This traveler booked a trip to secure two of the entire nationality in the eyes -here how they do it

Like many second -generation America, Katherine Fan grew up in the United States but is related to her family culture. “My parents are from Taiwan, and it’s the place I visit outside the US,” he said.

Austin -based personal finance editor has gone to Taipei dozens time. However, the last two weeks of the Fan to the Taiwanese capital later last year had a unique purpose-ultimately guaranteeing double citizenship.

For years -years, fans are looking forward to establishing a relationship Taiwan Feel more “formal.” Ever since he lived and worked in the United States, strict residential needs made it almost impossible. But by 2024, the restrictions were relaxed, and he applied as soon as he could.

The last step in the process needed to visit the country personally.

Thanks to the big credit card points, hotel points, and FlightFan does not pay almost anything for a lifetime process once in finalizing his Taiwanese citizenship. In fact, Fan left Taiwan with a new passport. This is how he made everything happen.

How he booked it

For Fan, eye redemption included a round business class ticket from the US to Taipei, with two nights at a hotel. (He lives with family for the majority of travel.)

If the fan has paid everything in cash, the total cost of travel will be around $ 6,700. Instead, his expenses that came out of his pocket landed about $ 150, in taxes and fees.

Flight

Fan’s journey to Asia was booked at the last time. She keeps her flight, which includes business classes Delta Water LinesEva Air -One of the two largest airlines in Taiwan -and Austria Airlines, about two weeks before departure.

The key to Fan is to find the availability of awards, which is why he is waiting to secure his ticket. The secret weapon for this? Capitalize seating.aeroServices that automatically send e -mel users when the special awards flight you are interested in available. (This tool is similar to how you can set Google Alerts for upcoming flights, but specifically for eyes and stone.)

To book the first flight, Delta route from Seattle to Taipei, fans moved 60,000 Rewards of American Express membership pointing to the Skymiles program, “leading” 34,000 existing miles in his account. He obtained this one-way trip at Delta One Suites Ultra-private for 93,500 miles and $ 5.60 in taxes.

To return to the United States, the FAN has a long trip to the east through Europe. However, it is a worthwhile redemption, he said. “Since I had to do so much on a short timeline during this trip, to lie flat to and from Taipei was very helpful.”

Fans redeem 87,500 Air Canada Aeroplan points for Eva Air Business Classes from Taipei to Vienna; Both of the airline are partners. He then continued to the Austrian Airlines business class from Vienna to New York, landing at JFK. Reservations require $ 150 in taxes and fees. To get Aeroplan’s canada water point, he moved points from the Chase Ultimate Rewards through an online portal that the company easily used.

Hotel

Finally, a two -night hotel stay was guaranteed a few days before check -in. He booked Sheraton Grand Taipei For 39,000 points of Marriott Bonvoy every night throughout New Year’s Eve. (Cash rate at that time was almost $ 500 per night.)

“Taipei is one of the few places in the world -actually runs out of rooms in the main hotel chain if you don’t plan ahead,” Fan said. “If I don’t have a backup place to stay, I will book a lot earlier.”

While Fan enjoyed the comfort of business classes and ties with Cousins ​​in Sheraton to ring in 2025, most importantly, eyes and stones can help him finalize his Taiwanese citizenship.

“It means to me as an adult to have a significant legal relationship to my heritage country, especially now,” Fan said.

Eye and stone tips for tourists

It is a true small purchase -can actually help increase points and remaining rocks over time, Fan tells T+L. He consistently collects eyes in everyday activities, and it’s really one of the easiest ways to close your eyes.

“I am a big supporter using a buy -like portal -like a rakuten to earn points,” he said. There are dozens of tens of Portal Buy -The online sideAllows you to get credit card rewards, flight stones, hotel points, or cash for your purchase.

Rakuten is one of such sites, and it allows you to recover cash, or American membership rewards points, when you buy -online.

Have a good eye and a stone story you want to share with T+L readers? E -Mel me at thechrisdong@gmail.com.