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Using Points and Miles to Get to Newport Beach

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It had been far too long since we’d last seen our friends Melissa and Scott out in Irvine, California. We actually tried to visit back in December 2024, but life had other plans and that trip never happened. Fast‑forward a few years, and we finally carved out time to make it happen this March. When we first started planning, it was just going to be Annie and me, so all of our initial bookings were for two. Later on, we decided to bring our daughter Rory along, and by that point prices had climbed. So if you notice multiple airfare reservations in this post, that’s the reason.

In This Post

Airfare

When I started searching for flights on American Airlines to Orange County, the numbers came in right where I expected for a warm‑weather destination in March. Round trip cash fares hovered around $417 per person, while an award ticket would have set me back 38,000 miles. Not terrible, not amazing — just typical spring pricing. By the time I booked Rory’s ticket a few weeks later, the round trip cash price had risen to a ridiculous $613!

Two round trip tickets via American Airlines cost $834 or 76,000 AAdvantage miles.

But here’s where a little strategy can make a big difference. Instead of locking myself into a simple round‑trip search, I broke the itinerary into one‑way segments and widened the net to include partner airlines. That’s often where the real gems hide, and in this case, it opened the door to far better options.

Chicago to Orange County

Two one-way tickets from ORD to SNA cost $517.

For our flight out to California, American Airlines was selling the 8 a.m. departure for $259 or 22,500 AAdvantage (AA) miles. That worked out to a weak redemption value of just 1.15 cents per mile ($259 / 22,500 miles), so using AA miles didn’t make much sense. I started looking for alternatives and remembered I still had a $50 Chase Travel credit to use.

Because I hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, my Chase Ultimate Rewards (UR) points are worth 1.25 cents each when booking through Chase Travel. Instead of paying cash for two tickets or burning 45,000 AA miles, I booked the flights through Chase. After applying the $50 credit, the total came to about $467. Using the 1.25‑cent portal rate, I only had to redeem 37,000 UR points and pay the extra $4.48 out of pocket.

Booking through Chase and using points saved me $512.50 and gave me better value than using AA miles.

Orange County to Chicago

One the way home, both the cash fare and the number of miles required were lower. American Airlines had a mid‑day return flight priced at $214 or 15,500 AAdvantage miles per person. That worked out to a better redemption value than the outbound flight at 1.38 cents per mile ($214 / 15,500 miles). At first glance, it looked like an easy decision.

But this is exactly why checking partner programs matters. The same American Airlines flight was available through Alaska’s Atmos Rewards for just 12,500 points. So instead of spending 31,000 AA miles, I redeemed 25,000 Atmos points total for our two tickets.

Instead of paying $427 or 31,000 AA miles, I redeemed 25,000 Atmos points.

That move saved us $391 (after taxes and fees) compared to paying cash and delivered stronger value than using AA miles. A perfect example of why flexible points and a quick partner search can make a big difference.

Hotel

Pendry Newport Beach

For the hotel, I wanted to take advantage of the Amex Platinum’s Fine Hotels + Resort (FHR) credit. FHR is an exclusive American Express travel program for eligible Platinum and Centurion cardholders, offering elite benefits at over 1,800 luxury properties worldwide, like complimentary breakfast, room upgrades, $100 property credits, and guaranteed 4 PM late checkout, even without hotel loyalty status. These perks, booked via Amex Travel, provide added value and a VIP experience at high-end hotels and resorts.

There were a few hotel options in Newport Beach that peaked my interest, but the Pendry Newport Beach seemed to be the best fit.

Hotel reviews praise its luxurious, contemporary design, excellent service and California-inspired ambiance. It has upscale amenities like a beautiful pool, spa, multiple dining options and family-friendly programs. Plus it’s conveniently located near Fashion Island with easy access to beaches and local attractions. It’s also only about 15 minutes to our friends house.

We first booked a queen room back in December for $1,544, and the $300 semi‑annual Amex credit hit our account a few days later. When we later decided Rory was joining the trip, I had to cancel that reservation and rebook a room with two double beds. I made the new booking in January and Amex issued another $300 credit. Since they never clawed back the original one, the total savings on this stay ended up being $600.

Rental Car

Rental cars were surprisingly affordable for our dates, and Budget came in with the best deal. I snagged an EV for just $207, which felt like a steal.

Newport Beach 2026 Redemption Table

Retail CostOur CostMiles and Points UsedPoints Source
2 one-way tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Orange County (SNA)$259 per person ($517 total)$4.4837,000 UR points- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
1 one-way ticket from Chicago (ORD) to Orange County (SNA)$511$5.60 (taxes and fees)35,000 AA miles- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
2 one-way tickets from Orange County (SNA) to Chicago (ORD)$214 per person ($427 total)$36 (taxes and fees)25,000 Atmos miles- Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
- Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite
1 one-way ticket from Orange County (SNA) to Chicago (ORD)$319$18 (taxes and fees)12,500 Atmos miles- Hawaiian Airlines World Elite Mastercard
- Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite
3 nights at Pendry Newport Beach$514.58 per night + taxes ($1,544 total)$944N/A- Amex Platinum $300 hotel credit
3 day car rental$207$207N/AN/A
Total$3,525$1,215- 37,000 UR points
- 35,000 AA miles
-37,500 Atmos miles/strong>		- $2,310 in total savings
- 66% off retail cost

Bottom Line

This long‑overdue trip to see friends in Irvine turned into a great reminder of how far a little flexibility and points strategy can go. By mixing Chase Ultimate Rewards, Alaska Atmos points, and a smart partner search, we cut hundreds off airfare that had suddenly spiked. Pair that with a perfectly timed Fine Hotels + Resorts booking that triggered two $300 Amex credits and an inexpensive EV rental, and the whole getaway became a masterclass in squeezing maximum value out of every reservation.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Newport Beach
  2. Pendry Newport Beach

Using Points and Miles to Get to Cabo San Lucas

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After years of pouring over Mexican resort options, one property kept surfacing on my radar — The Cape, A Thompson Hotel. Ever since Hyatt brought Thompson Hotels under its wing in 2018, this boutique gem in Cabo San Lucas has stood out as an refined alternative to the area’s party-heavy reputation. With its sleek rooftop lounge offering panoramic Pacific Ocean sunset views, and the tranquil Currents Spa promising indulgent treatments, The Cape seemed to strike the perfect balance of luxury without pretension.

Some suites even boast private plunge pools, ocean-facing balconies, and butler service, making it an ideal retreat for couples seeking high-end comfort with a relaxed vibe. It had long been on my shortlist, waiting for the right moment.

That moment arrived this past July, when American Airlines rolled out an irresistible promotion of deeply discounted award redemptions to Mexico. For flights between September 2025 and May 2026, there was wide-open availability from several U.S. cities to popular destinations like Cancun, Monterrey, Cabo San Lucas, and Mexico City. One-way economy tickets started at just 8,000 miles, while business class tickets started at only 20,000 miles one-way.

With free cancellations on award bookings, I didn’t hesitate. I locked in my flights and finally set my sights on a stay at The Cape.

In This Post

Airfare

Round Trip Between Chicago and Los Cabos

I zeroed in on a winter escape to Cabo, with February emerging as the ideal time. As advertised, economy flights could be booked for just 8,000 miles one-way. However, at only 20,000 miles for a one-way business class ticket, I couldn’t resist. I jumped at the opportunity to redeem those extra miles and fly in comfort and style!

Two round trip tickets in business class cost only 80,000 AA miles.

For comparison’s sake, I ran a search using my planned dates to see what the cash price would be, and the results were staggering. Two round trip business class tickets rang in at an eye-popping $2,468.

Two tickets in business class would’ve cost $2,468 out of pocket.

That made the redemption feel like an absolute steal, especially with American Airlines’ free cancellation policy on award bookings. From a value perspective, redeeming 80,000 AA miles, instead of paying $2,468, works out to about 3.1 cents per mile. That’s essentially double the typical redemption value of around 1.4 to 1.5 cents per mile!

I still had to pay $307 out of pocket because award tickets for flights to Mexico from the United States are subject to a 7.5% U.S. federal excise tax. Nonetheless, I saved $2,161 on business class flights!

Hotel

The Cape, A Thompson Hotel

Photo courtesy of Hyatt Hotels

Since The Cape was the inspiration for this trip, I didn’t need to shop around for a hotel. As a Category 6 property in the World of Hyatt program, The Cape carries serious luxury credentials. And the price tag reflects it with a midweek 4-night stay ringing in at a whopping $3,670.

The cash price for a 4-night stay was $3,670.

Of course I wasn’t about to pay that! Thanks to a healthy stash of Hyatt points I’d transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards, originally earmarked for trips that never materialized, I was sitting on a redemption opportunity too good to pass up.

I redeemed 35,000 Hyatt points per night, for a total redemption of 140,000 points. From a value perspective, that works out to 2.6 cents per point — well above the reasonable redemption value of around 1.7 cents per point.

As a Category 6 hotel, The Cape charges 35,000 points per night.

Finally putting those points to use felt like a win on multiple fronts. We’d be getting a luxury stay without the sting of the price tag, and a satisfying payoff for some earlier travel pivots.

In the end, our 4-night stay at The Cape was booked with 140,000 Hyatt points instead of shelling out $3,670 in cash. While I’ll likely still be on the hook for some local taxes and destination fees, the overall savings are substantial.

Cabo San Lucas 2025 Redemption Table

Retail CostOur CostMiles and Points UsedPoints Source
2 round trip tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Los Cabos (SJD)$1,234 per person ($2,468 total)$307 taxes and fees80,000 AA miles- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
4 nights at The Cape, A Thompson Hotel$917.50 per night + taxes ($3,670 total)$0140,000 Hyatt points- Chase credit cards
Total$6,138$307- 80,000 AA miles
- 140,000 Hyatt points		- $5,831 in total savings
- 95% off retail cost

Bottom Line

By redeeming Hyatt points and taking advantage of an American Airlines promotion, I managed to save 95% off the retail cost of this trip by using points and miles. Besides saving almost $6,000, I also got great value from my points and miles redemptions.

Trading points for paradise? That’s a win I’ll take every time.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Cabo San Lucas
  2. The Cape, A Thompson Hotel

Using Points and Miles to Get to Nashville

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Annie and I have always wanted to visit Nashville together. She went years ago with a friend, but I’ve never had the chance to go. Exploring U.S. cities and immersing ourselves in their local flavors, entertainment, and vibrant culture is something we truly enjoy. Nashville, with its rich musical history and lively atmosphere, feels like the perfect destination. Recently, inspiration struck, and we decided to turn our excitement into action — planning a weekend getaway to the iconic “Music City” this June.

Using a combination of travel credits, points and miles, and a Hilton free night award certificate, I managed to book the entire trip for under $60.

In This Post

Airfare

Chicago to Nashville

Earlier this year, Annie and I flew to Phoenix on United Airlines. After the original booking, the cost of the flight kept dropping. With most U.S. airlines, canceling a flight typically results in receiving the original cost as a travel credit for future use. So whenever I saw a cheaper fare, I cancelled and rebooked the flight. As a result, we had over $192 in travel credits to use on future travel on United Airlines.

Booking

We wanted to fly out on a Friday afternoon and I found two one-way tickets in economy for $350. After applying our existing travel credit to the total, I only paid $158 out of pocket. That was in mid-April.

The original cost of the flight was $350. After applying our travel credit, the total came to $158.

Re-booking

In early May, I found the exact same flight for only $319. So I cancelled the original booking, rebooked at the new lower price and received the difference as a new travel credit. Finally at the end of May, I noticed that the price of the flight dropped again. This time all the way down to $205. So I cancelled and rebooked once more, ending up with an even bigger travel credit.

I saved $145 by rebooking our flight at a lower price.

Pro Tip: You can cancel your paid flight with United Airlines and receive a travel credit for a future trip. So I make it a routine to periodically check prices to find a better deal. After two cancellations and re-bookings, the cost of the flight went from $350 to $205.

Now we collectively have about $145 in travel credits to spend on a future flight.

In the end, I was able to get the total cost of this flight down to $47! We began this whole thing with $192 in travel credits and we’re leaving with $145.

Nashville to Chicago

For the flight home, I decided to save some money and book with American Airlines miles.

Booking

The cash price for two tickets was $297, but instead I redeemed 27,000 miles. That comes out to a value of 1.1 cents per mile, which is well below the redemption average of 1.4 cents per mile. While it may not have been the most efficient use of miles, we still preferred it over paying cash. Of course, whenever you redeem miles on a domestic flight, the airlines still charge nominal fees. So in total, the cash cost for the flight from Nashville to Chicago was $11.

The cash price for two one-way tickets from Nashville to Chicago was $297, but I booked it for 27,000 AA miles.

Re-booking

Pro Tip: Just like with the outbound flight, our inbound flight kept dropping in price. In this case the cost was decreasing in miles. After changing the flight twice, I managed to lower the total cost to just 20,000 miles.

In the end, I redeemed only 20,000 miles for the flight back to Chicago.

I originally booked the flight for 27,000 miles, then 25,000 and finally 20,000 miles. Booking at 20,000 miles also increased the value of the miles redemption to a more respectable 1.48 cents per mile.

Hotel

Hilton Nashville Downtown

For hotel choices, I planned to use my Hilton free night award, which expires in August. This is a benefit I receive from owning the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire® Card. Every card-opening anniversary, I receive a free night award certificate, valid at virtually any Hilton property worldwide. Plus, I also had tons of Hilton Honors points I could redeem for the second night.

A quick search of Hilton properties in downtown Nashville, uncovered two solid options. There was the Hilton Nashville Downtown, which is located in the heart of downtown and the and the Embassy Suites Nashville Downtown. To me, the decision to choose the former was easy. The downtown Hilton property is centrally located, near Broadway and the Country Music Hall of Fame. It also has a more traditional hotel setup with upscale amenities, multiple restaurants, and a stylish atmosphere.

The cash price for a 2-night stay was $1,078.

If I paid cash for both nights, the total would’ve been $1,078. From a points perspective, Hilton was asking for 85,000 points per night.

I booked 1 night using my free night certificate and 1 night using points.

To use a free night award certificate with Hilton, you have to call them to book it. I provided the agent with my award certificate number, the stay dates, and my request to use points for the other night.

Note: When you use a free night award certificate, it’ll appear on the reservation like you used points for that night. For whatever reason, Hilton’s system doesn’t show that correctly. So in the screen shot above, it says I redeemed 170,000 points, but I actually only redeemed 85,000. If you’re nervous about this, you can always review your Hilton account activity to confirm the correct amount of points were deducted.

In total, I booked our 2-night stay using my free night award certificate and 85,000 Hilton points. That saved me $1,078 and we get to stay in the perfect location in the heart of downtown Nashville.

Nashville 2025 Redemption Table

Retail CostOur CostMiles and Points UsedPoints Source
2 one-way tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Nashville (BNA)$102.50 per person ($205 total)$47$158 United travel credit- Travel credit earned from rebooking prior trip for less money
2 one-way tickets from Nashville (BNA) to Chicago (ORD)$149 per person
($297 total)		$11 (taxes and fees)20,000 AA miles- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
2 nights at Hilton Nashville Downtown$539 per night + taxes ($1,078 total)$01 free night certificate and 85,000 Hilton points- Amex Hilton Aspire card
Total$1,580$58- $158 United travel credit
- 20,000 AA miles
- 1 free night certificate
- 85,000 Hilton points		- $1,522 in total savings
- 96% off retail cost

Bottom Line

All in all, I saved a whopping 96% off the retail cost of this trip by using points, miles and credit card perks. Annie and I are really looking forward to immersing ourselves in Nashville’s music scene, indulging in amazing cuisine, and exploring iconic attractions like the Country Music Hall of Fame and Ryman Theater.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Nashville
  2. Hilton Nashville Downtown

First Class Weekend: A Review of American Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 from Chicago to Seattle

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About a month before our flight out to Seattle, I found tickets in First Class on American Airlines for only 18,500 miles per ticket. Since this was my first daddy-daughter trip with Rory, I wanted it to be special. So I used 37,000 American AAdvantage® miles to book two seats in First Class from Chicago to Seattle. There wasn’t anything noteworthy about the aircraft itself, so this was just for the experience.

Check-in and Boarding

Our flight was scheduled to leave O’Hare Airport on Friday evening and it wasn’t very crowded at that time. We got through security very quickly and waited at the gate until boarding began. Being First Class passengers, we were in boarding group 1. We boarded quickly and were comfortably in our seats in no time.

We ended up not taking off for another hour. I think it was a combination of having to go through the de-icing process and waiting for people to board from a connecting flight. It’s obviously easier to happily deal with this kind of delay while in First Class, so we took it in stride.

Enjoying First Class!

Cabin and Seats

The First Class cabin consists of 16 total seats in a 2 by 2 configuration. The seats are 21 inches wide, making them a little more than three inches wider than the Main Cabin and Main Cabin Extra seats.

First Class Weekend: A Review of American Airlines' Boeing 737-800 from Chicago to Seattle

The seats themselves were spacious and very comfortable. I’m 6′ 1″ and there was enough room to comfortably cross my legs when I wanted.

When reclining the seat back, the seat cushion also slides forward. This configuration makes it so your personal space is not affected much when the person in front of you reclines.

Overall, this seat is great for medium-haul flights, but for longer-haul flights I’d much prefer lie-flat seats.

Amenities

Unfortunately this route didn’t have any special amenities. As with most American Airlines aircrafts these days, there’s no seat-back entertainment. Instead, you need to use your personal electronic device to watch TV or movies or listen to music. There’s a USB plug and a contraption to hold your device right on the seat back in front of you.

There’s one lavatory available to First Class passengers located at the front of the cabin. It wasn’t any different than a standard aircraft lavatory but it’s nice to have one just for the 16 people in the cabin.

Food Service

Shortly after takeoff, the flight attendants came by to confirm our dinner orders. After a hot towel, the meal service began. First they served drinks and warm nuts.

After the appetizer, they served dinner. I pre-ordered short ribs and mac-n-cheese while Rory ordered a cheese and fruit tray. Both the short ribs and mac-n-cheese were quite good! The flight attendants also came by with a bread basket offering three types of rolls.

Bottom Line

The only thing I could say that was a real negative was the passenger sitting across the aisle from me. He was coughing constantly before takeoff and had several coughing fits during the flight as well. He wore a mask most of the time and it was clear that he brought it specifically because he was sick. Part of me felt bad for him and I’m sure he felt embarrassed. However, Rory and I were fully expecting to both get sick from sitting near this man. We looked at each other several times as if to say “can you believe this is happening”? Luckily, we did not get sick.

Overall, we had a fun time flying First Class. It was nice to be pampered a little and the comfortable seats made it much easier to get some shuteye. There were lots of laughs, fist bumps and some core memories made.

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Seattle
  2. Flight from Chicago to Seattle
  3. Sheraton Grand Seattle

Using Points and Miles to Get to Seattle

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Thanks to Brynn’s club volleyball schedule, I’ve logged plenty of miles traveling with my older daughter over the years. But somehow, I’d never taken a trip with just Rory, my younger daughter. So when we both had President’s Day off, I saw the perfect opportunity to plan a quick getaway for the two of us. My goal was to find a destination that wouldn’t break the bank and offered enough teen-friendly attractions to keep things fun.

Living in Chicago, February travel plans naturally start with warmer weather. I began my search with the usual suspects like Florida, California and Arizona, but quickly hit a wall. Flights were pricey and hotels even more so, whether paying cash or redeeming points. I considered places like Atlanta, Charleston, and Nashville, but recent snowfall in all three meant no guarantee of escaping the Midwest chill.

So I flipped the strategy. Instead of chasing sunshine, I chased value, searching for cheap flights and seeing where they’d lead us.

Almost immediately, Seattle rose to the top. It might seem counterintuitive, given it’s north of Chicago, but the weather is surprisingly mild in February. The average high hovers around 49°F. That’s not exactly beach weather, but a welcome upgrade from Chicago’s deep freeze. Yes, there could be rain, but I’ll take drizzle over snow any day. Flights were affordable, hotels were reasonably priced, and just like that, our Pacific Northwest adventure was set in motion.

In This Post

Airfare

Chicago to Seattle

For the flight out to Seattle, cash prices were inexpensive as were the number of miles needed. I found economy tickets on American Airlines for only 7,000 miles per ticket. That’s about as low as any one-way redemption I’ve seen lately. I also checked in First Class and American Airlines was only asking for 18,500 miles per ticket. I wanted to make this quick trip a little more special for the two of us, so I booked the First Class seats using miles.

Two tickets in First Class cost me 37,000 American AAdvantage miles.

The cash price for the two First Class tickets was $929. Instead of paying cash, I used 37,000 miles and paid $11.20 in taxes and fees. The redemption value of those miles was 2.5 cents per mile, which is well above the average value for AAdvantage miles.

The cash price of two First Class tickets would’ve cost $929.

Seattle to Chicago

After a $100 reduction, my total cost was $377.

For the flight home, I decided to pay cash. I did that because the membership year for American Airlines AAdvantage elite status was about to end on February 28th. At the time of booking, I was very close to achieving Platinum Pro elite status for the very first time. Paying for the flight in cash is probably going to be the thing to put me over that threshold.

I was still able to reduce the total cost because I have a Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card. It offers an airline credit perk of up to $50 in statement credits each quarter, for a total of up to $200 back each year on eligible flight purchases. To make sure I utilize this perk, I buy a $50 American Airlines gift card at the beginning of every quarter. It automatically triggers the statement credit and I can use any gift cards I’ve accumulated on upcoming flights.

At the time of booking, I had two gift cards for a total of $100. So my total cost was $376.96.

Hotel

Sheraton Grand Seattle

When it came to hotel options, I wanted to use my free night award with Marriott. As a cardholder of the Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express® Card, I receive a free night award certificate every year. The award, valid at hotels costing up to 35,000 points per night, is given annually on your card-opening anniversary. Even better, you can add up to 15,000 extra points from your account to redeem your free night award at hotels above the 35,000 point redemption limit.

There were a few downtown options, but the Sheraton Grand Seattle was well-reviewed and in an excellent location. I decided to use the free night award for the first night’s stay and then pay cash for the other two nights. The points rate for one night was 40,000 points, so I had to add 5,000 points to my free night certificate in order to book it. 5,000 Marriott points are worth about $35, so it was no big deal to part with those points.

The cash price for a 3-night stay was $675.

Had I paid cash for all three nights, the total would’ve come to $675. But by applying a free night award certificate, I knocked one night off the bill. That brought the out-of-pocket cost down to $452, for a solid $223 in savings. That’s a fantastic return, especially considering the Marriott Bonvoy Business Amex card only carries a $125 annual fee. Redeeming a certificate for a $200+ night easily justifies the cost of the card, and then some.

I booked 1 night using my free night certificate and 5,000 Marriott points.

All in all, I saved $223 on our 3-night stay in the heart of downtown Seattle!

My total hotel cost was $452 since one night was free!

Seattle 2025 Redemption Table

Retail CostOur CostMiles and Points UsedPoints Source
2 one-way tickets from Chicago (ORD) to Seattle (SEA)$465 per person ($929 total)$11 (taxes and fees)37,000 AA miles- Citi AAdvantage credit cards
- AAdvantage eShopping
- Simply Miles
2 one-way tickets from Seattle (SEA) to Chicago (ORD)$239 per person
($477 total)		$377$100 AA gift cards- Amex Hilton Aspire card
3 nights at Sheraton Grand Seattle$165 per night + taxes ($675 total)$4521 free night certificate and 5,000 Marriott points- Marriott Bonvoy Business American Express Card
Total$2,081$840- 37,000 AA miles
- $100 AA gift cards
- 1 free night certificate
- 5,000 Marriott points		- $1,241 in total savings
- 60% off retail cost

Bottom Line

In the end, I saved about 60% off the retail cost of this trip thanks to points and miles. I say “only” because I could’ve pushed the savings further by redeeming airline miles for the flight home or using more Marriott points to cover the remaining hotel nights. But I’m more than satisfied with how it all played out. This trip helps me lock in Platinum Pro elite status with American Airlines, and I know I’ll get even better value from my Marriott points on future stays.

More importantly, this weekend is about quality time with Rory. We’ve got plans to ride up the Space Needle, explore a few museums, and dive into a food tour at Pike Place Market. And if your teenager is anything like mine, skipping the original Starbucks simply isn’t an option.

Using Points and Miles to get to Seattle
We made it to Starbucks!

Trip Report Index

  1. Using Points and Miles to get to Seattle
  2. Flight from Chicago to Seattle
  3. Sheraton Grand Seattle