3 trips you can book right now with 75,000 Velocity Points
Need some inspiration on how to use your Velocity Points? Here are 3 holiday ideas to get you started.
Sponsored by American Express. Receive 75,000 bonus Velocity Points when you apply online, are approved, and spend $3,000 on a new American Express Velocity Platinum Card in the first 3 months. Available to new Card Members only. T&Cs apply.
With borders open and a steady stream of holiday snaps on social media, lots of people are dreaming of their next trip.
Velocity Points can help make that a reality. Using them to pay for flights means you can spend your cash on other things such as hotels, pamper packages and fancy meals.
Reward Seats start from just 7,800 Velocity Points for a one-way economy flight with Virgin Australia. That would get you from, say, Sydney to Melbourne or Sydney to Brisbane – not including taxes and fees (they're charged separately).
So, how far can you go if you've saved up Velocity Points over the last couple of years or recently earned a lot more? Let's take a look at 3 different trips that have Reward Seat options of 75,000 Velocity Points or less.
Trip 1: Sydney to Bali (Denpasar)
Unwind in the tropical surrounds of Bali, where you can party all night, pamper yourself all day with spa treatments – or do a bit of everything.
If you're after some privacy, you could also splash out and book a stay on nearby Gili Islands, Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida, which all have great beaches, snorkelling and smaller crowds.
- Points to get there: 44,600 Velocity Points for a return economy Reward Seat with Virgin Australia. To give you an idea of the taxes, fees and carrier charges, at the time of writing they were $264.84.
- Accommodation: Finder found accommodation prices ranging from just $7 a night for a 3-star hotel to around $550 a night for a 5-star hotel when looking at dates for a 5-night stay in August through a range of online booking services.
Trip 2: Brisbane to Fiji (Nadi)
Soak up some sun and warmth on the tropical sands of Fiji. With stunning beaches, world-famous coral reefs and lush forests, there is something for everyone on these islands.
This includes all kinds of water sports, scenic hikes and romantic dining experiences. There are also plenty of spas and pamper packages at the hotels and resorts, plus cultural events and festivals throughout the year.
- Points to get there: 71,000 Velocity Points for a return business class flight or 71,200 Velocity Points for 2 return economy flights with Virgin Australia. The taxes, fees and carrier charges were $269.84 for the business class Reward Seat option and $539.68 for the 2 economy Reward Seats, at the time of writing.
- Accommodation: Budget hotel room prices start from around $38 per night, while resorts start at around $158 per night, according to Finder research.
3. Melbourne to Queenstown
Hit the road on New Zealand's South Island and explore iconic sights such as Milford Sound, Queenstown Hill and Paradise Forest (which was Lothlórien in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films). You can also enjoy ski field activities until early October, plus hiking, biking and golfing.
Queenstown itself has a buzzing foodie scene, with internationally-renowned wines (especially pinot noir), plus local cheese and fresh produce. And if you want to make a night of it, be sure to head to the famous Minus 5º Ice Bar, which has glasses and furniture made of ice.
- Points to get there: 71,000 Velocity Points for a return business class flight or 71,200 Velocity Points for 2 return economy flights with Virgin Australia. The taxes, fees and carrier charges for these Reward Seat options at the time of writing were $239.76 for the business class Reward Seat option and $599.60 for the 2 economy Reward Seats.
- Accommodation: Finder research shows budget accommodation starts at around $54 at hostels, but for a private hotel you can expect to pay upwards of $100 a night.
Hot tips for booking your frequent flyer trip
- Earn Velocity Points on your other travel expenses
Paying for accommodation, dining and activities can help you take another trip faster if you earn Velocity Points on them. For example, the American Express Velocity Platinum Card earns 1.25 Velocity Points on everyday, eligible spending (and 0.5 points per $1 with government bodies).
- Plan ahead
Looking at flights in advance usually means you'll see more Velocity Reward Seat options. When you're searching for flights on the Virgin Australia website, you can also see how many Reward Seats are left for each flight and compare different dates before planning the rest of your trip.
- Factor in taxes, fees and carrier charges
These are charged separately when you book a Velocity Reward Seat. The costs depend on the airport, airline and other factors but it's a good idea to budget around $200 to $400 extra. Also keep in mind that they could change between when you look and when you book. As another option, you can use Velocity Points if you have more to spare.
- Check flight sales first
If there's a flight sale that offers great value for money, you might want to pay in cash and save your Velocity Points for a future trip.
Learn more about the American Express Velocity Platinum Card
Images: Getty Images
