Hey TFCians,
I recently completed a short trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan in mid-September 2024, fully funded by my credit card points. Here’s a breakdown of my experience and how I utilized my points:
Flight:
CCU to DEL: I used a vistara premium economy flight ticket voucher, which I received as a milestone benefit from my SBI Vistara Prime card, for my onward journey. For the return flight, I redeemed 5,000 CV points to book an economy class ticket.
DEL to ALA: I booked an Indigo round-trip flight from Delhi to Almaty using my 6E Rewards. The total cost for the flight was Rs. 32,372, of which I covered Rs. 29,122 with 29,122 6E Rewards and paid Rs. 3,250 (taxes) with my credit card.
The flight was around 3 hours long, and Indigo offered me a complimentary window seat in the exit row (13A). To my surprise, I also received free meals on the flight! 😅 I’m not sure why—perhaps it had something to do with flying with my pilot friend 😁. Overall, the flight experience with Indigo was excellent, and everything from check-in to immigration at Almaty went smoothly. By the way, I completed my fast-track immigration biometrics at Delhi Airport before departure, which was a breeze.
Hotel: I stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Almaty for 5 nights, using 1,68,000 Marriott points. I initially booked a base-category room, but I was upgraded to an elite corner room with a mountain view. To sweeten the deal, I took advantage of an offer to pay for 4 nights and stay for 5!
Day 1: Arrival in Almaty
Our flight was delayed by around 50 minutes, so we landed in Almaty at 12:30 AM. Baggage collection and immigration were surprisingly swift, taking only 30 minutes. After that, I purchased a local SIM card for 6,000 Tenge, which offered 30 days of unlimited calls and data.
The real adventure began when we tried to book a cab through the Yandex app. None of my cards worked—not Amex, HDFC Infinia, nor Yes Private. I set off in search of an ATM, and luckily met two Indian students (medical students staying in Almaty) who kindly helped me find one. I tried multiple Indian debit cards, including my IndusInd Pioneer Debit Card, but none worked. Finally, my go-to CS debit card came through, and I was able to withdraw some cash. The students mentioned that Indian bank cards often don’t work smoothly in Almaty.
By 3:30 AM, we finally booked a cab and reached The Ritz Carlton at 4:10 AM. Check-in was seamless, but we were utterly exhausted. We headed straight to our room, changed quickly, and fell asleep.
Day 2: Exploring Almaty
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we started the day by exploring the local parks and visiting Esentai Mall. For lunch, we indulged in some Indian cuisine at the Maharaja Restaurant. Afterward, we visited Mega Park Mall and strolled down Arbat Street, enjoying the city's urban vibe.
Day 3: City Highlights and Scenic Views
We began the day with breakfast at the hotel before heading out to visit Zenkov Cathedral, a beautiful and historic site. Afterward, we explored the surrounding area and had lunch before heading to the famous Green Bazaar. As evening approached, we made our way to Kok-Tobe Hill, where we experienced the breathtaking sunset views from the top. We hired a car to get there and took the cable car back down, which was a memorable experience.
View attachment IMG_2373.jpg
Day 4: Cultural Immersion
After breakfast, we spent the morning visiting key landmarks: the Presidential Palace, Independence Monument, Kazakhstan Hotel, and the Central State Museum. In the afternoon, we strolled through the serene Botanical Garden, which had a convenient entry/exit gate just about 200 meters from our hotel.
View attachment IMG_2285.jpg
Day 5: Final Day and Shymbulak Ski Resort
On our last day in Almaty, after breakfast, we packed up and arranged for a late checkout. Our plan was to spend the day at Shymbulak Ski Resort, return to the hotel in the evening to collect our luggage, and then head to the airport for our 1 AM flight.
Shymbulak was incredible! The views on the way up were breathtaking, and to our surprise, we found a Mastercard lounge there. The lounge was only accessible to holders of Mastercard World Elite and Mastercard World Black Edition issued by Kazakh banks, but we were given special access. The lounge was empty, and the manager was incredibly kind. We ended up having a long conversation about Indian culture, Kazakhstan, and the friendly nature of the local people.
View attachment IMG_2451.jpg
View attachment IMG_2519.jpgView attachment IMG_2511.jpg
At 7:30 PM, we returned to the hotel and left for the airport at 8:30 PM. As a thoughtful parting gift, the hotel manager presented us with six bottles of sparkling water and two boxes of specialty chocolates.
Conclusion
This trip was an unforgettable experience. Kazakh people are warm, friendly, and always willing to help. The language barrier was noticeable as most people don’t speak much English, but it wasn’t a huge issue—we managed with google translator app and enjoyed interacting with the locals.
Best of all, the satisfaction of funding nearly the entire trip with points made the experience even sweeter!
I recently completed a short trip to Almaty, Kazakhstan in mid-September 2024, fully funded by my credit card points. Here’s a breakdown of my experience and how I utilized my points:
Flight:
CCU to DEL: I used a vistara premium economy flight ticket voucher, which I received as a milestone benefit from my SBI Vistara Prime card, for my onward journey. For the return flight, I redeemed 5,000 CV points to book an economy class ticket.
DEL to ALA: I booked an Indigo round-trip flight from Delhi to Almaty using my 6E Rewards. The total cost for the flight was Rs. 32,372, of which I covered Rs. 29,122 with 29,122 6E Rewards and paid Rs. 3,250 (taxes) with my credit card.
The flight was around 3 hours long, and Indigo offered me a complimentary window seat in the exit row (13A). To my surprise, I also received free meals on the flight! 😅 I’m not sure why—perhaps it had something to do with flying with my pilot friend 😁. Overall, the flight experience with Indigo was excellent, and everything from check-in to immigration at Almaty went smoothly. By the way, I completed my fast-track immigration biometrics at Delhi Airport before departure, which was a breeze.
Hotel: I stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Almaty for 5 nights, using 1,68,000 Marriott points. I initially booked a base-category room, but I was upgraded to an elite corner room with a mountain view. To sweeten the deal, I took advantage of an offer to pay for 4 nights and stay for 5!
Day 1: Arrival in Almaty
Our flight was delayed by around 50 minutes, so we landed in Almaty at 12:30 AM. Baggage collection and immigration were surprisingly swift, taking only 30 minutes. After that, I purchased a local SIM card for 6,000 Tenge, which offered 30 days of unlimited calls and data.
The real adventure began when we tried to book a cab through the Yandex app. None of my cards worked—not Amex, HDFC Infinia, nor Yes Private. I set off in search of an ATM, and luckily met two Indian students (medical students staying in Almaty) who kindly helped me find one. I tried multiple Indian debit cards, including my IndusInd Pioneer Debit Card, but none worked. Finally, my go-to CS debit card came through, and I was able to withdraw some cash. The students mentioned that Indian bank cards often don’t work smoothly in Almaty.
By 3:30 AM, we finally booked a cab and reached The Ritz Carlton at 4:10 AM. Check-in was seamless, but we were utterly exhausted. We headed straight to our room, changed quickly, and fell asleep.
Day 2: Exploring Almaty
After a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, we started the day by exploring the local parks and visiting Esentai Mall. For lunch, we indulged in some Indian cuisine at the Maharaja Restaurant. Afterward, we visited Mega Park Mall and strolled down Arbat Street, enjoying the city's urban vibe.
Day 3: City Highlights and Scenic Views
We began the day with breakfast at the hotel before heading out to visit Zenkov Cathedral, a beautiful and historic site. Afterward, we explored the surrounding area and had lunch before heading to the famous Green Bazaar. As evening approached, we made our way to Kok-Tobe Hill, where we experienced the breathtaking sunset views from the top. We hired a car to get there and took the cable car back down, which was a memorable experience.
View attachment IMG_2373.jpg
Day 4: Cultural Immersion
After breakfast, we spent the morning visiting key landmarks: the Presidential Palace, Independence Monument, Kazakhstan Hotel, and the Central State Museum. In the afternoon, we strolled through the serene Botanical Garden, which had a convenient entry/exit gate just about 200 meters from our hotel.
View attachment IMG_2285.jpg
Day 5: Final Day and Shymbulak Ski Resort
On our last day in Almaty, after breakfast, we packed up and arranged for a late checkout. Our plan was to spend the day at Shymbulak Ski Resort, return to the hotel in the evening to collect our luggage, and then head to the airport for our 1 AM flight.
Shymbulak was incredible! The views on the way up were breathtaking, and to our surprise, we found a Mastercard lounge there. The lounge was only accessible to holders of Mastercard World Elite and Mastercard World Black Edition issued by Kazakh banks, but we were given special access. The lounge was empty, and the manager was incredibly kind. We ended up having a long conversation about Indian culture, Kazakhstan, and the friendly nature of the local people.
View attachment IMG_2451.jpg
View attachment IMG_2519.jpgView attachment IMG_2511.jpg
At 7:30 PM, we returned to the hotel and left for the airport at 8:30 PM. As a thoughtful parting gift, the hotel manager presented us with six bottles of sparkling water and two boxes of specialty chocolates.
Conclusion
This trip was an unforgettable experience. Kazakh people are warm, friendly, and always willing to help. The language barrier was noticeable as most people don’t speak much English, but it wasn’t a huge issue—we managed with google translator app and enjoyed interacting with the locals.
Best of all, the satisfaction of funding nearly the entire trip with points made the experience even sweeter!
