How I Booked New Orleans Birthday Weekend for $200 + Miles
New Orleans
For my birthday weekend, we headed to New Orleans — and thanks to a smart stack of travel credits, points, and dining perks, we pulled off a luxe getaway for almost nothing out of pocket. When all the stacking was done, our entire weekend came to right around $200 total. This is exactly why I love teaching beginner‑friendly travel hacking: small strategies add up fast.
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Here’s exactly how we did it.
🏨 Hotel: Kimpton Hotel Fontenot — 2 Nights for $53
We booked two nights at the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot by IHG, and stacked three different travel offers to bring the cost down to just $53 total:
Chase Sapphire Reserve Edit Credit ($250) — applied automatically when booking through the Edit Hotels program
IHG $250 Credit — stacked on top of the Chase Reserve Edit Credit (also from the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card)
Chase Travel Offer — a limited‑time rebate that knocked off $100 more (a Chase offer)
Because we booked through Chase’s Edit Hotels, we also got:
$100 dining credit
Free breakfast
Early check‑in / late checkout (when available)
Room upgrade (when available)
This stack turned a stylish boutique hotel into a budget win — and made the birthday weekend feel extra special
✈️ Flights to New Orleans: 15,000 Southwest Points Each
We flew into New Orleans using Southwest Rapid Rewards points — just 15,000 points per person. No taxes or fees beyond the standard $5.60 per ticket.
Southwest is perfect for short domestic hops, and the points transfer easily from Chase Ultimate Rewards.
✈️ Flights Home: $150 Total Using Venture X Credit
For our return flight, we booked on United Airlines and used the Capital One Venture X $300 travel credit to offset the cost.
Total cost of return flights: ~$450 for two people
Applied $300 Venture X credit
Out‑of‑pocket: $150 total for both flights
This was a great way to use the Venture X credit on a non‑hotel expense.
🎂 Birthday Dinner: Covered with My Chase Sapphire Dining Credit
One of the easiest wins of the whole trip was our birthday dinner. The Chase Sapphire Reserve includes a recurring dining credit when you book and dine through OpenTable — and it covered $150 of our meal in New Orleans.
I booked our reservation through OpenTable, paid with my Sapphire Reserve, and the credit automatically reimbursed the charge. It’s one of those simple perks that quietly saves you real money without any extra steps.
Total savings on birthday dinner: $150
👜 What I Will Pack for This New Orleans Weekend
For this birthday trip, I’m keeping it simple and bringing my new Away Weekender Bag — it’s structured, roomy, and perfect for 2–3 day getaways. It fits under the seat, keeps everything organized, and makes quick trips feel effortless.
Here’s what I plan to pack:
Away Weekender Bag — my go‑to for short trips
Athleta outfits— breathable, comfy pieces for walking the French Quarter
Cabana Life layers— lightweight sun protection for daytime exploring
MDSolarSciences sunscreen — lightweight and non‑greasy
This list will probably evolve as the trip gets closer, but these are the staples I always reach for on warm‑weather weekends.
💡 Final Tally
Hotel: $53 total for 2 nights at Kimpton Fontenot
Flights to NOLA: 15,000 Southwest points each
Flights home: $150 total after Venture X credit
We got a boutique hotel, perks, and round‑trip flights for two — all for less than the cost of a single night at most hotels.
✨ Want to Try This Stack?
Check your:
Chase Sapphire Reserve Edit Credit balance
Chase Sapphire Reserve IHG Credit
Capital One Venture X travel credit
Southwest points stash
This kind of stack is beginner‑friendly and powerful — especially for short domestic trips.
Related Posts:
🍩 Want the Taste of New Orleans Without the Trip? Try Goldbelly
If you want a little New Orleans magic at home, you can order some of the city’s most iconic foods straight to your doorstep through Goldbelly. It’s one of my favorite ways to bring travel memories home — especially when I’m counting down to a trip.
A few NOLA classics you can get delivered:
Gumbo + jambalaya kits
Po’boys
King Cake (seasonal but worth it!)
👩💻 About the Author — Julie Davis
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, a travel‑hacking blog that helps everyday travelers use points, miles, and credit card perks to see more of the world for less.
She’s a mom, a lifelong planner, and a firm believer that there’s no “right” way to do points and miles — just the way that works for you. Julie has booked hundreds of flights and hotel nights using the same simple strategies she teaches on her site, saving her family thousands of dollars every year.
When she’s not stacking credits or planning her next cruise, you’ll find her exploring national parks, testing travel gear, or helping retirees and beginners travel smarter without spending more.
