Booked: 3 Free Nights at Hyatt Zilara Cancun With Points!
What I like most about the points and miles hobby is setting a goal, then attaining it.
For a long time, I’ve wanted to stay at the all-inclusive and adults-only Hyatt Zilara Cancun. And in a few weeks, I’ll be there!
Coming for ya, Zilara!
I used 75,000 Hyatt points for a stay that would’ve cost over $1,900 out-of-pocket. Here’s how it came together.
Booking a Hyatt Zilara Cancun Points Award
Link: Hyatt Zilara Cancun
American Airlines had a recent fare sale on non-stop flights from Dallas to Cancun in early 2017.
I instantly thought about the Hyatt Zilara Cancun. First, I made sure the fare didn’t have any minimum stay requirements and that I could find a 3-day chunk of time. I found a few combinations that worked – options!
Ocean View Junior Suites selling for $642 a night + taxes and fees
Then, called Hyatt to check for award space. A rep answered right away and had no problem searching dates. I told her the first set I found – and she confirmed all 3 nights were available in an Ocean View Junior Suite with double beds. I didn’t ask her check the other dates.
I transferred Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt to top-up my account (I already had some from work-related stays). She held until the transfer went through, which took seconds. And then booked it!
I got the confirmation email before we hung up – it took under 5 minutes to book.
The 3-night stay would’ve cost $1,926
My 75,000 Hyatt points got me a stay worth $1,926, which means each point was worth ~2.5 cents.
Hyatt points can certainly be much more, but there is no way I’d pay the cash rate for that hotel. Plus, I figure I’ll save big on food and drinks, which is another value-add.
Also, I’ve just been really wanting to stay here. Ultimately, your points are there for you to use for experiences you’ll enjoy.
I don’t see myself having paid stays with Hyatt any time soon, so I was eager to zero out my Hyatt points balance. Earn and burn, baby!
AA flights with Citi ThankYou points
Link: I Saved $3,000 With Citi Prestige Last Year (and Got a Retention Offer)
Flights were next. I had them pulled up in another tab on the Citi ThankYou travel portal, and went through the booking process.
~22,000 Citi ThankYou points for TWO round-trip tickets
Thanks to Citi Prestige, each Citi ThankYou point is worth 1.6 cents each toward American Airlines flights (through July 23, 2017). I can earn ThankYou points easily with my Citi AT&T Access More card (no longer available), so I thought nothing of using them for this trip.
Both flights cost 21,634 Citi ThankYou points, or 10,817 points each. That’s an incredible deal!
Of course, once the time comes, I’ll credit them to Alaska. 
