Travel is a powerful part of our lives – it connects us to others, gives us experiences that we might have only dreamed of before, and enriches our lives. But let’s face it, sometimes the expenses can add up when we are making our dreams a reality.
Hey, I see you: you work hard, you collect all your points, you like to live well and have more than a bit of a case of wanderlust (that’s why you’re here, right?) and it’s time for you to get away. Why not make your travel loyalty rewards work harder for you? Not just when it comes to flights, but for your accommodation needs once you’ve reached your destination as well.
Aeroplan gets this, and they are making it easier than ever to make that trip you are hoping for a reality. Of course, rewards add up to big savings on flights, but they have exciting options for members to save on accommodations that can make a big difference for anyone wanting to get more out of their travel budget.
As an Aeroplan member since 2007, I already have used my points towards flights for some of the most memorable vacations in my life. But now I’m all about not only maximizing how I accumulate points on my daily spends, but also putting them towards hotel experiences that make travel even more of a joy,
On my most recent trip to Taiwan, I knew we had a lot of ground to cover as we planned on covering several destinations on the island from north to south – including ones that were new to us despite the fact that my husband grew up there and I had visited with him a few times before. Logistically and financially, there was a lot to consider flying our family of three across the world for an almost month-long getaway. So as Aeroplan members and credit card holders, we looked at how our points could make our trip even more epic.
We stayed with family near Taipei, which was great, but when it was time to head further south we were so happy to have great hotel options available to us.. And – if you do visit Taiwan, I strongly suggest you take the time to travel beyond Taipei, because as awesome as it is, there is so much more to see beyond this bustling capital city. You might think of Taipei’s incredible night markets, bar scene and great shopping – but remember, this is also an island with a tropical climate zone in the south, so a little beach time was something that we couldn’t pass up.
Kenting, which is part of the Hengchun Peninsula on the southern tip of Taiwan is home not only to a thriving national park but also beautiful beaches and clear waters, music festivals, a surfing scene and nightlife that definitely says “beach town” like nowhere else in this island nation.
If you’re looking for a relaxed, resort-like vibe in this area, Chateau Beach Resort is a great option. With beachfront rooms, tons of amenities and being just a short walk to the Kenting Night Market, plus so much more in the area to explore, it was just what we needed. And given the fact that resort costs can get up there, this was the perfect opportunity to book through Aeroplan to take advantage of their flexible booking options: paying entirely in points, paying 50/50 points and cash, or fully in cash to earn more points. Either way is a boost to travel budgets.
After beach time in Kenting, it was time to resume our adventure and gradually head back north. We drove to Tainan, one of my favourite cities on the southwest coast of Taiwan. As the oldest city in the country, it is rich in history and an absolute dream for anyone who loves food.
We stayed at the Aloft Tainan Anping Hotel there, and I loved it so much I wish I could have stayed longer. It was sleek, modern and comfortable. The service was amazing and featured so many fun details including a rooftop bar, vintage video games in the lobby and a service robot. Another great option to book through the Aeroplan Hotels platform.
And for even more savings there are some newer options from Aeroplan: members can book and save even more with HotelSavers, featuring a range of properties in all categories – from Economy and Midscale, to Premium and Luxury. When you book any of the hotels from 39 world-class brands with the HotelSaver banner on the Aeroplan website, you can use points to get up to 30% savings, which is significant.
Additionally, for any Aeroplan credit card holders, there is the option for Aeroplan’s 4th Night Free option, which gets you one extra night free when you redeem three nights with Aeroplan points. That makes a significant difference, especially when considering luxury and premium properties, of which there were so many in Taiwan.
I loved that we were able to stay in so many different destinations during this trip – 6 in total – which really gave us the opportunity to get the full experience in Taiwan, plus allowed my husband to connect with his family members all over the country, which is priceless. Maximizing how we earn and use our Aeroplan points really made that possible for us.
Whether you’re embarking on a solo adventure, a romantic getaway, or a family vacation, it’s a great way to make the most of your next trip, big or small.
