Approximate Cost of Asia Trip

Planning a month-long vacation can be an exhilarating yet daunting task, especially when it comes to managing the costs. However, by cleverly combining credit card reward points with strategic cash bookings, we were able to stretch our budget further and experience more without breaking the bank. This approach allowed us to leverage the benefits of loyalty programs while still maintaining control over our expenses. In this post, we’ll explore how much were spent on every leg of our journey whether it was points for big-ticket items like flights and hotels or with cash bookings for daily expenses and activities. We’ll dive into strategies for maximizing your point redemptions, finding the best cash deals, and creating a comprehensive budget that covers all aspects of your extended getaway.

Flights

YVR - KIX

When approaching the task of booking flights from Vancouver (YVR) to Osaka (KIX) using points, it was crucial to adopt a strategic and flexible mindset. The goal is to maximize the value of our points while minimizing any additional out-of-pocket expenses. This often requires a combination of patience, research, and sometimes, creative routing.

We were really lucky as there were open availability for the direct flight from YVR to KIX that was very reasonable with points so we jumped on that without any hesitation. The best part of the booking was that since we had some eUpgrade credits with Air Canada, and it was immediate upgrades, the decision to go ahead with the booking was even easier. Use the Aeroplan points to book economy for the two of us and then upgrade our seats to business and we are off to an amazing start to the booking process.

In total, we spent 123,000 Aeroplan Points and $104.32 in taxes.

KIX - OIT

This was the easy part of the booking as there are plenty of options to fly from Osaka to Beppu. It was fairly cheap to pay using cash so that made the most sense. All we needed to do was find a time that was convenient for us and book the cheapest option there available. We decided on ANA and a noon flight so that we didn’t have to rush in the morning and also get to our hotel just in time for check-in.

In total we spent JPY 20,700, approximately C $190.

ICN - KUL

This part of our planning journey really took a turn. Originally we had booked flights to leave Seoul about a week later but when we found some really affordable hotel stay in Maldives, we had to really juggle around our plans to make it work.

Luckily, we were able to find flights from Seoul to Kuala Lumpur to reposition for a night before our flight to Maldives with Malaysia Airlines using British Airways Avios points. We really lucked out as these were the last 2 tickets and there were no availability +/- 3 days of this route. Without giving it a second thought, we quickly pulled out our credit cards to make the new booking and cancel the original.

The original points were returned and we did lose out on the taxes portion that we paid but thought it was an opportunity that we could not let it slip to go to the Maldives.

To reposition ourselves, we spent 26,000 British Airways Avios points, C $84.80 on taxes and another C 84.80 for the originally cancelled flight from Seoul to Kuala Lumpur at a later date.

KUL - MLE Return Tickets

As we were looking at all the options to get from Kuala Lumpur to Maldives, we quickly realized that it was cheapest to pay the fare with cash and use some credit card points later on to offset the cost.

Using points would not have given us better returns as it was quite cheap to fly from KUL to MLE with the various airlines. We chose Batik Air previously known as Malindo Air, and it will be our first time flying with them. The cost of the fares were really reasonable and couldn’t be more excited to finalized this booking as it was the big change in our journey that we wanted to cement.

The cost of the return flight for the two of us was MYR 1256.00 so approximately C $375.00. To offset the cost of the tickets, we used 30,000 Scotia Scene points to effectively bring down the cost of the return tickets to C $75.00

KUL to HKG

This was a pretty standard booking about 5 months out and there were lots of availability on Cathay Pacific. We were debating between economy and business but decided on economy because we felt like it wasn’t really worth using that much for a short flight. It’s only a 4 hour flight so we can take a quick nap and will land in Hong Kong in no time.

The cost of the flight was 28,600 British Airways Avios points and C $125.80 in taxes for the both of us.

HKG to YVR

To cap off our extensive list of flight bookings, we needed a flight to get us home. Booking almost 6 months out, there were some decent options but decided to go with Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong back to Vancouver. This was quite bitter sweet to book because there is some enjoyment in the planning process of a trip and this just meant we are finished with our bookings.

The cost for our last leg of our journey was 62,000 British Airways and C $537.00 for the both of us.

Hotel Stays

Kyoto

For the first night, we will arrive in Osaka and head straight to Kyoto. Because we will arrive quite late, we just need somewhere to stay for the night where is convenient to get to. After looking at a few options, we decided on booking the JR WEST GROUP VIA INN PRIME KYOTOEKI HACHIJOGUCHI through Expedia.

We had some Expedia credits so we just decided to book a quick and easy night at the hotel. It is close to the station and we are able to get to Kyoto and just rest for the night.

The cost was C $103.94 but with the credit, it was only C $69.22.

For the second night, we decided to start big and use one of our 85,000 free night certificate that we have from the Marriott Brilliant American Express card. We decided to book Hotel The Mitsui Kyoto.

This was the perfect booking for us because the hotel is close to where we wanted to be and it was 84,000 for the night so our certificate covered the night!

Osaka

We head back to Osaka for 5 nights and we originally booked at the W Osaka due to the location and proximity to Dontabori. Since we booked this hotel with Marriott points, we would regularly check the website to see if the price dropped so that we can quickly rebook to get some points back. One evening upon checking, we realized that the Osaka Station hotel will be opening by end of July and we quickly changed our booking to that. The hotel will be brand new when we visit and we have our fingers crossed that the hotel won’t delay it’s opening.

Our cost for the Osaka Station by Autograph Collection was 168,000 points for 5 nights.

Beppu

This is by far the hardest one to book for us because there were no options with any hotel chain that we have points for so it was definitely going to be a cash booking. We had a few criteria for the hotel that we wanted such as a private onsen. Upon searching various hotels and ryokans, we decided on Seaside Hotel Mimatsu Oetei for our 2 night stay in Beppu.

This is definitely the costliest hotel stay for us during this stay at about C $375.00 per night.

Fukuoka

Originally, we had booked at the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk for the 3 nights with some Hilton points that we had. However, we remembered that we had a couple of Hyatt Category 4 Free Night Awards sitting there and luckily the Grand Hyatt Fukuoka is a category 4 hotel. Up a short delibration, we decided to cancel the Hilton Fukuoka Sea Hawk and booked the Grand Hyatt with 2 Free Night Awards and an additional 12,000 Hyatt points to secure the 3 nights.

Busan

There are just a few options for Marriott in Busan and the Westin Josun Busan definitely caught our attention for our 3 nights at the hotel. However, we thought we would try one of the L7 branded hotels instead to mix things up a bit. To our surprised a L7 HAEUNDAE recently opened just months before our trip so we took this opportunity to make this booking.

The cost of the hotel was about C $600 for 3 nights but thanks to our TD points and booking through ExpediaforTD, it was all covered and to our surprise it even triggered a promotion for C $100 statement credit when spending more thatn C $500 with ExpediaforTD hotel booking. That was definitely a nice bonus and glad to have used ExpediaforTD for this booking.

Seoul

As you may have read already from our previous posts but this is where things changed drastically and we had to do some changes to make things work for this trip. Originally, we wanted to stay in Seoul about a week or so. However, we cut that to just 2 nights after cutting it short to fit Maldives in this trip.

Using 2 35k Free Night Certificates from Marriott, we redeemed it for 2 nights at the Le Méridien Seoul, Myeongdong.

Kuala Lumpur

We had originally booked to go to Kuala Lumpur after Seoul but with the changes, we had to leave Seoul early to reposition ourselves in Kuala Lumpur for our flight to Maldives. We will spend one night in Kuala Lumpur at the Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection where we will come back to stay for another 5 nights after Maldives.

For this one night, we paid about C $123.57 for the night, but thanks to our American Express Gold card and the C $100 yearly credit that it came with, this stay effectively costed us C $23.57.

Maldives

To be flexible during the planning process allowed us to change course, shorten our stay in Seoul and add in Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa. We just couldn’t let this opportunity pass when we discovered how cheap the stay was in points, the easiness of getting there from Kuala Lumpur and obviously the dates worked out for us.

We were able to book the Sunrise Overwater Villa, 1 Bedroom Villa, 1 King, Sunrise view, Ocean view and couldn’t be more excited for this stay. This stay definitely won’t come cheap even if we used points to pay for the room. The sea plane transfer and the meal plan will definitely cost us.

For 5 nights, it was 142,000 Marriott points and USD $1,050 for 2 return seaplane transfer.

Kuala Lumpur Pt. 2

Back to Kuala Lumpur for the second time, we still have our 5 night stay at Hotel Stripes Kuala Lumpur, Autograph Collection once again. We booked this hotel before all the changes so there was no need for anymore adjustments from this point. To be frank, we chose to stay at this hotel was because of how cheap it was in points.

For 5 nights, the booking was 41,500 Marriott points and they are nice enough to store our luggage when we left for the Maldives.

Hong Kong

The last leg of our journey is Hong Kong. Looking at the Marriott app to find a hotel in Hong Kong was very discouraging. All the hotels are very costly in points and we decided on the Courtyard Sha Tin.

The 5 night stay was 81,000 Marriott points.

Other Travel Costs

Osaka Universal Studio Tickets C $180
Train Beppu to Fukuoka TBD
Ferry Fukuoka to Busan $200
Train Busan to Seoul TBD
Kuala Lumpur Batu Caves Tour C $40

Total Cost

Aeroplan Points 123,000 Aeroplan Points
British Airways Avios 116,000 British Airways Avios Points
Marriott Points 432,500 Marriott Points
Marriott Free Night Certificates 1 85,000 Certificate
Marriott Free Night Certificates 2 35,000 Certificate
Hyatt Points 12,000 Hyatt Points
Hyatt Free Night Awards 2 Category 4 Free Night Award
Scene Points 30,000 Scene Points
TD Points 130,000 TD Points
Cash Approximately C $4000

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the art of travel hacking through strategic use of points has not only allowed us to explore the world more affordably, but has also deepened our bond as a couple, turning the planning process into an exciting adventure in itself and proving that with creativity and persistence, the journey of a lifetime is within reach for any couple willing to put in the effort.