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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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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.

Bilt Points in Action: My Free Caribbean Escape from Nashville

Welcome back to my blog series on how to vacation for free using points! In this second installment, I’m sharing how to book a 7-day, 6-night Caribbean escape to Jamaica—flights, resort, meals, and drinks included—while paying almost nothing out of pocket. With 200,000 Bilt Rewards Points and some strategic planning, I’ve crafted an incredible getaway from Nashville, TN, where points cover over 100% of the total cost of flights and hotel for 2 people. Here's exactly how I did it—and how you can too.

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Goal Overview

• Points available: 200,000 Bilt Points

• Target coverage: 100% of total flight + hotel costs

• Estimated total value needed: ~$2,000

• Trip length: 7 days / 6 nights

• Region: Caribbean (Aruba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, etc.)

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Step 1: Maximize Point Value (Aim for 1.5–2.2 cents per point)

Bilt Points are incredibly valuable because they transfer 1:1 to a wide range of travel partners, many of which can offer 2.0+ cents per point in value when redeemed smartly.

Bilt Airline Transfer Partners (1:1)

• American Airlines AAdvantage (Exclusive)

• United MileagePlus

• Air Canada Aeroplan

• Flying Blue (Air France/KLM)

• Avios (British Airways, Iberia, Qatar)

• Turkish Miles&Smiles (great for low-cost awards to Caribbean)

Flights from Nashville to Montego Bay (MBJ)

Flying from Nashville (BNA) to Montego Bay, Jamaica is simple with connections through Charlotte or Miami on American Airlines.

Flight Strategy:

• Airline Partner: American Airlines via Avios (British Airways) transfer

• Points Used: ~40,000 Bilt Points for 2 round-trip tickets

• Estimated Cash Value: $800

• Out-of-Pocket: $0

✅ High redemption value: ~1.8–2.2 cents/point

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Hotel: 6 Nights at Hyatt Zilara or Ziva Rose Hall (All-Inclusive)

Hyatt’s all-inclusive Zilara (adults-only) and Ziva (family-friendly) in Montego Bay, Jamaica are top-tier Caribbean resorts—and offer incredible value with points.

Hotel Strategy:

• Hotel: Hyatt Zilara or Ziva Rose Hall

• Category: All-Inclusive (Hyatt Category C)

• Points Used: 25,000–30,000 points/night

• Total Points: ~160,000 Bilt Points for 6 nights

• Cash Value: ~$3,200+

• Out-of-Pocket: $0

These properties include:

• Ocean-view suites

• Unlimited food and drinks

• Access to private beaches, pools, and excursions

• No resort fees or taxes when booked on points

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Full Trip Breakdown

For this trip, I used 40,000 Bilt Points (transferred to Avios) to book two round-trip flights on American Airlines, covering about $800 in airfare with zero out-of-pocket cost. For the hotel, I transferred 160,000 Bilt Points to Hyatt and redeemed them for six nights at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, valued at $3,200—again, with nothing paid out of pocket. In total, I used 200,000 points to cover $4,000 worth of travel, leaving me to spend just around $222 (roughly 10%) on optional extras like excursions or tips. That means 100% of my flights and hotel are paid for with points, with no added costs for meals, drinks, or entertainment at the resort.

Why This Works So Well with Bilt

• 1:1 transfers to both Avios and Hyatt for premium value

• Hyatt all-inclusives like Zilara/Ziva offer 2.0–2.5 cents per point in value

• Bilt is the only program that transfers to American Airlines, unlocking tons of Caribbean routes

• Avios bookings often cost fewer points than AAdvantage directly

Planning Your Own Free Trip to Jamaica?

If you’ve got Bilt Points, you’re sitting on a potential luxury vacation fund.

Whether you’re flying from Nashville or another U.S. city, you can use this same strategy to book:

• Flights on American Airlines using Avios

• All-inclusive stays at top Hyatt resorts

• A vacation that’s mostly or totally covered by points

  Want help figuring it out? I create custom points award travel plans. Just send me your destination, dates, and point balances—and I’ll map it out for you.