🌲 How We Rebooked Our Yosemite Trip for $0 Out of Pocket
Our Family Zion National Park December 2025
A real-life example of how points & miles save the day
Travel plans change — sometimes unexpectedly — but this is exactly where points and miles shine. We had to completely redo our Yosemite and Sequoia trip, and instead of stressing over change fees or last‑minute prices, we rebooked the entire thing for almost nothing out of pocket.
Here’s the full breakdown of how we used AA miles, Delta SkyMiles, Amex Membership Rewards, Hyatt Free Night Certificates, and a Costco Travel rental car to rebuild our trip from scratch without spending cash.
Heads up — this post includes affiliate links and personal referral links. When you use them, I may earn a small commission or bonus at no extra cost to you. It helps support No Point Left Behind and keeps the travel hacks coming. I’m so grateful you’re here.
✈️ Flights: Rebooking for (Almost) Free
Outbound: 10,000 AA Miles Each
American Airlines had great award pricing from Nashville (BNA) → Fresno (FAT) for just 10,000 miles per person. For a family of four, that’s an incredible redemption — especially for a smaller airport like Fresno.
Total: 40,000 AA miles Cash cost: $22.40 in taxes for all four tickets
💡 Learn how to find deals like this in my Beginner Guide to Points & Miles.
Return Flight: Delta + Amex Transfer
American had return flights for 13,000 miles each, but the routing was rough — two stops and long travel days. Not ideal with teens.
Delta had a much better option with one layover, so we switched carriers.
Here’s how it broke down:
I had 40,000 Delta SkyMiles already
We needed 81,000 miles total for all four return tickets
So we transferred Amex Membership Rewards → Delta to cover the difference
There was a small transfer fee (Delta is one of the few programs with one), but it was worth it for a smoother trip home.
Total: 81,000 Delta miles Cash cost: ~$20 in Amex transfer fees
✈️ I used point.me to find the best award flights fast — it saved hours of searching.
🏨 Hotels: Hyatt & Marriott Free Night Certificates for the Win
Hyatt continues to be one of the best sweet spots in family travel — especially when you have teens who want their own space.
Fresno: 2 Nights at Hyatt Place (FNCs)
We used one Free Night Certificate from each Hyatt card, giving us two free nights before heading into the parks.
Why we love Hyatt Place:
Two teen boys = no bed sharing
Consistent layout
Free breakfast
Great value for certificates
Total: 2 Free Night Certificates Cash cost: $0
Our family loves Hyatt — it’s truly our go‑to brand for comfortable, consistent rooms that work for teens and families. If you want to see how far points and free night certificates can take you, check out all the amazing Hyatt properties we’ve stayed at on points.
Yosemite Area: 5 Nights Using FNCs + Points
We needed two rooms for our family, so here’s how we pieced it together:
Room 1: 3 Free Night Certificates
Room 2: 2 Free Night Certificates + Marriott Points
We received these certificates from a recent sign-up bonus with the Chase Marriott Card.
Total: 5 Free Night Certificates + points Cash cost: $0
⭐See more real‑life redemptions in my Points & Miles Adventures
🚗 Rental Car: Costco Travel
We booked our rental car through Costco Travel — still one of the best places to find consistently low rates.
Total: $254 Cash cost: $254 (but saved significantly compared to other sites)
🚙 Julie tip: I always check first for rental cars — it’s usually cheaper and includes an extra driver.
💰 Total Out-of-Pocket Cost
Here’s the full picture:
For a full Yosemite + Sequoia trip for a family of four, that’s incredible.
🌟 Why This Matters
This is the perfect example of why I love points and miles:
Plans changed → no stress
Award flights gave us flexibility
Hyatt Free Night Certificates & Marriott Free Night Certificates saved hundreds
Amex points filled the gaps
We rebuilt an entire trip for almost nothing
This is exactly the kind of real-life redemption that makes travel hacking worth it — not just aspirational luxury, but practical savings for real families.
🔗 Want to Learn How to Do This Too?
Here are helpful posts to explore next:
About the Author
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches families how to travel smarter using simple, beginner‑friendly points and miles strategies. As a mom who plans real trips for real budgets, Julie shares practical redemptions from her own adventures — including national park road trips, cruises, and international family travel.
She specializes in Hyatt Free Night Certificate hacks, easy flight redemptions, and stacking credit card perks to make bucket‑list trips affordable. When plans change (as they often do), Julie shows how tools like point.me, flexible points, and smart booking strategies can save a trip — just like they did for this Yosemite itinerary.
When she’s not writing guides or helping families inside Travel Hacking Moms, you’ll find her exploring the outdoors with her teens, testing new travel tools, or planning her next points‑powered getaway.
