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Today starts the fourth week of Daily Getaways — an assortment of daily discounts and deals with various travel brands and loyalty programs, sponsored by the US Travel Association.
Missed our previous posts? Here’s a list of offers that are still available from previous weeks. Check out the Week 1, Week 2 and Week 3 posts to see our take on these remaining offers.
Let’s take a look at the deals for this week:
Monday, April 25 — Universal Studios Hollywood
(1) Universal Studios Hollywood 4 pack of 2-day park tickets for $500 (84 available)
This package includes four packs of 2-day park tickets at an effective rate of $125 per person. Considering 1-day passes sell for $90-115 on Universal Studios’ website, this package would be good deal if you’d like to spend two days at Universal Studios along with three friends or family members.
However, if you have the flexibility to work around some restrictive blackout dates, you can purchase a 2016 Season Pass for just $119 per person on Universal Studios’ website.
Note that the offer’s terms & conditions require you to email Universal Studios to claim your tickets. You must also provide a 30-day notice prior to your first visit date, and your second visit date must be within seven days of the first visit. Expiration date: May 26, 2017.
If you’re interested in Universal Studios Orlando — instead of Hollywood — there are still packages available from Week 2.
Verdict: Not an amazing deal, but it could be useful for some groups of four.
Tuesday, April 26 — Loews Resorts
(1) 2 Nights in a Loews Regency New York Suite for $1,000 (5 available)
(2) 2 Nights in a Bridge to Bridge Suite at Loews San Francisco for $1,300 (2 available)
(3) 2 Nights at a Four Diamond Loews Resort for $325 (20 available)
Choose between:
- Loews Miami Beach Resort, Miami Beach, FL
- Loews Don Cesar Resort, St. Petersburg Beach, FL
- Loews Royal Pacific Resort, at Universal Orlando
- Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Coronado Bay, CA
(4) 2 Nights at a Luxury Loews Hotel for $275 (16 available)
Choose between a variety of different properties, from the Loews Regency Hotel in New York City to The New Loews Chicago Hotel in Chicago.
Other cities include Annapolis, MD; Atlanta, GA; Boston, MA; Rosemont, IL; Hollywood, CA; Washington, D.C.; Minneapolis, MN; Nashville, TN; New Orleans, LA; Philadelphia, PA; Santa Monica, CA; Tucson, AZ; and Montreal, Canada.
(5) 2 Nights in an Ocean View Suite at Loews Miami Beach for $1,000 (5 available)
(6) 2 Nights in an Ocean View Suite at Loews Santa Monica for $950 (3 available)
Note: All of these offers list a generic “Reservations are based on availability and/or blackout dates” in their terms & conditions, but no blackout dates are listed. All nights must be stayed consecutively.
Travel dates: June 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017 — except Loews Miami Beach, which is only available January 1 to June 30, 2017.
Verdict: While I wouldn’t plan a trip around these deals, if you’re planning on visiting one of the cities listed, you might want to splurge on one of these packages. Just make sure to check the cash prices for your dates to make sure you’re getting a good deal.
Wednesday, April 27 — Alamo
(1) $50 Certificate Toward an Alamo Car Rental for $25 (2,000 available)
Buy up to three certificates per purchase — with no limit to the number of purchases you make — to get $50 of credit toward an Alamo car rental. Up to three certificates can be applied to each rental.
Certificates are only valid at “participating locations in the United States” and can’t be applied toward taxes and fees.
Maximum purchase: 3 certificates per purchase
Verdict: Good deal. Minimal restrictions and no expiration date make this a great purchase for most travelers.
Thursday, April 28 — Fairmont Resorts
(1) 6-Night Hawaii Vacation for $1,800 (10 available)
- Purchase of six 1-night stay certificates, which can be redeemed together or separately.
- Choose between The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui (suite) and The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii (standard room)
- Each voucher includes breakfast for two
- “Limited blackout dates may apply.”
(2) Fairmont Scottsdale Princess 3 nights for $610 (10 available)
- Purchase of three 1-night stay certificates, which can be redeemed together or separately.
- Each voucher includes breakfast for two
There are no expiration dates for either package.
While some off-peak nights might be cheaper, most nights at these properties are going to cost much more than the $300 or $203 per-night effective rates of these certificates.
Note that there are a very limited number of packages available. The 2014 version of these deals sold out in less than a minute, so be ready to purchase right at 1:00pm Eastern on Thursday if you’re interested.
If you miss out — or want to add on two extra nights to the ones you purchase — the Fairmont Visa Signature Card is currently offering two free nights at any Fairmont property after you complete $3,000 in purchases in the first three months. With the annual fee waived the first year, you’ll get these two free nights without any cost.
Verdict: Good deal if you want a luxury Hawaii or Arizona getaway — now or anytime in the future. Just don’t lose the paper certificates!
Friday, April 29 — Hyatt Points
(1) 2 Nights in a Hyatt Premium Hotel for $260 (120 available)
(2) 2 Nights in an Elite Hyatt Hotel for $330 (54 available)
(3) 3 Nights in a Hyatt Suite for $775 (25 available)
(4) 2 Nights in Hyatt Top Hotel for $415 (30 available)
| Deal | Points | Cost | Cents per Point | Available Deals |
| 2 Nights in a Hyatt Premium Hotel | 24,000 | $ 260 | 1.08 | 120 |
| 2 Nights in an Elite Hyatt Hotel | 30,000 | $ 330 | 1.10 | 54 |
| 3 Nights in a Hyatt Suite | 72,000 | $ 775 | 1.08 | 25 |
| 2 Nights in Hyatt Top Hotel | 40,000 | $ 415 | 1.04 | 30 |
While these packages are promoted as specific night packages, all four of these deals are actually a purchase of Hyatt Gold Passport points. Point purchase rates vary between 1.04 and 1.10 cents per point. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.8 cents per point, so these packages offer an incredible discount.
If you’re looking to stay at a top-category property, consider signing up for the Hyatt Credit Card instead of purchasing points through this promotion. As a sign-up bonus, you get two free nights at any Hyatt in the world after you spend $1,000 in the first three months. Plus, you’ll get a free night at any Category 1-4 property each year, as well as automatic Platinum status.
Maximum purchase: 1 of each package per Hyatt membership number. If you can manage to purchase one of each, you’ll end up with 166,000 points for $1,780 (1.07 cents per point).
Verdict: Great deal! Set an alarm for 12:55pm Eastern on Friday, as this deal will likely sell out very quickly.
Stay Tuned for Next Week’s Getaways
Next week is the fifth and last week of Daily Getaways for 2016, featuring just three offers: Avis rentals, Marriott gift cards and even more Vegas packages. Check back next Monday for my take on these offers.
Source: thepointsguy.com