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Bucket List Check: The Masters
If you’re like me…you’ve put your name on the Masters lottery list every year you could, but never been picked. In 2018, to celebrate my Dad’s 70th birthday, my mom decided to buy tickets aftermarket and send us on the trip of a lifetime. I can’t tell you how much fun we had, and like many trips I’ve taken in the past, what I thought would be a once in a lifetime experience, may happen again.
This was a massive bucket list item for both my dad and I. I offset the total cost of the Masters Tickets then buy redeeming World of Hyatt points at the Hyatt Place Augusta for 12k a night ( it was $1100/night cash rate )…it’s unfortunately unavailable for Masters 2022 dates.
Getting Masters Tickets with Points
Much to my chagrin, I noticed in 2019 that Marriott Vacation Club Points were available to use on Masters Tickets. We booked our tickets at the end of 2017, and honestly I’m not sure if Marriott offered that redemption or not. It would have saved a ton of cash. However… having the knowledge that this redemption exists planted the seed of a return trip.
Since Covid put all travel on a major hold, and the points set to expire this July weren’t extended, we’re pulling the trigger and booking Masters Tickets again.
How I’m using points to stay
I mentioned up above that I stayed at the Hyatt Place Augusta in 2018 for 12k points a night en lieu of the $1100 a night fee – and it’s unavailable…
This year…it’s looking like the Hyatt House is the best option at 15k points per night. The cash rate starts at $1449 a night!
- 3 night minimum stay so really 45k points
- you cannot book this room…it is non-refundable
I’m going to contact my Globalist representative and see if I can pay the difference between a Den and 1 bedroom with kitchen. I’m on the fence as to whether to book 1 or 2 rooms for the 3 nights since my mom may want to come along this time around. Either way, having the extra space would be worth a small fee.
Don’t have Hyatt points?
Don’t forget that you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards straight into Hyatt as a 1:1 transfer partner.
Our favorite Chase credit cards to earn Hyatt points:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Chase Freedom
- Chase World of Hyatt Card
- Chase Ink Business Preferred
- Chase Ink Business Preferred (2 )
- Chase Ink Business Cash
- Chase Ink Business Unlimited
You could also buy points
Without a bonus….Hyatt would price 45k points at $1080; however, keep an eye out for pricing around 1.7 or 1.8c per point ( often a 30 or 40% discount or bonus). Keep an eye on this page as we update it anytime there is a promotion.
Overall
When my Dad and I went to the Masters in 2018, I thought it would be a once in a lifetime experience that I would cherish. Being able to do it again is absolutely incredible. But, never in a million years did I think we would be able to go to the Masters and fully offset it with points. Thanks again points and miles!
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Welcome Offer
60k Points after $4k spend in 3 months
Annual Fee
$95
Points Earned
Transferrable Chase Ultimate Rewards
- 60k points after $4k spend in 3 months
- Worth $750 in Chase Travel℠ and way more if you maximize transfer partners
- 5x on all travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3x on dining, including eligible delivery services for takeout & dining out
- 3x on select streaming services
- 3x on online grocery purchases
- (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit via Chase Travel℠
- The begins immediately for new cardmembers and after your account anniversary for existing cardmembers
- 2x on all other travel
- 10% Anniversary Bonus
- Every year you keep the card, your total spend will yield a 10% points bonus. If you spend $10k in a year, you’ll get 1k bonus points
- Chase Sapphire Preferred continues to redeem at 1.25c in the Chase Travel℠ and the slew of other benefits remain in tact including Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver ( primary ), purchase protections, etc.
- Points are transferrable to 14 Ultimate Rewards partners
- Redeem in Chase Travel℠ for 1.25 cents per point
- No foreign transaction fees
- Suite of Travel and Purchase Coverage
- Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver is my favorite
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024
- $95 Annual Fee
We keep an up to date spreadsheet that lists the best ever offers: You can find that spreadsheet here.
Historically 80k is a very, very good offer and hit in both 2022 and 2023. In 2021, we saw the offer hit an all time high of 100k. Who knows if that will ever come back.
Main Cast:
Cards that earn flexible points and should be used on the bulk of your purchases.
Supporting Cast:
Cards that earn fixed points in the currency of the airline/hotel and can not be transferred at attractive rates. These cards yield benefits that make it worth keeping, but not necessarily worth putting a lot of your everyday spend on.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® is exceptional starter card and offers transferrable Ultimate Rewards, and pairs well with other Chase cards.
If you carry this card alongside Chase’s cashback cards like the Chase Freedom Flex℠and Chase Freedom Unlimited® or the business versions: Ink Business Cash® , Ink Business Unlimited® you can combine the points into Preferred account and transfer into hotel and airline partners
Annual fee is quite low at $95 a year + you get a 10% anniversary bonus on points + $50 hotel credit in Chase travel.
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