Member Success Story: 20th Anniversary Trip to Scotland for a Fraction of the Cost
When Travel Freely member Kate and her husband reached their 20th wedding anniversary, they knew they wanted to celebrate in a big way. For this Georgia-based couple, travel had become a part of their lifestyle thanks to points and miles — but this time, they decided to check off a bucket list destination: Scotland.
What started as a dream quickly turned into reality. With first-class airfare, 5-star accommodations, and a scenic Highlands road trip, they brought their anniversary vision to life — without the $15,000 price tag.
Here’s how Kate used points, flexible planning, and the Travel Freely app to create an unforgettable (and surprisingly affordable) journey to one of the most magical corners of the world.
Tell Us About Yourself
My name is Kate, and I live in Georgia with my husband and our 3 boys. We’ve been using points and miles to travel for about 2 years now, and it’s completely changed how we vacation as a family.
This past year marked a big milestone — our 20th wedding anniversary — and we knew we wanted to do something really special. After tossing around a few ideas, we landed on a place that had long been on our travel bucket list: Scotland.
Tell Us About Your Trip
For our 20th anniversary, my husband and I planned a dream trip to Scotland. We flew into Edinburgh and spent a few days exploring the city’s rich history — from castles to cobblestone streets. The charm and culture were everything we hoped for.
After that, we rented a car and headed north for a scenic road trip through the Scottish Highlands. Our route included stops at Loch Ness, Inverness, and the breathtaking Isle of Skye. Traveling in October meant the autumn foliage was in full bloom, which made the landscapes even more magical.
One of the most memorable parts of the trip was checking into the InterContinental Edinburgh The George, a stunning 5-star hotel right in the heart of the city. The historical architecture, luxurious touches, and the warm Scottish welcome made us feel like we were living a storybook moment — worlds away from our everyday life in Georgia.
What Kind of Points Did You Use for This Trip?
To make this anniversary trip possible, we used a combination of Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, Amex Membership Rewards® points, and IHG points.
Flights: We transferred Chase points to airline partners to book our flights. In this case, we ended up flying Air Canada Signature Class (business class seats!), which we probably wouldn’t have thought to book otherwise — but transferring points gave us that flexibility.
Hotel: Our hotel stay at the InterContinental Edinburgh was booked with IHG points, giving us luxury accommodations without the luxury price tag.
Car rental: We also used Amex points to help cover some other travel expenses, including our car rental for the Highland road trip.
The best part? All of this added up to a trip that would have cost us around $15,000, but we only paid $623 in taxes and fees — plus food and a few activities.
How Much Money Did You Save Using Points and Miles for Your Trip?
Between our first-class airfare, 5-star hotel stay, and rental car, the total value of our anniversary trip came out to roughly $15,000.
Instead of paying full price, we only paid $623 in taxes and fees — a tiny fraction of what it could have cost. That means we saved well over $14,000 just by being strategic with our points.
It still amazes me that what felt like a once-in-a-lifetime luxury trip was actually made possible with very minimal out-of-pocket expenses. All thanks to smart planning, flexible rewards programs, and tools like Travel Freely to help keep everything organized.
What Were Some of the Highlights of Your Trip?
There were so many memorable moments. Seeing the Edinburgh Castle for the first time was magical and the views we got to experience driving the coast of the Isle of Skye was other-worldly.
What Advice Would You Give Someone Interested in Booking a Trip Like Yours?
My biggest piece of advice? Start small. Open 1 or 2 cards and just see how far you can go with the welcome bonuses. You might be surprised at how quickly the points add up.
For a trip like Scotland, I recommend focusing on Chase cards that earn flexible points, like the Sapphire or Ink series. These let you transfer to multiple airline and hotel partners — which gave us the flexibility to book through Air Canada, something we never would have considered before.
Having a plan helps, too. Know what kind of trip you want to take, and then work backwards by figuring out which points will get you there. Don’t worry about being perfect — just start learning and taking action.
What Advice Do You Have for Someone Just Starting with Points and Miles?
A lot of people I talk to are curious about using points, but they get overwhelmed by the idea of tracking multiple cards, benefits, annual fees, and keeping everything straight.
I totally get it — that’s how I felt at first too.
But once I found the Travel Freely app, everything changed. I now recommend it to everyone starting out. The app keeps track of your cards, deadlines, bonuses, and even helps you know when to open your next one. It’s free, super easy to use, and honestly a game changer.
When I show it to friends who are hesitant, I can literally hear them exhale — like, “Oh, okay… this is doable.”
How Has Travel Freely Helped You Achieve Your Free Travel Goals, and What Do You Like Best About the App?
Travel Freely has been a huge help throughout our points and miles journey. From the beginning, it gave me the confidence to open new cards and track everything without feeling lost or overwhelmed.
What I love most is how simple and organized it keeps things. The app automatically tracks welcome bonuses, annual fee dates, and shows you exactly which cards to consider next based on your current setup.
It took something that seemed complicated and turned it into a step-by-step process I could actually follow. I credit a lot of our success — including this Scotland trip — to the guidance and clarity that Travel Freely provided along the way.
Final Thoughts
Kate and her husband’s anniversary adventure through Scotland was everything a milestone trip should be — magical, meaningful, luxurious, and far more affordable than they ever imagined. From Edinburgh’s historic charm to the breathtaking Highlands and Isle of Skye, their journey was filled with castles, colorful autumn landscapes, and first-class experiences made possible by points and smart planning.
Looking back, Kate summed it up perfectly: “It still amazes me that what felt like a once-in-a-lifetime luxury trip was actually made possible with very minimal out-of-pocket expenses.”
Her story is proof that with the right cards, the right tools, and a bit of strategy, you can unlock incredible travel experiences for a fraction of the cost. Whether you’re just starting or ready to plan your own dream trip, Kate’s journey is a reminder that free travel is real — and absolutely within reach.
Cards that helped Kate experience her dream vacation:
An ultra-premium card loaded with benefits and perks, especially for the frequent traveler. Terms apply.
Our #1 recommended personal card. Hands down the single best “starter card” for beginners and the MVP card for free travel. Note: New application rules as of June 2025 may affect your eligibility—click to learn more before applying.
One of the very best business cards. A highly recommended business card for an incredible signup bonus and 3X categories.
A no-brainer, great business card. Your choice to receive 1.5% cash back or 1.5x points.
