How points and miles made my son's Paris travel dreams come true
My oldest son has a lot of big dreams.
Two of his biggest dreams were flying in fancy business-class seats and seeing the Eiffel Tower. He talked about both regularly, and my usual response was to tell him, "Someday."
As much as I wanted to take my son to Paris, I was always vague about exactly when that day would come. But finally, the universe sent me a sign that now was the time in the form of an amazing deal on business-class awards to Paris. The award availability got my gears turning, and I started estimating the potential costs of the rest of the trip. I was surprised to find reasonably priced hotels only a few steps away from the Eiffel Tower. Now, with the stars almost perfectly aligned, it felt like the perfect time to pounce.
By leveraging points and miles for an incredible deal on business-class award tickets and some luck on hotel prices, "someday" came sooner than expected.
Finding a deal on a business-class flight to Paris
You can always count on TPG for the best flight deals. In fact, this story about Air France business-class flights to Europe being available for as little as 50,000 miles convinced me to "book now."
It took a bit of playing around with dates, but I soon found two one-way tickets from New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) for only 96,250 Flying Blue miles, plus about $400 in taxes and fees.
The cost would have been closer to 100,000 miles if I'd been traveling with my partner, but Air France offers a 25% discount on tickets for kids between 3 and 11 years old, which helped us save even more.
As you can see from the fare calendar, the business-class tickets we purchased often cost more than double the number of points we got them for.
At the time of booking, the cash price for our flight was a whopping $5,064.60. Based on TPG's August 2024 valuations, the 96,250 Flying Blue points we paid are valued at $1,251.25. We obviously came out way ahead by using points instead of cash, even when you factor in the taxes and fees.
Because we don't live in New York, I also had to purchase two Delta Air Lines tickets to get from Louisville, Kentucky, to New York.
With my Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, I earn an annual companion certificate, which I used to cover my son's positioning flight, so our total to get to and from New York was $378.
My Delta Reserve Amex also helped us get a complimentary upgrade to Comfort+ on our flight home from Paris and a first-class upgrade between New York and Louisville.
Delta Amex Reserve cardholders are eligible for complimentary upgrades and receive upgrade priority over other Medallion members within the same Medallion level and fare class. I reached Delta Silver Medallion status this year thanks, in part, to the annual 2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars Headstart, which helped me skip to the top of the upgrade list.
I spent another 50,000 Flying Blue miles on two economy tickets from CDG to JFK for our return flight (I don't want him getting too spoiled) to avoid blowing through our entire stash of points in one trip.
Though our return flight was booked through Air France, our flight was operated by Delta. Both airlines are part of the SkyTeam alliance, so I enjoyed my Delta status benefits and saved on fuel surcharges by booking an economy ticket versus business class.
2 nights at a hotel steps from the Eiffel Tower
I came across a lot of opinions while researching hotels in Paris. Many people said that staying near the Eiffel Tower wasn't ideal. However, it's a good thing this was my vacation and not theirs because I did the exact opposite of what they suggested, and it was perfect.
Related: The best hotels in Paris
Hotel rooms near the Eiffel Tower with a tower view can cost between $700 and $2,000 a night. That didn't really fit in with the budget-friendly nature of this trip. Instead, I saved by going with the Mercure Paris Centre Eiffel Tower Hotel. Our room cost about $250 per night and was only a five-minute walk from the nearest Metro station, and the hotel was around the corner from the Eiffel Tower.
The Mercure Paris Centre Eiffel Tower does have a handful of Eiffel Tower-view rooms, but I preferred to save the money for Champagne and croissants since we only needed to walk out the front door of our hotel to find stunning Eiffel Tower vistas.
The hotel participates in the Accor Live Limitless rewards program, which is free to join. Even at the basic Classic level, members receive members-only rates, online check-in and fast checkout, and you can earn points on every stay.
Unlike with a traditional redemption system, ALL members can redeem points to cover all or part of their stay. Every 1,000 points is worth 20 euros off a reservation. I don't stay in hotels participating in this program often, but I did earn enough points on this stay to receive a discount on a future one.
All in, we paid just over $500 for our two-night stay in Paris, which isn't a bad deal considering our proximity to the Eiffel Tower. We also visited during the time leading up to the Paris Olympics when hotel rates were skyrocketing at other properties.
Planning the perfect Paris trip
I knew this trip would be a milestone for my son, so I wanted to make it feel special from the moment my husband and I told him he was going to Paris.
I waited until the day before our trip and packed his bag with a few surprises. I told him we were going on a trip the next day, but he had to look through his bag and guess where we were going. After he saw the beret and the baguette (thanks, Target), he knew we were going to France. We all shed a few tears (of joy), and then it was time to pack the rest of our gear.
Our first stop was New York City. We had quite a bit of time between our positioning flight and our overnight flight to Paris, so I took my son straight to JFK's Air France lounge. We ate lunch, he drank all the free soda he could handle, and we practiced our French.
He's not afraid of flying, but he doesn't usually get overly excited about it, either. He sees sitting in the metal tube with windows as a necessary part of getting somewhere fun. But this time, he was so excited to get on the plane and find his seat. While we were in the lounge, he asked me a lot of questions about how much the seat reclined, if we would have movie screens and what we would eat for dinner.
As soon as he sat down, he started testing all the seat's features and buttons, and he also put his slippers on right away. When our meals arrived, he made me wait to try the cheesecake until we could take a bite at the exact same time, which was very cute.
We decided to watch a movie together while we ate. He chose "42," a movie about baseball player Jackie Robinson, and we played the "3, 2, 1" game of trying to hit play at the same time. It went quite well, but then we had to hit "pause" and "play" simultaneously anytime one of us needed to get up and use the restroom. It was pretty funny trying to sync up our screens.
After dinner, my son finally got to turn his seat into a bed. I don't think he got a lot of sleep because he was a little nervous and excited, but we did our best to get some rest before landing in Paris.
After landing in Paris, we purchased three-day Metro passes that we could use to get from the airport to our hotel and around town during our visit.
We took the train to the Bir-Hakeim station, which was closest to our hotel. As we walked toward our hotel, I wondered why we hadn't yet seen the Eiffel Tower. Then we rounded the corner, and, bam, it was right in front of us. We both looked up in awe and couldn't wait for a closer look.
We took a short nap in our hotel room and then headed straight for the Eiffel Tower. If you want to travel all the way to the top, know that tickets sell out quickly. I stalked the Eiffel Tower ticket website daily and purchased tickets for our visit as soon as they became available. If you only want to go to the second floor (but, truly, why stop there?), you will have an easier time getting tickets. You may also be able to purchase day-of tickets in person, but I wasn't taking any chances.
The views from the top of the Eiffel Tower were incredible. Our visit was even more special because it was only a few days before the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, so we could also see many of the sporting venues.
We both kept looking at each other and saying, "I can't believe we're really here," and we meant it every single time we said it. I think we were both in shock. Especially Avery — he only found out about the trip less than 48 hours earlier.
Avery insisted we take the stairs from the second floor back down to the ground, and I was happy to oblige. Most people take the elevator, so it was not only less crowded but it was also more memorable.
We explored the city and had dinner before returning to our room. We had planned to walk back to the Eiffel Tower to see it sparkle at night, but I fell asleep before it even got dark outside. Luckily, I woke up around 11 p.m., and because we were staying so close to the tower, we walked over and caught the dazzling nighttime show.
If you want to see the Eiffel Tower's sparkling lights, they start at dusk every evening and sparkle every hour on the hour and last for about five minutes. This means they turn on later in the summer than in the winter. In the summer, the last show is at 1 a.m., but for the rest of the year, the final showing is at 11 p.m.
The next morning, we rented an electric boat through Marin D'Eau Douce Paris, which I first learned of in TPG's Paris Pocket Guide. Avery cranked up some music on my iPhone, and we explored the Bassin de la Villette. It wasn't the most scenic spot in Paris, but it was a unique activity and a lot of fun.
Because we were in Paris for only a short time, I thought a bike ride would be the perfect way to see several city sights. We ride bikes as a family often at home, so I knew Avery was up for the challenge. We booked the Paris Day Bike Tour through Fat Tire Tours.
We saw Napoleon's Tomb, the Musee d'Orsay, Hotel des Invalides, Place de la Concorde and the Ecole militaire, and we even snapped an Eiffel Tower photo from another vantage point on Rue de l’Universite.
Alas, at this point, our time in Paris was nearly over. We boarded a train to the airport early the next morning and said "au revoir" to Paris and the Eiffel Tower. As we sped farther and farther down the tracks, I caught a few final glimpses of the Eiffel Tower. Each time it came into view, I couldn't help but smile at the magnificent structure that had inspired this once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Bottom line
Upon our return, I asked him what he liked most about our trip and he said, "Seeing the Eiffel Tower." I tried to dig a bit deeper into his pre-teen mind and asked what was so special about seeing the Eiffel Tower and he replied, "Because it's the Eiffel Tower." It took me about 2,000 words to sum up what he was able to express in only five.
We had an unforgettable trip, and points made it possible. By using what I've learned about points and miles, I was able to jump on a great award redemption to Paris. Paired with a budget-friendly hotel, I was able to make my son's travel dreams come true.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.