A retired flight attendant from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Travel Freely member Allison stumbled upon the world of points and miles in January 2023 and has been hooked ever since. Despite her travel industry background, Allison had no idea how amazing the game-changing hobby of points and miles could be!
Now, as a homeschooling mom of 2 boys, Allison uses her newfound knowledge to plan incredible off-peak adventures for her family, allowing them to explore destinations like Kauai, Costa Rica, and Chicago without breaking the bank. Using points and miles has transformed the way Allison and her family experiences the world, making once-dreamy trips an affordable reality.
Amazing “Rise and Vibe” Breakfast at the Andaz
Tell us about yourself. Where do you live, and how long have you been using points and miles for free travel?
My name is Allison, and I live in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. As a retired flight attendant, you’d think I knew all the tricks to affordable travel, but I actually only recently discovered the world of points and miles just by chance. Since then, I’ve been hooked! It’s been a game changer for our family, allowing us to plan trips to Kauai, Miraval Austin, Chicago, Costa Rica, and more. Our family of 4 loves to travel, and as homeschoolers, we can take advantage of off-peak opportunities to explore.
Tell us about your trip. Where did you go, when did you travel there, and what did you do?
This past March, I finally fulfilled a long-held dream of staying at the Andaz Papagayo in Costa Rica. With just under 2 weeks’ notice, I saw that rooms opened up for points bookings, and we jumped at the chance! We stayed for 5 nights at the Andaz and 1 night at El Mangroove, both fully covered with points. Our flights were also booked using points, and we rented a car to explore the local area, particularly the beautiful Papagayo Peninsula. We ventured to La Leona Waterfall and Hacienda Guachapelin near Rincon (our muddy faces in the featured image are from the mud baths here), combining relaxation with adventure.
Laying in the shaded cabana at the Andaz resort’s private beach club
One of my most blissful memories was lounging in a shaded cabana at the Andaz’s private beach club, cocktail in hand, while watching my boys paddleboard on the bay. Baby monkeys played in the trees above us, adding a touch of magic to the scene. The service was outstanding at the Andaz and throughout Costa Rica, where the people’s kindness made our experience truly special.
How much money did you save using points and miles for your trip?
It’s almost unbelievable, but we saved approximately $15,000 over 5 days! We covered our entire stay at the Andaz using 25,000–29,000 points per night (depending on the night) versus a staggering $11,000 in cash including taxes and resort fees. This kind of savings really shows the value of strategically using points and miles.
Mud baths at Hacienda Guachapelin near Rincon
What kind of points did you use for this trip?
Here’s a breakdown of how we made this dream trip a reality:
Hotels: We used Chase Ultimate Rewards® points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and transferred the points to World of Hyatt for our 5-night stay at the Andaz Papagayo. For the 1-night stay at El Mangroove, we used Marriott Bonvoy® points earned from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card.
Flights: We booked our 4 outbound award flights from Denver International Airport to Liberia, Costa Rica using United points, thanks to the United℠Explorer Card, which also provided access to reduced “saver awards.” For the return flights, we transferred American Express Membership Rewards® points from my American Express® Gold Card to Air Canada to cover the United flights from Liberia to Denver. Both airlines are members of Star Alliance, allowing you to book flights using points from one airline rewards program with another partner airline within the alliance.
Car Rental and Miscellaneous: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card travel reimbursement benefit helped cover $300 of the $400 rental car cost, and the Priority Pass benefit of this card allowed us to enjoy lounge access in both Denver and Liberia.
What advice would you give someone interested in booking a trip like yours, and what advice do you have for someone just starting with points and miles?
For beginners, my main advice is just start. It may seem overwhelming at first, but it starts to make sense as you read more and try out the strategies. This trip was definitely advanced in terms of planning, but I learned by diving into points and miles blogs and communities.
Cooking lesson at the Andaz
Here are some top tips:
- Don’t let points sit idle; they lose value quickly. Make a plan for where you want to go and find ways to achieve your travel goals using points and miles.
- Hyatt’s award chart is a standout. Their rates are much more reasonable compared to other hotel options, and they don’t charge taxes or resort fees when booking lodging with points, which boosts your savings even more.
- Start with a Chase Sapphire Preferred card. Once you meet the signup bonus, refer your spouse or partner to open one as well. This strategy sets you up with referral bonuses and 2 sets of signup bonus points – enough to book an amazing getaway!
- If you have transferable currencies – for example, Chase Ultimate Rewards, American Express Membership Rewards, or Capital One Miles, transfer your points directly to travel partners for the best value AFTER confirming flight and/or lodging availability on the dates you need, of course.
How has Travel Freely helped you achieve your free travel goals, and what do you like best about the app?
Swimming at one of the waterfalls at Hacienda Guachapelin
Travel Freely has been an essential tool for us. It helps keep track of our credit cards, annual fees, and key dates, ensuring we maximize every opportunity to earn and redeem points effectively.
For this trip, an unexpected bonus was being gifted Guest of Honor status, which meant complimentary breakfasts at the Andaz Papagayo for our entire family. And thanks to my Platinum status with Marriott Bonvoy as a result of my Amex Bonvoy Brilliant card, we also enjoyed a great complimentary breakfast at El Mangroove. With 2 growing boys (ages 12 and 14), this saved us a fortune and allowed us to splurge on dinners while keeping lunch light.
Travel on points and miles has transformed how our family travels, allowing us to create memories that would have been impossible otherwise. And the best part? We get to do it all together.
Thank you, Allison, for sharing your story with us and we hope it inspires our Travel Freely community to create their own travel experiences in the year ahead!
