Unlock Your 2025 Bali Adventure: Travel with Points and Miles

This series of articles concerning credit cards, travel points, and budgeting for travel is presented in collaboration with The Points Guy.

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Overview of Bali

Bali is renowned for its pristine beaches, verdant landscapes, and profound cultural heritage, making it a favored holiday destination for both luxury and adventure travelers. Its affordability coupled with a diverse array of accommodations caters to a broad range of visitors. Popular activities, including surfing, snorkeling, trekking, and exploration of ancient temples, guarantee that there is something available for every traveler on this Indonesian island. While Bali remains relatively economical, there remains a continuous opportunity to save costs utilizing points and miles.

Effectively utilizing your points can convert your Balinese vacation into an economical yet luxurious retreat, enabling you to immerse in the island’s experiences while maintaining your travel budget. Here is a detailed guide on traveling to Bali utilizing points and miles:

How to get started with travel points and airline miles

Bali Hotels to Utilize Points

Renowned for its picturesque resorts, charming villas, and varied accommodations, Bali becomes increasingly accessible when you utilize your collected points. Every significant hotel chain operates multiple properties in Bali suitable for every budget. Whether you desire the tranquility of a beachside retreat in Nusa Dua or the vibrant atmosphere of Seminyak, hotel points offer significant savings. Here is a compilation of the top budget, mid-tier, and luxury hotels in Bali that can be booked using points:

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IHG Rewards Overview

IHG maintains almost a dozen hotels in Bali eligible for booking with points. Although IHG refrains from publishing an award chart, you may expect to redeem between 9,000 to 126,000 points nightly. The redeemable amount will vary according to the hotel and the season. Holders of the IHG credit card can enjoy the fourth night complimentary on consecutive award night bookings. This effectively reduces your cumulative rate by 25%, a generous offer indeed. Below is a selection of our preferred IHG hotel options in Bali:

Best budget hotel: Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali (16,000 points per night)

Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali stands out as a superb budget accommodation conveniently located. The resort is only a 15-minute drive from the airport, facilitating easy access and offering savings on transport expenses. Children stay and dine free, while adults enjoy complimentary breakfast each day. Free night rates fluctuate based on the season, but anticipate spending approximately 16,000 IHG points per night.

Best mid-tier hotel: Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach (35,500 points)

Hotel Indigo Bali Seminyak Beach is an excellent mid-tier hotel choice. Nestled along a private coastline, 30 minutes from the airport, the hotel boasts six dining establishments, complimentary parking, and Wi-Fi for all guests. A standard award secures a spacious, elegantly appointed room inclusive of a balcony and daybed.

Best luxury hotel: Six Senses Uluwatu (126,000 points)

Positioned in South Bali, Six Senses Uluwatu represents IHG’s premier luxury accommodation. Standard awards typically require about 126,000 points per night and include complimentary breakfast. At this rate, guests receive a 1,160 sq ft Sky Suite equipped with an outdoor deck featuring a bathtub and ocean views.

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How to earn IHG points

Obtain IHG points for any of the Bali hotels through the application of an IHG credit card or by transferring points from Bilt Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

• IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn 140,000 Bonus Points upon spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

• IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card: Earn 140,000 Bonus Points following $4,000 in purchases within the initial 3 months of account opening.

• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. This equates to $900 cash back or $1,125 towards travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Earn 80,000 Bonus Points upon spending $2,000 on purchases within the initial 3 months of account initiation.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Obtain 60,000 bonus points following $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months from account creation. This translates to $750 redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Secure 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the initial 3 months of account opening. This results in $900 towards travel when redeemed via Chase Travel℠.

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Hilton Honors Overview

Hilton features four hotels in Bali encompassing a spectrum from budget to luxury. Although Hilton Honors does not provide a published award chart, it offers a calendar function enabling users to identify the most economical point rates at any given hotel. Hilton Silver elite members and upwards benefit from the fifth night free on consecutive award night bookings, further enhancing affordability. Automatic Silver status can be obtained with the no-annual-fee Hilton Honors Credit Card.

Best budget hotel: Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport (11,000 points)

Hilton Garden Inn Bali Ngurah Rai Airport serves as an excellent budget selection for late arrivals. Why incur costs for an extravagant hotel when you arrive too late to enjoy its amenities? Lodging at the Hilton Garden Inn near the airport offers comfort and savings. Room rates begin at 11,000 points per night; the resort is merely two miles from the airport, a shopping center, and a water park.

Best mid-tier hotel: Hilton Bali Resort (35,000 points)

Hilton Bali Resort stands majestically atop a cliff with sweeping views of the Indian Ocean. This beachfront establishment provides every amenity required for a leisurely holiday: four pools, a sand lagoon, a world-class spa, and four on-site dining options, among others. A Garden View room at the Hilton Bali can be booked starting at 35,000 points per night.

Best luxury hotel: Conrad Bali (48,000 points)

Conrad Bali, a high-end resort located in Nusa Dua, features expansive pools, a prime beachfront, and an extraordinary spa. Starting at 48,000 points per night, guests can secure a spacious Deluxe room characterized by a marble bathroom and a balcony that overlooks the pool.

Marriott Bonvoy Overview

Marriott boasts 28 properties in Bali, providing a multitude of opportunities to redeem Marriott points. Marriott does not maintain a public award chart; rates differ based on the travel season. However, you can utilize the calendar function to explore the lowest point rates, assuming flexibility in your travel dates. It’s pertinent to note that Marriott Bonvoy members enjoy the fifth night free on consecutive award stays. Hence, despite potentially high point rates, saving can be achieved through five-night bookings.

Best budget hotel: Fairfield by Marriott Bali Legian (6,500 points)

Fairfield by Marriott Bali Legian presents an ideal budget accommodation for travelers desiring proximity to nightlife and a mere 15-minute drive to the airport. Complimentary music lessons, along with cooking and mixology classes, enhance the stay. Standard guest rooms are designed minimally, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows that invite natural light. Free nights commence at a mere 6,500 points.

Best mid-tier hotel: The Ritz-Carlton Bali (46,000 points)

The Ritz-Carlton Bali makes a compelling choice for indulging in a luxurious escape, contingent on having ample points available. For 46,000 points per night, guests can reserve a Sawangan Junior Suite offering over 1,000 sq ft of space, replete with a marble bathroom and an expansive balcony overlooking the pool.

Best luxury hotel: St. Regis Bali (82,000 points)

Recognized for its sumptuous rooms, lush gardens, and immaculate beach, The St. Regis Bali warrants attention. For 82,000 points per night, practices like securing a 990 sq ft St. Regis Suite featuring ample sitting space, a walk-in closet, and a lavish marble bathroom await. If your travel dates allow flexibility, discounted PointSaver awards can be booked for 65,600 points nightly.

World of Hyatt Overview

Hyatt operates 13 hotels and resorts in Bali where points can be utilized for bookings. The properties in Bali represent remarkable value, showcasing impressive accommodations at low redemption rates. It’s an optimal location to maximize your point value, with rates beginning at just 3,500 points per night.

Best budget hotel: Alila Manggis (3,500-6,500 points)

Category 1 Alila Manggis qualifies as an excellent budget accommodation option using points. With room rates starting at only 3,500 points per night, assembling a week-long vacation or longer is feasible through credit card welcome bonuses. Set among the coconut groves of northeast Bali, this eco-friendly resort presents an intimate getaway from the island’s bustling tourist attractions. Reservations made with points are notably advantageous, as even standard rooms offer ocean views.

Best mid-tier hotel: Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort (21,000-29,000 points)

Category 6 Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort functions as a luxury wellness facility featuring merely 27 rooms enveloped by rice paddy fields. Acquiring a complimentary night affords access to a Grand Deluxe Terrace Paddy View room.

Best luxury hotel: Alila Villas Uluwatu (25,000-35,000 points)

For those in search of a luxury property in Bali, the Category 7 Alila Villas Uluwatu serves as a superb use of points. This cliffside resort, located on the southern tip of the island, is distanced from the fray of tourist zones. With redemption rates between 25,000 to 35,000 points per night, you can secure a one-bedroom pool villa that extends over 3,000 sq ft and features a large outdoor cabana with ocean views. It represents a unique property and a remarkable application of Hyatt points.

Affordable Flights to Bali

For travelers seeking the most economical means of visiting Bali’s idyllic shores, leveraging award flights through points and miles is highly beneficial. Several airlines and rewards programs facilitate affordable award flights, predominantly within the Oneworld alliance.

Here’s a summary of the cheapest award flights to Bali and strategies to acquire miles:

• Cheapest economy class ticket to Bali: 55,000 ANA miles round-trip

• Cheapest business class ticket to Bali: 140,000 American miles round-trip

• Cheapest first-class ticket to Bali: 140,000 Alaska miles round-trip

Alaska Airlines Overview

Alaska Airlines MileagePlan provides some of the most affordable award flights to Bali. Access the destination through partner carrier Cathay Pacific with a transit in Hong Kong. An appealing aspect of Alaska MileagePlan is the option for a complimentary stopover on one-way international flights. For instance, securing a one-way ticket to Bali inclusive of a free stopover in Hong Kong allows for multiple destinations incorporated within a single journey.

• Economy class: Begins at 60,000 miles round-trip

• Business class: Starts from 100,000 miles round-trip

• First class: Begins at 140,000 miles round-trip

Transferring Marriott points to Alaska Mileage Plan is feasible at a 3:1 ratio, alongside a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points transferred. Additionally, Alaska miles can be accumulated through two co-branded credit cards:

• Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card: Receive 50,000 bonus miles along with Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you spend $3,000 within the first 90 days of account creation.

• Alaska Airlines Visa® credit card: Gain 60,000 bonus miles in addition to Alaska’s Famous Companion Fare™ after spending $3,000 in the first 90 days post-account opening.

American AAdvantage Overview

American Airlines offers AAdvantage members the option to redeem miles for Cathay Pacific flights to Bali. The rates align closely with those seen in Alaska Mileage Plan; however, AAdvantage miles may be easier to accumulate. It is plausible to utilize Alaska miles for the outbound journey (including the free stopover) and redeem American miles for the return.

• Economy class: From 75,000 miles round-trip

• Business class: From 140,000 miles round-trip

• First class: From 220,000 miles round-trip

Transferring AAdvantage miles at a 1:1 ratio from Bilt Rewards is available, along with the acquisition of mileage through various AAdvantage credit cards:

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive Mastercard®: Acquire 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 within the first three months of account opening.

• CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Secure 65,000 bonus miles by spending $4,000 in the first four months after account creation.

• Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Gain 50,000 bonus miles after allocating $2,500 within the first three months of account initiation.

• Barclays AAdvantage® Aviator® Red World Elite Mastercard®: Obtain 50,000 bonus miles after making a purchase and paying the $99 annual fee in the first 90 days.

Activities and Transportation Options

Expenses for activities and ground transportation in Bali tend to be relatively affordable. Most hotels are conveniently located near the airport, with reasonable shuttle services available to major resort destinations. To achieve savings on such costs alongside tourist activities, leveraging popular loyalty programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One can be advantageous.

The Capital One Venture and Venture X cards enable the payment of travel-related fees, allowing for redemption of miles at a value of one cent per mile. Alternatively, tours, activities, and transportation can be booked through the Chase Travel℠ platform, where points have a valuation of 1.25 cents each when utilizing the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and 1.5 cents each with the Chase Sapphire Reserve®.

Conclusion

Whether your goal is a budget-friendly adventure or an extravagant escape, Bali represents a superb destination to experience a diverse array of travel opportunities. By strategically gathering and utilizing miles and points, travelers can achieve substantial savings on airfare, facilitating exploration across Bali without exorbitant expenses. With hotel rates starting at merely 3,500 points per night and reasonable flight awards, you can relish the pinnacle of this island at a significantly reduced cost.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for further details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Editorial disclaimer: The perspectives articulated herein are solely those of the author, with no affiliation, review, or endorsement from any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain.

This article was initially published on Nov 6, 2023, and revised on Oct 1, 2024.