I love using points and miles to take vacations. As my friends start to get married, having points and miles at my disposal has made it possible to attend all of the events I want to without having to worry about the cost.
Pre-Wedding Expenses
I’m a bridesmaid in my best friend’s wedding this summer. For her bachelorette party, we were flying to New Orleans on a particularly pricey weekend. I was able to get my flight from Boston to New Orleans ($230) for free with the Bank of America Travel Rewards card (23,000 points). I also got the return flight ($344) for free by redeeming 34,400 Barclaycard Arrival Plus miles. This left me with plenty of pocket change for hurricanes, beignets, and muffulettas!
Total savings: $574
Wedding Expenses
Being in a wedding can get expensive. Not only do you have to worry about gifts and a hotel, but you have to buy a bridesmaids’ dress and shoes and pay for alterations. On top of all these expenses, the hotel near the wedding venue was very expensive. Luckily, I had some leftover Chase Ultimate Rewards points from the 100,000 Chase Sapphire Reserve sign-up bonus. I used 48,016 points for two nights at the hotel which is valued at $720.24.
Final Thoughts
Weddings are fun but they can get expensive, especially when you have several to attend each year. By using points and miles, I was able to save almost $1,300 on my out-of-pocket expenses for my best friend’s wedding. It’s great to plan luxury trips abroad, but sometimes there’s good value in redeeming points a little closer to home.
