How to travel around the world for only 10 million VND

A travel blogger shares the secret of spending only 408 USD (about 10 million VND) for a trip from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Singapore, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi, and from Dubai to New York... with first-class flight seats and 5-star hotels.

Daniel Gillaspia takes a photo in the first class cabin of an Eithad Airways plane - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

Daniel Gillaspia, an American lawyer with a passion for travel, recently went on a dream trip around the world with his friend for less than 1% of the actual price.

Although it only cost $408, their trip included everything from flying first class to staying in a five-star hotel (which would have cost $52,000).

Gillaspia's secret was to use 45 credit cards to accumulate points and miles over the course of two years. Thanks to that, he and his friends were able to enjoy first-class and business-class flights on trips from Los Angeles to Tokyo, Singapore, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Abu Dhabi, and from Dubai to New York...

Daniel Gillaspia in first class on a Singapore Airlines flight from Tokyo to Singapore, with his seat able to be converted into a double bed - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

Gillaspia shares his dream trip on his website UponArriving, revealing the different ways to earn points and miles with credit cards, hotels and airlines.

Mr. Gillaspia said that he was actually inspired by other "backpackers" and decided to apply the "theories" he learned into practice.

Daniel Gillaspia and his friend take a photo in Cape Town - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

So he and his friend spent the past two years steadily earning points and miles on their 45 credit cards before reaching the necessary level to embark on the trip this September.

Their first leg of the journey was from Los Angeles to Tokyo on a business class flight on Singapore Airlines.

On a Singapore Airlines flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

Mr. Gillaspia and his friend's plane ticket would have cost $4,444, but they paid just $68 plus 131,750 KrisFlyer miles. That way, they could enjoy all the delicious food and reclining seats.

In Tokyo, Mr. Gillaspia paid for a two-night stay at the InterContinental Tokyo Bay with 100,000 InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) points, saving them $1,000.

In Tokyo, two friends stayed for two nights at the InterContinental Tokyo Bay Hotel - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

They also got a room upgrade during their stay, so at no extra cost they still got to enjoy a great city view from their deluxe corner room.

Gillaspia and her friends spend money on unique experiences in Japan like taking sushi-making classes and learning about tea ceremony.

Gillaspia spent his savings to enjoy the art of tea ceremony in Japan - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

The next stop on their journey was Singapore. This time, the two friends experienced first class with Singapore Airlines.

For two people, the trip from Tokyo to Singapore on this cabin would have cost $11,660, but Mr. Gillaspia only paid $108 plus 102,000 KrisFlyer miles.

In addition to enjoying dishes according to the standards of the famous Michelin culinary magazine, the most interesting point of this journey was that at night, the two friends' cabin was transformed into a private room with a double bed, just like a hotel room.

Not only that, they are also provided with pajamas and stuffed animals to make them feel at home.

In the first class cabin of a Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

In Singapore, the couple only stayed one night at Marina Bay Sands, but they didn't pay a dime thanks to their Capital One Venture credit, saving them $450.

After Singapore, they continued their journey to Johannesburg in business class on a Singapore Airlines flight.

This time the two friends saved the entire $7,676 on their ticket by paying with 38,250 KrisFlyer miles and using travel credits to cover fees and fuel surcharges that would normally be paid in cash.

In Singapore, two friends stayed a night at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

Mr Gillaspia admitted that on the flight to Cape Town, he and his friend had to fly economy class but the journey was still completely comfortable.

They spent four nights at The Westin Cape Town. Instead of paying the full price of $1,160, they paid with 40,000 Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) points.

The two flew from Johannesburg to Abu Dhabi for just $104 plus 110,000 AA miles instead of the regular price of $4,040.

In Cape Town - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

According to Mr. Gillaspia, although the seats are not as comfortable as those on Singapore Airlines planes, they do have built-in massage devices.

And because they were flying business class, Etihad Airways also took them to the hotel for free.

At the Emirates, Mr. Gillaspia and his friend stayed two nights at the W Hotel in Dubai, using 40,000 SPG points to pay for the $534 room bill.

On their return journey home, the two friends cut costs again thanks to their clever and thoughtful arrangements, this time flying first class on Etihad Airways from Dubai to New York.

In Etihad's business class, the seats have built-in massage machines - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

The plane ticket that would have cost $18,000 was paid for just $104 plus 180,000 AA miles.

Etihad Airways planes have a shower just like a regular bathroom, allowing passengers to enjoy a relaxing feeling at an altitude of more than 11,000 km.

In New York, the couple were offered a night at the Ritz Carlton Battery Park Hotel, with a certificate for a free night instead of the usual $1,900. They also got a room upgrade with a view of the Statue of Liberty.

At the W Hotel in Dubai - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

The two friends caught two more final flights before ending their dream trip in Houston.

The entire flight should have cost them $52,294, but with reasonable arrangements using credit points, bonus miles, etc., they only had to spend $408.

Mr. Gillaspia admits that it took a lot of effort to save so much for such a trip, but according to him, the results were "absolutely amazing."

Two friends watch the sunset in the Arabian desert - Photo: Daniel Gillaspia/Uponarriving.com

According to TTO