Utilizing 75K Chase factors for a last-minute getaway to Mexico for two

Two of the very best journey rewards playing cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, each at present have sign-up bonuses of 75,000 Chase Final Rewards factors after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. There are numerous methods to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards factors, however you may normally get essentially the most worth once you switch your rewards to a number of Chase transfer partners.

As an instance the forms of journeys you would guide with these new sign-up bonuses, two TPG staffers and I every went on journeys utilizing 75,000 Chase Final Rewards factors. I opted to guide flights and an all-inclusive resort for a last-minute weekend escape to Mexico with my husband. This is how I did it and what our journey was like.

How I deliberate this journey

When the chance to redeem 75,000 Chase factors for a last-minute journey dropped into my lap, my schedule was already fairly full. However we may slot in a long-weekend journey in mid-April. So I began what sort of getaway I may guide that may price 75,000 Chase factors or much less for each of us.

World of Hyatt, which is a 1:1 switch associate of Chase Final Rewards, has drastically expanded its Inclusive Collection of all-inclusive resorts over the previous couple of years. However I would but to seek out a chance to go to any. So, I checked whether or not I may stretch the 75,000 factors right into a weekend journey to a Hyatt all-inclusive resort for my husband and me. I used to be keen to go anyplace in North America so long as I may match round-trip flights for 2 and some nights at a resort into my factors allotment.

Because it seems, I used to be in a position to put collectively the right last-minute Cancun journey.

Associated: 11 reasons to choose the Chase Sapphire Preferred over the fancier Chase Sapphire Reserve

4,565 factors for flights to Cancun

I used to be amazed when I discovered a nonstop flight from William P. Passion Airport (HOU) to Cancun Worldwide Airport (CUN) on my desired Friday departure date bookable for simply 2,905 Southwest factors plus $48.23. The detrimental: This flight departed Houston at 6:45 p.m. and arrived in Cancun at 9 p.m. That is a very late arrival if we have been going to solely spend just a few nights in Mexico.

The marginally costlier Wanna Get Away Plus fare permits without spending a dime same-day flight modifications beginning at midnight on the day of journey if area is obtainable. So, after having been on many Southwest flights not too long ago that both went out with empty seats or cleared many standby passengers on the gate, I made a decision to guide a Wanna Get Away Plus fare for my husband at 4,565 factors plus $48.23 in taxes and charges with the hope we would be able to use a same-day change to take one of many two earlier nonstop flights.

You could be questioning, “That is only one ticket. What about your flight, Katie?” The explanation I solely wanted factors for a single ticket was that my husband earned a Southwest Companion Pass in early 2023 that is legitimate by means of the tip of 2024. So, I may add myself to his flight for no extra factors, as a substitute solely paying $48.23 in taxes and charges for the second ticket.

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No area was obtainable on both earlier flight when the same-day change window opened at midnight on the day of our flight. However I awakened at 7 a.m. to verify availability once more and snagged two of three obtainable seats on the 9:25 a.m. departure. This same-day flight change meant we arrived in Cancun 9 hours sooner than we might have on our authentic flight, albeit with rather less sleep than is perfect!

The draw back of our same-day flight change: We obtained C17 and C18 boarding positions. We anticipated this and deliberate to purchase Upgraded Boarding, as our Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card reimburses as much as 4 Upgraded Boarding purchases every anniversary 12 months. Nevertheless, no Upgraded Boarding positions have been left for our flight after we checked in.

We assumed these mid-C boarding positions would put us in center seats close to the again of the plane. However though we have been a number of the final passengers to board, we have been stunned to seek out empty window and aisle seats close to the entrance of the airplane. We every sat subsequent to {couples} and located the roughly two-hour flight snug.

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Hyatt award availability in Cancun was restricted once I booked my keep about two weeks earlier than departure. However, out of the choices obtainable, Desires Jade Resort & Spa stood out for its Most popular Membership — which I may entry as a Hyatt Globalist member — and its beachfront setting simply half-hour from CUN.

Desires Jade Resort & Spa is a Hyatt Category B property that prices 17,000 factors on off-peak nights, 20,000 factors on customary nights and 23,000 factors on peak nights. Sadly, each nights of my weekend keep have been peak nights, so I needed to redeem 46,000 factors for my two-night keep. If I would paid money, I might have wanted to pay $1,088 for a similar room — giving me a stable redemption worth of two.37 cents per level.

Apart from its lovely beachfront location, the highlights of Desires Jade Resort & Spa are its pleasant employees, excitable friends and good-quality meals. I used to be impressed with most dishes I attempted, together with the ceviche at Castaways Cafe, the Most popular Membership Pool Cafe fish tacos, and the Spice salmon.

I additionally completely liked the swings and hammock chairs on the beachfront bar — this was my favourite place to relax.

I used to be impressed by the great attitudes of my fellow friends, lots of whom might be discovered cheering for others in pool actions, chatting to strangers on the bar and studying new dances.

Hyatt elite perks on-site, exterior of Most popular Membership entry and a higher-floor room with an interesting view, have been restricted. However the one timeshare gross sales pitch I obtained was on the airport whereas ready for my resort shuttle.

Associated: When and how to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt

23,074 factors for flights again to Austin

Discovering a modestly priced award flight from Cancun to Austin on April 14 proved troublesome — particularly since we booked inside two weeks of departure and wished to depart later within the day to maximise our time in Mexico.

I booked what is probably going the most costly Southwest award flight I’ve ever reserved for my husband: a nonstop Cancun-to-Austin flight for 23,074 factors plus $77.58 in taxes and charges. This nonstop flight was excellent, although, because it allow us to benefit from the morning and even have lunch and some last drinks on the resort earlier than leaving for the airport.

As with our different Southwest flights, I may add myself as a companion after reserving my husband’s flight. My price along with his Companion Move was simply the taxes and charges.

We checked in for our flight precisely 24 hours earlier than departure and obtained B15 and B16 boarding positions. We snagged a window and aisle seat in the identical row close to the again of the plane. The flight departed with no empty seats, however a girl appeared completely happy to sleep a lot of the flight within the center seat between us.

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KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

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Backside line

It was enjoyable to point out how one sign-up bonus — and a few money to cowl the taxes, charges, suggestions and airport transfers — may get us a last-minute getaway to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico.

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve providing 75,000-point sign-up bonuses, now is an efficient time to use. This story centered on how I redeemed 75,000 factors for a getaway, however you would use the 75,000 factors in lots of different methods. For instance, you would switch 75,000 Chase factors to Hyatt and redeem for as much as 21 off-peak Category 1 Hyatt resort nights.