My Journey to Memorable Family Vacations with Travel Hacking, Part 2

The Trip- Travel Hacked Trip to Lake Placid

In part 1 of my travel hacking journey, I spoke about my first free trip to Lake Placid in 2019, using the American Express Hilton Honors card. I had 2 separate accounts,  for me and my Person 2 (to learn about Person 2 strategies check out our post here). We were planning on expanding our travel experiences and flying instead of driving for our summer 2020 family trip. However, the world had other plans when Covid hit. We decided to keep our summer trip to somewhere drivable and postpone flying anywhere. My kids loved Lake Placid so much, that we decided to go back again in June of  2020. This time we took our dog, Nestle, with us as well.  Nestle usually hates water but she was very happy getting her paws wet in the lake.

How I Earned Points for Our Free Trip

Right after our first trip to Lake Placid in August of 2019, I applied for the American Express Hilton Honors Surpass Card. This card offers a 130,000-point sign-up bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. My Person 2 had also applied to the Surpass after I reached my sign-up bonus. So, we had more than enough points to book our stay at the Hampton Inn- Lake Placid. During our previous trip in August 2019, I had approximately 45,000 Hilton points left over. Also, very important- if you have a Person 2, be sure to not add them as an authorized user, but to sign up for a completely new account for them. Check out our post here for more information.

My Hilton account had plenty of points for our stay, with lots left over.

Sign up Bonus for P1 and P2 :                                260,000

Leftover points after 1st trip:                                     45,000

Monthly points on Surpass (September- April):  114,600

Approximate Hilton Honor points April 2020           419,000

A trip to the Hampton Inn Lake Placid for 5 nights in August is 280,000 points, leaving me 139,600 Hilton Honor Points left over.

The Card I Used for Our Travel-Hacked Trip 

The American Express Surpass offers even more bonus points in the same categories as the base Hilton Honors card. 6 points per dollar on dining, groceries, and gas as opposed to 5 on the base card. It also offers 4 points per dollar on U.S. Online purchases and 3 points per dollar on other purchases. Using the same chart I used in our post about my first time using credit card points for travel, here is how you can earn enough points with this card:

Unveiling the Power of Travel Reward Points

The Lake Placid trip was more than just a vacation—it was a revelation of the power of travel reward points. Earning and redeeming points using travel rewards credit cards allowed us to enjoy premium accommodations that seemed out of reach before. We had so much fun in Lake Placid, that we have returned 3 more times since then, always staying at the same Hampton Inn- Lake Placid.

Lessons Learned Along the Way

I've gathered invaluable lessons and tips that can benefit fellow travel enthusiasts. From understanding the nuances of credit card rewards to strategically planning trips, there's a wealth of knowledge to be shared. A stay at the Hampton Inn Lake Placid for the same dates- in a double queen room would cost $1,999. By charging our expenses to a reward card, we saved $1,999 for our vacation.

Once you start applying for more travel reward credit cards and using higher-level cards your sign-up bonuses and earnings on reward categories become higher too. This will allow you to earn points faster, leading to more travel hacking experiences. Remember the key is once you are done with a sign-up bonus or a goal, start on the next card. In hindsight, once Person 2 got their signup bonus, I could have applied for the American Express Surpass card. This card has a 170,000 sign-up bonus after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months. After this 3rd sign-up bonus, I would have had enough points to book my Lake Placid trip much sooner than the 8 months of regular spending it took me. I would have had leftover points after reaching this goal, which would be a head start on your next trip!

As the pages of my travel hacking journey continue to unfold, each adventure leaves a marka testament to the transformative power of exploring the world on a budget. From that first American Express Hilton Honors Credit Card to the breathtaking landscapes of Lake Placid, my family and I have discovered that the greatest adventures often begin with a simple decision... have a memorable family vacation on a budget.

Join me as I unravel more chapters of my travel hacking odyssey, sharing insights, tips, and the joy of making every vacation a memorable experience without the financial burden. The journey has just begun, and there's a world of possibilities waiting to be explored.

1. Travel Hacking 101: The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Getting Started

2. Starting with the Lowest Level Reward Card is Best

3. Using a Partner (Person 2) for Your Credit Card Travel Hacking Strategy

4. Earning Reward Strategically-Use Credit Card Points for Your Next Vacation

5. Travel Hacking- How I Started Part 1 

6. Choosing Your First Travel Reward Credit Card and Begin Travel Hacking 

7. A Guide to Planning Your Disney World Using Reward Points

8. Maximizing your Hilton free night certificates: Tips and Tricks to Get the Most Out of Your Rewards

9. You Reached Your First Travel Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus: Now What?

10. Overview of the Hilton Honors Program

11. Taking a Closer Look at the Marriott Bonvoy Program

12. Traveling Hacking on a Budget: Our Tips for Saving Money on a Disneyland Vacation

13. Traveling with Kids: How to Pack for a Trip Efficiently

14. Are High-Fee Travel Reward Credit Cards Worth the Price?

15. American Express Hilton Honors Credit Card: Elevating Your Travel Experience