USA Anniversary trip - on the cheap by points suggestions

[rock86]

Hi all,

We are planning a 5th wedding anniversary trip for Jan/Feb 2019. I know this is a fair way off, and I've already asked some comments regarding flight routings, but I wanted to get some of thoughts of my plan from the knowledge that comes from this forum.

Our very draft itinerary so far is as follows:

- 3 nights Vegas
- 6/7 nights New York
- Maybe, 2 nights Dallas/Austin (have some mates who live there now)
- 3 nights in Langkawi to chill out, on the way home through Asia

The flights will be fine regarding points, we require another 120,000 points for a OWE fare - I'm going to get 90,000 from the NAB Signature and then pick-up the additional 30,000 points from somewhere (hopefully an AMEX referral ).

Now, the accommodation is a different story. I'd like to get as far on points as I can, and I'll be happy to buy them if it will get me luxury accommodation at a cheaper cost. This is where some suggestions from everyone here will assist greatly. My line of thinking for accommodation was:

• If possible transfer my wife & I from the QFF Amex to the Explorer and use the Travel credit for say 2/3 of the nights
• Accumulate SPG points through AMEX by
  • If able to transfer to the Explorer then refer my father when another large bonus is run and pick up 100,000 points for him and 30,000 for me, converting to 65,000 SPG points
  • My wife and I get the DJ Amex card when another bonus is run picking up 120,000 DJ AMEX points (2 x 50k bonus + referral), converting to 60,000 SPG points
  • So all going to plan; 125,000 SPG points all transferred to my account through family transfer
• The SPG points could get me then a fair way through those nights for very little CC outlay ($200 as we'll utilise the old mans Explorer travel credit)

Sorry for the long post, but what are peoples thoughts of my direction to get the most out of points as I can for this trip? Am I going down the wrong path? And is there a better way?

Thanks in advance