Trip canceled? How last-minute availability can save the day
Editor's Note
You might be stuck in a winter storm this Christmas weekend, but you don’t have to spend the rest of the holidays trapped in the cold — using points and miles can land you a last-minute vacation at a bargain.
Here at TPG, we even teach our own to maximize their points and miles as much as possible in order to avoid potentially overpaying for hotels and flights. And even though it’s pretty difficult to find a good last-minute deal on airfare or hotels, it’s always worth checking for awards because you never know what you might find.
TPG’s Mary Kate Heaney decided she wanted to spend the holidays in someplace warm with her fiancé, so she zeroed in on Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in the Bahamas, the Andaz Mayakoba in Mexico’s Riviera Maya and The Cape in Cabo.
Related: How I used points and miles to book my dream trip to Europe
She also had accrued a total of 145,000 World of Hyatt points, partly from a canceled trip to the Alia Napa Valley. Plus, MK also transferred some points from Chase Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt. Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.
As a result, MK — with the help of fellow TPG colleague Zach Goldman — was able to snag a last-minute deal for the holidays Thursday afternoon, booking a chic room with an ocean view at The Cape hotel in Cabo for four nights using 116,000 World of Hyatt points.
The cash value for the room was otherwise around $1,800 a night, so for around 29,000 points a night, MK said she’s been able to get around eight cents a point — a great redemption value.
One of the best things about booking on points is that you don't have to pay taxes or resort charges. Plus, with points, you also don't end up having to pay high service charges, either. As you can see in this example, those can quickly add up.
And to save on airfare from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Los Cabos International Airport (SJD), she used a combination of United MileagePlus miles and Chase points to book one leg of her flight for her fiancé. MK also had some credits from American Airlines that she was able to apply to another leg of the flight. Ultimately, her fiancé's round-trip was booked solely through miles and credit, while MK only had to spend cash on one plane ticket.
Related: How I maximized my points and miles to travel as a teacher on a limited budget
Even though MK had decided to book a trip last minute, she didn’t have to pay an arm and a leg to go somewhere nice. Instead, she was able to use her points wisely, booking a five-star hotel for five nights, all while receiving a high redemption value for her purchase.
Bottom line
Trying to book a vacation for the holidays — especially now — can be notoriously expensive, but if you’re able to leverage your points and miles, you can still book hotels and flights to high-end places without having to shell out thousands of dollars.
Even if it’s last minute, it never hurts to look to see what you can get with your points and miles.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended 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.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees