Without points and miles, I would be reduced to being a budget traveler most of the time. Because of points and miles, I can be bougie on a budget. Points and miles have let me have some experiences I NEVER thought possible!

 

Lay-flat Seats

I remember those days that I walked past people who were in business class. Especially when I was traveling to London to see my daughter and her family. I would really research where the best economy class seats were and book early to nab them. I remember once traveling when there weren’t a lot of passengers and getting a whole row to myself and I got to lie down for most of the trip.

Before my points and miles days, I would arrive in London exhausted with jet lag that lasted days. Now that I’m bougie on a budget, I can always plan on a good night’s sleep in business class and I am paying considerably less than my old economy class seat! Flying over to London, I usually pay $5.60 but flights out of Heathrow have heavy surcharges so these cost me about $300. I’ll pay that any day to get to stretch out in business class.

Gone are those days that I believed only the rich or businessmen with good travel budgets got to fly in lay-flat seats. Now I look around and wonder, who else is using points me?

Luxurious Hotel Stays

I totally admit it. I am a hotel snob now. Recently, we stayed at a Hilton Doubletree as part of our African trip. In the past, this would have been perfectly great for me. Now this bougie on a budget traveler was disappointed. Of course, we had just come from a Park Hyatt in another part of Zanzibar.

Bougie on a budget stays mean luxurious hotel rooms, fancy pool areas with food served poolside and gorgeous lobbies. Oh, and a delicious free breakfast too. I don’t want much! 😉 Points and miles have turned me into this hotel snob and it is easier too because I don’t have to pay for a family when I travel.

Multiple Trips

Bougie on a budget means I can travel in style multiple times a year versus the one main trip each year and some camping. Thanks to points and miles, I can travel the world for nearly free. Here are my 2022 trips planned (so far):

• Africa
• Croatia
• London
• Washington, D.C.
• Cancun
• Maui x 2
• Bora Bora
• Maldives

Travel is my passion and the ability to do it in style and for so little money is a huge blessing in my life. I have had incredible experiences so far and look forward to many more!

 

Bottom Line

Points and miles have allowed me to travel in a style that I never thought was possible. Being able to travel bougie while still on a budget is something that you can do too! Let me know if you need help planning that luxury trip that you never thought was possible!