Award Travel Planning – Expert Points Strategy & Trip Design

At Astute Travel Advisors, we specialize in award travel planning — combining expert points strategy, personalized itineraries, and real‑world travel coaching. Whether you’re seeking a luxury European escape, a multi‑city adventure, or a strategic award‑flight booking from Chicago, our advisors help you plan smarter and travel better — maximizing your miles, cash options, and experiences.

Why Choose Award Travel Planning?

Award travel can be complex — partner airline rules, blackout dates, dynamic pricing, and transfer timing can make even the most seasoned traveler feel overwhelmed. Our experts simplify the process, helping you use points strategically while balancing cash alternatives for maximum flexibility.

• Save Time – Skip endless research across loyalty programs and flight portals.
• Maximize Value – Learn when to redeem miles vs. pay cash.
• Tailored Planning – We design complete itineraries including award flights, hotels, and on‑the‑ground logistics.
• Expert Coaching – We guide you on how to book, transfer, and track your redemptions.

Our Award Travel Planning Process

We take a strategic approach to planning your award travel experience from start to finish:

1. Discovery & Profile – We start with a consultation to understand your loyalty programs, destination goals, and travel style.
   2. Strategy & Research – We identify the best redemption paths and award availability for your preferred destinations.
   3. Itinerary Development – We integrate flights, hotels, and transfers into one cohesive trip plan.
   4. Booking Coaching – We guide you through completing bookings with your own points or cash.
   5. On‑Trip Support – We stay available for questions, changes, and future planning guidance.

Pricing and Service Scope

Our award travel planning fees are variable depending on the length, complexity, and customization of your itinerary. Each proposal includes a transparent estimate before we begin. While we make recommendations for award flights and hotel bookings, we do not directly book award travel on your behalf. Instead, we provide step‑by‑step coaching to help you complete those bookings confidently. We also provide guidance on when paying cash delivers better value — ensuring you always get the best outcome.

Pay with Points — Not Cash

Best yet, you can pay us with your existing points — not your hard‑earned cash. We currently accept the following loyalty currencies as full or partial payment for our planning services:

• Hyatt Points
• Hilton Honors Points
• IHG One Rewards Points
• Marriott Bonvoy Points
• Avios (through Finnair, British Airways, Iberia, and Qatar Airways)
• Capital One Miles

Coming soon: Citi ThankYou Points and Wells Fargo Rewards.

This unique flexibility allows you to turn dormant points into valuable travel‑planning expertise — making every mile work harder for you.

What We Plan

Astute Travel Advisors plans and coordinates every part of your award‑based or hybrid travel experience:

• Award‑Flight Strategies – Identifying the best transfer partners, routing, and timing.
• Multi‑City Itineraries – Example: Chicago → Madrid → Cádiz → Seville → Málaga → Granada.
• Boutique Hotels & Villas – Curated stays using points or cash for maximum comfort and value.
• Road‑Trip Adventures – Car rentals, scenic routes, and local highlights.
• Special Occasions – Honeymoons, anniversaries, milestone celebrations.