Dec’16 – Jan’17 – India, Australia and New Zealand Trip: Introduction

Its December and once again time to visit India. For the last few years, I had planned our trip in such a way that after visiting India, we could add some other destinations before returning to the US. In 2013 we visited the Maldives, 2014 was a short trip to Phuket, Thailand, 2015 had us visiting South East Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand) and in 2016 it was Egypt and Kenya African Safari trip.

This year we are planning on visiting Australia and New Zealand for 12 days. Both countries are big enough that you need almost a month to barely experience each of thiese countries but we don’t have a month vacation to spare so 12 days will have to do.

Flight Routing for India, Australia and New Zealand Trip

In the coming months, I will post the following reviews from my trip.

Cost (Total for 4 travelers) *:

Airlines/Hotel:

$504 for 4 Economy class tickets from Kolkata – Bangkok
$660 for 2 Economy class tickets from Sydney – Queenstown
$355 for 4 Economy class tickets from Queenstown – Auckland
$161 for 2 Economy class tickets from Bangkok – Kolkata
$70 for 1 night (1 room) at Park Plaza Bangkok
$135 for 1 night (1 room) at Ibis Budget Sydney Airport
$168 for 2 nights (1 rooms) at Crowne Plaza Queenstown for cash portion of cash + points booking
$336 for 2 nights (2 rooms) at Crowne Plaza Auckland for cash portion of cash + points booking
$106 for 1 night (1 room) at Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport

Transportation/Sightseeing:

$360 for 4 people Milford Sound Day trip (Coach – Cruise – Coach) by Jucy Cruises
$27 for 2 people Million Dollar Cruise in Queenstown
$82 for 4 people Airport – Hotel – Airport transportation by Skybus Auckland

Miles/Points/Certificates Redeemed:

2,972 Southwest Rapid Rewards points for 1 one-way Coach ticket from Ontario – San Francisco
70,000 Singapore Airlines Krisflyer miles for 1 one-way First Class ticket from San Francisco – Hong Kong
15,000 British Airways Avios for 1 one-way Business Class ticket from Hong Kong – Bangkok
70,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles for 1 one-way Business Class ticket from Los Angeles – Kolkata
160,000 United Airlines Mileage Plus miles for 4 one-way First Class tickets from Bangkok – Sydney
20,000 British Airways Avios points for 2 one-way Coach tickets from Sydney – Queenstown
40,000 British Airways Avios points for 4 one-way Coach tickets from Auckland – Melbourne
60,000 United Airlines Mileage Plus miles for 2 one-way Business Class tickets from Melbourne – Bangkok
135,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles for 1 one-way First and 1 one-way Business class ticket from Melbourne – Los Angeles
48,000 SPG points for 2 nights (2 rooms) at Sheraton at the Park, Sydney
60,000 Hilton HHonors points for 1 night (1 room) at Hilton Queenstown
30,000 Hilton HHonors points for 1 night (1 room) at Doubletree Hilton Queenstown
80,000 IHG Rewards points for 2 nights (1 room) at Crowne Plaza Queenstown
50,000 IHG Rewards points for 2 nights (1 room) at Crowne Plaza Queenstown (Points portion of Cash + Points booking)
40,000 IHG Rewards points for 2 nights (2 rooms) at Crowne Plaza Auckland (Points portion of Cash + Points booking)
20,000 Choice Privileges points for 1 night (1 room) at Quality Hotel Melbourne Airport
176,000 Club Carlson points for 2 nights (2 rooms) at Radisson at Flagstaff Gardens, Melbourne
700 Hertz Gold Rewards points for 1 day rental in Queenstown

Miles/Points/Cash-back Earned:

905 United Mileage Plus miles for Air New Zealand flight Sydney – Queenstown x 2 travelers
7900 Club Carlson points for 1 night stay at Park Plaza Bangkok
4400 IHG Rewards Club points for 1 night stay at Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport
Cash purchases were done with cards earning mainly Citi TYP and Membership Rewards points