Travel Wins: Trips I Took for Just Taxes & Fees
One of the best parts of travel hacking is when the points and miles stack up so well that the only thing left to pay is the unavoidable taxes and fees. This year, I scored several memorable trips where the cash outlay was almost nothing compared to the retail value. Here’s a roundup of my favorites.
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🌄 Tamaya Resort, New Mexico
Nestled between the Sandia Mountains and the Rio Grande, the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa was a dream redemption. Using World of Hyatt points, I booked a stay that would have cost hundreds of dollars per night. Instead, I only paid the small resort taxes and fees. This was a perfect 4th of July getaway for my husband and me.
Travel Hack Highlight: Hyatt’s award chart sweet spot made this luxury stay nearly free, proving why Hyatt points are gold for family-friendly resorts.
🎰 Las Vegas Getaway
Vegas is always a fun playground, but it’s even better when the room is free. We score free flights thanks to Southwest Rapid Rewards for our family of four. We combined that with a Hyatt Stay and a Caear’s stay, all with points.
Travel Hack Highlight: Combining casino loyalty perks with credit card points is one of my favorite hacks — it’s how I turn “free nights” into actual free vacations.
🌴Miami Adventure
Anniversary trip to South Beach, all thanks to points and miles. I booked a hotel in South Beach with Hyatt points. Free airfare thanks to Southwest Rapid Rewards and the Companion Pass.
Travel Hack Highlight: Hyatt doesn’t charge resort fees on point stays!
🍁 Toronto Escape
Toronto was a quick but memorable getaway, booked entirely with airline miles and Hyatt free night certificates. The flight was covered by points, leaving me to pay only the government taxes and fees. My downtown hotel stay was courtesy of Hyatt Free Night certificates I received as a credit card sign-up bonus, making this trip nearly cash-free.
Travel Hack Highlight: Pairing airline miles with hotel loyalty programs is the ultimate combo for international city breaks. Toronto proved that even cross-border travel can be done for pennies on the dollar. Check out what all the fun things we did on this points and miles trip -> Discover Best of 3 Days in Toronto
✈️ Why These Trips Matter
Each of these redemptions shows the power of points and miles when paired with smart strategy. Taxes and fees are unavoidable, but when the bulk of the cost is covered, you can travel more often, stay longer, and enjoy experiences that might otherwise feel out of reach.
Takeaway for Beginners: Focus on programs that offer outsized value — Hyatt for stays, Southwest for flights is a great way to travel for free easily! You can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards to make these trips happen! Check out my Beginner Travel Guide to get started!
