Whether you want to relax on a stunning beach or have an unforgettable adventure in nature and watch the adorable monkeys, Costa Rica has something for you. Read on to learn how this gorgeous country’s “pura vida” vibes can be yours, whatever your points budget. Bougie, budget, or basic—we got ya!

 

Bougie Flight: JetBlue Mint 

If you want to get to Costa Rica in comfort and style, JetBlue Mint can take you there—for a lot of points. JetBlue Mint offers a fabulous on-board experience, including lie-flat seats, elevated dining, and more. 

The points price for Mint varies, but I found a Saturday in November from Boston to Liberia for only 56,000 points per person. I found that return flights for this trip were much pricier in Mint, around 100,000 points per person. 

If you have JetBlue points to spare, this could be a luxurious way to start or end your journey to Costa Rica. If your points are more limited, you may opt to save JetBlue Mint for a longer trip, such as from the U.S. to Europe. 

 

 

 

Bougie Hotel: Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort (Hyatt Points) 

The Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort is one of the most sought-after properties in the points and miles community, and for good reason. This luxury beach resort is in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, and it offers just about any activity you can imagine, from pottery to yoga to kayaking and snorkeling. The Andaz Papagayo is surrounded by natural beauty and features three pristine beaches. It is ideal for any type of trip, as it offers both adults-only areas and kid-focused spaces. While not all-inclusive, this resort does offer Andaz’s signature complimentary treats and non-alcoholic beverages. Pam, Alex, and Jess have all been here and raved about it!

This fabulous resort will cost you a lot of points. It’s a Category 8, so the points price for a standard room will be between 35,000 and 45,000 points per night. 

 

 

Budget Flight: United Economy 

If you don’t have quite enough points to fly in lie-flat business class, you can also get to Costa Rica via United in economy. I found flights between Houston and San Jose for 20,000 miles plus taxes and fees on United or 15,000 miles plus taxes and fees through Air Canada. Because there are frequent transfer bonuses to Air Canada, you may find it more cost-effective in points to book through a Star Alliance partner like Air Canada if there is availability, even if the taxes and fees are a bit higher. 

 

 

 

Budget Hotel: Botanika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection By Hilton  

The Botanika Osa Peninsula, Curio Collection by Hilton has everything you need for a relaxing stay in Costa Rica. The property has a beautiful outdoor pool and is close to Corcovado National Park, ziplining, and eco-adventures. The resort is located about a six-hour drive from San Jose airport, but you can book a flight from San Jose to nearby Puerto Jimenez through the hotel. 

This October, you can book standard rooms at this property for between 60,000 and 70,000 Hilton points per night. This family-friendly resort also offers larger room options, including those with kitchens! 

 

 

For this hypothetical fall stay, the cash prices for this property are pretty low. So if you’re planning a stay here, you may want to consider paying cash and saving your Hilton points—and certainly saving any ultra valuable Hilton free-night certificates you may have—to use for a pricier trip. But if you have a lot of Hilton points or are not overly concerned with your cents-per-point redemption value, it might make sense to use points here. 

 

Basic Flight: Southwest Airlines 

We love Southwest for family travel, especially if you have a Companion Pass that allows you to fly someone with you free any time. While Southwest isn’t the most luxurious flying experience, this airline’s points are relatively easy to earn. They can get you on your Costa Rica vacation departing from a variety of U.S. cities. 

There are some bargains available this fall on this route. I found flights from Baltimore-Washington to San Jose, Costa Rica, for 4,500 points per person. That’s an incredible deal for an international flight (though I wouldn’t love arriving at the airport for such an early departure!) 

 

 

Basic Hotel: JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa 

If you’d prefer to use Marriott points for a Guanacaste getaway, consider the JW Marriott Guanacaste Resort and Spa. This hotel is a perfect mix of beach and nature, where you can relax by the water, or choose a more adventurous day of ziplining, scuba diving, golfing, and much more. This beachfront hotel also has a gorgeous oceanfront pool, spa, and kids’ club. 

As with all Marriott hotels, the points price varies, but I’ve found availability in October for as little as 42,000 points per night. This makes this property ideal for either your Marriott points or potentially your 35,000-point free-night certificate, topped up with your own points. If you’re using points alone, you can take advantage of the fifth-night-free benefit for Marriott Bonvoy points. 

 

 

General Booking Tips

• As always with points booking, flexibility is key. For a destination like Costa Rica, I’d prioritize the hotel’s availability first and be willing to compromise on the flight if necessary. Luckily, there are many flight options to get to Costa Rica. From many parts of the U.S., it’s a relatively short trip to get to Costa Rica. 
• For competitive properties like the Andaz, search engines like MaxMyPoint can be invaluable in finding a room. If there’s no availability when you first search, set an alert so you’ll know as soon as there’s a cancellation. 
• You’ll need transportation for your trip, so be sure to listen to the Costa Rica episode of the Travel Mom Squad podcast for recommendations on car rentals or booking drivers for your travels. 

 

Bottom Line

Whatever your points budget, the pura vida of Costa Rica can be yours! Let us know in the comments which version of the trip you’d like to book with your points.

 

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