For those sitting on a serious stack of points, it’s possible to enjoy genuine luxury by redeeming your points instead of handing over cash. Flying Business Class and staying at world-class dream destinations from the pristine waters of the Maldives to the snow-capped Swiss Alps is all possible with points.
For those sitting on a serious stack of points, real luxury doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Instead of paying cash, you can redeem your points to fly in Business Class and checking into world-class hotels. Whether it’s waking up over the turquoise waters of the Maldives or gazing out at the snow-covered peaks of the Swiss Alps, these once-in-a-lifetime trips are entirely possible using points.
A must have: American Express Platinum Card
You can stretch your next getaway further with the American Express Platinum Card. American Express Membership Rewards points transfer to both Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors, unlocking high-end hotel options worldwide along with several airlines Airlines Partners.
If you’re not already a cardholder, sign up today using our exclusive referral bonus points offer and get off to a flying start once approved with your shiny new American Express Platinum Card.
Why Five-Night Stays Deliver the Best Value on Points
Five nights is where the real value kicks in, both Marriott and Hilton gifts you the fifth night free on all reward stays, turning a good redemption into an exceptional one.
- Marriott offers a fifth night free to all members, although some properties may pass on local taxes and resort fees on redemptions
- Hilton also provides a fifth night free on award bookings, but this benefit requires Silver status or higher. The American Express Platinum Card includes complimentary Hilton Honors Gold making it a great choice, additional Hilton does not pass on any fees or taxes on reward stays.
The Ultimate Destination Bucket List
We’ve curated the ultimate bucket list of destinations suited to any special occasion, whether it’s a honeymoon, anniversary, or milestone birthday just by using your American Express Membership Rewards points staying for 5 nights and flying business from Australia to your you can celebrate on Points.
We’ve curated the ultimate bucket list of destinations for any special occasion, whether it’s a honeymoon, anniversary, or milestone birthday. Stay five nights and fly Business Class from Australia return for two people, all made possible using your American Express Membership Rewards points.
Conrad Rangali Island, Maldives
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is one of Hilton’s most iconic resorts, famed for its world-renowned Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, an extraordinary dining experience set beneath the ocean.
Located in the South Ari Atoll, the resort pairs classic Maldivian seclusion with refined luxury. Think turquoise lagoons, private plunge pools, vibrant reef snorkelling straight from your villa, and sunset dolphin cruises that feel straight out of a postcard.
Book Conrad Maldives Rangali Island with Points
5 Night Hotel Stay + Return flight flying Business Class from Sydney with Singapore Airlines by redeeming 2,720,000 American Express Membership Rewards points plus approx $2070AUD taxes and seaplane transfers for 2 people.
Hotel stay
- 190,000 Hilton Honnors points per night for a Water Pool Villa Room, 5th Night Free
- You can often book a standard villa on points and upgrade to an overwater bungalow with a cash supplement based on availability.
- Return seaplane transfers are approximately $700USD per person, can only be paid with cash
Flights
- There are several routing to fly from Australia to the Maldives, typically with a stopover in Asia.
- An example: Sydney to Maldives with a stopover in Singapore. Redeem 200,000 KrisFlyer miles with Singapore Airlines plus approximately AUD 540 in taxes and fees per person.
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, UAE
Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa is an all-inclusive desert retreat set within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, approximately a one-hour drive from Dubai.
For Marriott Bonvoy members redeeming points, your stay includes three gourmet meals daily and two desert activities per night, from camel treks and wildlife drives to falconry experiences. Each private villa features its own temperature-controlled plunge pool overlooking the dunes, blending traditional Arabian design with refined, secluded luxury far removed from the city skyline.
Book Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa with Points
5 Night Hotel Stay + Return flight flying Business Class from Brisbane with Emirates by redeeming 1,604,200 American Express Membership Rewards points plus approx $4,661 AUD in taxes for 2 people.
Hotel stay
- 115,500 Marriott Bonvoy points + AED 20 (~AUD 8) in taxes per night for a Bedouin Villa with a private pool, 5th Night Free
Flights
- There are several ways to fly from Australia to Dubai with Emirates offering convenient non-stop services, or take a stoop over via Doha with Qatar Airways or via Muscat with Oman Air.
- An example: Brisbane to Dubai direct in Business Class with Emirates. Redeem 227, 800 Qantas Points plus approximately AUD 2,310 in taxes and fees per person.
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, Vietnam
JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay is a beachfront stunner on Vietnam’s laid-back island of Phu Quoc, about 20 minutes from the airport. Designed by Bill Bensley, the resort is playful and whimsical, colourful, quirky, and seriously photogenic play to unwind and relax.
Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points here offers a true tropical escape: a long stretch of white sand, multiple pools, exceptional dining, and a spa made for leisurely afternoons. It’s the kind of place where you drift between beach time, sunset cocktails, and lazy mornings with stunning poolside views.
Book JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay with Points
5 Night Hotel Stay + Return Business Class flights from Melbourne to Phu Quoc with Vietnam Airlines by redeeming approximately 1,411,500 American Express Membership Rewards points plus approx $710 AUD in taxes for 2 people.
Book Lamarck House All Inclusive Package with Points
5 Night All inclusive Hotel Stay + Return Business Class flights from Melbourne to Phu Quoc with Vietnam Airlines by redeeming approximately 9,642,000 American Express Membership Rewards points plus approx $710 AUD in taxes for 2 people.
Gather your friends and family and escape to Vietnam in serious style at the all-inclusive Lamarck House at JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay.
This exquisite seven-bedroom villa sleeps up to 14 guests and is designed for private luxury and is bookable using points which includes daily breakfast for all guests, a private 16-seat van for eight hours each day, a 60-minute spa treatment for everyone once per stay, an exclusive BBQ dinner at Lamarck House for your entire party once per stay, plus early check-in and late check-out.
Hotel stay
- 56,250 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for a Emerald Bay 1 King bed with Balcony; 5th Night Free
- 1,428,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for a the Lamarck House all Inclusive Package; 5th Night Free
Flights
- Fly with Vietnam Airlines from Sydney, Perth or Melbourne, connecting via Ho Chi Minh City before arriving in Phu Quoc. Return Business Class flights can be booked from 179,000 Virgin Atlantic Points plus approximately AUD 315 in taxes per person
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Ubud, Indonesia
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a serene riverside sanctuary tucked into the lush jungle of Ubud, around 45 minutes from Denpasar Airport. Designed to reflect a traditional Balinese village, the resort blends spiritual calm with refined luxury; think misty mornings over the Ayung River, private pool villas, and a setting that feels completely removed from the world.
Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points here unlocks a different kind of tropical escape. Instead of beachfront energy, you’ll find layered rice paddies, tranquil spa rituals and intimate dining experiences.
Book Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve with Points
5-Night Stay at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve + Return Business Class with Virgin Australia flights for 2 people fro 1,119,000 American Express Membership Rewards points plus approx AUD 690 in taxes.
Hotel stay
- 153,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for a Reserve Suite, 1 Bedroom Suite with 1 King bed, Resort view and Balcony; 5th Night Free
Flights
- There are several ways to fly from Australia to Indonesia with Virgin Australia, Qantas and Garuda Indonesia, all possible to book with points.
- An example: Sydney to Denpasar direct in Business Class with Virgin Australia. Redeem 99,000 Velocity Points plus approximately AUD $345 in taxes and fees per person.
The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, Italy
The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice is a 15th-century palazzo set directly on the Grand Canal, just steps from St Mark’s Square. Once the residence of Venetian nobility, the hotel feels like stepping into a living museum. Murano glass chandeliers, gilded mirrors, frescoed ceilings all with romantic canal views from many it well appointed rooms
Redeeming Marriott Bonvoy points here unlocks a very different kind of escape, immersed in old-world glamour and cinematic European charm with gondolas drift past throughout the day.
Book The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel with Points
5-Night Stay at The Gritti Palace + Return Business Class flights for 2 from approximately 2,456,000 American Express Membership Rewards points plus $2,765 AUD in taxes with Virgin Australia and Qatar.
You can go the extra mile you can pay your taxes with points with Velocity, this will bump up the number of American Express Membership Rewards points to 3,379,200 plus $42 AUD in hotel taxes.
Hotel stay
- 159,500 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for a Deluxe, Guest room, 1 King bed; 5th Night Free
Flights
- Redeem Velocity Points for a return Business Class flight with Virgin Australia and Qatar Airways from Brisbane to Venice for 317,000 Velocity Points + AUD 1,381.62 per person, or 547,800 Velocity Points per person if you prefer to cover the taxes entirely with points; a unique perk of the Velocity program
W Verbier, Switzerland
Perched in the heart of Switzerland’s iconic ski village, W Verbier refines alpine luxury. The blend of contemporary design with floor-to-ceiling windows snow-dusted peaks, while private balconies invite serene mornings and quiet evenings above the valley.
Located about 90 minutes’ drive from Geneva Airport, W Verbier is perfectly positioned for your next alpine escape using Marriott Bonvoy points.
Book W Verbier with Points
5-Night Stay at W Verbier + Return Business Class flights for 2 people for 2,310,000 American Express Membership Rewards points plus $2,718.62 AUD in taxes.
You can go the extra mile and cover your flight taxes with additional Velocity Points instead, this increases the total to 3,671,400 American Express Membership Rewards points plus $34 AUD in hotel taxes.
Hotel stay
- 107,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night for a Wonderful Room with King Bed, Balcony and Fireplace; 5th Night Free
Flights
- Melbourne to Geneva in Qatar Airways Business Class using Velocity Points.
- Redeem 278,000 Velocity Points + $1,359.31 per person
- Or, use additional Velocity Points to cover the taxes and book entirely on points. 504,900 Velocity Points per person,
Hilton Garden Inn Tórshavn — Faroe Islands, Denmark
Nestled in the heart of Tórshavn Faroe Islands, Denmark, the Hilton Garden Inn offers one of the most comfortable in the Faroe Islands. While it’s not an ultra-luxury resort, the hotel’s modern rooms, thoughtful amenities, and prime location make it a sophisticated base for exploring this dramatic and unspoiled archipelago.
With accommodation in the Faroe Islands often commanding high cash rates, redeeming Hilton Honors points here is a smart way to get exceptional value. From your room, you can wander the charming streets of Tórshavn, take in rugged cliffs and misty fjords, and soak up the quiet beauty of one of Europe’s most remote destinations. Vágar Airport is just a 45-minute drive, making this a surprisingly accessible gateway to the natural beauty Faroe Islands has to offer.
Book Hilton Garden Inn Tórshavn with Points
Hilton Garden Inn Tórshavn with return Business Class flights from Melbourne on Singapore Airlines and SAS for 2 people requires 2,190,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, plus approximately AUD 880 in taxes.
Hotel stay
- 39,000 Hillon Honnor points per night for a standard room; 5th Night Free
Flights
- Fly from Melbourne to Copenhagen via Singapore with Singapore Airlines using KrisFlyer miles, then onward to the Faroe Islands on SAS using Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points in Business Class for 2 people.
- Redeem 282,000 KrisFlyer miles per person, plus 31,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Club points per person, along with approximately AUD 880 in total taxes and fees flying in Business Class
Whether you’re celebrating something special or simply ready to travel better, your points can unlock Business Class flights, five-night stays, and unforgettable moments in some of the world’s most spectacular destinations.
Luxury travel doesn’t have to remain on the bucket list. With the right strategy and smart planning, these once-in-a-lifetime experiences are closer than you think. If you’re ready to make it happen, start with our Points Mastery Course or get in touch with us directly, we’ll help you plan and book your next bucket list destination using points.
