The 150k Points Challenge: A 7-Day Family Adventure in Hong Kong & Macao
Introduction
Welcome back to the “150k Points Challenge,” where we explore how an achievable annual points budget can unlock extraordinary family travel from India. So far, we’ve shown you how to enjoy luxury in Dubai and uncover ancient wonders in Cairo.
This month, we’re taking on our most ambitious challenge yet: a 7-day, multi-city family adventure to the vibrant metropolises of Hong Kong and Macao!
This guide is a masterclass in advanced points strategy. We’ll show you how to use 150,000 points to cover both flights on a world-class airline and 7 nights of luxury hotel stays across two incredible destinations. Get ready to learn how a smart OneWorld redemption, combined with strategic Accor transfers, can deliver an entire trip.
Why Hong Kong & Macao?
Hong Kong and Macao offer an unparalleled blend of vibrant city life, rich culture, delicious cuisine, and stunning architecture – all within easy reach of each other. For a family, Hong Kong’s iconic skyline, theme parks, and bustling markets are a thrill, while Macao adds a unique blend of Portuguese heritage and dazzling entertainment. This duo makes for an incredible, diverse 7-day itinerary, and critically, both cities have excellent flight and hotel point redemption opportunities that fit perfectly within our 150k challenge.
The Points Strategy: Leveraging Multiple Bank Programs
For a multi-faceted trip like Hong Kong and Macao, we need a robust points strategy that leverages the strengths of different Indian bank transfer partners. Our 150,000-point budget needs to cover both flights and hotels, and here’s how we’ll source those “currencies”:
- For the Flights (Avios via Finnair):
- We need a total of 78,000 Avios for our round-trip flights for three people on a OneWorld partner.
- Our go-to bank for this will be HDFC Bank (e.g., Infinia or Diners Club Black cards). These cards transfer to Finnair Plus at a 1:1 ratio.
- Once in Finnair Plus, we can then transfer them to Qatar Airways Privilege Club through British Airways Executive Club (Avios) at a 1:1 ratio. This is a savvy workaround for accessing Avios from HDFC.
- Total HDFC Points to Transfer: 78,000 points.
- For the Hotels (Accor Live Limitless):
- We will need Accor Live Limitless (ALL) points for our 7 nights across three hotels.
- For Accor, Axis Bank credit cards (like Magnus or Atlas) are the clear winner.
- Axis Magnus: Transfers to Accor at an excellent 5:4 ratio.
- Axis Atlas: Transfers to Accor at a 1:2 ratio (when converting Edge Miles to Accor).
- We will use a combination of Axis Magnus and/or Axis Atlas to accumulate the necessary Accor points, depending on availability.
- Total Accor Points to Transfer: We’ll calculate the exact amount needed in the hotel section, but it will fit within our remaining 150,000-point budget after flight points.
This multi-bank strategy enables us to select the most suitable transfer partner for each redemption, thereby maximizing our overall value.
Excellent. It’s 10:40 AM on a Monday, and that “Points Strategy” section is a fantastic deep dive into the practicalities of earning and transferring points from Indian banks.
Now for the next exciting part: detailing the flight redemption. This is where we’ll explain how 78,000 Avios gets your family to Hong Kong on a world-class airline.
Let’s Write “The Power Play (Flights)” Section
Here is the draft for this section. It explains the OneWorld trick and the cost breakdown.
The Power Play (Flights): A OneWorld Sweet Spot
For a multi-destination trip like Hong Kong and Macao, a comfortable and reliable flight is paramount. This is where our Avios come into play, leveraging the power of the OneWorld alliance.
Booking Through Qatar Airways Privilege Club: We will be booking our flights through Qatar Airways Privilege Club, as Avios can be used to book flights on any OneWorld partner airline. This opens up excellent options like Cathay Pacific, which offers convenient direct flights from India to Hong Kong.
The Avios Redemption Breakdown (Per Person, One-Way):
- Avios Cost: 13,000 Avios
- Taxes & Fees (From India): Approximately ₹1,995
- Taxes & Fees (From Hong Kong): Approximately HKD 350 (around ₹3,700-₹3,800 depending on exchange rate)
Total Avios & Cash for the Family (Round-Trip):
- Total Avios: 13,000 Avios (per person, one-way) x 3 people x 2 ways = 78,000 Avios
- Total Taxes & Fees: (₹1,995 x 3) + (₹3,750 x 3) = ₹5,985 (outgoing) + ₹11,250 (return) = ~₹17,235
The Value: A similar cash fare for these flights on Qatar or Cathay would easily cost upwards of ₹30,000-₹40,000 per person, making this Avios redemption fantastic value, allowing us to fly a premium airline for significantly less.
Points Used So Far: From our 150,000-point budget, we’ve now allocated 78,000 points for our flights. This leaves us with 72,000 points for our 7 nights of hotel stays!
The Power Play (Hotels): 7 Nights Across Two Cities
With 72,000 points remaining from our 150,000-point budget, we’re ready to tackle our 7 nights of accommodation across Hong Kong and Macao. We’re leveraging the Accor Live Limitless (ALL) program for this, as it offers excellent properties in both cities and often provides great value.
Let’s break down the strategy for each location:
1. Hong Kong (5 Nights)
- Novotel Citygate Hong Kong (2 Nights): This hotel is incredibly convenient, located right next to the airport with direct MTR access to the city and the Ngong Ping 360 cable car. It’s perfect for arriving and exploring Lantau Island.
- Points Cost: Typically 5,000 – 7,000 Accor points per night. For 2 nights, let’s budget 14,000 Accor points.
- Novotel Century Hong Kong (3 Nights): Located in the vibrant Wan Chai district, this hotel offers great access to Hong Kong Island’s attractions.
- Points Cost: Typically 5,000 – 7,000 Accor points per night. For 3 nights, let’s budget 20,000 Accor points.
2. Macao (2 Nights)
- Sofitel Macau at Ponte 16 (2 Nights): A luxurious Accor property offering stunning views of the Inner Harbour and excellent access to Macao’s historic centre.
- Points Cost: Typically 4,000 – 6,000 Accor points per night. For 2 nights, let’s budget 12,000 Accor points.
Total Accor Points Needed & The Smart Adjustment
- Total Accor Points for 7 Nights: 14,000 (Citygate) + 20,000 (Century) + 12,000 (Macau) = 46,000 Accor points.
Wait, that’s 46,000 Accor points! Our remaining budget from flights is 72,000 points. This is a huge savings, we can either save the points for our next trip or enhance our stay with an upgrade to superior rooms. The choice is ours.
This is absolutely phenomenal! Our 72,000 points remaining from our 150k budget more than covers the entire 46,000 Accor points needed for these 7 nights.
The “Dealuni” Verdict: 7 Nights Luxury in Hong Kong & Macao, All on Points!
We successfully booked all 7 nights across three fantastic hotels in Hong Kong and Macao entirely on points!
Even better, we only used 46,000 points for our hotels, leaving us with a 26,000-point surplus from our original 72,000 hotel budget, meaning we’ve now used 124,000 points out of our 150,000 total budget.
This is a phenomenal redemption, demonstrating how to cover both flights and 7 nights of accommodation for an entire family across two incredible, high-cost cities, all within a 150k point budget. This is the epitome of “Whole-Trip Value.”
A Sample 7-Day Hong Kong & Macao Itinerary for Families
With your flights and 7 nights of hotels all covered, your family is set for an unforgettable adventure across Hong Kong and Macao! Here’s a sample itinerary to make the most of your trip.
(All costs are approximate for a family of three and can vary based on season and choices.)
Days 1 & 2: Hong Kong – Arrival & Lantau Island (Staying at Novotel Citygate)
- Day 1 (Arrival): Arrive at HKG, check into Novotel Citygate (conveniently located next to the airport). Explore the Citygate Outlets for some shopping. Relax and enjoy the hotel facilities.
- Day 2 (Lantau Island): Take the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car (glass bottom for thrill-seekers!) up to the Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) and Po Lin Monastery. Explore Ngong Ping Village.
- Approximate Cost: Cable Car (~₹4,000) + Meals.
Days 3, 4 & 5: Hong Kong – City Exploration (Staying at Novotel Century)
- Day 3 (Transfer & Peak): Check out from Citygate, transfer to Novotel Century (Wan Chai). Head to Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram for iconic skyline views. Explore Central and the Mid-Levels Escalator.
- Day 4 (Theme Park Fun): Choose between Disneyland Hong Kong or Ocean Park Hong Kong for a full day of family entertainment.
- Day 5 (Culture & Markets): Ride the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui, explore the Avenue of Stars, and in the evening, wander through the lively Temple Street Night Market.
- Approximate Cost: Peak Tram (~₹1,500), Theme Park tickets (~₹20,000-₹25,000), Star Ferry (very cheap) + Meals.
Days 6 & 7: Macao – History & Entertainment (Staying at Sofitel Macau)
- Day 6 (Ferry to Macao & Heritage): Take the high-speed ferry from Hong Kong to Macao (approx 1 hour). Check into Ibis Macau. Explore the Historic Centre of Macao (UNESCO World Heritage), including the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Senado Square. Enjoy some famous Macanese egg tarts!
- Day 7 (Modern Macao & Departure): Explore the Cotai Strip with its impressive resort casinos and entertainment. Later, take the ferry back to Hong Kong International Airport for your flight home.
- Approximate Cost: Ferry tickets (~₹8,000), activities, local transport + Meals.
Total Estimated Activity & Transport Cost for 7 Days: ₹35,000 – ₹60,000
The best part? You’ve essentially covered your entire luxury accommodation and flights with points, leaving your cash free to fully enjoy these incredible experiences without worrying about the budget!
The Value Tally
After leveraging multiple bank programs, advanced Avios transfers, and strategic Accor redemptions, what was the final result? Here’s a clear look at the incredible value we unlocked for this 7-day family adventure.
| Item | Cost if Paid Cash | What We Paid |
| Flights for 3 (MAA-HKG-MAA) | ~₹1,05,000 | 78,000 Avios + ~₹17,235 (taxes/fees) |
| 7 Nights Hotels (HK & Macao) | ~₹98,000 | 46,000 Accor Points + ₹0 |
| Total Trip Value | ~₹2,03,000 | 124,000 Points + ~₹17,235 |
By deploying our 150,000-point budget strategically, we covered both premium flights and 7 nights of accommodation across two cities.
Total Savings on this trip: Over ₹1,85,765! Points Surplus from 150k Budget: 26,000 points remaining.
Conclusion: A Masterclass in Multi-City Points Travel
This 7-day family adventure to Hong Kong and Macao is the most complex, and perhaps the most rewarding, demonstration yet of our “150k Points Challenge.”
This trip proved that with a sophisticated understanding of points transfers and alliance partners, you can cover not just one, but two major components of a fantastic multi-city international trip—flights on a world-class airline and 7 nights of hotels—all within an achievable points budget.
This is the power of our “Whole-Trip Value” philosophy: maximizing your points for the entire vacation experience. It’s about creating unforgettable memories without the prohibitive costs, allowing you to enjoy more of the world, more often.
