March 17, 2011

Our fifth year anniversary trip-Tahiti, New Zealand and (No Japan)-Introduction and Planning

I first heard Tahiti, French Polynesia from this article, which also made me aware of mileage program. Many people went there for a special occasion, so did we. It’s our fifth year anniversary and we did not go anywhere(excluding Hong Kong) for vacation last year, so Tahiti, here we come.

Back in Sep, I mentioned how I redeemed Delta miles from China to Tahiti, but later, I modified the trip to PVG-NRT-PPT(destination)-AKL(stopover)-ICN-KIX(open jaw)-PVG, in this ticket, PVG-NRT//KIX-PVG was under separate awards. total 150K miles per person. I could be more creative with second ticket too, but we did not have too much time to spend on the road. Many people may already realize that AA miles from Asia 2 to South Pacific was 70K R/T, but routing can not be via Japan. Later I figured out how to get to PPT from PVG with 70K , but I decided to not to fly that route, which required overnight in one of connecting cities and in PPT too. There was also an option on Air New Zealand, but getting 2 business award seat from AKL-PPT was mission impossible. when I searched for entire next 330+ days, there were only 2 days had 2 seats. Anyway, 150K miles get me to see 3 cities, I am more than happy with value, consider getting Delta miles is by far easier than AA miles.

Just few days after we left Shanghai, Japan had earthquake, despite Osaka was not affected, our family asked us to change the trip by calling me everyday. Eventually, I changed the ticket today by going back to China from New Zealand directly.

Now it’s hotel part. Actually, it was quite easy to decide because the only chain with reasonable redemption rate is Hilton. Initially, I redeemed 4 nights for hilton bora Bora using Amex AXON7 award for 145,000 points, but later the hotel was on the point stretcher list, so I changed to 5 nights for total 150K. Then for Hilton Moorea, I redeemed 6 nights VIP award for total 225,000 points with one more extra night at 50,000 points since I didn”t want to spent a day in Tahiti. we were going there for “once in a lifetime” experience, so a basic room was not enough for us, I did some research for pre paid upgrade to Overwater Bugalow with hotels, it turned out the lowest price for low season, diamond member was 10000 xpf(appox 110 USD) tax included for Bora Bora. I contacted amelie.albertin at hilton-borabora.pf, Assistant Front Desk Manager for that price. Due to inflation, the price had gone up to 11,000 xpf per night to Deluxe over water bungalow, I took the offer. The reason I mentioned Diamond because that price was based on upgrade from the next category above redemption room for diamond.

For Moorea, I also sent them emails, but respond was slow, eventually, they replied me with a price of 20000 XPF per night+tax, paid 5, get 1 free. I countered back with a better price, but never received a respond. When I checked in at hotel, I did get a much better price, I will talk about it later.

For New Zealand, it was easy decision too. Since it’s just a short side trip, I picked Hilton Lake Taupo. Last month, I mentioned how I mistakenly booked the wrong date, but the hotel did me a favor.

Finally, it came to inter Island flight, I initially searched PPT-BOB-MOZ-PPT, then it came out 540 per person on expedia.com, but the flight with better time from BOB-MOZ actually connecting via PPT, so I changed my search to PPT-BOB R/T then PPT-MOZ R/T, the price came out $480 total, so basically, I sit on the exact same plane with lower price if I break the search into 2 R/T . I redeemed my last 100K Thank you points for these flights. Due to schedule change for my return MOZ-PPT flight, I had to cancel the round trip for this segment and bought a one way, return by ferry.

The trip was wonderful and trip will come up soon!!!!