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This month long vacation was a very long time coming. It was planned years ago at the beginning of the pandemic that also helped to drive the price down to a remarkable level.
I thought with this intro post I would share the basics of all the bits that helped this remarkable trip come together and the massive savings by leveraging points and more to make it happen and the benefit of flexibly to move pieces around the chess board.
We all know points do not get better with age. Heck all you have to do is look at the simple joy crushing prices to fly Delta Skymiles to Europe in business class at just about anytime of the year to see my point. But I also hold points in a bunch of other programs and am working hard to spend all my balances down to low and reasonable levels. So here is the outline of the trip:
- One way car rental to Chicago O’hare – Hello Autoslash
- American Airlines Flagship Lounge – Worth it?
- Iberia business class to Lisbon – Alaska miles works
- Welcome PickUps – Perfect but not cheap
- Five days in Portugal – Less Bonvoyed the better
- Ebikes with Expedia – Shore excursion alternatives
- 21 Days Crossing on NCL – Suite life is sweet
- Two days in BA – Hilton free nights and perks
- US Credit Card “Blue Dollar” mostly working in Argentina
- My insane Welcome Pickups Airport ride
- Delta One from BA – A “cheap” upgrade?
The only part of this adventure I have already blogged about was my rather insane ride to the EZE airport in the middle of millions of football fans celebrating on the highway to get me home.
This was such a fun adventure to puzzle together and the savings were remarkable. It was a first class vacation for the price of coach and that really is the power of points that is making what seems unattainable real. It really is, as a wise man once told us all, to travel the world at prices we can afford! – René
Advertiser Disclosure: Eye of the Flyer, a division of Chatterbox Entertainment, Inc., is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. Some or all of the card offers that appear on the website are from advertisers. Compensation may impact how and where card products appear on the site. This site does not include all card companies or all available card offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities. Some of the links on this page are affiliate or referral links. We may receive a commission or referral bonus for purchases or successful applications made during shopping sessions or signups initiated from clicking those links.
Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Did you pay cash for the cruise?
@Dan – Will be covered in the post.
Where is the post?? I too booked a 21-day Atlantic crossing Miami to Rome and I want to compare….
@Marie – I will be coving the trip post by post over the next month or so! I have done West to East crossings as well and loved them but like the other way better as you gain sleep vs every few days you sleep one hour less. But still a nice way to adjust to European time.
What is “Iberian”?
@Susan – LOL fixed. Darn spell check.
Agree with the concept as my wife and I do the same thing. Our various points and miles and status allow us to travel several times a year. We stay mostly in higher end hotels and resorts and fly in business on long haul but do pay cash for many of the components of the trips. As you stated travel first class but at economy prices.
Our average cash outlay on a trip is 15-20% of the reasonable cash value. As an example we have a trip to Northern Italy (Milan, Venice, etc.) in May. In Milan we are using our annual AX FHR credit along with a special AX offer. In Venice we booked on points and I contacted the hotel and agreed to pay cash for a suite upgrade. In Bologna we booked our hotel via Cap1 to use the $300 credit on our VentureX card. The flights are on AF in business class on points from a combination of sources (Flying Blue card, MR transfer with 25% bonus etc.). This trip has a reasonable cash value of $11K but our cash outlay will be around $3.5K so a little above average but it’s our big trip for the year and travelling in the style that we want.
@Michael – Well done. You may guest post anytime and help teach the class! 🙂
Glad to hear the plandemic is over in your world and people are not dying. Ridiculous… lack or respect for humankind.
@Lori – I am 2x boosted, and 2x vaxed (have also had COVID) and plan for next booster soon. I wear a mask when I move about when I feel the need (like in airports) so you can see I DO have great respect for humankind. But we can not lock down forever! Those who are smart will keep getting boosted each year and thus we are now at the point that we are living with COVID.
I have two definite runs coming up.
This month to Quito
Jfk Mex Quito Mex Jfk up front, no long layovers
and some nice service in Centurion Club and or the AM premier club. Good pricing and GREAT return. There may be
More opportunities from other airports.
Next month on VS I’m flying JFK to Johannesburg and staying at the Tambo Intercontinental which is a lovely and convenient hotel. They have. A great spa
And I’m Taking a day trip to a BIG FIvE park! Staying a total of two nights and then home. Also earning well!
From there, nothing is planned but I’m looking forward
To more earnings from great runs:)
See you in the air! Happy new year
Great runs/ trips
Lucky you! Looking forward to the details!
It would be good to include a little guidance in your posts on how you’re going to publish these stories; I was disappointed to not have any wonderful article to enjoy.
@jsn55 – Feel free to subscribe to the blog and you will get email updates on the posts as they roll out.