Travel Adventures Booked With Points and Miles

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)

🧊 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

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

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.

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.