How We Used Points and Miles For $90K In Travel Value (2024 Recap)

2024 was a standout year for my family in terms of travel rewards. As a family of five, we took major trips during winter, spring and summer breaks, as well as several smaller getaways. 

While I’ve always used rewards to cut travel costs, this year was special: our kids are 5, 9 and 12, which means their schedules are still somewhat flexible, and they’re capable enough to handle some longer travel times. 

In total, we enjoyed approximately $90,000 worth of travel by using rewards in 2024. Spending that amount out-of-pocket wouldn’t have been an option for us, but with the help of reward points, we made some incredible memories. 

In this post, I’ll break down the estimated value of each trip and explain how I booked them. 

2024 Reward Travel Overview

Here’s a rundown of the trips we took in 2024, both big and small.

Stays

• Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo (Christmas break). Two rooms for eight nights. Estimated value of $24,000.
• Kauai Vacation Rental (summer break). A two-week stay in a three-bedroom house with a loft and guest house on Anini Beach. Estimated value of $20,000.
• Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (Summer Break 2024). Two rooms for seven nights, including a suite upgrade. Estimated value of $16,000.
• Anniversary Trip to Austin Miraval with Suite Upgrade. One room for five nights at the all-inclusive resort. Estimated value of $9,400.
• Naples (Florida) Vacation Rental (spring break). Three-bedroom vacation rental to visit family. Estimated value of $9,800.
• Park Hyatt Paris (wife’s 40th birthday). Three-night stay at Park Hyatt Paris with Guest of Honor upgrade. Estimated value of $3,300.
• Mexico City Andaz. Three-night stay with a suite upgrade. Estimated value of $1,400.

Flights

• Rome to Chicago for five people. Direct flight. Estimated value of $2,750.
• Chicago to Costa Rica for five people (Christmas break). Direct flight on United. Estimated value of $2,000.
• Costa Rica to Chicago (Christmas break) for five people. One-stop flight on Southwest. Estimated value of $1,400.
• Chicago to Naples (FL), returning from Fort Lauderdale (spring break 2024) for five people. Direct flights. The estimated value of this round-trip airfare is $3,200.
• Round-trip airfare from Chicago to Kauai for five people. One-stop flights each way. Estimated value of $2,400.
• Round-trip airfare from Chicago to Austin for two people. Estimated value of $1,050.
• Round-trip airfare from Chicago to Paris for two people. One way in business class, and the other in economy. Estimated value of $4,000. 
• Round-trip airfare from Chicago to Mexico City for two people. Estimated value of $600.
• Round-trip airfare from Chicago to Phoenix for my 40th birthday. Estimated value of $500.

Other Miscellaneous Trips

• Three-night stay in Ann Arbor for a conference. Estimated value of $900.
• Two separate one-night getaways at Park Hyatt Chicago with suite upgrades. Estimated value of $2,000.

#1. Family Vacation In Costa Rica 

Summary: We traveled over winter break to the Andaz Costa Rica Resort. We booked two rooms for 350,000 Hyatt points, with individual rooms priced at $1,817 per night. Flights on the way down were booked from Chicago to Costa Rica (direct) for 62,500 Aeroplan points (total), plus approximately $355 in fees. On the way back, we flew through Houston, booking with Southwest for 72,625 Rapid Rewards points (total) and $298.45 in fees.

This trip was one of our first experiences as a family staying at a luxury resort for seven nights, and we loved it so much that we’re already planning to return. 

The Andaz Costa Rica Resort is perfect for families, and we can’t recommend it enough. 

Since I have “Globalist” status in the World of Hyatt program, we enjoyed free breakfast, and the resort even had a unique, separate breakfast location just for Globalists during our stay. 

The rooms were wonderful and side-by-side, with the boys in one and the girls in the other.

What really stood out was how the staff went above and beyond for my daughter, who has severe food allergies. The chef personally made her special pancakes every morning, prepared separately from everything else. It was such a thoughtful touch that truly made us feel cared for and appreciated. 

The flights for this trip turned out to be a valuable learning experience. Initially, I had booked tickets on American Airlines using British Airways Avios, but those flights included a stopover in Charlotte and required a 6:00 a.m. departure — meaning we’d have to get to the airport at around 4:00 a.m. 

Luckily, I had alerts set up through PointsYeah, and about a week before the trip, I noticed that United opened up partner award availability for a direct flight from Chicago to Costa Rica. I quickly booked this option using Aeroplan points by transferring Membership Rewards points from American Express. 

We’re excited to return to Costa Rica this year, but with a slightly different plan. One thing we learned is that the Andaz, while an incredible resort, is located on the west side of the country, which is quite remote. 

If you want to explore rainforests or other nature activities, doing so requires about a three-hour drive. To make the most of our trip this time, we’re starting with three nights in the cloud forest of Monteverde before heading back to the Andaz.

If you’re considering a stay at the Andaz Costa Rica, keep in mind it’s a high-demand Hyatt property because of its incredible value. I highly recommend booking early. 

#2. Failing to Climb Pico de Orizaba (Mexico’s Highest Mountain)

Summary: I went to Mexico with friends to attempt to summit Pico de Orizaba. Initially, I booked direct business class flights on Aeroméxico, but the flight was canceled the night before. I rebooked a one-way ticket in economy for 12,500 points and $137.50 in fees on the way down using Aeroplan and flying on United. On the way home, I booked for 7,700 miles plus $89.42 in fees on United. I stayed two nights at the Andaz in Mexico City using free night awards.

A few friends and I organized a trip to climb Pico de Orizaba, which is the third-highest mountain in North America at 18,491 feet. Before this, the highest I’d hiked was around 12,000 feet in Colorado, so this was a significant step up for me.

We spent a few nights at the Hyatt Andaz in Mexico City (getting a free suite upgrade) to start acclimating to the altitude. The stay was fantastic; we loved the Condesa neighborhood and would happily go back. The food and culture in Mexico City are excellent.

After our comfortable stay, we rented a Sprinter van and headed to the mountains. We spent one night in a town at about 10,000 feet and then moved up to base camp at around 14,000 feet to continue acclimating.

We began our summit attempt around midnight, about 36 hours after arriving at base camp. The climb can be done in one day and takes about 12 hours. While we didn’t face much rain or snow, we encountered some of the worst winds our guides had ever experienced.

As a husband and father of three, I was cautious about taking unnecessary risks. I planned to keep going as long as I felt good. About five hours in, I started experiencing one of the worst headaches of my life and told the guides; their advice was to hike a bit more without medication and see how I felt.

I did, but the headache worsened. One of the guides had to take me back down solo. It took about four hours for the pain to start easing.

Four of the seven of us summited. Despite not reaching the top, I had a great time. I really enjoyed the challenge and the experience encouraged me to plan something else later in the year — though not at such a high altitude!

#3. Spring Break In Naples, Florida

Summary: We booked a three-bedroom house for seven nights over spring break through Vacasa for 40,500 Wyndham Rewards points per night. The flights were booked for 45,000 British Airways Avios points (plus $28.00 in fees) each way. 

My parents live in Naples (Florida), so for spring break, my sisters’ families and ours booked a trip to visit them. Their two-bedroom condo is a tight place to fit everyone, so we decided to book a separate place. Thankfully, this is where Wyndham Rewards’ partnership with Vacasa came in handy.

When we booked this trip, it was possible to reserve Vacasa vacation rentals for 13,500 points per bedroom per night if you held the Wyndham Earner card, and if the cost of the rental was under $500 per bedroom per night. We paid 40,500 points per night for the house, which was a fantastic deal considering prices in Naples during spring break are usually very high.

The house had a pool, which was great because we were able to celebrate Easter together in one place.

For the flights, we left on the Tuesday after spring break started and kept the kids out of school for two days to find award availability.

I usually find that award availability opens up when the kids miss two or three days of school, which, considering the thousands of dollars we saved, was a trade-off we were willing to make.

One tip: we flew into Fort Myers, which is about 45 minutes from Naples, and out of Fort Lauderdale. Of course, finding flights into and out of Fort Myers each way is preferable, but it pays to be a little flexible. In this case, we found award availability only out of Fort Lauderdale on the way home.

Overall, visiting my parents during the kids’ time off is typically expensive when you account for food and lodging. However, this saved us a considerable amount of money, and spending quality time together as a family was great.

#4. 15th Anniversary Trip to Austin Miraval

The Austin Miraval was a great way to spend an anniversary, be it a bit pricey (even when paying in points).

Summary: For our 15th wedding anniversary, we stayed four nights at the Miraval Austin Resort for 267,000 Hyatt points. We flew from Chicago to Austin using American Express points, paying with points as cash. After receiving the 35% rebate using the American Express Business Platinum card, the total cost came to 70,694 American Express points for two round-trip tickets on American Airlines.

Knowing our 15th wedding anniversary was approaching, I booked one of the most sought-after Hyatt properties a year in advance: the Alila Ventana Big Sur. It’s a dream destination we’d been eager to visit.

But about two weeks before our departure, torrential rains closed the hotel for an extended period. That’s because the road fell into the ocean. 

Initially, there was hope it would reopen in time, but just a few days before leaving, we had to rebook.

We chose the Miraval Austin Resort & Spa instead. 

If you’ve never heard of Miraval, it’s like a luxury adult day camp. Most offerings, including food, are all-inclusive, and with points bookings, you receive a $175 per person (per day) credit to use on various activities.

Some activities are complimentary, while others require resort credit. We enjoyed art classes, yoga sessions, a personal growth class with a spirit medium, and archery. We filled our calendars and even got a couples massage. Amazingly, we didn’t spend much cash — our final bill was just $13.

I liked it, but didn’t love it for the amount it cost. I was a bit bummed since I was looking forward to Big Sur, and we’re planning to try and get there in the future. However, due to a last-minute change, this trip worked out well. We even received a suite upgrade, which was a nice bonus.

Overall, it was a lot of fun and fantastic not to have to think about much for four days.

Pro tip: Using the American Express Business Platinum Card, you can pay for flights with points through Amex Travel and receive 35% of your points back. This adds flexibility when award availability is limited, allowing you to book any flight that fits your schedule.

#5. Three-Week Summer Trip to Kauai

Summary: For our Kauai vacation, we booked a spacious three-bedroom house — with a loft and a separate guest house — for 14 nights at 40,500 Wyndham points per night, totaling 567,000 points. 

We then stayed seven nights at the Grand Hyatt Kauai, reserving two rooms for 320,000 Hyatt points. For flights from Chicago to Kauai, we used 120,000 Avios points on American Airlines and paid $28 in fees. On the way home, we utilized 169,905 Membership Rewards points to cover the $1,699.05 cost; after the 35% rebate of 59,467 points, the net points used were 110,438 for five tickets. 

This trip to Kauai was years in the making. We first visited when our oldest daughter was two and a half, right before preschool. We returned after our second child was two, spending three weeks there. 

Back then, we took our oldest out of kindergarten for a few weeks, but as the kids get older, pulling them out of school becomes more challenging. So, we planned this one over summer break. 

Right before COVID hit, I had saved up a lot of Capital One points — about 300,000 — thanks to a now-expired offer. Combined with two bonuses from Wyndham Earner Cards and buying some Wyndham points on sale, we accrued enough points to book a fantastic Kauai vacation rental on the North Shore. 

We were just steps away from Anini Beach, our favorite spot for relaxing. We also headed up to Hanalei and surfed a bunch (I’m getting better!).

Our stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai was beautiful. It’s a big resort — quite different from the more quaint feel of the Andaz — but the pool for the kids is fantastic. For the first time, we explored the island’s South Side, including hiking Waimea Canyon.

The highlight of the trip for me was hiking the Kalalau Trail along the Nā Pali Coast (a 25-mile round trip). 

Since we could only get a one-day camping permit, we did the entire hike in one day. My cousin, who was with me in Mexico, and my 10-year-old niece (quite impressive!) joined me. 

It’s one of the most breathtaking experiences I’ve ever had, hiking along cliffs for about 12 hours. Completing it felt great — a core memory with my cousin and niece. My wife and kids stayed back at the house.

One tip about Vacasa: lofts and miscellaneous rooms often don’t count towards the total bedroom count. So, even though our Vacasa house had a loft and a guest house, it was still priced at 40,500 points per night using the Wyndham Earner Business Card (though the point rates have since doubled). 

Overall, I can’t say enough good things about Kauai. This was our first time experiencing it in luxury, as previously, we’d booked a small condo in Princeville during the off-season for under $200 per night, paid with cash.

#6. Paris Trip for my Wife’s 40th Birthday

Summary: For my wife’s 40th birthday, she and a childhood friend traveled to Paris to visit another friend. They stayed at the Park Hyatt Paris, using 115,000 points total for three nights. She redeemed 106,000 Air France points and paid $356 in fees to fly business class to Paris and return in economy, all on direct flights to and from Chicago.

My wife and I both turned 40 this year. To celebrate, I went to Arizona with my childhood friends to watch the Chicago Bears play (unfortunately, they lost). My wife had more grandiose plans — she wanted to visit a childhood friend in Paris, accompanied by another friend from their early years.

Typically, when we travel as a family of five, booking business-class flights to popular destinations like Paris isn’t feasible. However, since this trip was just for her, I aimed to make it special. I used Air France miles to book her a one-way ticket in business class to Paris and an economy ticket for the return flight, both on direct flights from Chicago.

She stayed at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, utilizing a Guest of Honor upgrade.

Her travel companion is a friend I’ve known since we were 16, as my wife and I have been together since then. It was rewarding to give both of them the experience of staying at a top-tier hotel using points. I jokingly told her to let her husband know he should stop redeeming rewards for Amazon gift cards and start maximizing travel points!

(I wasn’t really joking though…). 

Though it was a quick trip, I found just as much joy in planning and booking it. If you’ve noticed a lack of new posts on the blog last week, it’s because I was happily staying home with the kids. It was quite an eventful week, especially with many things wrapping up before the Thanksgiving break kicked off.

What’s Next?

This year’s theme was taking full advantage of my Hyatt Globalist status. 

I had accumulated a significant number of points from previous years, so this level of travel isn’t our norm. Nonetheless, it’s wild to see it all come together and realize the actual value of those points. 

The biggest question I get is about how to earn points. I use my advantages: owning a business with expenses, earning multiple sign-up bonuses, and taking care of my credit. Having a spouse willing to cooperate is also helpful, of course!

The total number of points we spent this year was 2,419,063. That’s a lot. While some people do more, I realize this is substantial and can be hard to achieve unless you know the game or are willing to pursue multiple sign-up bonuses.

I also learned the importance of taking advantage of deals while they last. The Vacasa partnership has now doubled in price. Hyatt has raised the award rates for both the Andaz in Costa Rica and the Grand Hyatt Kauai, so booking these nearly a year in advance saved us a lot of points.

Going forward, we have trips back to Costa Rica and the Park Hyatt in St. Kitts. Other than that, there are no big summer travel plans for now, but I have some alerts set up in PointsYeah for potential destinations. 

In other words, we burned all our points in 2024!