The right way to journey to Seychelles with factors for 2024

This sequence of articles about bank cards, factors and miles, and budgeting for journey is delivered to you in partnership with The Points Guy.

Advertiser Disclosure: This publish incorporates references to merchandise from a number of of our advertisers. We could obtain compensation whenever you click on on hyperlinks to these merchandise. Phrases apply to the presents listed on this web page. This relationship could impression how and the place hyperlinks seem on this web site. This web site doesn’t embody all monetary corporations or all accessible monetary presents. All details about American Specific® Inexperienced Card, all Citi playing cards, Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Purple World Elite Mastercard®, Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card, Hilton Honors American Specific Enterprise Card, the World of Hyatt Credit score Card, the World of Hyatt Enterprise Credit score Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card has been collected independently by Lonely Planet. These playing cards are usually not accessible via Lonely Planet. Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and presents. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and presents. Go to americanexpress.com to study extra.

An oasis of paradise in the course of the Indian Ocean, this archipelago of 115 islands boasts a novel mix of white sand seashores, crystal-clear water and wealthy tradition. It’s the proper vacation spot for honeymooners and adventure travelers alike, providing a wealth of actions like snorkeling amid colourful coral reefs, picturesque hikes and unique wildlife. Whether or not you’re seeking to calm down in a luxurious resort or discover its distinctive panorama, the Seychelles are a wonderful location to just do that. 

Nonetheless, touring to the Seychelles could be costly and arduous. Between the high-priced luxurious lodges and long-haul flights, you may simply accrue hundreds of {dollars} in journey bills. That’s the place factors and miles are available in – you may decrease your out-of-pocket value and journey to the Seychelles in consolation and elegance. Right here’s use rewards packages to ebook your dream journey to this paradise:

How to get started with travel points and airline miles

The most affordable award flights to the Seychelles for 2024

Flights from the US to Seychelles Worldwide Airport (SEZ) could be costly and take over 18 hours. If you happen to don’t need to spend hundreds of {dollars} flying midway all over the world in a cramped seat, there’s a approach to economize and even fly enterprise class for lower than the price of coach: Using points and miles to save money on travel. You are able to do this by leveraging travel credit cards for his or her welcome bonuses. It’s a good way to stretch your journey price range additional and luxuriate in a premium expertise. 

A number of airways provide flights to Seychelles from main worldwide hubs like Doha (DOH), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Istanbul (IST) and extra. Mileage charges are additionally cheap, costing solely barely greater than tickets to Europe. Right here’s an summary of the most affordable award flights to the Seychelles and accrue the mandatory miles:

• All Nippon Airways Mileage Membership: From 65,000 factors round-trip
• American AAdvantage: From 88,000 factors round-trip
• Turkish Miles&Smiles: From 90,000 miles round-trip

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All Nippon Airways Mileage Plan

All Nippon Airways (ANA) Mileage Membership presents among the lowest award flights to just about wherever on this planet. Wish to fly to Europe on points? ANA has one of many lowest business-class fares. Is Japan in your bucket record? ANA presents incredible redemption rates to Tokyo. The identical goes for the Seychelles: ANA has extremely low mileage fares. An economic system class ticket will value you 65,000 miles spherical journey, whereas enterprise class prices 104,000 miles.

The enterprise class fare is a downright discount and fairly near what most different airways cost for a round-trip economic system class ticket to the Seychelles. Sadly, the one option to get ANA miles is by transferring them 1:1 from the Amex Membership Rewards program. Listed below are some bank cards you need to use to offer your ANA steadiness a lift:

• The Business Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® factors after you spend $20,000 in eligible purchases on the Card throughout the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• The Platinum Card® from American Express*: Earn 80,000 factors after spending $8,000 within the first six months of card membership.
• American Express® Business Gold Card*: Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® factors after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with the Enterprise Gold Card throughout the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
• American Express® Gold Card*: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Factors after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases in your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Plus, obtain 20% again in assertion credit on eligible purchases made at eating places worldwide throughout the first 6 months of Card Membership, as much as $100 again. Restricted time provide. Supply ends 11/6/24.
• American Specific® Inexperienced Card*: Earn 40,000 factors after spending $3,000 throughout the first six months of card membership.

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American Airways AAdvantage

American Airways companions with Etihad and Qatar Airways for flights to the Seychelles, which isn’t a foul option to journey. Each airways have wonderful economic system and enterprise class seats, making long-haul journey way more snug. You may ebook a round-trip economic system class ticket for 80,000 AAdvantage miles, whereas enterprise prices 150,000 AAdvantage miles.

Contemplating you may piece collectively 150,000 miles from a number of bank card welcome bonuses, it may be definitely worth the splurge for enterprise class. American Airways can be a 1:1 switch associate of Bilt Rewards, in case it is advisable to high off your mileage account in a rush.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Government World Elite Mastercard: Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 throughout the first three months of account opening. 
• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® Mastercard®: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 throughout the first six months of account opening.
• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 throughout the first three months of account opening.
• Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Purple World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making your first buy and paying the $99 annual payment throughout the first 90 days.

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Turkish Miles&Smiles

Turkish Miles&Smiles presents among the lowest redemption charges on Star Alliance flights to the Seychelles. With Turkish miles, you may ebook flights to Mahe on Egyptair, Ethiopian Airways and United, to call a number of. Award charges are very cheap at 90,000 miles round-trip in economic system class and 150,000 miles in enterprise class. 

You may switch Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou factors to Turkish Miles&Smiles at a 1:1 ratio. It takes simply a few bank card welcome bonuses to cowl the required miles for a flight:

• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: For a restricted time: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months after opening an account, plus a $250 Capital One Journey credit score legitimate throughout the first 12 months of card membership.
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 throughout the first three months of account opening.
• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $4,000 within the first three months of account opening.

Should you book travel with cash or points?

Seychelles lodges you may ebook with factors 

Each main resort chain has properties within the Seychelles the place you need to use factors. The nightly charges at these properties can high $1,000 per night time, offering wonderful worth on your factors. Properties dot the islands, so that you’ll need to look into which island suits your journey wants finest, together with transportation prices. Resulting from exorbitant charges on the Six Senses Zil Pasyon (we’re speaking 300,000+ factors per night time), we’re excluding IHG One from our round-up. We need to spotlight lodges which can be accessible with factors and sadly, extra individuals received’t be capable to earn 300,000+ factors simply. 

Right here’s a take a look at Seychelles lodges you may ebook with factors throughout completely different chains:

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Hilton Honors

Hilton presently has 4 lodges within the Seychelles, with two extra within the works. Hilton now not releases an award chart, however you need to use the calendar perform to search out the most affordable charges year-round. A free night time at one in every of these Hilton Seychelles properties ranges from 70,000 to 110,000 factors for the standard award. 

• DoubleTree by Hilton Seychelles – Allamanda Resort and Spa – King Grand Deluxe room with ocean view (from 70,000 factors per night time)
• Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa – King Backyard Villa (90,000 factors per night time)
• Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa – King Sundown Villa (95,000 factors per night time)
• Mango Home Seychelles, LXR Resorts & Resorts – King Deluxe Room (110,000 factors per night time)

You may obtain the fifth night time free on level bookings if you happen to’re a Hilton Silver elite member or larger. Reserving consecutive nights is a good way to save lots of factors and you will get this standing with the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Credit score Card. Alternatively, you may redeem an annual free night time award issued by a Hilton bank card at one in every of these lodges.

The right way to earn Hilton factors

You may earn sufficient Hilton factors for a Seychelles resort comparatively simply. American Specific Membership Rewards is a 1:2 switch associate of Hilton Honors. Nonetheless, you’re higher off saving these factors for flights and accruing Hilton factors via a co-branded credit card:

• Hilton Honors American Specific Aspire Card*: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors bonus factors after you spend $6,000 in purchases within the first six months of card membership.
• Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card*: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Factors after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Specific Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Hilton Honors American Specific Enterprise Card*: Earn 130,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Factors after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Enterprise Card throughout the first six months of Card Membership.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card*: Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Factors after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

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Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott presently has two lodges within the Seychelles, although just one could be booked with factors. The Laïla Seychelles presents poolside deluxe rooms beginning at simply 50,000 factors per night time. This boutique resort is in Anse Royale (King’s Bay), offering 84 rooms for a non-public island getaway really feel.

For an precise non-public island expertise, look no additional than North Island, a Luxurious Assortment Resort. The property has eleven villas and is about as unique because it will get. North Island joined the Marriott Bonvoy program a number of years in the past, however award house is extraordinarily restricted. Although reviews point out that rooms can value over 300,000 Marriott factors per night time, the Marriott calendar exhibits no availability via subsequent 12 months.

No matter which Marriott Seychelles property you ebook, all Bonvoy members get the fifth night time free on consecutive night time reserving utilizing factors.

The right way to earn Marriott factors

Marriott factors are fairly attainable, because of 1:1 switch partnerships with Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Final Rewards. As well as, Marriott has six co-branded bank cards providing substantial welcome bonuses you may apply in direction of free nights:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express Card®*: Earn 185,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus factors after you employ your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases throughout the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card*: Earn 155,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus factors after you employ your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases throughout the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: 85,000 factors after you spend $4,000 within the first three months from account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card*: Earn 3 Free Evening Awards after you employ your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases throughout the first 6 months of Card Membership. Every Free Evening Award has a redemption degree as much as 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy® factors, for a complete potential worth of as much as 150,000 factors, at lodges taking part in Marriott Bonvoy®. Sure lodges have resort charges. Phrases apply.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card: Earn 3 Free Evening Awards (every night time valued as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card: Earn 60,000 Bonus Factors plus 1 Free Evening Award after you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Free Evening is valued at 50,000 factors. Sure lodges have resort charges.

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World of Hyatt

The L’Escale Resort Marina & Spa is the one Hyatt resort within the Seychelles, providing mountain view rooms ranging from 35,000 factors per night time. It’s a downright discount in comparison with different resort chains, particularly contemplating this waterfront retreat presents luxurious facilities in a tranquil setting good for rest and journey.

The right way to earn Hyatt factors

You may earn factors for a keep on the L’Escale Resort Marina & Spa by transferring them 1:1 from Bilt Rewards or Chase Final Rewards. If you happen to’re quick on factors, you may earn them from one in every of these Hyatt bank cards:

• World of Hyatt Credit score Card: Earn as much as 60,000 Bonus Factors. Earn 30,000 Bonus Factors after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, as much as 30,000 Extra Bonus Factors by incomes 2 Bonus Factors complete per $1 spent within the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that usually earn 1 Bonus Level, on as much as $15,000 spent.
• World of Hyatt Enterprise Credit score Card: Earn 60,000 Bonus Factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, as much as 9 factors complete per $1 spent at Hyatt – 4 Bonus Factors per $1 on certified purchases at Hyatt lodges & as much as 5 Base Factors per $1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member.

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Actions and floor transportation

There are many different bills to think about when setting your budget with points and miles. You’ll have to think about transportation between Mahé Island (i.e., the place you land) and your resort. You’ll additionally need to think about the price of meals, excursions and actions. All of those can add up, particularly if you happen to’re staying at a extra distant resort – they’re infamous for mountain climbing up costs for every little thing since they’ve a captive viewers.

You may redeem factors in direction of many of those bills by charging them to your bank card. For instance, the Capital One Venture and Capital One Venture X playing cards can help you redeem one cent per mile in direction of any journey buy – you must cost your meals and actions to the resort after which use your card at checkout to make sure it will get coded as a qualifying journey expense. 

When you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you may ebook excursions and actions via the Chase Journey℠ portal after which redeem factors at a hard and fast fee. Sapphire Most well-liked cardholders can redeem factors at 1.25 cents every, whereas Sapphire Reserve factors are value 1.5 cents every.

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Backside line

Touring to the Seychelles with factors and miles could be a cost-effective option to expertise this paradise island. By understanding airline reward packages and leveraging the appropriate bank cards, you may redeem your factors for many journey bills and have leftover money to play with. Better of all, the above-mentioned journey rewards playing cards can prevent international transaction charges and supply added journey protections. It’s a win-win!

*Phrases apply to American Specific advantages and presents. Enrollment could also be required for choose American Specific advantages and presents. Go to americanexpress.com to study extra.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, airline or resort chain, and haven’t been reviewed, permitted or in any other case endorsed by any of those entities.