Category Archives for Travel.
Later this week, I’m heading to Kalispell, Montana, to hike in Glacier National Park with my friend Angie. I can’t wait – it’s been 10 years since I’ve been in Montana!
Me in Montana – 2007
Though I’m excited, I found it admittedly difficult to cobble this trip together with points and miles – rural places are not kind to our hobby. So I paid about $1,000 out-of-pocket because I really wanted to go.
Here’s how I minimized costs as much as possible.
UPDATE: One or more of these offers are no longer available. Click here to see the latest deals!
Through May 31st, 2017 (this Wednesday), the Hilton Surpass Amex has its best-ever sign-up bonus. Yes, it’s offered 100,000 Hilton points before. But this go-around, you also get a free weekend night certificate after your first cardmember year.
I wrote how 120,000 Hilton points can easily be worth over $700. But throw in the free night cert, and you’re approaching $1,000 in value from a single sign-up bonus.
I used Hilton points to stay in colorful Colorado next week
Plus you get Hilton Gold elite status with the card which means… free breakfast! (My fave perk lol.)
I was low on Hilton points and am becoming intensely interested in a trip to Mexico City this year. There are lots of lower-category hotels there – and you get the 5th night free on any award stay.
In general, Hilton points go further at low-tier hotels. But it’s all about how you like to use them.
Also see:
In a few weeks, I’ll be in Brussels, Amsterdam, and Prague for the first time. I am calling this trip “BAP” (after the 3 cities).
This is the trip I booked waaay back in August 2016 for biz class seats with Etihad miles. At the time, I paid ~37,000 miles for round-trip seats from New York to Brussels on Brussels Airlines. Etihad has since raised the price to 88,000 miles – which can still be a good deal to Europe in Business.
That was about 9 months ago – the furthest out I’ve ever planned a trip. At the time, I figured I’d fill it in when the time came. Which is now.
I’m coming for ya, Brussy
Here’s how I put together a $5,00+ week-long trip to Europe for $238 out of pocket.
This past week, I ventured up to Chicago to see Hamilton and hang out with some old college buddies.
I booked 5 nights at The Drake hotel Chicago, located on the Magnificent Mile/Michigan Avenue, with Hilton points. The 5th night was free on this award booking, so I paid 200,000 Hilton points (50,000 X 4) for the entire stay.
My eventual room would’ve cost $1,400+ out of pocket
Because I’m Diamond with Hilton, I got an upgrade to a King Bed on the Executive Floor. Similar room rates to when I stayed say this would’ve been ~$1,404 in cash. But I didn’t have to pay taxes on the award booking, which are over 17% per night (!!!).
That means my Hilton points were worth .07 cents each – and more when you count the free breakfast and free food in the evenings. That’s a good rate for Hilton points!
I took a Lyft from Midway after flying on Southwest from Dallas-Love Field. Traffic was backed up, but I made it to The Drake in about 30 minutes.
During my time in Nassau, I managed to make it into town twice. The first time was in the middle of the day on a Saturday. And the second was a Monday night, which we quickly found out was not the best time to visit.
If you stay in Nassau (maybe because of the 4 free nights at the Atlantis from FoundersCard/Total Rewards Diamond status), you will probably end up on Bay Street at some point. Wait, I made a little map:
Lay of the Nassau land (click to enlarge)
So that’s kinda what to expect.
And here’s what I did during my explorations beyond the Atlantis!
Also see:
I’ve written a lot about FoundersCard over the years.
One of their cornerstone benefits since 2014 has been free Caesars Total Rewards Diamond elite status.
Thankfully, it’s made a comeback every year. Including this one!
Yes! FoundersCard’s best benefit returns for another year
You can get Total Rewards Diamond status through January 31st, 2018 – nearly a full year.
The bad news is FoundersCard currently costs $495, plus a one-time $95 fee, if you’re new.
Been better, been worse
However, if you have a trip to Vegas in the near future, it could be worth it anyway.
Also see:
OMG, y’all. I have never eaten so much in my life. I seriously – like legit – have new stretch marks from how much I gorged myself during my recent free stay at the Hyatt Zilara Cancun.
I knew I wanted to write about the food and drinks at the various restaurants. But found balance a hard one to strike because I was literally always eating and drinking. So I was torn between wanting to capture the moment and be in the moment. But I have enough to give you an idea of what to expect.
Also, I tried every dang restaurant there – some of them twice.
Love is a many splendored thing
I was impressed by the quality, selection, and creativity of the dishes. There was a huge variety. And all the drinks are made with top-shelf liquor.
Girdle thy loins, let’s look at each one.
Also see:
Ahoy, mateys! I have so much to tell you about – just back from a week of meetings in Austin.
I’ve been meaning to report on the Hyatt Zilara Cancun, so here goes.
I booked 3 nights with points in late January.
The flights were paid with Citi ThankYou points (which I’m always rolling in). And I charged the $55 round-trip airport transfer to my Chase Sapphire Reserve, which trigged part of the $300 annual travel credit. And because it’s an all-inclusive, food was covered (more on that in a future post!).
Hyatt Zilara Cancun from above
So flights, hotel, food, and transportation were all completely free. I did bring $100 in cash to leave as tips for the drivers, bartenders, servers, and housekeeping staff.
This trip would’ve cost north of $2,000 out of pocket.
But back to the hotel!
Also see:
It is here! My coveted Southwest Companion Pass.
After a disappointing New Year’s Day announcement that hotel transfers would no longer count toward the Companion Pass, to a reversal a few days later after much criticism, the beginning of 2017 was a wild ride for Southwest.
Back n forth on January 1st
I wasn’t surprised by the announcement – I predicted it would happen a year ago – but it was underhanded and calculating for them to “close the loophole” on January 1st with absolutely no forewarning.
It was sleazy and the opposite of transparent. And for those few days, I was kind of happy to not have the Companion Pass. Because why would I want to commit to a company that makes those sort of changes without warning?
Made it official on January 5th
But they did the right thing, and added a generous 3-month deadline. So that turned me around. Although they have devalued their revenue-based points system without notice twice in recent memory. So I still have that thought in the back of my mind.
I referenced the enormity of the Atlantis Bahamas complex in my earlier review. But wow, this place is gigantic!
Walking through it all would be a nigh impossible task. There’s a free shuttle bus to get around the various towers. Most places are a 5- to 30-minute walk, depending on which tower you stay, and how quickly you walk.
View from Dolphin Cay
The Atlantis is a city unto itself. It would take several weeks to experience the dozens of bars and restaurants, swim in all the pools, and walk around the beaches of Paradise Island. So go into it knowing you won’t see everything. But do sketch out a rough idea for what you’d like to see and do.
You won’t get to all 21 restaurants and each of the 19 bars and lounges – not to mention everything else!
I had a Casino Experience Pass included as part of my 4 free nights, and that set us on a course to exploring the Atlantis.
What I like most about the points and miles hobby is setting a goal, then attaining it.
For a long time, I’ve wanted to stay at the all-inclusive and adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cancun. And in a few weeks, I’ll be there!
Coming for ya, Zilara!
I used 75,000 Hyatt points for a stay that would’ve cost over $1,900 out-of-pocket. Here’s how it came together.
Also see:
American who? Delta what? Beginning 2017, I’m exclusively flying and crediting everything to Alaska or Southwest.
If I have to fly American, that’ll be credited to Alaska. Thanks to Alaska’s merger with Virgin America, I might not see the inside of DFW much next year. DAL is gonna become my new jam – and it’s only 10 minutes up the street.
I’ll be at DAL a lot more than DFW in 2017
I’m also going to transfer 90,000 Starwood points to Marriott to get:
I easily value that at least $5,000.
Hello and welcome to Out and Out! My name is Harlan – I’m a points and miles enthusiast who loves to travel. I am interested in personal finance, the power of positive thinking, and the extraordinary journeys that make life worth living.