Hotel Points My Best multi redemption trip. 3N at Kochi.

[Adith]

This is how i Maximized to the core on my recent trip to Kochi.

Have already posted a review thread on Le Meridien kochi : https://technofino.in/community/threads/le-meridien-kochi.45654/


Trip details :

• Destination : Kochi
• Pax : 3 adults + 1 0-year baby

• Flights- 85% by points, 15% by cash. Includes seat bookings as well.
  • MAA to COK for 2 adults + 1 baby = ₹12,576 → ₹3,800 cash + 8,776 Yes Marquee points ( got this by paying for the card, so it costed around 2k to earn this points)
  • COK to MAA for 2 adults + 1 baby = ₹14,116 → ₹705 cash + 13,411 iShop points earned via Times Black
  • MAA to COK to MAA for 1 adult = ₹9,490 → ₹470 cash + 9,022 iShop points earned via Times Black

• Hotel- Marriot ( Bonvoy Gold Elite status)
  • I got Silver Elite with the help of HDFC MB cc
  • I upgraded from Silver Elite to Gold Elite via the twitter IYKYK trick that was available and this actually made a difference
  • Transferred 1L Amex MR from my trifecta to MB @ 1:1
  • Initially booked 2 rooms at Artiste Kochi for 33K MB points + FNA & 49K MB Points
    • Cash cost was 66k per room which made it 1.78rs /point & 1.34rs / point
    • 1 week before the trip , cash cost of room dropped to 36k and point cost dropped to 38k making it 0.9rs/point
    • Marriot allows us to cancel/modify booking upto 2 days before trip. So i could have clicked rebook to earn back the excess points.
    • Instead if i cancelled this booking.
• • Rebooked Le Meridien Kochi at 60K MB points. Could not use FNA.
    • Got City view guest room, for 3 adults ( single room this time) with their Club lounge access
    • Cash cost was 42k making it 0.7rs/point.
    • Did this cause it was a backwater hotel compared to Artiste that was inside a mall, yes inside an actual mall.
    • Also got Lounge access.
    • The Gold elite came in clutch !!!
      • Got 9.45 am early check-in, Room upgrade to Backwater view with balcony ( next tier) which would have costed around 50k+ and complimentary breakfast for all 3 of us for all 3 days.

• Airport Lounge -
  • Travel Lounge @ MAA - Used my RG, Times Black and HDFC MB for access for all 3 adults.
    • All cards are in my name
    • They were happy to oblige and dint ask for dedicated cards.
    • Food was amazing here. Piping hot idli, yummy pongal, great variety of food. Seating wasnt that comfortable
  • Earth Lounge @ COK - Used same 3 cards there also
    • All cards are in my name
    • They were happy to oblige and dint ask for dedicated cards here as well
    • FOOD SUCKED ! and i mean it sucked so bad i had to toss out most of it. Chapathi was uncooked, they made kozhikode biriyani which is already slightly sweet into an extremely sweet dish. YUCK. Cut fruits and veggies started smelling bad, coffee cups looked like they had mold on it. Seating was extremely comfortable though

• Chennai Airport transfer -
  • Used my personal car, parked it at Aerohub parking.1500 total cost. Uber or ola would have cost same
    • MAA to COK flight was early in the day, so i dint want to risk putting trust on Uber/Ola which have a bad reputation for either cancelling or haggling for insane prices
    • Less headache, less hassle.
    • They accepted Times black cc so 2% . I wish they accepted fastag , but sadly they dint.

• Kochi Airport Transfer -
  • Used the Avis vouchers from Times Black .
    • Got it as part of 5L milestone
    • Innova Crysta both the way
    • Prompt and professional service
    • 0 cost out of hand
  • Pros :
    • Did multiple modifications like time change, hotel change etc. Everything was accepted within few hours and promptly updated
    • I did everything via email to crs@avis.co.in
  • Cons :
    • Maybe it was because of doing the booking via Times black voucher. My booking did not show up in the Avis site after logging-in
    • The email had a "Modify/cancel" booking button, clicking on which user is redirected to a website where they can edit stuff
      • This never worked for hotel or pick-up drop update etc. Even the hotel modification done did not reflect here

• Travel within city -
  • Got Uber One 3 months sub via Times Prime account
    • Got times prime with the help of Visa Signature offer
  • Loaded 800 into uber via the 8 RSDC i had with myself and family
  • Bought an additional 2k Uber GV via iShop with Times Black for 12% valueback
  • Uber One also gave 10% credits back for rides
  • Uber was so smooth and professional to use, it was insane
    • 2min ride confirmations, 0 cancellations, 0 haggling, drivers being not grumpy that its uber cash etc
    • Found that later that since Le Meridien & Crown Plaza are next to each other, a lot of the drivers are actually within 2 min time and never cancel since they get a lot of foreigners booking

• Lunch -
  • Booked buffet for 3 via EazyDiner. 50% flat discount + Eazydiner CC giving additional value for one day
  • Ate at local restaurants for the remaining days . Again paid via Times Black for 2%.

• Locations -
  • Visited Marine drive
    • Night boat ride for 1 hour, 100 per pax .
    • Spices shopping. Got good quality spices for a slightly premium price
  • Fort Kochi
    • Visited Naval museum
      • 50 per pax
      • Beautiful place, seriously well maintained . It was my favourite part of the whole trip
    • Synagogue
      • Oldest church in Kochi , original place where Vasco da Gama died and was initially buried before being moved.
      • Santa Cruz Basilica - 500 year old dutch paintings on the roof, 150 year old benches
    • Dutch cemetry, Chinese fishing nets, shopping etc
  • Chottanikkara Bhagavathy Temple
  • Vypeen beech was beautiful

TLDR > Overall :

• Flights - 85% covered -> Spent 4975 cash (2200 for yes marquee since points are for fees) .
• Hotel - 100% covered
• Breakfast - Free , buffet with insane spread
• Lunch - 4000 for 3 days total at local restaurants.
• Dinner - Free, we had fruits and snacks at the Lounge all 3 days . Heavy breakfast + yummy lunch was enough
• Travel within city - 30% covered -> Spent 2000 cash, got 240 valueback.
• Airport Transfer - 100% covered

Spent overall : 7175 ( 4975 + 2200) + 4000 + 2000 = 13175 .

Got a 5 star hotel stay for 3 adults + a baby, with flight tickets, beautiful room with an amazing view, complimentary breakfast for 3 , lounge access, airport transfer, local travel and food.

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

So nice, very well written. Good to know that you have enjoyed the trip.