Today (January 25, 2016): Top 10 most amazing hotels where you can stay for FREE with points.

Almost all major hotel chains own a lucrative loyalty program where their guests earn hotel points that can be exchanged for complimentary stays (so-called award redemptions). Everybody should participate in these programs as they offer exclusive perks and can save you tons of money. I previously published an overview of the major luxury hotel loyalty programs and what they offer (with pros and cons):

• Starwood Preferred Guest by Starwood hotels, which includes St Regis, W, and The Luxury Collection hotels.
• Hyatt Gold Passport by the Hyatt group, which includes Park Hyatt and Andaz hotels.
• Hilton HHonors by the Hilton group, which includes the Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels.
• Marriott Rewards by the Marriott group, which includes The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott hotels.
• IHG Rewards Club by the IHG group, which includes InterContinental hotels.
• Sirius by the Jumeirah hotel group.

I hereby present you the 10 best ultra luxe hotels in the world where you can stay for free using your hotel points.

There is more info below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Share your favorite hotel award redemption in the comments section, or take my poll below!

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10. W BARCELONA, SPAIN

Located in the stunning waterfront area of Spain’s most dynamic and stylish city, W Barcelona boasts unparalleled views of both the Mediterranean Sea and the City of Barcelona from most of its 473 fabulous guest rooms and suites. Rising like a sail from the Mediterranean’s brown sands, it is as much a work of modern art as it is a luxury brand hotel. Designed by world-renowned architect Ricardo Bofill, W Barcelona sets the scene for a spectacular stay just steps from the famous Barceloneta boardwalk.

• Hotel website: W Barcelona
• Other accolades: W Barcelona features in my top 10 lists of the world’s best hotel rooms with a spectacular view and the most amazing city hotels in Europe.
• Complimentary stay: 20,000 to 25,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points.
• Review: click here to read my review of the W Barcelona.

9. ANDAZ MAUI, HAWAII, USA

Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort radiates luxury at every turn, inviting you to revel in a unique Hawaiian cultural experience. Perched along crescent-shaped shores, the 15-acre beachfront resort immerses its guests in the warm, welcoming spirit of Maui, with Andaz Suites that offer refreshing rain showers and a host of complimentary luxuries. It is a revamp of the previous hotel, the Renaissance, but with all the current incarnation’s urban sharpness and distinctive services, you would never know.

• Hotel website: Andaz Maui
• Other accolades: Andaz Maui features in my list of the best new luxury hotels of 2013.
• Complimentary stay: 25.000 Hyatt Gold Passport points per night.

8. JW MARRIOTT VENICE RESORT & SPA, ITALY

Opened in March 2015, the JW Marriott brand’s first hotel in Italy is located on a private island, Sola Delle Rose, in the Venetian lagoon, just a 20-minute ride across the Lagoon to central St. Mark’s Square by complimentary shuttle service. The resort features 266 contemporary-styled rooms and suites designed by the architect Matteo Thun, in addition to 4 restaurants, the largest spa in Venice, a romantic Church for private events, and a rooftop lounge area with pool offering a dramatic 360° view over Venice.

• Hotel website: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa
• Other accolades: JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa features in my lists of the most anticipated hotel openings of 2015 and the top 10 best luxury hotels in Venice.
• Complimentary stay: 40,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.
• Review: click here to read my review of the JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa.

7. PARK HYATT VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Overlooking Am Hof square (the largest and oldest square in the inner city of Vienna), the Park Hyatt Vienna enjoys a terrific location within the First District of the city, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ultraluxurious property occupies a 100-year-old listed building that formerly served as the headquarters of a bank. The hotel’s 143 spacious guestrooms, including 35 suites, rank amongst the largest in the city, brilliantly combining contemporary style with local Viennese accents.

• Hotel website: Park Hyatt Vienna
• Other accolades: Park Hyatt Vienna features in my lists of the best new luxury hotels of 2014 and the top 10 most amazing city hotels in Europe.
• Complimentary stay: 25,000 Hyatt Gold Passport points per night.
• Review: click here to read my review of the Park Hyatt Vienna.

6. INTERCONTINENTAL BORA BORA RESORT, FRENCH POLYNESIA

Opened in May 2006 as one of the 4 French Polynesian hotels managed by the Intercontinental Hotel Group, this secluded resort is located on a virgin beach on Motu Piti Aau, a coral island on the barrier reef along the eastern side of Bora Bora. The view of the main Island from the resort is unique, especially towards Mount Otemanu, rising majestically across the blue crystal waters of the lagoon. All of the resort’s overwater villas have a spacious shaded terrace and a large private pontoon for sunbathing.

• Hotel website: Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa
• Other accolades: Intercontinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa features in my top 10 list of the best luxury hotels in French Polynesia.
• Complimentary stay: 60,000 IHG Rewards Club points per night.

5. BURJ AL ARAB, DUBAI, UAE

The distinctive sail-shaped silhouette of Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, a glittering architectural marvel in the middle of the Arabian Gulf,  is more than just a stunning hotel, it is a symbol of modern Dubai. Burj Al Arab Jumeirah offers oversized suite-only accommodation, with each suite composed of two floors that are connected by a marble staircase. Here, you can soothe your soul in a spa-like bathroom with Jacuzzi, mosaic floor, and full-size Hermes products.

• Hotel website: Burj Al Arab
• Other accolades: Burj Al Arab also features in my top 10 lists of the world’s most amazing hotel lobbies, the world’s most outrageous, over-the-top hotel experiences, the world’s most expensive hotels, and hotels with private helipads.
• Complimentary stay: a whooping 64,600 Jumeirah Sirius points per night.

4. AL MAHA DESERT RESORT, DUBAI, UAE

Al Maha, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, is nestled in a verdant palm oasis, deep within Dubai’s magical dune and desert landscape. The suites, reminiscent of Bedouin tents, are faced far apart, blend gently into the desert, and offer unsurpassed luxury. Beautifully furnished with a unique collection of authentic Arabian artifacts and antiquities, all suites boast private pools and offer spectacular views of the Dubai Desert Reserve and its wildlife (gazelles & Arabian oryx).

• Hotel website: Al Maha Desert Resort
• Other accolades: Al Maha Desert Resort also features in my top 10 lists of hotel rooms with a spectacular view, the world’s most luxurious desert retreats, and the world’s most luxurious glamping sites.
• Complimentary stay: 60,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points per night (includes full board and two activities per day).
• Review: to read my review of Al Maha Desort Resort & Spa, click here.

3. THE RITZ-CARLTON HONG KONG

The world’s highest hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is the city’s finest 5 star hotel, situated in the upscale West Kowloon enclave. Located throughout floors 102-118 of the International Commerce Centre, the seventh tallest building in the world and the highest in Hong Kong, all 312 guest rooms and suites boasts unrivaled views of Victoria Harbour and the glimmering skyline of Hong Kong Island. Inside, soaring architectural elements encrusted with custom glass artwork echo the signature glamour of the city below.

• Hotel website: The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong
• Other accolades: The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong also features in my top 10 list of the world’s highest hotels, the best luxury hotels in China, the best luxury hotels in Hong Kong, and hotel rooms with a spectacular view.
• Complimentary stay: 70,000 Marriott Rewards points per night
• Review: to read my review of The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, click here.

2. ST REGIS MAURITIUS

The St Regis Mauritius is a tremendously impressive resort, located in the southwestern side of the Indian Ocean island. Nestled at the foot of the majestic World Heritage site of Le Morne mountain, the resort sits at the edge of a deep blue lagoon with open ocean views. The beach (the finest on the island), its turquoise lagoon (with gorgeous sunset views) and the backdrop of Le Morne mountain create a magical setting, where 172 lavishly appointed accommodations and pampering converge amid the many charms of Mauritius.

• Hotel website: St Regis Mauritius
• Other accolades: St Regis Mauritius features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury resorts in Mauritius and the best hotel spas in the world.
• Complimentary stay: 20,000 to 25,000 Starwood Preferred Guest points.
• Review: to read my review of The St Regis Mauritius, click here.

1. PARK HYATT MALDIVES HADAHAA

Situated on a private island just north of the Equator in one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world, North Huvadhoo, Park Hyatt is a strikingly modern design resort. Featuring only 50 villas, on land and over water, these impressive spaces are designed with the utmost comfort and luxury in mind, whether nestled within the island’s tropical foliage, only steps from the ocean, or elevated above the water. All villas feature a minimalist style, floor-to-ceiling windows and every comfort you would expect.

• Hotel website: Park Hyatt Maldives Hada
• Other accolades: Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa features in my top 10 lists of the best luxury resorts in the Maldives and the world’s most remote luxury hotels.
• Complimentary stay: 25,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
• Review: read here my review of the Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa.

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Today (October 14, 2015): Trip report: Finnair A350 Business Class Brussels (Belgium) to Helsinki (Finland).

I am very proud to present you today the very first Business Class trip report of Finnair’s new Airbus A350!

On October 12th 2015, I flew Business Class in a brand new Finnair Airbus A350-900 XWB (Extra Wide Body) from Brussels Aiport (BRU) in Belgium to Helsinki Vantaa Airport (HEL) in Finland. While Qatar Airways and Vietnam Airlines already operate the new Airbus A350 aircraft, Finnair is the first European airline to put the world’s most modern aircraft into service. The first Finnair A350 aircraft (registration OH-LWA) was delivered on October 7th 2015, and Finnair’s A350 fleet will become the backbone of the airline’s long-haul fleet, starting with the Helsinki-Shanghai route on November 21st. Prior to those long-haul flights, the A350 is rostered on crew familiarization flights within Europe, and Brussels was its 4th destination (after Amsterdam, Barcelona, Hamburg). I loved the brilliant A350 Finnair experience, and it’s clear that the new aircraft substantially raises the bar for passenger comfort as compared to Finnair’s Airbus A330 fleet (read here my Business Class trip report in a Finnair Airbus A330 from Bangkok to Helsinki).

Finnair features in my top 10 lists of the world’s best airline lounges, and the best Business Class amenity kits in the sky.

• Trip: BRU-HEL
• Airline: Finnair
• Aircraft type: Airbus A350-900 XWB
• Aircraft registration number: OH-LWA
• Flight Number: FIN812
• Date: October 12th, 2015
• On time departure: no (12.23 pm instead of the scheduled 11.40 am)
• On time arrival: no (3.35 pm instead of the scheduled 3.12 pm)
• Miles: 1026
• Flight time: 2 hours 12 minutes
• Seat: 8L
• Class: business (D)

In this review (more information & photos below my Youtube clip & the slideshow):

1. Facts & Figures about the A350
2. Business Class Cabin
3. Business Class Seat (& what seat to choose)
4. Amenities
5. Meal
6. Entertainment
7. Onboard internet (free!)
8. Other inflight experiences (crew, lavatory)
9. My verdict

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1. FACTS & FIGURES ABOUT THE AIRBUS A350 WXB

Here is some (fun) general information about the A350 XWB as provided by Airbus:

• The A350 XWB is the world’s most technologically advanced commercial aircraft, competing with both the Boeing 787 and the Boeing 777.

• 70% of the airframe is made of advanced materials combining composites (53%), titanium and modern aluminum alloys. Composite materials are corrosion and fatigue free resulting in easier maintenance, while titanium is a lightweight and corrosion-resistant substitute for steel.

• Eco-smart design brings more than 25% improvement in fuel efficiency compared to the previous generation of aircraft.

• Advanced pure air filtration system changes cabin air every 2–3 minutes.

• The A350 XWB is powered by the new Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines, generating 25% lower CO2 emissions.

• The A350 XWB has been awarded Common Type Rating with the A330, and it takes only one week for a pilot to transit from the A330 to the A350.

• Draft-free air conditioning, adjustable temperature zones and the cabin air pressure, which is closer to the sea level air pressure, make the flight more enjoyable and less tiring for passengers.

• The total height of the Airbus A350 XWB is equivalent to the famous obelisk monument Place de la Concorde in Paris (17 meters or 55 feet).

• The length of an Airbus A350-900 is close to the width of a rugby field (around 67 meters or 219 feet).

• The wings of the A350 XWB cover more than 2 tennis courts (443 m2 or 4768 square feet) and – inspired by birds – change their shape while airborne to reduce fuel burn.

• IMHO, the most remarkable fact: the diameter of the A350 XWB Roll-Royce Trent XWB engine is the same as the diameter of the Concorde fuselage!

2. BUSINESS CLASS CABIN

It is a clear that a lot of thought has gone into the design of Finnair Airbus A350 XWB’s remarkably bright cabin (which should not come a surprise since Finland is a country where design can be seen everywhere). Created by Finnish design house dSign Vertti Kivi & Co, the cabin is dominated by calming white and grey colours with some subtle blue accents, reflecting a fresh Nordic style that is light and spacious. In addition, the large panoramic view windows allow a lot of natural light into the cabin, contributing to the overall bright atmosphere. A remarkable feature of the cabin is the dynamic mood LED lighting, which can be changed according to the time of day, destination or even season to create a relaxing flight experience. For example, a warm orange glow can be created to suggest an Asian ambience on flights to the Far East, while cool Nordic blue shades resembling the Northern lights will mostly set the mood as the plane approaches Helsinki. How cool is that!

The Finnair Airbus A350 XWB has 297 seats: 46 in Business Class, 43 in Economy Comfort Class, and 208 in Economy Class. The 46 Business Class seats are spread over 2 cabins: a large Business Class cabin with 32 seats (in 8 rows) is located behind the cockpit, while a smaller and more intimate Business Class cabin with only 14 seats (in 4 rows) is located in front of the Economy Comfort cabin. Both Business Class cabins are divided by the main boarding door, a galley and 2 lavatories.

Business Class seats are arranged in a 1-2-1 alignment ( a so-called herringbone layout), ensuring direct aisle access for all (no jumping over people’s feet here). The Business Class seats on the sides are angled toward the window (about 2 windows per seat, offering great views), while the seats in the middle are angled towards each other. The herringbone layout is great for privacy, so even if you’re traveling solo and end up in one of the middle seats, there’s nothing to worry about since you’ll barely see your neighbor.

Click here for the seat map of Finnair’s Airbus A350 XWB (and click the seat map for a larger image).

3. BUSINESS CLASS SEAT (& WHAT SEAT TO CHOOSE)

For its Airbus A350 XWB, Finnair choose the Zodiac Cirrus III fully lie-flat seats. These are the best Business Class seats in the skies. These days, similar seats can be found on Cathay Pacific (click here for a trip report in a Cathay Pacific B77W), American Airlines (click here for a trip report in an AA B77W), EVA Air and more recently Air France. Qatar Airways also uses a variant of this seat type on their Boeing 787s (click here for a trip report) and Airbus A380/350s. However, none of these airlines (with the exception of Qatar) combines these seats with a fresh, bright, and highly aesthetical cabin design like Finnair does. IMHO, with the introduction of its Airbus A350, Finnair is offering one of the best Business Class products in the skies.

All Business Class seats have the same characteristics: 192 cm (78 inches) in pitch, a width of 53 cm (21 inch), and a 180 degree recline. Each seat comes with plenty of storage space for your personal items (such as a rather large side cabinet with enough room for a smartphone, pen, passport, glasses, and other bits and pieces). Next to the seat, at eye level, are the seat and entertainment controls, a reading light, a universal power supply outlet, and a multi-port connector with an RCA port, an iPhone/iPod connector a USB port. The seats feature a large tray table in addition to a work surface so you can eat and work at the same time. There’s a large ottoman footrest in front of every seat.

When tired, you can recline the seat into a very comfortable, fully flat-bed. The flat-bed is just over 2 metres (82 inches) long and the side storage compartment offers extra knee space for sleeping on your side. For sleeping, you may choose to leave your armrest up for more privacy, or down for more space.

What are the best Business Class seats on Finnair’s Airbus A350 XWB? Click here for the seat map.

• The seats in row 9 to 12 are located in their own little private cabin and are therefore highly recommended.
• Solo travelers should go fo the window seats, while companions should choose the middle seats.

What are the worst Business Class seats on Finnair’s Airbus A350 XWB? Click here for the seat map.

• I suggest to avoid the seats in row 1, 8 and 10, since the proximity to the galley may be bothersome.
• I also suggest to avoid the last row of Business Class, row 12, which is in front of the Economy Comfort Class bassinet seats.

4. AMENITIES

This was a short flight (2 hours and 12 min) and no amenity kit was provided. However, to promote their first A350 flight to/from Brussels, Finnair displayed some amenity kits in Business Class. The ultra-environmentally-conscious kits are intentionally minimalist and  developed in partnership with Finnish design institution Marimekko. They feature the distinctive Marimekko prints and contain essential inflight goodies including an eye shade, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste, and Clarins moisturizer and lip balm.

Finnair features in our top 10 list of the best Business Class amenity kits in the skies.

5. MEAL

A lunch was served 30 minutes after take off. The starter and main course were served at once on a single tray. Food was actually quite delicious. The starter consisted of country paté with apple chutney, while the entrée was chicken with a delicious tomato/curry sauce. Dessert was a Finnish pastry filled with blueberry compote.

6. ENTERTAINMENT

IMHO, Finnair developed one of the most impressive inflight entertainment systems. The completely new state-of-the-art Nordic Sky entertainment system has a wide selection of Hollywood blockbusters, classic movies and unique branded channels from the BBC, the National Geographic Channel, and the Discovery Channel.  The Peace of Mind Channel eases passengers into a calm and relaxing flight. The cameras installed in the tail and belly of the new plane also offer some fun moments, especially at take-off and landing (watch my video). The flight tracking is superb: you can observe the plane from different angles (including cockpit view) along the flight route by touching the screen.

7. ONBOARD INTERNET 

This will please many frequent flyers!  Business Class passengers, Finnair Plus Gold and Platinum members, and Oneworld Sapphire and Emerald members enjoy full internet access FREE of charge, while Economy Class passengers can purchase it either by the hour or for the duration of the flight. Internet worked great during the flight.

8. OTHER INFLIGHT EXPERIENCES

# CREW: this was a familiarization flight aimed at training the cabin crew and make them familiar with the new plane. More than double the normal number of crew members was present onboard, and they all did a fantastic job. I found their stylish Nordic uniforms quite remarkable.

#LAVATORY: two lavatories for Business Class passengers are located in front of the plane (behind the cockpit), and another two are located in the galley between the two Business Class cabins. Both lavatories were kept very clean during the flight. Female passengers in Business Class can take advantage of the dedicated Ladies’ Room which is stocked with cosmetics and other supplies.

9. MY VERDICT

Finnair is offering a fantastic (and my new favorite) Business Class product on its Airbus A350.

• Seat : 9/10
• Food:  8/10
• Inflight entertainment : 9/10
• Amenity kit: 9/10
• Service: 9/10
• Cabin atmosphere: 9/10
• Overall experience: superb: 8.8/10

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