Working with our travel agent when we first started traveling, she mentioned that if we had credit card points, we could use them for our all-inclusive vacation. I told her that ours only covered airline miles, but I would check. Lo and behold, our credit card company confirmed that we could use our points for the all-inclusive in Riviera Maya we were booking, even if we didn’t have enough for the whole vacation.
If we had $500 worth of points, we had to have the travel agent bill the amount separately in one transaction and the balance in another transaction when we paid for the vacation. After, we would contact the credit card company to have them apply the points toward the purchase. We were surprised the first time that it worked. One time when we found a great deal, (7 day all-inclusive Riviera Maya), we were able to pay for one of us with points, so the trip was free. Yes, you read that right. It was free!
We began charging more items on the card which eventually added up to more points earned and available for travel. We use the card to pay for our homeowners and car insurance, cell phone, groceries, and just about anything else that can be paid for with a credit card.
Because we pay off our balance every month, we do not pay interest on these purchases. If you are unable to pay your credit card balance in full, I would not recommend this tactic. The interest you pay would cost more than the savings.
Below are a few credit card companies that have a great travel rewards program. If this is not an option for you, see below for additional tips.
Bank of America – 25,000 online bonus points offer (a $250 value) and no annual fee
Capital One – Earn unlimited 1.25X miles and no annual fee
Citi Double Cash Card – Earn 2% cash back on purchases
There are many ways to afford a nice vacation. Use these tips to make your dream vacation come true. Even the worst day at the beach beats the best day in the office.
Do you have tips to save money for traveling? Please leave a comment below or on my Facebook or Instagram page. If you enjoyed this post, feel free to share.
When traveling to Riviera Maya, we always book with our travel agent Jim Lucente. Rest assured that you will know the latest Covid protocols and have the added layer of a professional to contact directly with any questions or concerns. I highly recommend that you contact Jim Lucente, owner of Lucente Travel, at 412-299-7699 or email him at jim@lucentetravel.com to book your all-inclusive vacation.
If you prefer to book online, you can book here or compare reviews at Tripadvisor.
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