Every year, American Express teams up the U.S. Travel Association and offers a daily travel-related deal during the Daily Getaways promotion. In the past, my family and I had a lot of fun with these promotions (related post), but with frequent program devaluations, these deals have become less and less exciting.
The official promotion starts next Monday, May 19, and runs for 5 weeks, ending on June 20. All 5 weeks of the promotion have been announced and are available to view here.
The best thing about the promotion is that you receive a 10% discount if you pay using an American Express card.
Here’s a breakdown of the deals week-by-week:
Week 1:
Week 2:
Week 3:
Week 4:
Week 5:
To be honest, the majority of these deals do not excite me, and truthfully most are a rip off.
Rather than taking the time to analyze each deal individually, here’s what I’m eying:
- Week 1: Nothing.
- Week 2: IHG Points – possibly (only because the 5,000 point-PointBreaks promotions are exciting). I’d probably only go for the 15,000 points for $100 ($90 with AmEx).
- Week 3: 2-Nights at a Four Diamond Loews Resort:$350 ($315 with AmEX). This is a fantastic value because I love traveling to South Beach/Miami, where the Loews there often sells for $400 a night. Another deal that I’d possibly go for is 2 Nights in Hyatt Top Hotel For $415. Hyatt Top Hotel basically translates to “category 5 property”. An “OMG deal”? No, but At $186.75 “a night” if using your AmEx, it could potentially be a good deal if used at an expensive property such as the Hyatt Regency Maui. The IHG promotion also returns again this week, so if I miss out in week 2, there’s always a 2nd chance.
- Week 4: $100 Marriott egiftcard for $90 ($81 with AmEx). This is a great deal, especially useful for targeted Marriott MegaBonus promotions (stay 2 nights, get a free night certificate).
- Week 5: 50,000 Club Carlson Points for $247 ($222.30 with AmEx). This is an amazing deal. If you’re a Club Carlson Premier Rewards Visa Signature card holder, a 50,000 point redemption can get you 2 nights instead of one. Last month I spent a fabulous weekend at the Radisson resort in Aruba using points, and rooms were pricing out at over $400 a night. I’d happily return for $111.15 a night using this deal.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree with my selections? Any other Daily Getaway deals excite you? Would love to hear what you think!
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Can you use any Amex card to get the 10 percent off?
Club Carlson you need 100k points to get a night free with the credit card. Not 50k. And you can only use it once during your stay. Still a good deal. I used it for Aruba all the time in the Winter. Other months not such a great deal. Currently Radisson Aruba is going for 215.00 a night.which will probably run that way from April – December.
Would Amex gifts card work for travel getaways and the discount ?
Helene: Yes, any AmEx card works.
Karen: With the Club Carlson Visa, you get a free night with any redemption, not just 2 nights, 3rd night free. I have done this several times, including 2 nights at the Radisson Aruba – 50,000 points for first night and 2nd night was free for being a cardholder. Have also done this in Tel Aviv and lots of spots in the US.
Varun: I would assume that gift cards would not qualify, but I will have to look into that.
Here is a post about how I planned my Radisson Aruba free nights: http://justanotherpointstraveler.boardingarea.com/2014/01/26/planning-in-progress-post-baby-weekend-trip-to-aruba-on-points-and-miles/
I did not know that about 1 night. I was just always going off the website that said When you redeem Gold Points for 2 or more consecutive Award Nights, your last night is free.. Have you had luck booking different reservations so you can get more then 1 night free per stay? Thanks..
@Karen: Yup, I have done many reservations… I try not to do 2 consecutive reservations though. For instance, in Sydney I did 2 nights (1 free) at Radisson Blu, then 2 nights at the regular Radisson and 2 nights again at the Radisson Blu for a total of 6 nights for 150,000 points :)
Does blue bird count?
With Marriott GCs going in-house sales only (see link below), this is big for me to try for, as I like to use them at Cosmo in Vegas!
http://first2board.com/travelblawg/marriott-gift-cards/
Marriott changed the summer promo. No more 2 stays = free night. Mine is double points after 2nd paid stay up to 25k.
Thanks for posting about this! I’ve got my eye on one of those Universal Studios deals. Harry Potter World, here I come!