Our next reader success story about a short trip to the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa shows how points and miles can make even a weekend trip happen! Sadly, I’ve lost the name of our reader, so reach out if you see this! I’d love to credit you!

The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs, FL did not disappoint! Our family stayed here over the long holiday weekend in February. I booked two king sofabed rooms, each at 29,000 points per night, using Chase Ultimate Rewards® from some of our first welcome offers earned with cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and the Chase Ink business cards. The cash price would have been over $800 a night for the two rooms. I messaged the hotel a couple of days before we arrived and was able to change one of them to a two-queen bed (at no additional cost). The rooms and entire property were clean and modern.

Coconut Point has all you need to enjoy your stay without leaving the property. We flew in late Friday, with time enough for our kids to enjoy a dip in the pool after supper, and for my husband and me to relax in one of the seating areas on the terraced patio that lines the main fountain.

Their private island, Big Hickory, is popular with visitors; but because of rainy weather, we weren’t able to enjoy it, which was a bummer because you can sometimes see dolphins there. I would recommend reserving a ferry time (done in the app) as soon as possible once you check in, as times fill up quickly. (The ferry time slots were full for Saturday when we checked in on Friday evening.)

We enjoyed the whole day Saturday at the various pools, inner tube water slides, and the lazy river (my favorite). There is a water station to refill water bottles, as well as a small store that sells sunscreen and essentials you might need. Outside the store, there was a hair wrap and temporary tattoo kiosk, fun options for kids.

There are also pool areas for adults only, as well as walk-in water areas for the littles. Things that we didn’t take advantage of but are still worth knowing about: private cabanas (reserved for a fee), an area for lawn games, and fire pits (you can purchase s’mores kits).

There are four places to eat on the property (plus a bar). If you love seafood (try the bacon-wrapped grouper) and don’t mind a splurge, Tarpon Bay is for you. The seafood was delicious, and the resort’s front desk staff got us a nearly immediate reservation when we checked in, which was just what we needed after a full day of travel. Each morning, we got coffee, drinks, and pastries from Cool Beans. They also offered warm breakfast options to go. It’s a small, convenience-type store.

A big highlight, though, was ordering food poolside using the flags on the lounge chairs. The Corkscrew Bar & Grill staff walked through, took orders, and delivered your order right to your chair! The food came covered and on real dishes, so it wasn’t flimsy enough to fly away, and the birds couldn’t get at it. Our lunch cost around $125.

On our final night, we opted for Tanglewood. Order the daily special if you are more cost-conscious. Three of us enjoyed the prime rib special for $30. The menu is pretty limited, so if you have picky eaters, I’d suggest ordering off the Tanglewood To Go menu. I had heard good things about their buffet; however, by 9:30 am on Saturday, the line was out the door, and we didn’t want to miss out on pool time.

If you do want to venture off property, there are two outdoor malls within a short drive. We used Uber to go to Coconut Point (which also has a Target and a Cheesecake Factory) and to the Miromar Outlets.

We flew via Delta (FAR-MSP-RSW), using up some eCredits from canceled trips in 2020 and 2022. For the remainder of the airline ticket cost, we used my husband’s American Express® Business Gold Card as we were working on that card’s welcome offer at the time. 

We used an Uber XL to get from RSW to the resort, and I was able to take advantage of the Uber Cash credit from our Amex Gold and Platinum cards ($25 Uber Cash) and a $10 dining credit at Cheesecake Factory. We used Naples Transport & Tours for the return trip to RSW; it was pricey, but the service was excellent.  I used the Capital One Venture X travel eraser to cover the transport back to the airport. It might not be the most effective use of points, but minimizing spending on this trip was the goal.

Travel Mom Squad highlighted this family-friendly destination in an Instagram post, and it’s definitely worth adding to your vacation list, making it totally doable over a weekend. Since February of 2023, after discovering TMS and the Award Travel Academy, my husband and I have opened 15 credit cards, and our credit is exceptional, at over 800.