How I Booked a 7-Day Trip to Kenya Using Just Amex and Chase Points
If you've been following my blog series, you’ve already seen how I used points to escape to the Caribbean for a quick 3-day getaway and then booked an all-inclusive 7-night vacation to Jamaica—flights, hotel, and cocktails covered. Now, for the third installment, I’m going bigger: an African adventure.
I set out to do this using 200,000 points, but I didn’t even need that much. With just 92,000 Amex Membership Rewards points and 45,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points, I planned a 7-day, 6-night trip to Kenya, flying out of Charlotte, North Carolina, and covered most of my flights and hotel stay. Here's exactly how I made it happen—so you can, too.
Flights to Kenya — Paid with Amex Points
Make it stand out
I started with flights. From Charlotte (CLT), I found excellent round-trip award space to Nairobi (NBO) using Flying Blue, the loyalty program for Air France and KLM. Since Amex Membership Rewards points transfer 1:1 to Flying Blue, it was the perfect opportunity to book a long-haul award. I scored a round-trip economy flight for just 92,000 miles, flying outbound on March 3 and returning on March 10. The routing included two connections each way, but the itinerary was solid—and completely bookable with points. Taxes and fees totaled $483.61, which is on the higher end, but considering the cash value of this itinerary (often $1,800+), it was still a strong redemption.
Summary:
Transfer Partner: Amex → Flying Blue (Air France)
Points Used: 92,000 Amex points
Value Received: ~$1,800+
Cash Paid: $483.61 (taxes/fees)
7 Nights in Nairobi — Covered with Chase Points
For my stay in Nairobi, I used Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which transfer 1:1 to World of Hyatt, to book the Hyatt Regency Nairobi Westlands. This modern, centrally located hotel was perfect for both city exploring and relaxing downtime.
Even better, the award pricing was incredible—just 6,500 points per night, totaling 45,500 points for a full 7-night stay. And because Hyatt award bookings include all taxes and fees, I paid absolutely nothing out of pocket for the hotel. Rooms at this property typically run over $1,000 for a week, making it one of the best Hyatt redemptions I’ve ever booked.
Hyatt Regency Nairobi Westlands
The Hyatt Regency Nairobi Westlands is a five star hotel and is sleek, modern hotel situated in one of Nairobi’s most vibrant neighborhoods. Perfectly located for both business and leisure travelers, it offers easy access to shopping, dining, and cultural attractions while still providing a peaceful, upscale retreat. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed with panoramic city views, and amenities include a rooftop pool, fitness center, multiple restaurants, and attentive service. Whether you’re unwinding after a safari or exploring Nairobi’s urban energy, this Hyatt property delivers premium comfort at outstanding value—especially when booked with points.
Summary:
Transfer Partner: Chase → World of Hyatt
Points Used: 45,500 Chase points
Value Received: ~$1,000+
Cash Paid: $0
Full Trip Breakdown
For this trip, I used 92,000 Amex Membership Rewards points, transferred to Flying Blue, to book a round-trip flight from Charlotte to Nairobi, worth approximately $1,800 in cash. Taxes and fees totaled $483.61. For lodging, I transferred 45,500 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt and booked a 7-night stay at the Hyatt Regency Nairobi Westlands, with a value of around $1,000.
In total, I redeemed 137,500 points and paid just under $500 out of pocket, covering 100% of my flights and hotel for a full week in Kenya.
🗺 Pro Tips for Booking This Trip
Book flights early: Award seats to Africa go fast. Flying Blue opens awards ~11 months in advance.
Confirm award space before transferring: Both Amex and Chase transfers are final.
Check Flying Blue Promo Rewards: Sometimes you can find fares to Nairobi for 50% fewer miles.
Hyatt bookings include taxes and fees: So your hotel redemption really is $0 out of pocket.
Final Thoughts
From the Caribbean to East Africa, this series proves you don’t need a massive budget to travel the world in comfort—just smart use of points. With a combined 200,000 points (100k Amex + 100k Chase), I booked a trip that would have cost over $2,800 and paid less than $500 in taxes for flights and hotel.
Next stop? I’m already looking into Thailand, Portugal, and maybe even South America—all with points. Let me know where you want to go, and I’ll show you how to get there for free.
Next up? I’ve got my eyes on Thailand, the Maldives, or a multi-country hop through Europe. If you want a breakdown of how to plan one of those trips using your own points, drop a comment or send me your points balance—I’d love to help you map it out.
