2-Week Thailand, Singapore & Bali Trip on Points
This summer we spent two weeks exploring Thailand, Singapore and Bali, staying at some of the nicest hotels we’ve ever experienced and flying Singapore Airlines Business Class the entire way to and from Asia.
The best part? Almost everything was booked with points.
I always love seeing exactly how other people put together these trips, so here’s our complete itinerary, what we booked, how many points we used, and what each redemption would have cost if we had paid cash.
Seattle to Singapore on Singapore Airlines Business Class
Our trip started with one of the easiest Business Class bookings I’ve ever made.
We booked:
- Singapore Airlines Business Class
- Seattle (SEA) → Singapore (SIN)
For three of us, that came to:
- 321,000 points for 3 people
- Only $16.80 in taxes
At first glance, 107,000 points per person sounds like a lot.
But here’s the reality…
Finding three Business Class seats to Asia on the same flight is incredibly difficult. Singapore Airlines often releases saver award space when their schedule first opens, and those seats disappear quickly.
For families, I’d much rather spend a few extra points and actually get the flights I want than spend months hoping something opens.
AND you can transfer American Express, Chase, Capital One or Citi points TO Singapore Air to book these – which is exactly what we did.
My biggest booking tip
Book Singapore Airlines awards as soon as the schedule opens if possible.
If you aren’t able to constantly monitor award availability, I highly recommend signing up for an award alert service like Thrifty Traveler (*my link gets your $20 off 1st year of Thrifty Traveler Premium). I actually received an alert from them this week showing Singapore Airlines saver availability for next summer.
A Helpful Singapore Airport Tip
We had about a two-hour layover in Singapore before continuing on to Koh Samui.
Because we only traveled with carry-on luggage, we stopped at the Singapore Airlines transit desk and had our boarding passes for our next flight printed there.
That saved us from having to exit security, visit the main check-in counters, and go back through security again.
It’s a small tip, but it saved us quite a bit of time. And with that time, yes 😉, we went to the lounge. Accessed by holding The Business Platinum Card® from American Express.
Singapore to Koh Samui for Just 6,000 Points
Our next flight was on Bangkok Airways.
Instead of booking directly with Bangkok Airways, we booked the Bangkok Airways flight via Qatar using Qatar Avios (which we transferred points to – if you don’t know how to do this, this post covers that).
Each ticket cost:
- 6,000 Avios
These tickets were selling for over $200 per person, making this a fantastic points redemption.
If you ever have the chance to fly Bangkok Airways, do it.
They call themselves Thailand’s “boutique airline,” and it absolutely shows. Even on these short flights we received a meal, excellent service, and had no issues bringing our American-sized carry-on luggage onboard.
Conrad Koh Samui
3 Nights
- 360,000 Hilton Honors points for 3 nights
- Cash price: about $2,015
After landing in Koh Samui, it’s about a one-hour drive to Conrad Koh Samui.
This resort is tucked away on the southwest side of the island, making it incredibly peaceful. I actually think it’s the perfect place to begin a Koh Samui vacation because it gives you time to relax before moving to a busier area.
Every accommodation here is a private villa with its own infinity pool overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
Hilton points are also some of the easiest hotel points to earn. You can:
- Earn them directly through Hilton credit cards
- Transfer American Express Membership Rewards points at a 1:2 ratio (American Express® Gold Card is my #1 pick for earning a lot of Amex points!)
- Purchase Hilton points during one of their frequent sales
Vana Belle, A Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui
3 Nights
- One Marriott 85,000-point Free Night Certificate
- 184,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for 2 nights
- Cash price: about $1,834
For the second half of our Koh Samui stay, we moved over to Vana Belle, A Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui.
The contrast between these two locations is perfect and gives you a good overview of Koh Samui.
While Conrad Koh Samui feels secluded and peaceful, Vana Belle sits directly on Chaweng Beach, often considered the best beach on the island.
Being able to walk to restaurants, shops, and enjoy the beautiful beach after several days at Conrad was the perfect combination.
We stayed three nights at each property, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
One Night in Singapore
After Koh Samui, we flew back to Singapore using the same Bangkok Airways and Qatar Airways Avios booking.
We spent one night at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore using our American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts annual $300 credit (we get with our American Express Platinum Card®).
While this is an older Four Seasons property, the rooms were incredibly comfortable and the service was outstanding.
One thing that surprised us was how reasonably priced luxury hotels are in Singapore compared to many other major cities.
Flying KLM to Bali
Rather than using points, we paid cash for our flight from Singapore to Bali.
KLM operates this route using one of their larger aircraft, and fares were surprisingly inexpensive.
The flight is only about 2½ hours, and since prices were so low, we decided to splurge a little and book Premium Economy just to try it.
Very comfortable and easy way to get to Bali.
Why We Moved Hotels So Often in Bali
One thing many first-time visitors don’t realize is how bad traffic can be in Bali.
The two areas most visitors want to experience are:
- Ubud for rice terraces, temples, culture and jungle scenery.
- Southern Bali for beaches like Uluwatu and Jimbaran.
Driving between them can easily take three hours or more.
Rather than spending hours in the car every day, we planned our hotels around where we wanted to explore.
Alila Ubud
1 Night
- One Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate
- Cash price: about $155
Because our flight arrived later at night, I didn’t want to spend a huge number of points for that first night. Instead, we used a Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate at Alila Ubud.
I had wanted to see this property for years, especially its famous infinity pool overlooking the jungle valley. We loved the open-air restaurants and quickly realized that outdoor showers are very much a Bali tradition—every hotel we stayed at had one.
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
2 Nights
- 280,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for 2 nights
- $490 total to upgrade to a private pool villa
- Cash price: about $5,428
This was the hotel I was most excited about.
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is consistently ranked among the best hotels in the world, and somehow it still exceeded my expectations.
We paid an additional $245 per night to upgrade to a private pool villa.
When we arrived, we were upgraded even further to a River View Pool Villa.
Calling it a hotel room doesn’t really do it justice.
It felt more like our own private compound.
The villa itself was enormous, complete with a huge private pool, and even a separate living pavilion overlooking both the pool and the river.
Without question, this was one of the most luxurious places we’ve ever stayed.
Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts
2 Nights
- 240,000 Hilton Honors points for 2 nights
- $344 total for an ocean-view upgrade
- Cash price: about $1,868
From Ubud we drove about three hours south to Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts.
Again, every room here is a private villa with its own pool.
We chose to pay for an Ocean View upgrade because that was important to us, but honestly, every villa is beautiful. We were also upgraded again to an even better Panoramic Ocean View Villa, which made the stay even more memorable.
Our Final Night Near the Airport
One piece of travel advice I always follow:
Start your trip furthest from the airport and finish closest to the airport.
We followed that strategy in both Koh Samui and Bali.
With Bali’s traffic, the last thing I wanted was a stressful three-hour drive before an international flight.
For our final night we stayed at Jimbaran Puri, A Belmond Hotel, again using our American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts annual credit.
We paid a little extra for a private pool villa, but the biggest draw here is the beachfront location. It was an easy walk to the famous seafood restaurants lining Jimbaran Beach where you can enjoy dinner while watching the sunset.
And key – the next morning it was only about a 20-minute drive to the airport.
Flying Home on Singapore Airlines Business Class
For our return flights we booked:
Bali → Singapore → Tokyo → Los Angeles
Again, we flew Singapore Airlines Business Class.
For all three travelers:
- 321,000 points
- About $162 in taxes
Combined, both long-haul Singapore Airlines Business Class flights cost us:
- 642,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles
- About $180 in taxes
- Cash value: more than $28,000
Overnight at Singapore Airport
Because we had an overnight layover in Singapore, we stayed at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.
The hotel is connected directly to the airport.
You do leave the secure area, but you never actually leave the airport complex, and the walk takes only about ten minutes.
We used the annual $300 Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card travel credit, which covered almost the entire stay.
Points Summary
Flights
Singapore Airlines Business Class
- 642,000 Singapore KrisFlyer miles
- About $180 in taxes
- Cash price: Over $28,000
Bangkok Airways (Booked via Qatar Airways)
- 36,000 Avios
- About $225 in taxes
- Cash price: $1,455
Hotels
Conrad Koh Samui
- 360,000 Hilton Honors points
- Cash price: $2,015
Vana Belle, A Luxury Collection Resort, Koh Samui
- One Marriott Bonvoy 85,000-point Free Night Certificate
- 184,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
- Cash price: $1,834
Alila Ubud
- One Hyatt Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate
- Cash price: $155
Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve
- 280,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
- $490 villa upgrade
- Cash price: $5,428
Umana Bali, LXR Hotels & Resorts
- 240,000 Hilton Honors points
- $344 ocean-view upgrade
- Cash price: $1,868
Final Thoughts
This itinerary is exactly why I love points.
Instead of spending well over $40,000 on flights and hotels, we were able to experience some of the best airlines and luxury resorts in the world using points we’d earned from everyday spending and welcome offers. Welcome offers are exactly how we accumulate enough points to travel like this – check here for the current TOP offers.
For me, that’s what points are all about.
Not just saving money—but creating trips that would have otherwise stayed on the dream list.
