Family Success Story: Monterey Bay/San Francisco
Thanks to Deana Howerton for sharing her family’s success story of traveling on points!
I asked my boys where we should go on summer vacation early in 2022. We are huge Detroit City FC supporters, and they immediately said an away game. I was thinking road trip to Pittsburgh or somewhere close. Nope! We settled the furthest away match possible from Detroit…..Monterey, CA. So, I got to booking our first big trip on points.
How They Saved on Flights
The three of us, flew Delta, nonstop to San Francisco for 92,000 points round trip July 16-22. I booked through the Chase travel portal, because it was cheaper than the Delta website.
Monterey
We needed to stay somewhere close to the game in Monterey and I chose the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course. At the time it was a Category 6, and it cost 86,000 for 4 nights. In my opinion, it was too much, and they have since changed it to a Category 5. We really enjoyed going to the soccer match, visiting the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the 17Mile Dr in Pebble Beach. Our son got to put his feet in the ocean for the first time!
Editor’s Note: This hotel is now classified as a Category 5 hotel. They have rooms that sleep anywhere from 1-4 people with points ranging from 17,000-23,000 per night.
San Francisco
Afterwards, we drove up the Pacific Coast Highway, back to San Francisco and stayed 2 nights at the Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf for 118K points and $45 in taxes. On the drive back we stopped at different sightseeing spots. Henry Cowell Redwood State Park, just north of Santa Cruz, is an excellent spot to walk the trail to see redwood trees. It wasn’t crowded and took less than 1 hour. Half Moon Bay for lunch and a little beach along the way. We took our time, and the drive was amazing.
We did all the tourist stuff while in Fisherman’s Wharf. A bus tour around town and the Golden Gate Bridge, a boat tour to see Alcatraz, rented bikes and ate all the seafood. My son had Cioppino for the first time and loved it! Everyone told us how cold and windy it would be even in July, so we came prepared. We had an awesome time!
On our last day we stayed at San Mateo Marriott with a free night certificate, plus $38 in taxes. We had an earlier flight, and it was closer to the airport than Fisherman’s wharf.
This trip would not have been possible without points! We created some great memories, and we can’t wait for our next soccer away game adventure this year.
Cards They Used
credit card
welcome offer:
60,000 points
Go> Earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards® points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
Annual Fee:
$95
credit card
welcome offer:
30,000 points
Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.
Annual Fee:
$95
Current Bonus:
Earn 3 free night awards
Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from your account opening.
Annual Fee:
$95
(Terms Apply)
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