hotel strategy

Choosing, valuing, and optimising hotel stays across cash, points, status benefits, credits, upgrades, and tradeoffs.

IHG

Jul 28, 2026

•

3 min read

How I Built My Baltimore Rugby Weekend

What began as a hotel comparison gradually became a trip assembled from free-night certificates, Amex credits, statement offers and award opportunities.

Expat Vista

Amex Platinum

How I Chose a Luxury Hotel for a 16-Hour Layover

Jul 16, 2026

•

9 min read

How I Chose a Luxury Hotel for a 16-Hour Layover

Comparing the Capitol Kempinski, Conrad Singapore Marina Bay, Singapore EDITION and Shangri-La for a 16-hour layover using Fine Hotels + Resorts, loyalty earnings and total trip cost.

Expat Vista

hotel strategy

Jul 3, 2026

•

2 min read

THE PRAGUE COLLECTION

One January trip, and the articles it inspired.

Expat Vista

Family Travel

Jun 25, 2026

•

1 min read

THE OSLO COLLECTION

Five Stories from One Trip

Expat Vista

IHG

Jun 19, 2026

•

5 min read

Crowne Plaza Managua Review

A former InterContinental overlooking Lake Managua, and our base for exploring Managua after Calala Island.

Expat Vista

IHG

Jun 15, 2026

•

3 min read

An IHG Award as an Insurance Policy

Using IHG Points & Cash to solve a housing problem before an internship starts.

Expat Vista

Family Travel

Jun 4, 2026

•

4 min read

Scandic Solli Oslo Review

A practical family base in expensive Oslo, with strong breakfast value, workable room economics, and a better location than expected.

Expat Vista

IHG

May 31, 2026

•

3 min read

IHG Free Night Certificate Mistake

A rebooking error changed the redemption decision months later

Expat Vista

Amex Platinum

May 26, 2026

•

4 min read

Oslo Hotel Math

Why the expensive hotel belonged on the cheaper nights, why the family hotel handled the expensive ones, and why this was never going to be a one-hotel trip.

Expat Vista

Hotel Reviews

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale, Revisited

May 24, 2026

•

2 min read

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale, Revisited

We needed to be in northwest London anyway. The question became whether a nearby apartment, dinner, drinks, breakfast, and revision space could beat the normal weekend spend.

Expat Vista

Portfolio Management

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

May 11, 2026

•

4 min read

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

The math worked on paper. A week later, where we stand on all the rebates, points, and the stay experience itself.

Expat Vista

Hotel Reviews

May 9, 2026

•

3 min read

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale Review

An upgraded Executive Apartment with far more usable space than expected

Expat Vista

Miles & Points

Free Night Certificates: How to Use Them Well

May 2, 2026

•

2 min read

Free Night Certificates: How to Use Them Well

Across Marriott, Hilton, and IHG

Expat Vista

Portfolio Management

Closing the Loop: Selling at 240k, Buying Back at 95k

Apr 7, 2026

•

2 min read

Closing the Loop: Selling at 240k, Buying Back at 95k

An Arbitrage in Hilton Aspire Free Night Certificates

Expat Vista

IHG

Crowne Plaza Utrecht Review: Next to the Station, Built for Short Stays

Apr 4, 2026

•

3 min read

Crowne Plaza Utrecht Review: Next to the Station, Built for Short Stays

A one-night stay around a hockey schedule, and what this hotel delivers

Expat Vista

Amex Platinum

Mar 30, 2026

•

3 min read

Hilton Credits in London: What Triggers

Testing how payments are processed across hotel bars and restaurants

Expat Vista

Hilton

Mar 25, 2026

•

4 min read

The 240k Hilton Point / FNC Swap Actually Worked

What was required, and what Hilton’s system allows

Expat Vista

IHG

Feb 25, 2026

•

4 min read

IHG and Me

A quiet but essential part of the hotel portfolio

Expat Vista

Amex Platinum

Feb 5, 2026

•

3 min read

Siem Reap: Using FHR as a Capped Rebate

Three nights, two tools, and why stopping early was optimal

Expat Vista

IHG

Kimpton Fitzroy London Review: When Pricing Logic Meets Taste

Jan 31, 2026

•

3 min read

Kimpton Fitzroy London Review: When Pricing Logic Meets Taste

A field report on pricing quirks, restraint, and why some hotels feel different

Expat Vista

IHG

IHG Awards: When Better Rooms Cost the Same Points

Jan 26, 2026

•

4 min read

IHG Awards: When Better Rooms Cost the Same Points

Using the Kimpton Fitzroy to illustrate a common pricing quirk

Expat Vista

hotel strategy

Jan 23, 2026

•

4 min read

Berlin, Planned Around One Fixed Date

East, centre, and west over three days

Expat Vista

Points Accounting

Jan 23, 2026

•

1 min read

The Berlin stay, in numbers

A clean ledger of hotels, points, and one structured experience

Expat Vista

Amex Platinum

Jan 21, 2026

•

3 min read

Grand Mark Prague Hotel Review

A boutique hotel stay deliberately timed for Sunday pricing, Fine Hotels & Resorts value, and the best chance of securing an upgrade.

Expat Vista

hotel strategy

Jan 19, 2026

•

4 min read

Buying Wyndham Points Too Early

And why it still worked anyway

Expat Vista

hotel strategy

How I Built My Baltimore Rugby Weekend

How I Chose a Luxury Hotel for a 16-Hour Layover

THE PRAGUE COLLECTION

THE OSLO COLLECTION

Crowne Plaza Managua Review

An IHG Award as an Insurance Policy

Scandic Solli Oslo Review

IHG Free Night Certificate Mistake

Oslo Hotel Math

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale, Revisited

How the Maida Vale Pub-Substitution Trade Played Out

London Marriott Hotel Maida Vale Review

Free Night Certificates: How to Use Them Well

Closing the Loop: Selling at 240k, Buying Back at 95k

Crowne Plaza Utrecht Review: Next to the Station, Built for Short Stays

Hilton Credits in London: What Triggers

The 240k Hilton Point / FNC Swap Actually Worked

IHG and Me

Siem Reap: Using FHR as a Capped Rebate

Kimpton Fitzroy London Review: When Pricing Logic Meets Taste

IHG Awards: When Better Rooms Cost the Same Points

Berlin, Planned Around One Fixed Date

The Berlin stay, in numbers

Grand Mark Prague Hotel Review

Buying Wyndham Points Too Early

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