Looking for a weekend break from the daily grind, but have Champagne dreams and a beer budget? Afraid you can’t plan an epic getaway? Think again.
A long weekend in a culture-filled city or at a sunny beach or mountain retreat is within your grasp if you have a stash of points and miles.
Since you’re only booking two or three hotel nights and a short flight, you don’t need a ton of rewards to make a memorable
Don’t forget the outings and activities
Your points can often cover way more of your weekend than transportation and accommodations.
Planning a food tour in New Orleans? A museum pass in Chicago? A snorkeling excursion in Hawaii? Depending on your rewards program, those experiences may be bookable using points.
Many airlines have programs that let you redeem points and miles to book or bid on experiences, including Delta, United, American, Southwest, and Virgin.
Several hotel loyalty programs also offer this option. For example, World of Hyatt Find Experiences is an easy-to-use program that offers more than 500 wellness, culinary and cultural excursions that you can redeem points for (think, surf lessons, horseback riding, snorkeling, private yoga sessions, rooftop brunches and much more).
Marriott Bonvoy Moments allows members to use points to bid on exclusive auctions or purchase fixed-price packages. These are a little hard to plan around, but include everything from private culinary masterclasses to VIP tickets to concerts and sporting events. And Hilton Honors Experiences lands somewhere in between these two, with a range of auctions you can bid points for, as well as activities you can book directly with points.
Related: Awards vs Cash Calculator
Stack your travel perks
One of the easiest ways to make a weekend trip feel more luxurious isn’t spending more — it’s taking advantage of the benefits you already have.
Hotel elite status can unlock complimentary breakfast, room upgrades and late checkout, all of which can stretch your travel budget.
For example, late checkout is one of the best perks for weekend travelers. Sleeping late, having brunch, taking a long walk around the neighborhood or squeezing in one more museum are all possible when you can keep your room until 3 p.m. instead of checking out at 11 a.m.
Airport lounge access can also improve your weekend experience, since you can grab a meal or snacks, recharge devices and relax before boarding for your flight back home.
Bottom line
Points and miles make an epic weekend getaway possible even if you’re short on cash. By staying flexible, using transferable rewards and taking advantage of hotel certificates and built-in credit card perks, you can turn an ordinary weekend into a memorable trip without blowing your travel budget.
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.