Travel Agents specializing in award travel?

[boiler717]

Does anyone have a contact for a Travel Agent who specializes in award travel? The owns I've contacted don't seem to know much about maximizing rewards. I have around 500k airline miles, 500k hotel points, and some system wide upgrades to use. I'd like some guidance on the best way to utilize these. Thanks!

[Mushe]

I've never heard of a travel agent helping with this, but the Frequent Flyer forums are very useful.

[boiler717]

Jul 11, 2014 18:53:22 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

In my experience, travel agents generally don't help with FF or point redemptions because (1) they're a PITA to use and (2) they don't make money off them.

What do you mean regarding guidance on how to use them?

We have several places we want to go, and want to get the best bang for our buck. Some stuff, like my companion pass and SWU, will expire first, so I'd like to use those first but don't know what things is I should use those for vs miles. Or advice on where it's better to find a boutique hotel vs. use chain points.

I don't mind paying for someone's time, I would like to find someone smarter at me than this so we get the most bang for out points. I feel like I'm driving myself crazy figuring out the best point redemption.

[Deleted]

You mean something like this?

www.iflywithmiles.com

[boiler717]

Jul 11, 2014 19:04:56 GMT -5 v said:

You mean something like this?

www.iflywithmiles.com

Thanks! Have you used them?

[boiler717]

Jul 11, 2014 19:04:53 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Jul 11, 2014 18:59:59 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

We have several places we want to go, and want to get the best bang for our buck. Some stuff, like my companion pass and SWU, will expire first, so I'd like to use those first but don't know what things is I should use those for vs miles. Or advice on where it's better to find a boutique hotel vs. use chain points.

I don't mind paying for someone's time, I would like to find someone smarter at me than this so we get the most bang for out points. I feel like I'm driving myself crazy figuring out the best point redemption.

Where do you want to go, when do you want to travel, and how many points do you have and on what airlines?  And which hotel chains?

We would like to go somewhere in Late Aug - early Oct. Have some date ranges because of work travel but generally flexible.

I have 4 SWUs on delta (exp in Feb 2015), 1 companion pass (exp Nov 2014), all miles on delta. Majority of hotel points are Marriott, some Starwood as well. Also have a bunch of hertz points.

Places we're considering:
London
Spain
Germany
Vancouver
Kauai
Costa Rica
St Lucia
Aruba

Ideally we would do more of a city trip this fall and then a beach trip in the winter/spring next year.

For work travel, I'm in Boston Sept 10-13, PHX Sept 21-25, philly Oct 8-12.

We have a wedding in Toronto sept 6, so we were planning on tying that into my Boston trip but I can't use the companion pass for multi city and the car rental and airfare were ridic so we are scrapping. Our anniversary is Oct 3, ideally would go over that but don't have to.

[Deleted]

Jul 11, 2014 19:08:29 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Jul 11, 2014 19:04:56 GMT -5 v said:

You mean something like this?

www.iflywithmiles.com

Thanks! Have you used them?

Nope.  Found it on google, but had heard of these kinds of services from articles like this:

www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/the-navigator-frequent-flier-programs-rules-spur-boom-in-mileage-consultants/2012/02/21/gIQAakreTR_story.html

You may want to peruse the Flyertalk forums to see what info you can get for free...

[rikki]

I know of someone. I haven't used him, but know someone who has, and he seems great. I'll PM you next week. I'm not home now and think his info is written in a notebook I have.

[orval]

If aren't aware of Marriott's 7 day travel packages they are a good use of points. They give you 7 hotel nights in different categories and frequent flier miles. Sounds like you don't need the miles but you could do first class with the extras. They are on the Marriott reward section of the website.