Colder winter temps have us dreaming of free travel to tropical destinations. Today we share how Travel Freely member Jenny turned those dreams into a reality on a recent 7-day trip to Aruba with her family. The One Happy Island lies in the southern Caribbean, just below Hurricane Alley, and enjoys mild temps and sunshine all year long.
Tell us about yourself. How long have you been using points and miles toward free travel?
I’m an occupational therapist who lives in Denver with my husband and 4-year-old daughter. I have always loved traveling, and besides my family and friends, travel brings me the greatest joy in life. I have been using points and miles for several years now. Travel Freely’s tips have really helped up my game into being able to afford more luxury travel at a cheaper cost.
Tell us about your trip. Where did you go, what did you do?
My family and I recently enjoyed 7 nights at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino, which we absolutely loved. It was the first time we had stayed at a Hyatt resort, and it was so nice and very family-friendly. My 4 year old loved the water slide!
This trip was all about rest and relaxation. One of our favorite moments was enjoying cocktails at sunset while watching our daughter build sandcastles on the beach in the pure white sand. Our savings on hotel and flights allowed us to splurge on food and drinks and really enjoy ourselves! We even took advantage of the affordable Camp Hyatt for kids and had a lovely adults-only dinner oceanside.
How much money did you save by using points and miles for your trip?
I used points from my Chase Sapphire Preferred (100k points plus an additional 15k points through my referral link) to book the entire Hyatt stay (valued at $4,200). We used the Chase Travel℠ portal to transfer the points 1:1 to Hyatt. My Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card accumulated enough points to cover $1,000 towards our $1,500 flights.
What advice do you have for someone just starting out with points and miles?
I would start off with one solid card or offer and use the points you earn from that to cover a shorter weekend getaway. That way, you can ease into the hobby, and it’s not too overwhelming. Once you get the hang of it, you can combine card offers to cover bigger trips and expenses.
How has Travel Freely helped you? And what do you like best about the site and app?
Travel Freely has helped me take my travel savings to another level. I generally apply for 2-3 cards each year (to keep me below 5/24) and use the resources TF provides to ensure I’m taking advantage of the best offers available for my travel goals. I eagerly await Travel Freely’s monthly updates on which card offers are the best ones across the board.
