If you’ve ever wondered how to make the most of your travel points (or if you’re trying to figure out how to book an international trip on a budget), you’re not alone! I’ve been navigating the world of travel rewards points for a while now, and while it’s an incredibly useful tool, it’s also something that requires strategy, patience, and a bit of flexibility. In this post, I’ll share my experience with using points to book my upcoming trip to Denmark and Norway, the challenges I’ve faced, and how I’ve managed to make it work.
Where I Stand with Points Right Now
As of now, I’ve accumulated 503,000 points (excluding my American Airlines points), which seems like a lot, but I’m still a bit short of my goal. I’m using these points to book flights, accommodation, and a few activities. I’ve already used 300,000 points for four business-class tickets to Copenhagen, which is where we’ll start our trip before heading to Norway. While it’s a huge chunk of points, it’s a game-changer for the comfort of long-haul flights.
But let’s be real: If I had more time or flexibility, I could’ve stretched my points further by following some of the expert point collectors out there. They have tips and tricks to maximize point usage, but since I have a firm travel window and some point gaps to fill, I had to make some adjustments along the way.
What I’ve Done So Far
At the six-month mark before the trip, here are the key things I’ve tackled:
1. Planned My Travel Points Usage
The first thing I did was to figure out how I could make the best use of my points for flights. I knew I wanted business-class tickets for the long flights to Copenhagen and back from Norway. Booking early is always crucial, especially for business-class seats, so I was able to secure the tickets using 300,000 points for four of us. I also used another 300,000 points to get us home from Norway. While I would’ve preferred to stretch my points for more, business class is a must for long-haul flights, so it felt like the right choice.
2. Explored Accommodation Options
Next up: where to stay. In a place like Copenhagen or Oslo, you have lots of accommodation options ranging from luxury hotels to Airbnbs to quirky boutique stays. I researched several options, keeping an eye on both location and value for money. While I didn’t use points for hotels (as most of my points are tied up in flights), I looked into ways to save by booking places with kitchens, so we could save on food costs, especially in pricier destinations like Copenhagen.
That being said, I have one hotel left to book, which I do think I’m going to book through the Chase travel portal because it is not a transferable point option. We will look to use our Venture card to cover travel expenses. Let’s say I have 70,000.00 points which would be 700.00 to cover part of an Airbnb.
3. Researched Things to Do
I also spent time researching the best things to do once we land in Denmark and Norway. From fjord cruises to hikes like Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) and exploring the culture of cities like Oslo and Copenhagen, there’s no shortage of activities. Although I’m not booking tours or activities with points, I wanted to get an early sense of what we’d need to book in advance. Being prepared early helps avoid missing out on must-see experiences.
Points Purchases: Not Ideal, But Sometimes Necessary
Here’s where I’ll admit something I don’t always recommend: I bought points.
It’s actually the second time this year I’ve done this. Back during Thanksgiving, I was flying to Arizona, and ticket prices were through the roof. To make the trip more affordable, I purchased points to supplement what I already had. And now, for the Copenhagen and Norway leg of the trip, I’ve had to do something similar. While it’s not my preferred method, buying points has allowed me to bridge the gap and make sure the flights are covered.
For the Copenhagen flights, I used 300,000 points for four business-class tickets, and another 300,000 points for the return flight from Norway. But I also needed to purchase 100,000 additional points to make sure everything lined up. I did open a new credit card to earn more points, but I was hesitant to use them right away because I was worried about missing out on the best redemption value. Instead, I bought the extra points, knowing they’d help me complete the trip without having to pay full price for the flights.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next?
Now that I’ve locked in flights and sorted most of the key details, I’ll be focusing on the smaller things, like:
- Finalizing any last-minute bookings for activities or day tours.
- Sorting out any accommodation details that need to be confirmed.
- Keeping an eye on my points balance to see if there are any last-minute deals I can snag.
It’s also worth mentioning that while I’ve made this trip work with the points I have, there are definitely times when I could’ve optimized my strategy further. Following travel bloggers and experts who specialize in points can give you a better return on your efforts. But I’ve made peace with my approach because I’m working with a time frame, and sometimes, you just have to adjust to make things happen.
Final Thoughts
Using travel points to plan an international trip like this takes patience, strategy, and flexibility. While I’m not quite hitting my point goals, I’ve still managed to secure incredible value for the flights, and I’m looking forward to seeing how much I can stretch my points for other parts of the trip.
The key takeaway here? Plan ahead, stay flexible, and don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Whether you’re buying points or using a new credit card to earn more, every decision can help bring you closer to your travel dreams.
If you’re planning a trip or thinking about diving into the world of points, I hope this post gives you some insights into how I’m making it work. Stay tuned for more updates as I continue to navigate the world of points and travel planning! Link to the cards I’ve opened so far for this trip.
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