On May 15, Radisson launched their Big Night Giveaway (see this post), they also launched the So Go Country promotion for their Country Inns & Suites brand of hotels. With a little creativity I managed to turn one night into 55,134 points. Here's how:
The Country Inns So Go Country promotion awards 44,000 bonus points to the first 35,000 people who register and complete a qualifying stay during the promotion period of May 15, 2012 - July 15, 2012. The cavet: if you're the 35,001 person to register or complete your stay, instead of 44,000 bonus points you only get 15,000 bonus points.
Since this could be a slippery slope, I choose to complete my stay sooner vs later. Plus, there's only one Country Inn & Suites in San Diego. With limited supply and peak travel season approaching, the best rates are now vs later.
I had planned a stay-cation, booking two rooms (I had registered myself and Jeff for the promo). But Jeff reminded me that he was riding up Mt. Baldy on Saturday for stage 7 of the Amgen Tour of California, the terms and conditions of the So Go Country promo dictate that you have to be physically present at check-in and check-out, so we only booked one room.
But it wasn't a loss since my boys were drug got to experience their first mattress run.
The point breakdown:
I booked into a double Gold Points rate for only $20 more. This breaks down to $0.07 cents a point (which is the standard rate Club Carlson sells Gold Points), not saving any money but not losing either.
As a Silver member in the Club Carlson program I earn a 25% bonus.
Booking online as a Silver member gave me another 2,000 bonus.
By using the promo code mentioned in this post, I got another 2,000 points.
There's a Staples a block from the Country Inn & Suites San Diego North along with a Shell station. I needed to fill up on gas so I purchased Shell gas cards at Staples using my Ink Bold. (nod to Frequent Miler; I haven't paid at the pump since February).
I used my Sapphire Preferred card for dining to take advantage of the 2x Ultimate Rewards points on dining. The same card was used to pay for the hotel, also at 2x UR points.
We had happy hour appetizers at Chili's across the parking lot from the hotel. Then stopped by Extreme Pita (part of the idine program) since it was only 3 miles away to get a few extra miles and points. Since my Sapphire Preferred is also linked to my idine account, I earned 5 miles per dollar spent with American Airlines (my airline of choice).
Here's how:
| DESCRIPTION | POINTS | TYPE |
| County Inn & Suites - San Diego North | 2,750 | Club Carlson |
| Silver - 25% Room Points Bonus | 688 | Club Carlson |
| County Inns So Go Country 44,000 Bonus | 44,000 | Club Carlson |
| Business Rate Double Points Bonus | 2,750 | Club Carlson |
| Online Booking Silver Member Bonus | 2,000 | Club Carlson |
| Welcome Next Stay 2000 Bonus Points | 2,000 | Club Carlson |
| Staples Shell $75 Gas Card purchase | 75 | Ultimate Rewards |
| Ink Bold 5x bonus | 375 | Ultimate Rewards |
| Appetizers | 23 | Ultimate Rewards |
| Sapphire Preferred 2x dining | 23 | Ultimate Rewards |
| Dinner | 20 | Ultimate Rewards |
| AA Rewards Network | 100 | AA |
| Sapphire Preferred 2x dining | 20 | Ultimate Rewards |
| Hotel stay | 154.78 | Ultimate Rewards |
| Sapphire Preferred 2x travel | 154.78 | Ultimate Rewards |
| 55,134 | TOTAL |
Watch for a full review of the Country Inn & Suites San Diego North to be posted soon.
