Travel Adventures Booked With Points and Miles
See exactly how we turn points, miles, and smart travel strategies into real trips. These step‑by‑step examples show you the flights we booked, the hotels we chose, how many points we used, and the exact strategies that made each trip possible. Use these real‑life redemptions to plan your own adventures — and learn how to stretch your points even further.
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Points and Miles Adventures Hub
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Norway Cruise
Cash Price: $12,000+ What We Paid: $675 in taxes & fees Total Savings: Over $11,300
Points & Miles Used:
135,000 points transferred to Virgin Atlantic and Flying Blue
Airlines flown: Delta + Virgin Atlantic
Transfer partners: Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve + Amex Platinum
Award type: Round‑trip economy from Nashville (BNA) → London (LHR)
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Alaska Cruise
🧊 Alaska Cruise — Saved Over $3,700 Using Points, Miles & a Casino Deal
Cash Price: $4,040+ What We Paid: $1,000 (flights + cruise) Total Savings: Over $3,700
Points & Miles Used:
We flew to Seattle on United Points and Back on Southwest Rapid Rewards
Airlines flown: United + Southwest
Transfer partners: None
Hotel: Free pre‑cruise night using Hyatt points
Cruise: Casino offer + Capital One travel credit
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South Beach Miami - Weekend Getaway
Cash Price: $2,158+ What We Paid: $22.40 in taxes & fees Total Savings: Over $2,135
Points & Miles Used:
Southwest points for one ticket
Southwest Companion Pass for the second ticket
46,000 Hyatt points for two nights at Hyatt Centric South Beach
Transfer partner: Chase Ultimate Rewards → Hyatt
Cards involved: Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve + Southwest cards
Virgin Voyages
Valiant Lady - Booked with MNVV+ Southwest Rapid Rewards+Hyatt Points
Valiant Lady - Sister trip Booked with Casino Offer + Southwest Rapid Rewards + Hyatt Points
Resilient Lady - Booked with MNVV + Southwest Rapid Rewards + Hilton Points
My son and me Sky princess in Norway
Princess Cruises
Enchanted Princess – 7 Nights Booked using: Princess casino offer + Hyatt points for hotel + Southwest Rapid Rewards for flights
Sun Princess – 2025 Sailing Booked using: Princess casino offer + Chase UR transfer + Hyatt Points
Royal Princess– Alaska Booked using: Princess casino offer + Southwest points + Capital One points
Sky Princess - Norway Booked using: Princess Casino Offer + Flying Blue & Virgin Atlantic +Hyatt Points
Sky Princess - Caribbean Booked using Princess Casino Offer + Southwest Rapid Rewards
Carnival Cruises
My Carnival Cruises Booking
Carnival Cruise Casino Deal Booked using a Casino Deals + Southwest Rapid Rewards
Carnival Magic Cruise (sailing Oct 26) Casino offer + Southwest + Hyatt Points
Carnival Cruise Conquest Casino Casino Offer + Southwest + Hyatt Points
More Trips using Points & Miles
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Dublin
Planning a trip to Ireland? This 3‑day Dublin itinerary covers the best sights, pubs, neighborhoods, and day trips — plus how we booked the whole thing using points and miles. Perfect for beginners learning how to travel more for less.
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Glacier National Park
We turned one of America’s most iconic national parks into an affordable family adventure by using points for flights, hotels, and even parts of our rental car. Glacier National Park delivered jaw‑dropping scenery, wildlife, and unforgettable hikes — and we did it all while keeping costs low with smart stacking and flexible points. From Kalispell flights to budget‑friendly lodging strategies, this trip shows how national parks don’t have to break the bank when you use points the right way.
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Quebec City on Points: European Charm Without the Jet Lag
We booked round‑trip flights to Quebec City for just 30,000 points total using American Airlines miles — then stacked a Capital One portal deal to save $200 on our hotel. With cobblestone streets, French architecture, and UNESCO history, Quebec City gave us all the European vibes without crossing the Atlantic. See how we booked it, where we stayed, and what we did — all with points and smart credit card strategy.
Trips on Points
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Hotels Booked on Points
See exactly how we use points and miles to book hotels for free or close to it. These real‑life redemptions show you the properties we chose, how many points we used, what the rooms were like, and whether the stay was worth it. Use these examples to plan your own trips and stretch your points even further.
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Quick Trips on Points
Short getaways are some of the easiest — and most fun — ways to use your points and miles. These real‑life examples show you exactly how we booked quick trips using points for flights, hotels, or both. Whether you want a weekend escape or a last‑minute adventure, these guides help you travel more for less.
📚 Beginner Resources
New to points and miles? You’ll fit right in. Join my Travel Hacking Moms Facebook group — it’s a supportive space to learn, ask questions, and start saving on your next trip.
How to Earn Points Fast as a Busy Mom
🧭 My Favorite Programs & Why I Use Them
Chase Ultimate Rewards — flexible, beginner‑friendly
American Express Membership Rewards — great transfer partners
Hyatt — best hotel value
Southwest — family‑friendly redemptions