Karajeffer

There's a particular kind of heartbreak familiar to frequent travelers: you've stockpiled points for years, you finally search for that overwater bungalow or beachfront suite, and the dates you want show "no availability" while the cash rate sits at $1,800 a night.

Asia's luxury hotel scene is unlike anywhere else on earth: overwater villas in the Maldives, rooftop infinity pools in Bangkok, ryokan-style suites in Kyoto, and colonial-era grandeur in Mumbai.

Planning a multigenerational family reunion is a logistical puzzle: grandparents want comfort and quiet, parents need connecting rooms and flexibility, and kids want a pool that never closes.

Not all points are created equal.