Award Travel 101 Destination: Kauai
Feb 6, 2026
Steve Harms, a veteran award traveler with 17 trips to Hawaii, shares practical route and award strategies plus favorite Kauai stays. He walks through which airlines and partners serve Lihue, quirks of partner bookings, and top Kauai sights like Waimea Canyon and Hanalei Bay. Short, actionable takes on companion fares, hotel redemptions, and useful tools for planning island travel.
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Act Before Barclays Cards Convert
- Apply for Citi cards before Barclays co-branded cards convert to Citi on April 24, 2026 if you want a fresh Citi application window.
- Review which Barclays cards will map to which Citi products to plan around 48-month rules.
Converting To The Bilt Palladium
- Steve converted his Bilt Rewards card to the Palladium and targeted the 50,000-point bonus with $4,000 spend.
- He expects the $300 Bilt cash and gold status to help with rent and earning multipliers.
Kauai Trip Planning And Flight Gardening
- Steve is finalizing a Kauai trip for his partner and her mother and tests a different Wyndham property.
- He also adjusted award flights for a Points in Phoenix meetup due to schedule changes.