Annalee sent us in her reader success story to Amsterdam, Croatia, and Venice. She’s only been using credit card points and miles for about a year, so seeing what she has done is amazing! Spoiler Alert: she ended up swapping out Croatia for Switzerland! Here is her story:

 

Starting Out with Credit Card Points and Miles

Before finding the Travel Mom Squad’s Podcast and Facebook Group a little over a year ago, my husband and I had three credit cards between us and were slowly racking up points, hoping to redeem them for a big trip one day. Once I found the podcast, I listened to the episodes one after the other. I felt so grateful to find it! I had previously joined a finance-bro points group that just didn’t fit my vibe, and I learned next to nothing before excusing myself from the group. But here was this mom-oriented, super-supportive group that was exactly what I needed!

I learned quickly and jumped right in. My husband and I have a small side business, so we were able to open Chase business cards, which has been the most lucrative way for us to earn Chase Ultimate® Rewards. I also got my mom and dad in on using points and miles, so I feel like we have a four-player strategy going on. Denver is my home airport, so United cards have also been a great way for us to earn miles.

 

Previous Redemptions

When we first started, we used points to stay in Hyatts during small weekend getaways to Denver. Then my mother and I took the kids to Belize in the spring, with flights and hotels paid for with points. We also took flights for a weekend trip to Santa Fe. But our most significant redemption yet was taking my family of four to Europe this month for 13 days and 3 countries!

I will say that this is not necessarily a story about making the BEST redemptions or getting the highest CPP (cents per point) value. This is a story about making points and miles work for us! This means last-minute fares and family rooms, which greatly limited which European hotels we could book because of strict occupancy laws, and generally wanting to stay in smaller boutique hotels.

 

Three-Country Family Trip

I had done some research about different places that we wanted to visit. We went back and forth but finally settled on Amsterdam, Croatia, and Venice. An opportunity came along when my husband had an unexpected break, and we took the opportunity to book our flights eight days before taking off! Between high prices and refund/change policies, this is not something we would ever feel comfortable doing without points.

 

 

Amsterdam on Points/Miles

Flights to Amsterdam

DEN to AMS: We used United Miles to get across the pond with a layover in Dulles. This was tricky with a 1.5- and almost 5-year-old, but we made it! We decided to buy a seat for the 1-year-old and lug around a car seat (the highly recommended and light Cosco Scenera), and it was definitely worth it! My son was contained and comfortable enough to sleep for a good chunk of the longer flight.

 

Amsterdam Hotel

I booked the Leonardo Boutique Museum Hotel  via Chase Travel℠  for three nights. While I would never book a flight through the portal, I feel comfortable booking hotels, especially when I emailed the hotel afterward to confirm the booking. We loved this hotel in general. It was an excellent location next to the Rijksmuseum and Vondelpark and across the street from the canals lined with shops, restaurants, and fun! Breakfast was not included, but we found some delicious options in a neighborhood nearby. We caught up on sleep, strolled the small lanes, ate local delights, and took a canal tour that we all enjoyed.

 

 

 

The craziest (and riskiest) thing I did was not book our flight to and hotels in Croatia, our next location. I figured I could book them once we got to Amsterdam. We traveled in early September, and the weather was absolutely perfect. But as the day we planned to leave got closer, we realized that Croatia was having a heatwave, and neither the kids nor I do great in the intense heat. So we changed it up and decided to visit Switzerland on the way to Venice! Another thing I would not have done if it weren’t for points and miles!

 

Croatia Turns into Switzerland

AMS to ZRH:  I booked a flight on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines via Flying Blue. (I had previously transferred some Chase Ultimate Rewards® to Flying Blue when there was a 30% transfer bonus.)  It was a short flight, so I did not purchase a seat for the little one this time; he flew on our laps.

After a terribly long day, we landed in Zürich and found that our bags were not so lucky. For some reason, our luggage AirTags were not working, so we couldn’t track them down and had no choice but to go to our hotel for the night after reporting our missing baggage and grabbing some essentials from the airport pharmacy.

 

Hotels in Zürich

I booked two different hotel stays through Chase Travel℠: one night at the Mövenpick Hotel Zürich Regensdorf as it was closer to the airport, and the Hotel Glockenhof for another three nights in the heart of the city for easier sightseeing. The Mövenpick Hotel Zürich was nice, clean, had a decent Italian restaurant, and was right next to a large shopping mall which was handy since we didn’t have much with us. We woke up and got to do some shopping before heading to our next hotel.

We absolutely adored Hotel Glockenhof! It is within walking distance of the main train station, high-end shopping, and fantastic restaurants! Breakfast was included in our stay and it was probably my favorite breakfast spot on this trip. The dining area is beautiful, well-appointed, and has high-quality food selections, like the best yogurt I have ever tasted, fresh bread, meats and cheeses, and juices.

 

Activities in Zürich

We visited the Zoo Zürich, strolled down the Limmat River, ate classic Swiss food at Zeughauskeller, and (unfortunately) spent way too much money replacing clothes that finally arrived after three days—and I have yet to see if we will be reimbursed. I paid for the taxes and fees for the flights with a Chase business card, and there appear to be some travel benefits I can use to make a claim. So, besides filing a claim with KLM directly, I have also filed a claim with Chase. But I wish I had paid the taxes and fees with my Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card!

 

 

Zürich to Lugano: We booked a train from Zürich to Lugano, a gorgeous city in the Italian-speaking part of the Swiss Alps. The train fares were reasonable and were paid in cash. Kids under a certain age are free as well, so that’s a nice perk.

Lugano Hotel: The Best Western Bellevue Hotel Au Lac was booked through Chase Travel℠. This hotel is situated directly across the street from Lake Lugano, and our corner family suite had a gorgeous view! The rooms were a bit dated, but they were very clean, and the kids had enough room to run around. 

There is a decent-sized pool in the back, but we never had a moment to try it out. They served a great breakfast spread, and overall, the hotel is in a good location. I was also surprised that our room came with free transportation passes within the Ticino area, which was an added bonus.

 

Activities in Lugano

In Lugano, we walked in the rain, ate both Swiss and Italian foods, and climbed Monte Brè in a funicular (definitely recommend!). We missed the Swissminiatur (miniature Swiss village), but that just means we will have to go back someday! While it is hard to choose, my husband and I both feel like Lugano was our favorite stop on this trip.

 

Next Stop: Venice

 

Lugano to Venice:  We hopped on another train to Venice, which was only a few short hours away. We rode the water bus to our hotel area and checked in at the beautiful Hotel Giorgione.

 

 

It is a quaint and traditional Venetian hotel with nice touches. When we got to our room, we realized there was a loft to the king bed, and we did not feel comfortable being there for three nights with a 1.5-year-old on the go! It was also cramped and took a maze to find. No other rooms were available for the first night, but reception said they could move us to a first-floor suite just off of the pool and garden area for a supplemental charge of €80 per night. OMG, so worth it!!!

Two rooms with the wall knocked out meant two big beds, two bathrooms, and tons of space! It was especially remarkable to be able to pop outside the room to have a Spritz by the pool while the kids were taking a nap.

 

 

The pool was available in 30-minute blocks and required a reservation, but the reservation book was mostly empty, so it wasn’t an issue for us. It was super tiny, but it was a great way to end the day before going to bed!

Venice, in general, was more touristy and busy than I remember from my last visit 27 years ago. Initially, I wondered if we had made a mistake by going there. But after getting a little more off the beaten path, we had a delightful stay. Great food (check out Vecia Cavana, OMG), a few too many Aperol Spritzes, and picking up strollers across a million bridges. We loved every minute.

 

 

Flights Home to Denver

VCE to DEN: United Miles again! We flew economy class, but we did not use the car seat for the little one. He was way more mobile, but it worked out alright. My daughter was invited to sit with the pilots and make an announcement before take-off; what a treat!!!

 

 

Stats:

Points:  approx. 800k (earn and burn, baby!)

Cash:  approx. $1,500 in flight taxes/fees and train tickets

Value of Trip:  $13,322.00

 

What Points and Miles Have Given Me

I am a traveler. It is in my genes. I would make time and money for it, even if I hadn’t gotten into points. However, what points, and, specifically, the Travel Mom Squad, have given me is freedom. Freedom to book last-minute trips. To change our plans on the go. Freedom to spend money on great food and excursions without feeling guilty. Freedom to show my children the world. And for that, I am thankful. ❤️

 

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