Two-Card Trip to Savannah: Enjoy Southern Charm Using the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

With its cobblestone streets lined with oak trees draped in Spanish moss and its colorful rows of Victorian mansions, Savannah is steeped in Southern charm. Its romantic old-school atmosphere makes for the perfect couples getaway, while its surrounding beaches and historical sites make it an equally perfect family vacation destination.

Whether you’re bringing the whole family, your significant other or are traveling solo, travel is always more fun when you don’t have to pay for it. Using your credit card points and miles to cover your flight and hotel costs leaves more money in your pocket for dining and excursions.

In this article, we’ll show you how to cover your travel to Savannah and back, including your hotel and flight costs, with just two credit card welcome offers.

The Two Cards to Get You to Savannah and Back

The two cards we’re using to get to Savannah are the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card.

These cards offer a solid balance of perks and annual fees, with typically lucrative welcome offers to earn.

Let’s check out what they have to offer.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card offers small business owners strong earning rates on typical business expenses.

While it doesn’t offer much in the way of luxury travel perks, its solid welcome offer, strong earning rates and point redemptions opportunities make up for it. Not to mention, it has an annual fee of just $95.

Here’s a summary of what the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card has to offer:

• 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in the following categories: shipping purchases; advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines; internet, cable and phone services; travel
• 1X points on all other purchases
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Auto rental coverage
• Cell phone protection
• No foreign transaction fees

Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card offers an equally lucrative mix of earning rates and perks, for an annual fee of $150 (see rates and fees).

You’ll earn points on a wide array of purchases, from direct spending with Hilton to everyday spending such as groceries, gas, dining (including takeout and delivery) and online retail purchases.

This makes it easy to rack up your Hilton points by using your card for everyday spending.

Cardholders will also enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors Gold status, which can increase to Hilton Honors Diamond status if they charge $40,000 to their card within a calendar year.

Likewise, if you charge $15,000 to your card within a calendar year, you’ll enjoy a free night award.

The card also comes with an up to $200 statement credit for purchases made with Hilton. However, keep in mind that the credit is issued in up to $50 quarterly increments, meaning you’d have to spend with Hilton at least once every quarter to fully make use of this perk.

Here’s a summary of the card’s features:

• 12X points on direct purchases with hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio
• 6X points on dining purchases at U.S. restaurants including takeout and delivery
• 6X points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets
• 6X points on gas at U.S. gas stations
• 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases
• 3X points on all other purchases
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status
• Spend $40,000 in a calendar year using your card and receive complimentary Hilton Honors Diamond Status through the end of the next calendar year.
• Free night reward when you charge $15,000 to your card in purchases within a calendar year
• Up to $200 annual statement credit for eligible direct purchases with a property in the Hilton portfolio, given in quarterly up to $50 increments. Eligible purchases include direct bookings made with Hilton and incidentals charged to your room and paid using your card.
• Complimentary National Car Rental® Emerald Club Executive® status
• No foreign transaction fees
• Car rental loss and damage insurance*

Earning the Two Cards’ Welcome Offers

Earning the welcome offers on each card is essential not only to the two-card trip strategy, but also to maximizing the value of your spending.

Welcome offers give you the greatest number of points per dollar spent, making them crucial to earn.

The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card has a typical welcome offer of 90,000 to 120,000 points usually after spending $8,000 in the first three months of card membership. If you hit the minimum spending threshold and earn this welcome offer, you’d be earning the equivalent of 11.25X to 15X points per dollar spent—an earning rate you’d never find on a typical bonus spending category.

Given Chase’s 5/24 rule, it makes the most sense to apply for the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card first. While business cards don’t add to your 5/24 count, Chase still considers your 5/24 count when you make an application for any of its cards—personal or business. Therefore, if you’re close to 5/24, apply for the Ink Business Preferred first.

To be eligible for a small business card, you’ll need to be a small business owner. While you might not think you qualify as a small business owner, you may be surprised to know that even the smallest of entrepreneurial ventures can often make you eligible. Whether you cut the neighbor’s lawn on the weekends, babysit, tutor or write the odd blog post here and there, you may qualify for the Ink Business Preferred.

Once your application has been approved, you’ll need to typically (although the minimum spending requirements can vary) charge $8,000 to the card within the first three months of card membership. That works out to an average of $2,667 per month. While that might be steep for some households, it also offers the perfect opportunity for you to make any large necessary business purchases. Perhaps you need to renovate your premises or invest in new capital. Whatever the expense may be, charge it to your Ink Preferred card to help you hit the minimum spending requirement.

Once you’ve earned the welcome offer on the Ink Business Preferred, you can turn your attention to the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass Card.

The Hilton Honors Surpass Card has a typical welcome offer of around 130,000 points, usually after spending $3,000 within the first six months of card membership, although previous offers have gone as high as 180,000 points. That means you’ll enjoy an effective points multiplier of 43X points per dollar spent if you earn the welcome offer, making it highly lucrative.

With a typical minimum spending threshold of $3,000 across six months, you need to spend an average of just $500 per month, which should be easy considering the number of everyday bonus spending categories the card offers.

If your monthly household expenditure permits it, there’s nothing stopping you from earning both welcome offers simultaneously. However, if you want to play it safe, make tracking your expenditure easier and avoid the risk of overspending, it’s better to work on one welcome offer at a time.

This is particularly so if you’re pursuing a two-player mode strategy, in which both you and your player 2 (P2) are applying for the same cards and earning their welcome offers together. If both you and your P2 are already spending toward the welcome offers on one card each, adding an additional card (and welcome offer requirement) into the mix would be unnecessarily complex. So you’re better off sticking to one card’s welcome offer per person at a time.

Once you’ve earned both cards’ welcome offers, you’ll have 90,000 to 120,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points and around 130,000 Hilton Honors points—or double these numbers if you’ve pursued a two-player mode strategy.

Let’s see how far you can get with this stash of lucrative rewards points.

Best Ways to Fly To Savannah Using Chase Ultimate Rewards Points

When it comes time to book your flights to Savannah, you have two points redemption options to choose from. You can either redeem your points through Chase Travel℠ or transfer them to one of Chase’s 10 airline partners.

When you book a flight through Chase Travel℠, the price of an award flight is tied to the cash price of the fare.

The added benefit is that your award flight booking will still be treated as a cash booking, enabling you to earn frequent flyer miles on your award flight.

The alternative, and often more lucrative option, is to transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to one of Chase’s airline partners. For flights to Savannah, you’ll want to focus on the following transfer partners:

• Air Canada Aeroplan
• United Airlines
• JetBlue Airways
• Southwest Airlines

By transferring your Ultimate Rewards points to these partners, you can often get a better value for your points, making for lucrative redemption opportunities.

Let’s now take a look at how to book award flights with these airlines to Savannah.

United Airlines

United Airlines offers affordable award fares from across the United States to Savannah. You can fly nonstop to Savannah with United from Denver (DEN), Newark (EWR), Chicago-O’Hare (ORD), Houston (IAH) and Washington (IAD).

United’s search tool enables you to search for award fares by month, making it easy to find saver award fares. It’s always a good idea to log into your United MileagePlus account when searching for award fares, as United shows more award availability and saver award fares to its members.

United also offers a domestic first-class product, in addition to its standard economy class, enabling you to fly to Savannah in style.

You can fly United economy class for 11,000 miles per way or first class for 30,000 miles per way, from Washington (IAD) to Savannah (SAV).

From Houston (IAH), you can fly to Savannah with a connection in Chicago (ORD) for 12,100 miles in economy class. It’s difficult to find saver award availability on nonstop flights from Houston to Savannah, meaning you can expect to pay around 16,600 miles for an economy fare. However, you can find nonstop first-class award fares from Houston to Savannah for just 30,000 miles each way.

You can also fly nonstop from Newark (EWR) to Savannah for 10,100 miles per way in economy and 30,000 miles per way in first class.

United also operates nonstop flights to Savannah from Chicago (ORD), which will cost you 13,800 miles in economy each way and 30,000 miles in first class.

And from Denver (DEN), you can also fly nonstop to Savannah, although you’ll often find greater saver award availability on flights departing from Denver to Savannah with a connection in Chicago, for around 12,900 miles in economy class.

With United’s extensive route network, it’s easy to fly from the West Coast to Savannah. For instance, an economy saver award fare will cost you just 15,000 miles from San Francisco (SFO) to Savannah, with a connection in Chicago or Newark.

When searching for United award fares, you can try to find the same United-operated flights via Air Canada’s Aeroplan website. Aeroplan utilizes a fixed distance-based award chart that can enable you to book United award fares for a lower price, particularly when you can’t find any saver award fares directly with United.

Aeroplan charges the following fixed award rates for United-operated flights booked through its portal.

It’s always useful to compare award rates when booking through Aeroplan vs. directly with United. When saver award availability is scarce or when you’re trying to book during periods of peak travel demand, you’ll often score better rates by booking through Aeroplan. If you can find first-class award availability through Aeroplan, you’ll almost always pay less than booking the same fare directly with United.

JetBlue TrueBlue

JetBlue offers affordable flights to Savannah that you can book using Chase Ultimate Rewards points. You can use JetBlue’s Best Fare Finder to easily find low-priced award fares by month. As it prices its award fares dynamically, being flexible with your travel dates is key to securing the lowest award rates, as you can see in the screenshot below.

You can fly economy nonstop from New York (JFK) to Savannah for just 7,300 points per way.

Likewise, you can fly from Boston (BOS) to Savannah in economy for just 7,000 points per way.

You can also fly from other parts of the U.S. to Savannah with JetBlue, although you’ll need to connect in New York or Boston. And, while JetBlue offers its Mint service on select coast-to-coast routes, it’s certainly not the best use of your points considering the often exorbitant rates.

For example, you could fly from Los Angeles to Savannah, with a stopover in Boston, for 13,900 points per way in economy or 103,500 points in Mint class.

In this case, you’d be better off booking first-class fares to Savannah with United.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines is another great airline to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards to, offering affordable award fares across the U.S. to Savannah. You can fly nonstop from a number of U.S. airports to Savannah, including Dallas (DAL), Baltimore (BWI), Nashville (BNA) and Chicago-Midway (MDW).

Southwest also includes two checked bags in its basic airfare, making it an even more affordable option, particularly for families and those who like to check a bag.

You can take advantage of Southwest’s Low Fare Calendar to search for and score the lowest award rates by month.

For example, if you don’t mind having a connection in Chicago-Midway (MDW) or Nashville (BNA), you can fly from New York-La Guardia (LGA) to Savannah for as low as 5,650 points per way with Southwest.

Alternatively, you can fly nonstop from Nashville to Savannah for just 7,967 points per way.

You could fly nonstop to Savannah from Baltimore (BWI) for just 6,423 points per way.

Southwest also flies nonstop from Dallas (DAL) to Savannah, for as low as 11,287 points per way.

Overall, you have many affordable options when it comes to flying to Savannah with Southwest, making it the perfect airline for bringing the whole family along with you.

Your Booking Options with Points

With a stash of 90,000 to 120,000 Ultimate Rewards points—or double if you’re in two-player mode—you can easily get to Savannah and back, and even have points leftover.

Economy award fares to Savannah generally cost anywhere between 5,000 and 15,000 miles per way, depending on the airline you fly with and from where. That means you could easily fly your family to Savannah and back using points, particularly in two-player mode, and still have points leftover.

Likewise, first-class fares with United tend to go for around 60,000 miles round-trip, which you could easily afford as a solo traveler, in two-player mode or if you earned the Ink Business Preferred’s welcome offer at its highest.

Where to Stay in Savannah

With your flights booked, it’s time to decide where to stay in Savannah.

You have a stash of around 130,000 Hilton points to play with—or double in two-player mode—making it easy to score a few award nights in Savannah. With more than 30 Holton hotels scattered across Savannah, you’re hardly stuck for choice when it comes to booking your stay. While you can find Hilton properties for as low as 24,000 points per night, we’ve chosen some mid-range properties to focus on.

Let’s check out some Hilton hotels in Savannah where you can redeem your points.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Savannah Historic District

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Savannah Historic District offers a comfortable and convenient stay in one of the most iconic areas of Savannah. Situated in the heart of the Historic District, DoubleTree by Hilton is within walking distance of many popular local attractions, including River Street, City Market and the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). You can easily explore the history and culture of Savannah with these landmarks just a short stroll away.

DoubleTree provides a range of accommodation types, from standard rooms to suites, designed to meet the needs of both business and leisure travelers, as well as couples and families. Each room is equipped with modern amenities, such as flat-screen TVs, complimentary Wi-Fi and workstations. Some rooms offer scenic views of Savannah or the hotel’s courtyard, which features a pool and seating areas.

The hotel has a full-service restaurant, serving a variety of dishes with a focus on classic Southern cuisine. When not sightseeing or dining, you can take advantage of the hotel’s fitness center as well as its outdoor pool in warmer months.

Award rates start at 39,000 points per night, enabling you to stay for three nights or five nights in two-player mode.

Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District

The Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District is another convenient and comfortable option when you’re visiting the historic heart of Savannah. Located just a short walk away from popular hotspots such as the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, the Savannah History Museum, River Street, City Market and Forsyth Park, the hotel provides easy access to the city’s rich history, charming streets and classy Southern culture.

The hotel features a range of room options, all equipped with essential amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges. A highlight of the Hampton Inn Savannah Historic District is the complimentary hot breakfast served daily. It’s a convenient way to start the day before heading out to explore the city. For those in a hurry or preferring to eat on the go, the hotel also offers breakfast bags.

The hotel’s amenities include a fitness center, perfect for those who like to stay active during their trip between all the sightseeing and dining. There’s also an outdoor pool you can take advantage of in the summer months.

Award nights start at 37,000 points per night, enabling you to stay for either three nights or for seven nights if you are in two-player mode.

Embassy Suites by Hilton Savannah Historic District

Embassy Suites by Hilton Savannah Historic District offers a luxurious and spacious stay in the heart of the Historic District. The hotel is located just steps away from many of the city’s historic sites as well as fabulous dining and shopping options, making it conveniently situated.

The hotel features a variety of spacious, two-room suites designed for both comfort and functionality. Each suite includes a private bedroom and a separate living area, offering more space than typical hotel rooms. This makes Embassy Suites perfect for larger families enjoying the highlights of Savannah while wanting some space to themselves, without the need to book separate rooms. If you’re lucky, your suite may also come with views of the Savannah River or the Historic District.

Another key highlight of the Embassy Suites is its complimentary made-to-order breakfast, which is included with every stay. On-site amenities include a fitness center, an indoor pool and a 24-hour business center, catering to both leisure and business needs. The hotel also has a restaurant that serves a variety of meals, from casual bites to more substantial dishes, providing you with a convenient dining option during your stay.

Award nights at Embassy Suites by Hilton Savannah start at 50,000 points per night, meaning you could stay two nights or five nights in two-player mode.

Homewood Suites by Hilton Savannah Historic District/Riverfront is conveniently situated near the Savannah River and is within walking distance of the Historic District, providing you with quick access to top attractions, restaurants and shopping.

The hotel offers a variety of spacious suites, including one-bedroom and two-bedroom options, making it perfect for families and couples alike who seek space to stretch out. Each suite features a fully equipped kitchen with appliances such as a refrigerator, microwave, stove and dishwasher. This setup is ideal if you prefer to cook your own meals during your stay. The rooms also include separate living areas with pull-out sofas, providing additional space for relaxation.

A notable feature of the Homewood Suites by Hilton Savannah is its focus on extended-stay amenities. You can take advantage of its daily hot breakfast buffet, free evening social events held on weekdays and a 24-hour snack shop for quick bites. Additionally, there’s a fitness center, allowing you to stay active during your trip. And if you’re looking to unwind after a day of intensive dining and sightseeing, the hotel features an outdoor pool and rooftop bar with views of the Savannah river.

Award nights here start at 46,000 points per night, meaning you could stay either two nights or five nights in two-player mode.

Final Thoughts

If you’re looking to escape the everyday humdrum and transport yourself to a world of cobblestone streets, dreamy Southern architecture and culinary delights, make Savannah your next destination.

By earning the welcome offers on just two credit cards, you could take yourself, significant other and even the entire family to Savannah and back, and still have points left over.

To learn how to leverage your everyday spending to travel more for less, sign up for our free 10xTravel course today.

* Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.