January 5, 2024
Family Backpacking Trip to Ecuador
Pam
Alexa is sharing her family backpacking trip to Ecuador with us today, which included using some credit card points and miles. Here is her story:
I have been listening to your podcast for several months and really enjoying the rapport you have with each other and the great information that you share. Here is a recap of our recent trip to Ecuador (October 2023).
Twenty years ago, my husband and a few of his buddies spent some time in Ecuador. Fast forward to 2023, and he could finally show me and our 4-year-old daughter the places he had explored back then! Also, we speak Spanish at home and are always looking for exposure and practice for our daughter.
This was a one-week bus-hostels-and-backpacks trip. However, once we saw how the mileage ticket itinerary was shaping up, it morphed to include a couple of hotels and a day in Colombia!
Flights to Bogota Using Credit Card Points and Miles
We booked our economy-class tickets with United, which routed us from our hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, through Bogotá, Colombia, for an 8-hour+ layover each way. We could handle one night sleeping in the airport, but two? This got us thinking, and we used the Excursionist Perk with United to schedule more time in Bogotá.
Tickets were 59,000 miles each plus taxes of $72 per person, for a grand total of 176,400 United miles and $214.86 in taxes and fees. (60,000 bonus from the United MileagePlus Explorer card, and the remaining 116,000 were Chase Sapphire Reserve points collected over the last year).
Alexa’s family and ALL their luggage!
Ecuador Lodging using Points and Miles
We spent two nights at a hostel in Baños, and then three nights at a hostel in Montañita. Our last night in Ecuador before our flight out from Guayaquil was at the Hilton Colón Guayaquil, which we booked for 30,000 Hilton Honors points. With my husband’s Diamond status, we were invited to the Executive Lounge for the evening reception, which translated to dinner for us weary, hungry travelers.
We weren’t there long enough to really appreciate all the amenities, but we made sure to check out the awesome pool and the hot tub! (Breakfast was also included at the Executive Lounge, but our flight left too early in the morning for us to enjoy this.) The hotel arranged a free shuttle to the airport for us. The Hilton Colon Guayaquil was a welcome stay!
In Bogotá, we met up with friends we had not seen in several years and had Colombia’s traditional must-have dish, Bandeja Paisa. We used 12,500 Hyatt points and stayed at the Grand Hyatt Bogota. This was our first time staying at a Hyatt hotel, either in the US or Internationally, and the luxurious feel blew us away. Our daughter immediately ran a bath in the gorgeous marble tub and used all the provided toiletries.
With both the Hilton and the Hyatt, it seems that the international versions of these hotels offer more of a bang for your buck (or points). We can’t wait to try out more Hyatt hotels in the future.
Using an Airport Lounge
Back in the US, we used the two United Club passes that came with the United Explorer Card (and purchased the third one that we needed for our daughter) and relaxed at Newark airport, waiting for the last leg of our journey home. That was totally worth it and has probably spoiled us for every future layover. Imagine sitting on a leather recliner, watching the New York City skyline through wall-to-wall windows as the sun goes down, and seeing planes taking off every minute! All while having a nice drink and delicious snacks. (Lots of veggies are available too.)
Future Plans on Credit Card Points and Miles
Episode 29: A Scottish Adventure – this is one episode I’ve paused and replayed so I could take notes! We are planning a trip to Scotland next year and thanks to your tips, we will probably be able to do it almost all on points and miles.
Thanks, Alexa, for your family backpacking trip to Ecuador – it sounds like it was amazing!
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