towards baggage fees, food and other eligible items.  Since you didn’t have to pay the annual fee for this card, that’s just free money!

PreCheck or Global Entry Fee Credit – The Platinum Card® from American Express also comes with an fee credit worth up to $100 on your TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application.  Simply pay for the application fee with your Platinum card and a credit will issued to your account.  That’s right, more free money!  If you already PreCheck, you can also use the credit for someone else’s application fee.

Priority Pass Membership – When you have the Sapphire Reserve card you also get a free membership to Priority Pass lounges.  There are over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide you can access for free.  Plus, you are able to bring guests traveling with you into the lounges for free as well.  There are also several airport restaurants that give you a food credit as part of your membership.

Hotel Status – Just for having The Platinum Card® from American Express in your wallet, you’ll get gold status at both Marriott and Hilton.  This perk will make traveling for work a little more enjoyable.

There are several other benefits that accompany this card just for having it.  Be sure to look those over as well when you apply for the card so you can get the most out of using it.

More American Express Cards To Consider

American Express® Gold Card – bonus_miles_full Terms apply. You’ll receive 4x Membership Rewards points on purchases at U.S. supermarkets and dining on the first $25,000 spent each year and then 1x after that.   Plus you’ll earn 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines.

Each month you’ll also receive a $10 credit when you use your card with Grubhub, Cheesecake Factory and other select restaurants. 

Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card – This card is great if you enjoy flying with Delta.  bonus_miles_full  Terms apply. This card comes with excellent benefits like a free Sky Club membership and a free companion certificate each anniversary year.

Final Thoughts

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a great option for those who are on active duty in the military.  There are so many fantastic benefits that come with the card.  When you’re not paying the annual fee it should be easy to extract a lot of value from the card.  This deal is so good, be sure to share it will all of your friends who serve alongside you.  Thank you all for your service!

The post Why The Platinum Card® by American Express Is Great For Active Duty Military appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Over the years we have taken our 5 kids to Disney World a couple of times. As you can imagine, it can get real pricey, real quick for a family of 7. However, each time we went, we used a stash of our points to make it affordable (pronounced possible). With a little planning, it can be pretty easy to offset a lot of the expense with a couple credit card sign up bonuses.

First, we used points to cover our flights. With so many flights to Orlando, it’s pretty easy to find availability throughout the year. If you need recommendations, here are some of my favorite credit cards for flights.  Be sure to check cash fares too. On one trip we used points to fly us there but then found $69 return fares on a different airline so we just paid cash and saved our points for another time.

Each time we’ve visited, we have stayed at one of Disney’s hotels.  The problem is, just like at Disneyland, you can’t book most Walt Disney World hotels with points.  We just love the ambiance and some of the benefits of staying on property so we chose to go that route.

Official Disney World Hotels

I’ve always been impressed with everything Disney does.  From their hotels, to their shops, they always seem to deliver an incredible experience.  If you want to stay at a Disney hotel, there is one way to do it using your points.  While not the most valuable way use your points, it’s still possible.

Don’t get me wrong, I love squeezing a lot of value out of my points. Even though this option doesn’t provide the best monetary value, sometimes the best value is being able to have an unforgettable experience. If you want to enjoy a Disney hotel experience using points, you’ll need to get the card_name. 

This card has a feature that allows you to redeem your points as a statement credit on any travel purchase. That’s right, you can use these points to offset the cost of ANY Disney hotel.

Simply pay for your Disney World hotel with your card, then you can redeem your points for a statement credit to offset the purchase.  When you redeem your points this way, they are worth 1 cent per point. 

bonus_miles_full  You can read about the other great benefits of this card in my full review of the Capital One Venture card.

Disney Hotel Benefits

Staying at one of the Walt Disney World hotels has some really great benefits.  Here are a few of my favorites:

FastPass+ – You have the ability to reserve a select number of fast passes up to 60 days before you arrive.  This can be vital to save you from waiting hours on some of the most popular rides. (I’m looking at you Avatar – my favorite ride at any of the parks!)

Magic Hours – When you stay at a Disney hotel you get access to extended hours at a different park each day.  If you weren’t able to snag a fast pass for your favorite ride, this can be a big help.

Complimentary Magic Bands – These typically cost $15 but when you stay at a Disney hotel, they’re free.  Not only do they make things more convenient but they’re great souvenirs!  My younger kids wore these for weeks after our trip.

Free Transfers Between Hotels – If you want to splurge on a night or two and one of the higher end hotels and then move to a more budget friendly option, they’ll transfer your luggage for free!  On one trip, we wanted to try 2 different hotels.  You simply talk to the front desk and they’ll arrange everything.  Just leave your bags outside of your room when you head to the park and they’ll be waiting for you at your next hotel when you get back.

Other Disney World Hotel Options

Walt Disney Dolphin Resort – This hotel is located on the Disney property and is a Marriott hotel.  From everything I read, award availability can be hard to come by.  If you’re able to find space, you can redeem your Marriott points here.  An average night here will cost you 50K Marriott points.  Keep in mind, they charge a resort fee that’s over $30/night plus parking if you have a car.

Walt Disney Swan Resort – While the amenities are a little different the cost structure is similar to the Dolphin Resort.  You’ll pay an average of 50k Marriott points and similar parking and resort fees.  If you’re dying to stay at one of these hotels but are short on points, you might consider the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card.

Disney Springs Hotel Options

If you aren’t staying at a Disney World hotel, the next best location to use your points is at one of the 7 hotels at Disney Springs.  Disney Springs is a fun dining and entertainment district close to Disney World.  Here you’ll find properties from larger hotel chains where you can redeem your points.

Previously, these hotels had arraignments with Disney World that provided guests with some of the perks of staying at a Disney hotel; like the FastPass+ reservations.  Keep an eye out to see if these perks return because they’ll be super valuable if they do.  Here are a couple of the great options to choose from where you can redeem your points.

I’ve only highlighted the two Hilton options for one of two reasons.  1) The other hotels in Disney Springs don’t have a point currency that I would recommend accumulating or 2) The hotel reviews weren’t very good.

Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista

This is a great option that can give you a lot of value.  A standard night here will run between 35k-50k points per night depending on the time of year.  Hilton doesn’t charge resort fees on award stays, so that will save you $35/night.  Plus, if you have Hilton elite status, you’ll get your 5th free on award stays.

If you don’t have status, consider looking into the card_name.  bonus_miles_full Terms apply. This card comes with complimentary status level at Hilton that will allow you to get your 5th night free.  The Hilton Honors has no annual fee (see rates and fees).

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace

Hilton has another great option to choose from in Disney Springs.  Nights at the Buena Vista Palace also start at 50k points per night for a standard room.  They have a beautiful pool with a lazy river that are perfect for a day of relaxation when you’re not at the park.  There is also no resort fees when you pay with points and you get your 5th night free when you have status.  If you need more points, take a look at the same card recommendations above.

Other Hotel Options

If you go outside of Disney Springs you’ll find more hotels from other large hotel chains.  These are great Disney World hotel options whose points are easy to come by.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista

The Embassy Suites is located really close to Disney World and has some wonderful amenities.  Not only are the rooms larger than most hotels but they have a fun splash pad area if you’re traveling with your kids.  Here you will also enjoy a free daily breakfast and you don’t have to pay for parking.  Plus, they have a free shuttle to the Disney theme parks.  If you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, this is my top recommendation.  You really can’t beat the value this hotel provides.

Here you can redeem your Hilton points at an average rate of 40k points per night.  Just like the Hilton hotels at Disney Springs above, you don’t pay a resort fee when you use your points to stay here.  And with Honors status, you can get your 5th night free.  If you need a few more points for your Disney vacation, or need status, take a look a the card recommendations above.

Hyatt Hotels

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress – Located just a few miles down the road from Disney World, the Hyatt Regency is a great option.  Standard rooms here are a reasonable 12k points per night.  Hyatt also doesn’t charge a resort fee when you pay with points so that will save you some extra money.  They do charge a parking fee but they provide a free shuttle to the theme parks.

Hyatt Place Orlando/Convention Center – This hotel is even further away but provides a great value.  Here you won’t have to pay for parking and Hyatt members get free breakfast.  Rooms here will only cost you an average of 8k points per night which can really help you stretch your points.

To use points for these Hyatt hotels, I would recommend getting the card_name. bonus_miles_full These points can then be transferred to Hyatt so you can stay at these hotels for free.

Residence Inn Orlando Convention Center

This one is also located a little further away but is another economical choice.  Standard rooms start at only 25k Bonvoy points per night.  Plus, all Bonvoy members will get their 5th night free when booking their stay with points.  Plus, you’ll enjoy a free breakfast when you stay here.  If you’re a little short on points, you might want to look at the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. 

Final Thoughts

Going on a Disney vacation can be expensive but it’s an experience that will last a lifetime.  As you can see though, there are several Disney World hotel options where you can use your points to bring the cost down.  If you’ve been dreaming of taking your family here but haven’t been able to make it work financially, hopefully this has given you some new ideas on how to make it work.  What other money saving tips do you have for Disney vacations?  Leave a comment below and let us know!

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, See Rates and Fees.

The post Best Disney World Hotels You Can Book With Points appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

This master list gives you each of the major banks with their corresponding transfer partners.  I have also included the transfer ratio, as well as how long the transfer takes to go through.  Hopefully this list makes planning your next vacation a little easier.

Remember, once you transfer your points to one of the travel partners, this can’t be undone.  Be sure there is award availability before you transfer your points.  A lot of the points will transfer instantly; however, some can take hours or days.  Make sure you take this into consideration you transfer your points.

To make them easier to find, I’ve listed the transfer partners for each credit card currency in alphabetical order.

Chase Ultimate Rewards

Airline Transfer Partners

Aer Lingus – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

British Airways – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Iberia – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

JetBlue – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Singapore Airlines – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 24 hours

Southwest – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

United – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Virgin Atlantic – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Hotel Transfer Partners

Hyatt – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

IHG – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 1 day

Marriott – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer in 2 days

American Express Membership Rewards

The Membership Rewards program from American Express also has fantastic transfer partners.  In fact, American Express is the only credit card company that allows you to transfer points to Delta.  They also have 18 other airline and hotel transfer partners so there are a lot of great options to choose from.

If you’re a frequent traveler, card_name is a great way to earn Membership Rewards points quickly.  bonus_miles_full  Terms apply. You can read more about this card here.

Airline Transfer Partners

Aer Lingus – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Aeromexico – Transfer Ratio 1:1.6 – Points transfer in 24 hours

Air Canada – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Alitalia – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

All Nippon – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer in 48 hours

British Airways – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Cathay Pacific – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer in 48 hours

Delta – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

El Al – Transfer Ratio 50:1 – Points transfer instantly

Emirates – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Hawaiian Airlines – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Iberia – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer in 48 hours

JetBlue – Transfer Ratio 1.25:1 – Points transfer instantly

Singapore Airlines – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 24 hours

Virgin Atlantic – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Hotel Transfer Partners

Choice Hotels – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Hilton – Transfer Ratio 1:2 – Points transfer instantly

Marriott – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Capital One Transfer Partners

Recently Capital One added the ability to transfer their points to one of their 15 airline partners.  I love the move because it gives card holders more ways to use their credit card points.  Unfortunately, the only US airline transfer partner is Jet Blue, so there’s still room for improvement.  Also, the transfer ratios are a little confusing and a lot of the transfers don’t happen instantly.

Capital One does have some good airline partners, so it’s definitely worth taking a look.  If you’re looking to increase your points balance, you should consider adding the card_name to your wallet.  Right now, new card holders can earn up to 75,000 bonus points!

Airline Transfer Partners

Aeromexico – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Air Canada – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Avianca – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer in 48 hours

British Airways – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Cathay Pacific – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer in 5 days

Emirates – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Etihad – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 24 hours

Eva – Transfer Ratio 2:1.5 – Points transfer in 48 hours

Finnair – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Qantas – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 24 hours

Singapore – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer in 48 hours

TAP Air Portugal – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Turkish Airlines – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Hotel Transfer Partners

Accor Limitless – Transfer Ratio 2:1 – 1 business day

Choice Privileges – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – TBD points transfer time

Wyndham Rewards – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Citi Transfer Partners

Citibank lets you earn ThankYou points when you use some of their cards like the Citi Prestige and card_name.  These credit card points can then be transferred to one of Citi’s 15 airline partners.  Unfortunately, the only domestic airline on the list you can’t transfer your points to directly is JetBlue. 

The last thing to consider with ThankYou points is that most of the transfers aren’t instantaneous, so keep that in mind when you’re transferring your points.

Airline Transfer Partners

Avianca – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Cathay Pacific – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 24 hours

Emirates – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Ethidad – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 7 days

Eva – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 3 days

Flying Blue (Air France/KLM) – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Garuda – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 2 days

Jet Airways – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

JetBlue – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Malaysian – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 2 days

Qantas – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 2 days

Qatar – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 2 days

Singapore – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 2 days

Thai Royal – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 7 days

Turkish Airlines – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer within 2 days

Virgin Atlantic – Transfer Ratio 1:1 – Points transfer instantly

Final Thoughts

The best way to get the most out of your credit card points is by using one of their transfer partners to redeem your points.  I know it can be a little intimidating when you first start out but just remember, you don’t have to be an expert in every program to find a great value.  Simply start with the airline you fly most often then do a little research.  If you ever have questions, or need help, leave me a comment below or send me an email.  I’m always happy to help!

The post The Ultimate Credit Card Transfer Partners Guide appeared first on Easy Travel Points.

Just like at Disney World, there are dozens of hotels close to Disneyland to choose from.  You can even stay on property at one of the Disneyland hotels.  There are several properties run by the the large hotel chains, as well as many independent hotels.  You also need to decide if you prefer a hotel with a large number of amenities, like the Great Wolf Lodge, or do you just need a comfortable place to rest your head at night.

Once you decide which type of hotel you’re looking for, it’s time to start saving you money. First, I’ll give you a few suggestions from some of the major hotel chains. Then, I’ll show you how to save money on the smaller chains and independent hotels, including the Disneyland hotels, using your points.  Finally, I’ll show you how to boost your points balance if you’re a little short for your next Disney vacation.

Hyatt Hotels Near Disneyland

Hyatt hotels are some of the best to book using your credit card points.  They offer some of the best value so you typically can get the most bang for your buck here.  One quick way to earn points is with Chase’s World of Hyatt credit card.  Plus, Hyatt is a transfer partner of the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, so the points are pretty easy to come by.

One thing I love about the Hyatt program is that you don’t have to pay any resort fees on award reservation.  This can save you even more money on your lodging!  Keep in mind that Hyatt will move to a peak/off peak pricing structure in 2020 so the points needed will vary some once that goes into affect.  If you have Hyatt points, here are a few hotel options to consider. To be able to travel to such locations, it’s a prerequisite to schedule infopass appointment and the like.

Hyatt House Anaheim Resort – In my opinion, this is one of the best Disneyland hotels your can book with points.  The Hyatt House is a category 4 property and requires only 15,000 points per night.  The hotel is only a short walk away from the Disneyland gates, the rooms have a kitchen and your stay comes with breakfast.

Hyatt Place Anaheim Resort – This is another good option but this hotel is a little further down Harbor Blvd.  The walk will be a little longer or it’s a short Uber ride away.  This is a category 3 hotel so you’ll only need 12,000 points per night here.

Hyatt Regency Orange County – This hotel is even further away so I personally wouldn’t recommend walking from this location.  They do offer a shuttle to Disneyland but I wouldn’t recommend taking it.  We stayed here once and we waited a long time for the shuttle and it was always crowded or full.  I would recommend taking an Uber instead.  To stay here, you’ll only need 12,000 points per night as well.

Disneyland Marriott Hotel Options

Marriott hotel points are some of the easiest to come by.  They are a transfer partner of several credit card and airline point currencies.  While I wouldn’t recommend transferring a large amount of points to the Bonvoy program, this flexibility will come in handy if you are a couple thousand short of getting a free night.  These hotels are also a great option for redeeming one of your free night certificates as well.  If you need extra Bonvoy points, consider looking into the Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card.

Fairfield Inn Anaheim Resort – If you’re looking for location, this is one of the bests.  The Fairfield is located directly across the street from the front gates.  While this hotel doesn’t offer a free breakfast, there is a McDonald’s next door that comes in handy.  To stay here, you’ll need about 35,000 points per night on average.

Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance – This hotel is one of the best for families to stay at.  The Courtyard is located across the street from Disneyland, has larger rooms with bunk beds and a fun water park which is a great combination if you’re traveling with younger kids.  The price reflects the wonderful amenities so you’ll need an average of 50,000 Bonvoy points per night to stay here.

Hilton Hotel Options

Hilton has several hotel options that are close to Disneyland.  The cost per night of these hotels can vary greatly, so I would recommend looking at the cash prices first to see if that’s a better deal.  If you need extra Hilton Honors points to top off your account, take a look at the AMEX Hilton Honors Surpass credit card.

Hilton Anaheim – This property is located across Katella so it’s a short walk to the front gates.  It also has a nice pool to relax by if you plan to take a day off from the park.  You’ll usually need between 30,000 and 50,000 points per night to stay here.

Homewood Suites Anaheim Resort – This hotel is in another good location on Harbor Blvd and is about a 15 minute walk to the front gates.  You’ll also need about 30,000 – 50,000 points per night to stay here.

IHG Disneyland Hotels

There are a couple hotel options close by but there’s only one I really like.  Prices can fluctuate during busy times, so keep that in mind as well.  One thing I really like about the IHG program is that your 4th night is free on award stays if you have the IHG Rewards Club Premier credit card.

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Anaheim – This property is located right across the street from Disneyland and is one of the shortest walks to the front gates.  You stay includes a free breakfast and a decent pool which is great for families.  You can stay here for about 35,000 points per night.

Other Disneyland Hotel Options

There are several other great hotel options that aren’t one of the major chains.  These hotels may have exactly what you’re looking for (I’m looking at your Disney hotels).  With there being so many hotels in the area, sometimes you’ll find a great cash price on a room.  Other times it just makes more sense to pay cash for the room instead of using your points.  If you find yourself in one of these situations, you can still use your points to pay for your hotel rooms.

There are several credit cards that allow you to redeem your points at a fixed rate.  This will allow you to stay at some of these other hotels, take advantage of a great room rate you find and not have to worry about blackout dates.  Here are a few of the most popular credit card options that have this feature.  This will allow you to book your Disneyland hotels with points for free.

Chase Ultimate Rewards – There are a few Chase cards that earn Ultimate Rewards that give you this option. Two of the best cards are the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve.  The Sapphire Preferred card lets you redeem your points at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point while the Sapphire Reserve card redeems at a rate of 1.5 cents per point.  Simply book your hotel through the Chase travel portal and it will give you the option to use your points to pay for the room.

Capital One® Venture® Rewards – The Capital One Venture Rewards card (learn how to apply here) has a feature called the Purchase Eraser that allows you to use your points for hotel stays.  The Purchase Eraser allows you to take a statement credit on any travel purchase at a rate of 1 cent per point.  After you book your hotel, log into your Capital One account and choose to use your points to offset the cost of your purchase.  These points can also be used for your park tickets if you purchase them through an agency, like Get Away Today, that classifies your purchases as “travel”.

AMEX Membership Rewards – American Express also gives you the ability to use your points to pay for hotels.  You can earn membership rewards with cards like the AMEX Gold or AMEX Platiunum cards.  However, the redemption rate they give you to do this is pretty poor.  I would strongly recommend using your Membership Rewards points in a different way.

Boosting Your Points Balance

Are you a few points shy of being able to book your Disneyland hotels with points?  One of the best ways to goose your balance is with a credit card welcome bonus.  Here are a few options that give you the most flexibility and can get you there quickly.  If you’re looking for a cobranded credit card for a specific chain, here are the best current hotel credit card offers.

Chase Sapphire Preferred – The Sapphire Preferred card is giving new card members a 60,000 point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 within the first 3 months of opening their account.  This bonus is worth at least $750 towards your hotel costs.  When you have this card, you can combine your points with other cards that earn Ultimate Rewards to earn points faster.

Capital One Venture Rewards – This card is a good option to pay for your hotels, as well as your park tickets if purchased through a qualifying agency.  Right now new card members will get a 50,000 point bonus after spending $3,000 within 3 months (learn how to apply here).  This bonus is worth $500 when redeemed for travel with the Purchase Eraser.

Final Thoughts

We all know Disney vacations can be expensive but don’t let that stop you from going.  Paying for your hotels at Disneyland with points can greatly reduce your costs and make the trip possible.  You can even brag to your friends that you stayed at one of Disney’s hotels for free!  It doesn’t matter what type of hotel you’re looking for, there’s an option for everyone.

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