You need to check the spend required , I believe to get 50K VA miles ( 100k HH points) you have to spend $2500 and add an authorized user. Also the VA card has a $90 Af which I don't see waived the first year. I could be wrong but this is the best deal I see.

With the HH Visa you have to spend $2,000 ( 2 cards) and no authorized user or annual fees is required to get the 100K points

Unless there is a better VA deal going than what I see IMO the HH visa churn is much better way to accumulate HH points

In the OP's case I would get the VA card but use the points for inter island flights while in Hawaii

Looks like all of the Hiltons in the Caribbean are out of reward stays....looked at 4 and all of them say:

"This hotel has limited availability for HHonors Points around the dates you have selected. Use the "Back a week" and "Forward a week" buttons in the grid below to search for availability or find another hotel.
View standard rates at this hotel."

Looks like i need to find another option lol

Love the suggestions though! Thanks again....

Who would think August is prime Caribbean Vacation time, I would figure March and April like other warm destinations.

I believe the Hyatt card has no blackouts but I'm not sure so you could possibly get 4 "free nights" for $190 if you each grab a card.

If hotels won't work try for 2 free flights,

"If hotels won't work try for 2 free flights"

That's what I was thinking....possibly the British Airways card to pick up some Avios (short haul Miami-Caribbean) and maybe United Explorer for the flight from CLE to Miami...

Did you change months ?

I show the Hilton Barbados Resort available everyday in Aug 2014 for 42,500 points and up

I see it at first but when I select that rate the next screen gives me the 'no-availability' message.....

Are you talking the Hilton Barbados Resort ?


If so give me exact dates and I'll let you know what I see

hahaha like i said... law.school.finals.

I was just going to go Hilton all the way, but when I saw the Radisson, I had to find a new way!

Sorry about that!

Everyone is right about the non-waived annual fee and spend requirements. I don't think adding an AU is a big deal--simply use each other as AU's and then cancel the card later--no harm, soft or no pull on the other person's report. Citi Hilton CC is definitely more efficient in the $$ category; however, if you spend the money, the VA card is the easiest way to go. Basically 2 or 3 cards and you have your hotel.

If you went the VA way, the total spent would look like this:

2 VA CC min. spend = $5,000
2 VA CC AF = $180
1 Citi Reserve min. spend = $2,500
1 Citi Reserve AF = $95
Total = $7,745/four months
This doesn't make sense to do unless your finances will mostly cancel this out within 4 months (or MS it).

With the Reserve card, you will also be a gold member so hopefully an upgrade, but at least breakfast.

The other track would be via churning the Citi HH Card, which has 0 AF and 40k points after $1k spend. This card can probably be churned every 60-90 days. It would be the cheapest, but you've got to get going now on this!

The only Hyatt's I believe that are in the Caribbean is Trinidad and Aruba. So for Barbados, that is a no-go.

Sorry if I've made this messy! You have a lot of options.. just have to play around!

have you thought about st martin?
2 each club carlson credit cards 85k bonus after 2500 spend, spend 3k on each and get 100k pts each, stay at radisson blu st martin he books first night 50k get second night free, she books third night 50k gets 4th night free, he books 5th night 50k and gets the 6th free, she books 7 night 50k and get the 8th free, the hotel comes with free breakfast and with the cc card you get free internet

Good luck on your finals and bar exam

HH visa is 50k/$1000 spend and you can get 4 cards within 80 days

204K points each and no fees

That will give you enough points for 8 nights


BTW your scenario only gives them 6 nights and $275 in AF's for $500 less in spending

Thanks! ^

I saw your posts in the Citi Hilton thread. I will start churning Citi HH on Monday (just apped Saturday for AA). Do you mind PMing me the weeks/months of your cycle for me to get an idea? Thank you!!

And from this, obviously if you'd like to stay with Hilton, that is the way to go!

Get the HH Amex so you can book Axon's

Make sure you sign up for the 50K offer

I get 1 card then another card 2 weeks later, wait 70 days and repeat

I avoid AF's if possible but I did just pay $69 for 50K SW miles but they have free bags and nonstop flights on Air Tran to Tampa so it's worth it plus I may be able to get $75 worth of gift cards in addition to the 2 free flights so the AF may be a wash

I was looking at August 11-18, 2014....thats the dates i entered and initially saw the points option but after selecting was shown the no availability screen...

So if there is in fact availability, would the best option be to each get the HH Amex then do the same in 70 days? Very happy to have all of your help with this....

Thanks again!

You have over 1,000 Flyertalk posts......where do you post?

Here is what I get when I put in your dates at the Hilton Barbados resort.


11 Aug 2014 - 18 Aug 2014
1 room for 2 adults Change
1 KING BED WITH BALCONY BAY VIEW Non Smoking Room
Points (7 nights x 42,500) : 297,500
Room Subtotal: 297,500 points
STANDARD ROOM REWARD
Rate Details Change
Total for stay: 297,500 points


One of you needs 3 HH VISA's and the 3,000 spend ( 153K HH points) and the other needs 4 cards and a $4K spend (204K HH points).

You will need to make 2 reservations one for 3 nights and one for 4 nights.

Seems by splitting the reservation up you can also get an ocean view room for about 50K more points but since you each have enough may as well use them


11 Aug 2014 - 14 Aug 2014
1 room for 2 adults Change
1 KING BED WITH BALCONY OCEAN VIEW Non Smoking Room
Points (3 nights x 49,351) : 148,053
Room Subtotal: 148,053 points
PREMIUM ROOM REWARDS
Rate Details Change
Total for stay: 148,053 points



14 Aug 2014 - 18 Aug 2014
1 room for 2 adults Change
1 KING BED WITH BALCONY OCEAN VIEW Non Smoking Room
Points (4 nights x 49,351) : 197,404
Room Subtotal: 197,404 points
PREMIUM ROOM REWARDS
Rate Details Change
Total for stay: 197,404 points