Go Travel For Free: 2018

Here is the details of how I redeemed miles and points from different airlines and hotels for summer 2018

Trip 1 - Portugal-Spain-United Arab Emirates

4 tickets Phoenix to Porto, Portugal using United Miles

- Retail Value = $2500

- Cash Paid = $44.80 (airports taxes and fees)

- Points used = 120,000 United miles

United requires 30,000 mile one way anywhere from US to Europe (20,000 for off peak season). I chose Porto so that we can take buses to go from north to Fatima then to Lisbon to catch the train to Madrid. I also pick very long layover in NYC to see the city.

4 tickets buses Porto to Fatima – tickets bought at bus station

- Retail Value = 45 Euro

- Cash Paid = $ 45 (15 Euro each adult. Child is half the cost)

- Points used = zero

I reserved the rental car last minute. Car rental company only has very small car. We can not fit all the carry on luggage. So I cancelled the rental and took uber to the bus station. At the bus station, they only take cash. We book 4 bus tickets from Porto to Fatima.

4 tickets buses Fatima to Lisboa using rede-expressos web site

- Retail Value = 35.80 Euro

- Cash Paid = $ 11.9x2 + 6x2

- Points used = zero

I booked the bus tickets at Family Gueshouse hotel before check out.

4 tickets train Lisbon Oriente to Madrid Chamartin station using loco2 site

- Retail Value = $205.20

- Cash Paid = $51.3 x 4 (no children discount

- Points used = 0

I booked this reservation a month before the trip. 4 bunk beds compartment with sink and water and electrical outlet.

4 tickets Madrid to Dubai using AA miles

- Retail Value = $1500

- Cash Paid = $424.80 + $142.90

- Points used = 80,000 AA miles

I booked 4 tickets from 2 AA accounts. Paying cash through other low budget airline might be cheaper. But I wanted a stopover in London so I redeemed AA miles

4 tickets Abu Dhabi to Phoenix using Delta miles

- Retail Value = $3000

- Cash Paid = $150+$150

- Point used = 140,000 Delta miles

I booked 4 tickets from 2 Delta accounts. 35,000 Delta miles one way from Middle East back to Phoenix is a deal. Availability is very limited. There was only few dates available for the whole summer.

2 nights at IHG Exponor Porto

- Retail Value = $300

- Cash Paid = $0

- Point used = 30,000 IHG

This hotel is located near airport. Uber costs 7 euro. We used city bus and Uber to get into downtown and other attractions.

1 night at Fatima Guesthouse through hotels.com

- Retail Value = $40

- Cash Paid = $40

- Point used = zero

This hotel is located few minutes walk to the shrine of Fatima. Very nice location. There’s a restaurant down stair and shopping can be done around the hotel. I actually booked 2 rooms before the trip but the receptionist let us stay in one room at checkin.

2 nights at Radisson Blu Lisbon using Club Carlson points

- Retail Value = $400

- Cash Paid = $0

- Point used = 56,000 Club Carlson

Hotel is located about 5 minutes walk to metro station. We took Uber to train station

2 nights at Marriott Auditorium & Conference Center Madrid using Marriott points

- Retail Value = $300

- Cash Paid = $0

- Point used = 30,000 Marriott point ( They haven’t took out points as of 6/25/18)

Madrid public transportation is expensive. I rented a car for 1 day to go to Toledo.

1 night at IHG Intercontinental Festival City

- Retail Value = $250

- Cash Paid = $0

- Point used = 1 free annual night certificate IHG

Very nice hotel in the Dubai Creek area. We rented car here so there’s no problem moving around.

3 nights at Hyatt Place Al Rigga using Chase UR points and hotels.com

- Retail Value = $146.04 + 221AED

- Cash Paid = $0 + 221AED (about 55USD)

- Point used = 11,683 UR points

Hotel rates are so low during the time we were here. I used UR points to book this hotel instead of transferring to Hyatt. Hyatt charge 8,000 points per night at this location. Booking through UR portal only cost 5,841.50 (UR points worth 1.25%). The rate was about 75$ including taxes per night here. I booked this hotel while staying at IHG Intercontinental hotel. The third night was booked through hotels.com since it’s much cheaper than going through UR site or Hyatt site. Hotel offer King bed plus sofa bed.

1 nights at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi using Hyatt point

- Retail Value = $250

- Cash Paid = $0

- Point used = 1 free annual certificate night

Very nice hotel across the Emirates Palace. It has king bed plus sofa bed.

1 nights at AmericInn near MSP airport

- Retail Value = $100

- Cash Paid = $0

- Point used = 0

Overnight near MSP airport due to flight delayed.

Trip 2 – Phoenix – Seattle – Phoenix

2 tickets Phoenix to Seattle using Alaska miles

- Retail Value = $300

- Cash Paid = $18.10+$18.10

- Point used = 12,500+12,500 Alaska

We each have 10,000 Alaska miles free due to Virgin America conversion to Alaska. I transfer 2,500 points from SPG to book 2 weeks before travel date.

2 tickets Seattle to Phoenix using AA certificate

- Retail Value = $250

- Cash Paid = $50

- Point used = 2x100 AA gift certificate

I had 2x100 AA gift certificate that I bought from Bank of America card and got back 2x$100 credit. This card give you free 100$ credit each year in travel. I used both certificate to book for 2 tickets plus the rest on credit card. I had AA credit card so we got to board early and can bring carry on for free (AA basic economy fare now charge fees for selecting seat, carry on, boarding priority…)

Trip 3 – Phoenix – Anaheim – San Jose – Phoenix

1 week car rental through Advantage Car rental

- Retail Value = $280

- Cash Paid = $280+120

- Point used = 0

Local rental has limited mileage. I had to upgrade to unlimited mileages and paid another $120. I used Chase Sapphire Preferred card for insurance coverage.

1 nights at Hyatt House Cypress/Anaheim

- Retail Value = $250

- Cash Paid = $0

- Point used = 8000 Hyatt

Road trip to San Jose late July. 1 night in southern California to visit cousins. Hotel has 2 queen beds plus sofa bed

3 nights at Country Inn & Suites near San Jose airport using Club Carlson points

- Retail Value = $500

- Cash Paid = $220

- Point used = 30,000 Club Carlson

3 nights in San Jose to visit relatives.

Photos Links

Abu Dhabi, UAE https://photos.app.goo.gl/iZFAffxqKNCeuYCN9