Member Success Story: $2,450+ Saved on a Family of Six Trip to Puerto Rico
Points prices mentioned in the story reflect the redemptions at the time of the trip. Award pricing changes over time, so today’s cost may be different.
“It was a perfect trip for the ages our kids are right now.”
That’s Christin, a Travel Freely member from Ohio. She, her spouse, and their four kids (ages 8, 12, 14, and 16) traveled to Puerto Rico at the end of April, in the off-season. Round-trip flights for all six of them and five nights of hotels cost 127,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, and the family saved $2,450 on those two line items alone.
This is a good story to relate to if a big points balance feels out of reach. No bucket-list splurge required, just a family of six flying Southwest, sleeping in Hyatt Place rooms that fit everyone, eating a free breakfast buffet before a full day of hiking, and coming home $2,450 ahead. Averaged out, that’s about 21,000 points per person for round-trip flights plus five nights of lodging. The full 127,000 is the kind of balance a couple of welcome bonuses can build, not something that takes years of everyday spending. If that’s closer to where you’re starting out, our beginner-friendly guide is the best next step.
👉 New to points and miles? Read our beginner-friendly guide: How to Get Started with Free Travel
Tell Us About Yourself
I live in Ohio and started using points and miles almost three years ago. I have always enjoyed finding travel deals, and for years that meant things like opening an airline credit card to save money on tickets. It wasn’t until I found the world of earning and redeeming points and miles that my eyes were opened to how much money our family could actually save.
Tell Us About Your Trip
We traveled to Puerto Rico in the off-season, at the end of April. The weather was beautiful: a mix of clouds and sun during the day, with rain showers in the evening. We are a family of six with kids ages 8, 12, 14, and 16, and we are a very active family, so this was more of an adventure than a restful vacation. We explored a castle, went snorkeling, did lots of hiking (including the El Yunque Rainforest), went down natural waterslides, and saw unbelievably gorgeous views. We ate local food, held our breath as we navigated the traffic in San Juan, and practiced our Spanish while talking with the locals.
What Kind of Points Did You Use for This Trip?
I opened the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and used 127,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points in total, transferring them to Southwest Rapid Rewards® for our flights and to World of Hyatt for our hotels. (Note: The Sapphire Preferred now transfers 4:3 to Hyatt, meaning 1,000 Chase points become 750 Hyatt points. Even at 4:3, Hyatt remains one of the best transfer values out there. All other partners are 1:1 transfer ratio.)
Here’s the breakdown:
- Flights to San Juan, six travelers (Southwest): 39,000 points total, 6,500 per person
- Flights home, six travelers (Southwest): 48,000 points total, 8,000 per person
- Hyatt Place San Juan (4 nights): 32,000 points, 8,000 per night
- Hyatt Place Manatí (1 night): 8,000 points
- Airbnb on the west side of the island (1 night): $175 paid in cash, travel insurance included
Programs used: Chase Ultimate Rewards, transferred to Southwest Rapid Rewards and World of Hyatt.
How Much Money Did You Save Using Points and Miles for This Trip?
I estimate we saved over $1,200 on flights. With the Hyatt rooms running around $250 a night, that’s another $1,250 in lodging, so roughly $2,450 across the two biggest costs of the trip. We still paid cash for one Airbnb night, food, and activities, but the flights and the hotel nights were covered with points.
What Were Some of the Highlights of Your Trip?
Besides the breathtaking views all over the island, the highlight for our whole family was our last day. We explored El Yunque, climbed to the top of the mountain, and enjoyed the waterfalls, and from there we went to the natural waterslides. Some of the locals even invited my kids to do a “train” down the huge natural waterslide, and it was a wild ride. They loved it. All of our kids jumped from a huge rock into the water over and over again. There were just so many chances to have adventures. It was a perfect trip for the ages our kids are right now.
What Advice Do You Have for Someone Just Starting with Points and Miles?
Be patient with yourself. It takes a while to understand this hobby. Read as much as you can from travel blogs like Travel Freely, because there is so much great information out there.
The Takeaway
What stands out about this trip is how accessible the pieces are. One flexible points currency, two transfer partners, an off-season week, and a hotel that fits six people in a single room. No advanced strategy, nothing complicated. Just a plan that fit the family Christin has and the ages her kids are right now, which is exactly the kind of trip a first welcome bonus or two can start to cover.
👉 Inspired by Christin’s family adventure? Start tracking your cards with Travel Freely today – it’s free, and it’s built to help you plan redemptions like these, whether you’re chasing your first welcome bonus or your tenth.
Have a success story you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear it! Reach out to us at or fill out our form here.
Cards that make a trip like this possible:
