Here we are – the last update of 2017. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We’re in the post-holiday lull as far as credit card offers are concerned; not much noteworthy to report on that front. Personally we have a few important “keep or cancel” decisions to make soon, including Nicoleen’s $450 annual fee Chase Sapphire Reserve.
In this update: I’ll report our extensive December points and miles activity and give an update on Nicoleen’s and my upcoming travel plans. We’ll cap it off with a holiday message.
Household Points and Miles Activity for December
It was a busy month for points transfers and redemptions! Here’s the breakdown:
- earned 53,468 airline miles
- earned 108 hotel points
- earned 2,527 Chase Ultimate Rewards
- earned 125 “other” points
- transferred 6,000 Ultimate Rewards to World of Hyatt points
- redeemed 51,000 “other” points for $510.00
- redeemed 15,000 World of Hyatt points for a one-night stay at Andaz Papagayo (valued at $1,003.73)
- booked a two-night stay at the Andaz Papagayo with annual free night certificates from our Chase Hyatt cards – lodging worth $1,857.44 (after accounting for $75 annual fee x2)
- booked a one-night stay at the Dallas Airport Marriott with annual free night certificate from my [now cancelled] Chase Marriott Rewards card – lodging worth $164.44
- redeemed 60,000 American Airlines miles for airfare worth $1,582.76
- received $166.24 in travel expense reimbursement from Nicoleen’s Chase Sapphire Reserve
That hefty airline miles number is thanks my Cathay Pacific Visa card; the 50,000 mile bonus finally hit. The cash redemption was from my Bank of America Premier card. All those travel related points redemptions are for our upcoming winter get-away!
Travel News
Nicoleen and I are so excited to go back to Costa Rica! Yes, yes. . . I know it’s kind of lame to go to such an interesting and varied country and then sit around at the pool and beach the whole time. But hey – we need that kind of a break! Even though it’s basically repeat of our get-away last winter, this trip is unique in one major way. Between airfare, luxury accommodations, and ground transportation, the total out of pocket cost for this trip is $0.00! That’s a first for this value tactician!
Recent ValueTactics Blog Posts
– Winter Vacation Plans Revealed is the answer to the teasers I put on Facebook for a few days about the location of our next trip.
Free Travel Photo
The swimming pool terrace at the Andaz Papagayo in Costa Rica. Having just finished planning our return trip to this awesome resort, this scene has been on my mind lately. It’s especially fun to think about as I look over at the exterior thermometer on this New Year’s Eve. It reads -3.1 degrees.
Happy New Year!
Have a fun and safe night and may all your hopes for the new year come to pass! If any of those hopes involve free or virtually free travel, free money, cost savings, or any other value tactical related goals, I hope I can help you fulfill them!
Now you’re updated. Go employ some Value Tactics!