Many people already have travel points.
They’re sitting in credit card accounts, airline programs, hotel loyalty programs, or shopping rewards programs — often quietly building up in the background.
But a surprising number of travelers never actually use them.
Not because they aren’t valuable.
Because they’re not sure how to use them.
In the first episode of Points in Real Life, we talked about that exact problem.
In Episode 2, we showed how airline points can cover real flights.
In this episode, we’re doing something a little different.
Instead of multiple examples…
We’re walking through one real trip idea — and showing how hotel points could cover a big part of it.
Not luxury-only redemptions.
Not complicated strategies.
Just a real trip someone could actually take.
Planning & Consulting: Points & Rewards Strategy
If you have travel points but aren’t sure how to use them — or want help building a strategy that fits your normal spending and travel goals — we can help.
If you have a question, feel free to text us at 480-331-1263.
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In this Article:
The Trip: San Diego Getaway Using Hotel Points
Let’s say you’re looking for a quick getaway.
• Almost always perfect weather
• Great food
• Close to the beach
• Easy to get to
San Diego checks all of those boxes.
And this is where hotel points can really start to feel useful.
The Hotel Example (Using Points)
San Diego → Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
4.3 rating on TripAdvisor
Example redemption:
• Saturday, May 23rd – Monday, May 25th (Memorial Day Weekend)
• One night at 17,000 points and the other at 20,000 points
• 37,000 points total for two nights
Total cash price for two nights (including taxes and fees):
• $646.78
Instead of paying over $600 out of pocket for your stay…
You could use points to cover it.
You could also extend an additional night for another 17,000 points, bringing the total to approximately 54,000 points for three nights.
Availability note:
Finding weekend availability at this hotel using points can sometimes be challenging — especially during peak times.
However, if you’re flexible with your dates, we found multiple weekend options beginning in May and continuing through the summer.
Flexibility and planning ahead often lead to better trips and better value.
What You Could Actually Do on This Trip
San Diego has always been a favorite destination for us — partly because of how easy it is to get there from Phoenix, but also because of the weather and the variety of things to do.
We’ve stayed at the Manchester Grand Hyatt multiple times and have loved it each time.
This is where points stop being theoretical and start becoming real.
If you based yourself in this area, here are just a few easy options:
• Located right on San Diego Bay with great views
• Next door to Seaport Village for unique (and a little touristy) shopping
• Walking distance to the Gaslamp Quarter, full of restaurants and bars
• Petco Park nearby if you want to catch a Padres game
• A fun ferry ride over to Coronado Island for more restaurants, shopping, and beaches
Food & Local Spots
- The Blind Burro — our favorite pre-game restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter, right by Petco Park
- Coronado Brewing on Orange Ave on Coronado Island
- Hotel Del Coronado — a historic landmark where you can walk the property and enjoy the beach
You don’t need a packed itinerary — just a few good stops.
Attractions & Activities
- Little Italy
- San Diego Bay waterfront walks
- Light rail ride to Old Town San Diego
Or…
Do nothing at all and just enjoy the change of scenery.
Why This Matters
A lot of travel content focuses on:
• Luxury resorts
• High-end redemptions
• Once-in-a-lifetime trips
And those are great.
But that’s not how most people actually travel.
A trip like this is:
• Easy to plan
• Flexible
• Something you might already be thinking about doing
And instead of paying cash for the hotel…
You’re using points you may already have.
How You Could Earn These Points
This is where a lot of people get stuck — but it’s usually simpler than it sounds.
For this example (Hyatt), points can come from:
Credit Cards
• Hyatt co-branded credit card (Chase)
• Everyday spending
Transferable Points
• Chase Ultimate Rewards → Hyatt (1:1)
• Bilt Rewards → Hyatt (1:1)
Hotel Stays & Promotions
• Paid stays
• Bonus promotions
This is one of the reasons Hyatt is so popular — the value per point can go a long way.
How We Found This Example
We didn’t use anything complicated.
We simply:
• Searched directly on Hyatt’s website
• Compared points vs. cash prices
• Looked across a range of dates
That’s it.
No advanced tools required.
What Should We Cover Next?
The goal of Points in Real Life is to make travel rewards easier to understand by showing how they work in everyday travel.
Future episodes will be shaped by real questions, real trips, and real feedback.
We’ll highlight specific point programs — including transferable points and airline or hotel loyalty programs — so you can better understand how each one works and where they can provide the most value.
We’ll also continue building examples around things like:
• Weekend trips using points
• Budget-friendly trips using points
• Beach vacations (Hawaii, Caribbean, etc.)
• Specific city destinations
Each episode will stay focused on simple, practical uses of points — not complicated strategies.
Tell Us Where You Want to Go
We’re building this series around real travel ideas.
If you’re curious about using points for a specific trip, tell us in the comments.
Share:
• Your city
• Where you want to go
• What type of trip you’re thinking about
Examples:
• Phoenix → San Diego weekend
• Dallas → New York
• Chicago → Florida
• Seattle → Vancouver
We’ll try to respond directly with ideas — and we may feature your trip idea in a future Points in Real Life episode.
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