Pune CA Secures Luxury Rs 3 Lakh Stay At Uttarakhand Resort, All With Her Credit Card Points

A Pune-based chartered accountant narrated how she turned Rs 4 lakh spent on her American Express Platinum Travel Card into a vacation at the Westin Himalayas in Uttarakhand. She shared a detailed thread on X, describing how she used her credit card points to get a 3-night stay, which cost almost Rs 3 lakh, for a much cheaper deal.

Situated almost an hour’s drive from Dehradun Airport, The Westin Himalayas offer a serene glimpse of Uttarakhand amidst the lush greens. The CA and her husband hired a cab from the airport at Rs 1,500 instead of paying Rs 5,000 for pickup by the hotel’s taxi. The user described the check-in experience as “well organised” and while the lobby may not have been as grand as expected, the interiors of the hotel and the services provided were smart and efficient.

The true delight of their visit was the receiving of the pleasant surprise of room upgrades. First, they were assigned to stay in a Premier Room, however, during their stay they were moved to an Executive Suite for two nights. Catered at more than Rs 90,000 per night, the luxurious suite provided an even higher level of service.

The CA also pointed out that they visited the place at the end of August so the weather was ideal. The stay also held a number of distinct perks. Normally, Marriott does not offer free breakfast when you redeem for a reward night, but this couple received free breakfast for every night of their stay without asking for it.

The Westin also provides daily Hi-Tea that is free of charge and the Ganga Aarti ceremony held on a deck along the banks of the Ganges. This spiritual event, which was always accompanied by live music, was a major attraction of their evenings. The staff even took their time to surprise her husband with birthday wishes and Negroni cake.

When it came to the food, they were treated to local and international cuisine. Among those, the user highlighted live barbecue at Haven and Japanese food at Toya.

So, how did they secure this deal?

To secure the 3-night stay, the CA used 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. They were earned from transferring 58,000 American Express Membership Rewards points which were available with a 30% bonus offer.

Originally costing Rs 1.5 lakh, the suite upgrade and additional benefits made the stay almost cost Rs 3 lakh and was achieved solely using credit card points.