How We Saved $20,000 on a 100-Day Asia Trip: Points & Travel Hacking Guide for Canadians

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We spent 100 days travelling across Asia — Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and more — staying at properties like the InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort, the Vinpearl Landmark 81 in Saigon, the Pullman Vung Tau, and the Renaissance Saigon. We ran a marathon in Ha Long Bay, trekked through the mountains of Sapa, and cruised through Lan Ha Bay.

The total cost of the trip came to somewhere between $10,000 and $20,000 CAD in actual cash spending. But the value of what we experienced — hotels, flights, upgrades — was dramatically higher than that. The difference? Over $20,000 CAD saved through a deliberate, multi-program points and travel hacking strategy built up over years before we ever booked a single flight.

This is how we did it — and how you can too.

The Foundation: Think of Points as a Second Currency

The single biggest mindset shift that unlocks travel hacking is simple: start treating points like money.

Every dollar you spend on a credit card is an opportunity to earn points. Every hotel stay, every flight, every grocery run, every utility bill — all of it can be earning you currency toward free nights and free flights if you’re using the right cards. Most Canadians leave enormous value on the table by either using cash or debit for everyday spending, or by using a single credit card without optimising which card earns the most in each category.

We used multiple cards — Canadian and American — each chosen for specific spending categories, and accumulated points across six different loyalty programs simultaneously over the years leading up to this trip. When it was time to book, we had a war chest of points ready to deploy.

The Loyalty Programs We Used

Marriott Bonvoy — Hotels

Marriott Bonvoy was the backbone of our hotel strategy. We earned points through the Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit card and through stays at Marriott properties over several years, and deployed them in two specific ways:

35,000-point free night certificates — a premium version available on select Marriott cards, unlocking higher-tier properties. We used two of these at the Vinpearl Landmark 81 in Ho Chi Minh City — cash rates of $250–$400 USD per night — for zero cash outlay.

85,000-point free night certificates – available through Marriott Brilliant Amex from US. We were able to use it for New Years Eve in Hong Kong at the JW Marriott there. That alone saved us about $800 USD.

Combined with suite upgrade awards earned through Marriott Bonvoy Elite status, we checked into suites with spectacular city views at both properties for the cost of credit card annual fees.

Pro tip: If you have a Marriott free night certificate booked and the points price drops before your cancellation deadline, cancel and rebook at the lower rate. The difference in points gets refunded. Always monitor your bookings.

IHG One Rewards — Hotels

IHG points covered our two nights at the InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort — one of the most architecturally stunning properties in Southeast Asia, with cash rates running several hundred USD per night. Points redemptions at IHG properties in Southeast Asia represent exceptional value because cash rates are high relative to the points required.

We also used Zee’s CIBC points for two nights at the Lanna Inthan Boutique Hotel in Chiang Mai during the Lantern Festival — a high-demand period where cash prices spike dramatically. Using points during peak demand periods multiplies their effective value significantly.

Hilton Honors — Hotels

Hilton Honors points covered a full week at the Tru by Hilton Da Nang — seven nights at zero cash cost. Tru properties sit at a lower redemption tier in the Hilton portfolio, meaning your points go further here than at flagship Hilton properties. For a longer stay where you want maximum nights per point, Tru and Hampton Inn properties are among the best redemption targets in the Hilton ecosystem.

British Airways Avios — Hotels and Flights

British Airways Avios are often overlooked by Canadians who don’t fly BA regularly — but the Avios ecosystem extends far beyond British Airways flights. Avios can be used to book Avios partner hotels including Accor properties worldwide.

We used Avios to cover four nights at the Pullman Vung Tau — an Accor property with cash rates of $50–$100 USD per night — for zero cash. The Avios requirement was modest, making the value-per-point on this redemption excellent.

Avios are earned through British Airways flights, the Avios program’s retail and travel partners, and through credit card spend on Avios-earning cards.

Aeroplan — Star Alliance Flights

Aeroplan is Canada’s most powerful frequent flyer program and the one we’d point any Canadian traveller to first. Earned primarily through Air Canada flights and the TD Aeroplan Visa, Aeroplan points can be redeemed on any Star Alliance carrier — giving you access to flights on over 40 airlines including Singapore Airlines, ANA, Thai Airways, and many others across Asia.

For a 100-day Asia trip, using Aeroplan for Star Alliance flights opens up routing options that would be extremely expensive in cash — positioning you between countries and across the region at a fraction of the retail price.

Key tip: Book Aeroplan Star Alliance redemptions well in advance. Partner award space is limited and the best routes and cabins disappear quickly. We planned our flight redemptions 6–12 months ahead.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles — Flights via Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific’s Asia Miles program is particularly valuable for anyone routing through Hong Kong — which is common on Asia itineraries given Cathay’s extensive hub at HKG. If your routing takes you to or from Hong Kong, Asia Miles can provide excellent value on Cathay Pacific metal.

We used Cathay points for flights on routes touching Hong Kong, where the program’s own-metal redemptions deliver strong cents-per-point value compared to booking the same routes in cash.

Asia Miles are earned through Cathay Pacific flights, their credit card partners, and a range of retail and hotel partners across Asia.

The Canadian Credit Cards That Built Our Points

Building a war chest of points across six programs requires using the right credit cards for the right spending. Here’s what we used:

Marriott Bonvoy Card — For earning Marriott points on everyday spend and securing the annual free night certificates. The annual fee pays for itself many times over in certificate value alone.

American Express Platinum (Canada) — One of the most powerful travel cards available to Canadians. Earns Membership Rewards points transferable to multiple airline and hotel programs, plus extensive travel credits that offset the annual fee. The travel insurance coverage alone makes it worth carrying.

Amex Cobalt — Exceptional earn rates on food and drink spending (5x points per dollar at eligible restaurants and grocery stores). In a household that spends meaningfully on food, the Cobalt accumulates points quickly. Earns Membership Rewards points transferable to Aeroplan and other partners.

TD Aeroplan Visa — Our primary Aeroplan earning card. Every dollar spent contributes directly to the Aeroplan balance used for Star Alliance flight redemptions.

CIBC Aventura — Flexible travel rewards redeemable against travel purchases, used strategically for specific bookings including the Chiang Mai Lantern Festival stay.

RBC Avion — Another flexible travel rewards card with strong earning on everyday spending. Points transferable to British Airways Avios among other partners, which fed our hotel redemptions.

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite — Particularly valuable for travel spending due to no foreign transaction fees — a meaningful saving on a 100-day international trip where almost every purchase is in a foreign currency. Every dollar saved on FX fees is a dollar that stays in your pocket.

US Cards (Chase, US Amex, Capital One) — For Canadians with US banking relationships or those who travel frequently to the US, American credit cards offer earn rates and transfer partners not available in Canada. Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards (US), and Capital One Miles each access different transfer ecosystems that can be strategically valuable for specific redemptions.

Elite Status: The Secret Weapon Most People Overlook

Points and certificates get all the attention in travel hacking conversations, but elite status with hotel programs quietly saved us just as much money — and made every stay dramatically more comfortable.

We held Hilton Honors Diamond status and Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status throughout our trip, and the benefits at both programs in Southeast Asia are genuinely extraordinary.

What Hilton Diamond Status Got Us

Hilton Diamond is the top tier of the Hilton Honors program, and in Asia it delivers benefits that go well beyond what you’d expect at equivalent status in North America.

Free breakfast daily — Diamond members receive complimentary breakfast at most full-service Hilton properties in Asia. At the Tru by Hilton Da Nang and Hilton Garden Inn Da Nang, this meant a full breakfast spread included every single morning at zero cost. Across a week-long stay for two people, free breakfast alone saves $50–$100 USD or more depending on the property.

Executive Lounge access — Diamond status unlocks lounge access at properties with an Executive Lounge, including evening cocktail hours with complimentary food and drinks. As we described in our Hilton Garden Inn Da Nang review, the evening lounge service was generous enough that we effectively had dinner included on multiple nights — alcoholic drinks, hot food, and desserts, all complimentary.

Suite upgrades — Diamond members are prioritised for room upgrades including suites when available. This benefit is less guaranteed than Marriott’s suite upgrade awards but still delivered meaningful room improvements across our stays.

Late checkout — Consistently getting late checkout as a Diamond member saved us money on day-use hotel fees on travel days, and removed the stress of rushing out of rooms before afternoon flights.

The cumulative value of Hilton Diamond benefits across our Da Nang stays — free breakfast and lounge access for multiple nights across three properties — easily ran into hundreds of dollars of saved food and drink costs.

How to Achieve Hilton Diamond Status

Hilton Diamond requires 60 nights or 30 stays in a calendar year through paid stays, or can be matched from competing programs. The American Express Platinum Card (Canada) complimentary Hilton Gold status — upgradeable to Diamond through status match challenges at certain times. Hilton also periodically runs status challenges where you can earn Diamond through a reduced number of qualifying nights.

What Marriott Platinum Elite Status Got Us

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite is achieved at 50 nights per year and delivers a powerful set of benefits that significantly offset the cost of stays.

Free breakfast for two — Platinum Elite members receive complimentary breakfast for themselves and one guest at most full-service Marriott properties worldwide. At the Renaissance Saigon and Vinpearl Landmark 81, this meant two people eating an exceptional breakfast buffet every morning at zero cost. At $30–$50 USD per person for a hotel breakfast in Ho Chi Minh City, that’s $60–$100 USD saved per morning — $120–$200 USD across our two-night stays at each property.

Lounge access — Platinum Elite unlocks Executive Lounge access where available, including the evening cocktail hours that we raved about at both the Renaissance Saigon and Vinpearl Landmark 81. Full alcoholic drinks, hot food, cakes, and desserts — complimentary, every evening. As we noted in both reviews, we effectively had dinner in the lounge on multiple occasions. For two people, the food and drink value of a single lounge evening session runs $50–$100 USD or more.

Suite upgrade awards — Platinum Elite members receive suite upgrade awards each year, redeemable at check-in subject to availability. We used these at both the Renaissance Saigon and Vinpearl Landmark 81 to upgrade into suites — adding hundreds of dollars of room value on top of our already-free certificate redemptions.

Enhanced room upgrades — Even without suite award certificates, Platinum status prioritises you for the best available room in your booked category.

Late checkout guaranteed to 4pm — A meaningful practical benefit on travel days.

How to Achieve Marriott Platinum Elite Status

50 qualifying nights per year through paid stays. The Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card in Canada counts card spending toward elite nights (15 elite night credits per year with the card), reducing the stays required. Staying at Marriott properties consistently and using the Bonvoy card for everyday spending is the most straightforward path.

The Real Financial Impact of Elite Status

Let’s put some numbers on what elite status actually saved us across the trip:

Free breakfast for two, multiple properties: At an average of $60–$80 USD saved per morning across roughly 12 mornings of status-eligible breakfast — approximately $720–$960 USD saved in breakfast costs alone.

Evening lounge access for two, multiple properties: At an average of $60–$100 USD in food and drink value per evening across roughly 8 lounge evenings — approximately $480–$800 USD saved in dinner and drinks costs.

Suite upgrades: Difficult to quantify precisely, but upgrading from a standard room to a suite at the Renaissance Saigon and Vinpearl Landmark 81 added hundreds of dollars of room value to stays that already cost us zero cash.

Combined elite status savings across the trip: conservatively $1,500–$2,000+ USD — on top of the points and certificate savings already detailed above.

This is why we emphasise elite status as a core pillar of our travel strategy, not an afterthought. Points get you free nights. Elite status makes those nights significantly more valuable.

Beyond Points: The Other Money-Saving Strategies

Points and certificates covered our big-ticket hotel and flight costs, but smart everyday decisions kept our cash spending lean throughout the 100 days.

Use Grab, Not Taxis

In every Southeast Asian city — Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Bangkok, Chiang Mai — we used Grab for almost all transport. Metered taxis in tourist areas frequently run inflated rates for foreign visitors. Grab’s fixed, upfront pricing eliminates this entirely and is usually cheaper even compared to honest metered fares. On a 100-day trip the cumulative saving from using Grab consistently is meaningful.

Book Transport in Advance

For buses, trains, and inter-city transport, booking ahead consistently saved us money and stress. Last-minute bookings on popular routes — the Bangkok to Chiang Mai sleeper train, for example — either cost more or simply aren’t available. Planning 2–4 weeks ahead for popular connections is both cheaper and more reliable.

Travel in Shoulder Season

We timed our itinerary deliberately to avoid peak travel periods where possible. Shoulder season means lower hotel cash rates, more award availability, less crowded attractions, and a more authentic experience in destinations that become significantly different places at peak times. The Chiang Mai Lantern Festival was a deliberate exception — a once-in-a-year event worth the premium — but we used points to absorb the cost spike.

Book Popular Experiences Well in Advance

For high-demand experiences — festival accommodation, popular cooking classes, sold-out tours — booking early is a money-saving strategy as much as a logistics one. Prices rise as availability shrinks, and last-minute scrambles for alternatives often cost more and deliver less.

Use Airalo for e-SIMs Instead of Roaming

International roaming charges from Canadian carriers are eye-watering on a 100-day trip. We used Airalo for e-SIMs across every country we visited — affordable regional and country-specific data plans activated directly from our phones before we landed. The saving versus Canadian roaming packages across 100 days across multiple countries runs into hundreds of dollars. Get 10% off with our link.

Stay in Budget Accommodation Where It Made Sense

Not every night needs to be a points redemption at a five-star property. We balanced aspirational hotel stays — covered by points — with budget guesthouses and mid-range properties for the nights where the hotel was simply a place to sleep. Knowing when to spend points and when to spend cash is as important as having the points in the first place.

Our Top Points Strategy Tips

Use points for aspirational properties you’d never pay cash for. The InterContinental Sun Peninsula Resort. The Vinpearl Landmark 81. Properties where the gap between cash rate and points cost is largest are where your redemptions deliver maximum value. Don’t waste points on properties you’d happily book on cash.

Always check points value versus cash before redeeming. Divide the cash rate by the points required to get your cents-per-point value. A general benchmark: Marriott above 0.8 cents per point is good; above 1 cent is excellent. If a redemption comes in below benchmark, consider whether cash makes more sense and save the points for better value.

Stack multiple loyalty programs. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Different programs shine in different contexts — Aeroplan for Star Alliance flights, Avios for Accor hotels, Marriott certificates for premium properties. Having balances across multiple programs gives you flexibility and optionality that a single-program strategy can’t match.

Transfer points between programs strategically. Amex Membership Rewards (both Canadian and US) transfer to multiple airline and hotel programs, making them the most flexible points currency. Accumulate transferable points and move them to specific programs only when you have a specific redemption in mind — this preserves flexibility and avoids locking into a program before you know what you need.

Monitor your points bookings within the cancellation window. This is one of the most underutilised strategies in travel hacking. If you’ve booked a hotel on points and the points price drops before your cancellation deadline, cancel the booking and rebook at the lower rate. The difference in points gets refunded to your account. Set a reminder to check your bookings weekly in the lead-up to your stay.

Book refundable rates where possible. Flexibility has value. A refundable booking gives you the ability to rebook if prices drop — in points or in cash — without penalty. The premium for a refundable rate is usually worth paying on longer trips where plans can change.

What the $20,000 in Savings Actually Looked Like

To make this concrete, here’s a rough breakdown of where the major savings came from across our 100-day trip:

InterContinental Da Nang Sun Peninsula Resort — 2 nights on IHG points. Cash value: approximately $600–$800 USD saved.

Tru by Hilton Da Nang — 7 nights on Hilton Honors points. Cash value: approximately $700–$1,000 USD saved.

Pullman Vung Tau — 4 nights on British Airways Avios. Cash value: approximately $300–$400 USD saved.

Renaissance Saigon — 2 nights on Marriott free night certificates + suite upgrades. Cash value: approximately $500–$700 USD saved.

Vinpearl Landmark 81 — 2 nights on Marriott 35k certificates + suite upgrades. Cash value: approximately $700–$1,000 USD saved.

Lanna Inthan Boutique Hotel, Chiang Mai — 2 nights on CIBC points during Lantern Festival. Cash value: approximately $300–$500 USD saved during peak pricing.

Flights on Aeroplan and Cathay Asia Miles — Multiple flight segments across Asia. Cash value: varies significantly by route and cabin but collectively representing thousands of dollars in flight savings.

Add it all up and the $20,000 CAD figure is conservative. The actual retail value of what we experienced — particularly the suite upgrades and aspirational hotel stays — likely exceeds that number meaningfully.

Getting Started: Where to Begin If You’re New to Points

If you’re reading this and thinking “I want to do this for my next big trip”, here’s where to start:

Step 1: Get the Amex Cobalt for everyday spending — the 5x earn on food and drink alone will build points quickly, and Membership Rewards flexibility means you’re not locked into a single program.

Step 2: Get a no-foreign-transaction-fee card like the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite for all international spending — stop giving money to FX fees immediately.

Step 3: Sign up for Aeroplan if you haven’t already and get the TD Aeroplan Visa — start building the points balance you’ll need for Star Alliance flights across Asia.

Step 4: Get a Marriott Bonvoy card for the annual free night certificate — even if you only use one certificate per year, the value exceeds the annual fee at most mid-tier properties.

Step 5: Be patient. The best redemptions require points you accumulate over months and years, not weeks. The trip we just completed was made possible by two to three years of deliberate points accumulation before we ever booked a single flight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is travel hacking worth it for Canadians? Absolutely — Canada has one of the strongest credit card points ecosystems in the world, particularly through Aeroplan, Amex Membership Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. The value available to disciplined points collectors is significant.

How long does it take to accumulate enough points for a big trip? For a 100-day trip of this scale, we built our points over approximately 2–3 years of everyday spending and strategic card use. A shorter trip — 2–3 weeks in Southeast Asia — is achievable in 12–18 months with the right cards.

Can you use US credit cards as a Canadian? Canadians with a US address, Social Security Number, or established US banking relationship can apply for US credit cards. The Chase and US Amex ecosystems offer transfer partners and earn rates not available in Canada. Not accessible to everyone, but worth exploring if you have US ties.

Is it worth paying annual fees for travel credit cards? Almost always yes, for the right cards. A $120 annual fee card that delivers a $300 free night certificate every year is an immediate net positive before any points earning is factored in. Calculate the value you’ll actually use, not just the benefits on paper.

What’s the best Aeroplan credit card in Canada? The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite is the most accessible entry point. The TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite Privilege offers higher earn rates and better perks for higher spenders. The American Express Aeroplan card offers strong earn rates through the Amex network.

Final Thoughts

Travel hacking isn’t a cheat code or a loophole — it’s a discipline. It requires choosing the right financial products, spending intentionally, and thinking strategically about when and where to redeem what you’ve earned. Done well, it transforms the economics of travel in ways that feel almost unreasonable.

We spent 100 days in Asia, stayed at some of the most beautiful hotel properties in Southeast Asia, flew on quality airlines, and kept our total cash outlay to a fraction of what it would have cost without points. The $20,000 CAD in value we extracted from our points didn’t materialise by accident — it was the result of years of deliberate accumulation and smart deployment.

Start now. Be patient. And when you’re ready to book your own 100-day Asia adventure, the points will be there waiting.

For the specific hotel stays referenced in this article, check out our full reviews:

And for everything you need to plan your own Asia trip, start with our 100-day Asia trip overview.