We love to hear about the amazing trips our members take using what they’ve learned through Travel Freely! We share these reader success stories in hopes of inspiring you to plan your next trip using points and miles.
You may know this next reader from many of Zac’s inspiring blog posts (Proposing in Southern France with Points, or How We Did Costa Rica for Free). Travel Freely member (and Zac’s wife), Virginia, shares the story of a recent trip where she used points to book a girls’ trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico!
Tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you been using points and miles towards free travel?
My name is Virginia Hood, and I’ve been using points to travel freely for about 12 years now. I didn’t grow up traveling much, but since being introduced to the world of points and miles through Zac, we’ve been able to take so many amazing trips that we probably wouldn’t have otherwise.
Please tell us about your trip. Where did you go?
My friend Melanie and I decided to take a girls’ trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, and relax at the beautiful Andaz Mayakoba Resort. This resort is located right next to the water and has its own private beach, which was perfect for what we wanted! Our trip was 4-nights, so we were able to spend 3 days laying beachside and eating incredible food. We love the Andaz brand and this resort was no exception!
The pool at the Andaz Myakoba Resort
What inspired your trip?
Melanie and I have had many adventures together in the past (she’s a Travel Freely member, too). She currently lives in Nashville, TN, and we decided it would be fun to take a much-needed vacation together and spend it at the beach! The last trip we took together was to Glacier Mountain National Park in August 2020, so traveling felt long overdue. We booked the trip for the month of March, and it was a good way to escape the long winter and avoid the Spring Break crowds!
Beachside at the Andaz Myakoba Resort
What kind of points did you use for this trip?
I was able to find a direct flight from Denver to Cancun with Southwest Airlines, and used my Rapid Rewards points to book the round-trip flights.
For our hotel, I used Hyatt points to book our stay at the Andaz Mayakoba Resort, which is one of Hyatt’s brands. Also, Zac has Hyatt Globalist status and was able to transfer it to me. So, we enjoyed a free breakfast each morning!
What was the total out-of-pocket cost for this trip?
The total cost of the trip would have been around $3,150 total between the two of us. In total, the trip cost me around $250. We each saved roughly $1,500 by using points for this trip! I decided to splurge and get a massage on the afternoon that we arrived, which went towards my out-of-pocket costs. Also, we paid for a private airport transfer to and from the hotel, which was a nice way to start and end our stay!
The entrance to the Andaz Myakoba Resort
What are some highlights from your trip?
There were so many highlights! I had an amazing sea bass dish at Sotavento, their beachside grill, which was by far the best meal I had during our stay. The setting was so dreamy at sunset!
The property has a beautiful path where you can walk or ride bikes throughout the resort. We decided to rent bikes and ride them to breakfast which was so much fun! On another day, we rented paddleboards and had a blast on the water. The resort offered so many fun activities to choose from! We wanted to go snorkeling but ran out of time. Maybe next time!
Another highlight was the massage I had on the day that I arrived at the resort. I paid cash for it, but it turned out to be just what I needed on a stormy afternoon. Luckily, this was the only rainy day we had while we were there. I highly recommend splurging on a spa service after a long day of travel. I might make this a travel tradition!
The outdoor seating at Sotavento
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in using points and miles to book a trip like yours?
I suggest identifying the most important pieces of your trip, and making your points and miles work to fit those goals. For this trip, we knew we wanted to stay right on the beach. Because I was traveling from snowy Denver, this was an absolute must. And, we had limited time so it was important that the hotel offered everything we needed (a nice beach, good food, and fun activities). Using points for travel is a matter of combining your personal goals for the trip with the points you have.
When Zac and I travel, we love to stay at Hyatt properties so we prioritize earning Hyatt points (or transferable points like Chase Ultimate Rewards). Over the years, the Andaz brand has become one of our favorites! We love the boutique feel and great service at these resorts. So, when booking this trip I knew exactly where I wanted to stay and had the Hyatt points to make it work.
Cards Used for This Trip
Our #1 personal card we recommend most often. Hands down the single best "starter card" for beginners and the MVP card for free travel.
This is a two-tiered signup bonus with the first bonus being 30,000 points earned after spending $3,000 on the card within the first 3 months. The second bonus offer is dependent on how much you spend, where you'll earn 2x points per dollar spent in the first 6 months (on purchases that normally earn 1x point), on up to $15,000 spent.
Would You Like Us to Share Your Story?
We’re always looking for reader success stories, and would love to hear yours! Please feel free to reach out at moc.y1731779788leerf1731779788levar1731779788t@kla1731779788tstel1731779788 and share the story of a recent trip you took using points and miles towards free travel!
