Help me Plan a Family Trip to Greece + Austria

[SoNIK]

Hello Everyone,

Firstly, Thank you TF Community for enlightening me on Credit Cards, Rewards & Redemption. I am a newbie in CC world currently holding Amex Plat Travel (Arrived Today), Amex MRCC (Holding since a year but haven't used it avidly) & HDFC Millennia(Using since 2018 - Utilised all points for South India Trip).

I am planning a trip (Sept. 2025) to Greece & Austria along with family (total 4 travellers - 14 day trip) and would like to use Reward Points to reduce CASH burden.

Need help in figuring out as to how many points I need to either eliminate Hotel Expense or Reduce Flight Costs.

Thank you in advance.

 

[aayusharyan]

Hello Everyone,

Firstly, Thank you TF Community for enlightening me on Credit Cards, Rewards & Redemption. I am a newbie in CC world currently holding Amex Plat Travel (Arrived Today), Amex MRCC (Holding since a year but haven't used it avidly) & HDFC Millennia(Using since 2018 - Utilised all points for South India Trip).

I am planning a trip (Sept. 2025) to Greece & Austria along with family (total 4 travellers - 14 day trip) and would like to use Reward Points to reduce CASH burden.

Need help in figuring out as to how many points I need to either eliminate Hotel Expense or Reduce Flight Costs.

Thank you in advance.

So, what I see you don't have many points remaining to use for this trip. You want to know which cards to swipe where to get higher benefits?

 

[pmhunter]

Marriott for Hotels
Figure out by Dec 15, if you want to convert your existing Amex points to Marriott for 30% bonus. If you need a top-up, contact Amex customer care to buy 10k points for Rs 4k.

 

[SoNIK]

So, what I see you don't have many points remaining to use for this trip. You want to know which cards to swipe where to get higher benefits?

Thank You for Response.

I need information on two things -

1. How to use these three CC to maximise points earned?
2. Where and How should these points be used to reduce CASH burden for the planned trip?

Some more information - My current household expense incl. Rent, Grocery, Insurance etc. is approx. 1.5 Lacs per month.

 

[SoNIK]

Marriott for Hotels
Figure out by Dec 15, if you want to convert your existing Amex points to Marriott for 30% bonus. If you need a top-up, contact Amex customer care to buy 10k points for Rs 4k.

I can buy Amex MR points for real cash from Amex?

 

[pmhunter]

I can buy Amex MR points for real cash from Amex?

Once a calendar year upto 10k points or your account points balance whichever is lower.

 

[aayusharyan]

I can buy Amex MR points for real cash from Amex?

Don't Points convertion for Cash is most of the times lower percentage reward than what is for tickets / hotels / etc.

 

[pmhunter]

Thank You for Response.

I need information on two things -

1. How to use these three CC to maximise points earned?
2. Where and How should these points be used to reduce CASH burden for the planned trip?

Some more information - My current household expense incl. Rent, Grocery, Insurance etc. is approx. 1.5 Lacs per month.

Amex cards strategy
1. Spend 1.5k x 4 on MRCC and 20k a month if you can
2. Amex Plat travel try to spend 4L a year for max benefit
3. Try to make some txn in Rewards multiplier with Amex PT which gives 3x rewards

 

[pmhunter]

Don't Points convertion for Cash is most of the times lower percentage reward than what is for tickets / hotels / etc.

Suppose he wants to book Marriott hotels, Rs 4k gives 10k points + 3k bonus, I think Marriott point is worth more than Rs 0.3

 

[aayusharyan]

Suppose he wants to book Marriott hotels, Rs 4k gives 10k points + 3k bonus, I think Marriott point is worth more than Rs 0.3

No no no, I was saying the other way. Using Points to get Cash. That is a bad deal... Using cash to get points, mostly can be a good deal.

 

[pmhunter]

No no no, I was saying the other way. Using Points to get Cash. That is a bad deal... Using cash to get points, mostly can be a good deal.

Yeah. If it's not a cashback card, cash is usually the worst reward option.