Tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you been using points and miles toward free travel?
I’m a CPA, wife, and mom to 2 kids – ages 15 & 13. My husband and I first used points way back in 2003 when we stayed at (what’s now) the Sheraton Grand Seattle using points from opening the old SPG American Express card. We didn’t travel much after that until around 2015. Since then, we have taken some great trips using points and free nights from my “hobby”!
Why did you choose Alaska? What were some of the highlights and cool moments?
My husband and I had been on a Southeast Alaskan cruise many years ago, and we wanted to return with the kids to experience the outstanding interior landscapes. Unfortunately, what I did not account for was all of the rain we would encounter, so we did not get to see as much of the scenery as we would have liked.
Regardless, using credit card points saved us a ton of money so that we could afford some cool activities.
One highlight was a boat tour out of Seward to Kenai Fjords National Park, where we could see tidal glaciers, wildlife, and humpback whales engage in bubble-net feeding.
We also rode the transit bus through Denali National Park and did some hiking, took a train ride on the Alaska Railroad, enjoyed horseback riding around the Knik River Valley, and went on a fishing charter in Prince William Sound. My husband and son’s favorite activity was the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum in Fairbanks.
How did you pay for your trip?
Flights:
- Paid cash for our flights to Fairbanks, AK, since point redemptions were horrible for our dates.
- On the way home, we wanted to stop in Seattle to see family for 3 days, so I booked a multi-city ticket home using 29K (each) American miles (totaling 116K points).
Lodging:
This trip required stays in a lot of different locations. We were in Alaska for 13 nights and Seattle for 3 nights.
- One night at Springhill Suites in Fairbanks using a free night certificate ($400)
- 2 nights in Denali paid for in cash.
- One night at Talkeetna using cash.
- Two nights at the Hyatt Place Anchorage by transferring 24K Chase Ultimate Reward points to Hyatt.
- Two nights at Best Western in Seward using 50,318 Chase UR points.
- One night at Glacier Point, using cash.
- Two nights at Airbnb – using a combination of gift cards from a canceled trip and Chase Ultimate Rewards Pay Yourself Back
- The last two nights in Alaska were spent back at Springhill Suites Fairbanks using my husband’s free night certificates. These nights were going for $600/night!
- Three nights in SEA were at Hilton Garden Inn at Seatac Airport (40K Hilton points per night, $400/night).
Meals: We used 137,910 Chase Ultimate Reward pay yourself back for most meals (cash value = $2,068.65
What cards did you use for this trip?
Personal cards
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® personal card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve
- American Express Hilton Honors Surpass Card
Business cards
- Chase Ink Business cards
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
- American Express Hilton Honors Business Card
- Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Business Plus (discontinued)
- Bank of America Alaska Airlines Visa Business Card
Summary of April’s total savings:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards – 222,640 points = $3,920
- Hilton – 120,000 points = $1,200
- Marriott – 3 free night certificates = $1,600
- American Airlines miles – 116,000 miles = $2,380
- Total Cash Value – $9,100
What advice do you have for someone just starting out with points and miles?
For someone just starting out, remember this is a marathon, not a sprint. The points we used were accumulated over several years. Make a goal, and find out what cards are best to achieve that goal.
How has Travel Freely helped you? And what do you like best about the site and app?
I have been doing points and miles for a while, and Travel Freely helps me keep up with what cards I have now and in the past. It reminds me of when annual fees are upcoming and when it is time to apply for new cards. I also utilize CardGenie to see what card bonuses are out there and the cards I may be eligible for. Travel Freely keeps all my info in one place!
