My Journey to Memorable Family Vacations with Travel Hacking

How I Did It- Step by Step How I Hacked My First Trip

I am going to use today’s American Express offer and Hilton Honor points needed for a trip this year (2024), not 2018. Hilton Honors offers the 5th night free on all stays booked completely with points. My goal was to earn enough points for 4 nights, so we could stay for 5. Hampton Inn- Lake Placid for August 25-August 30, 2024 is 70,000 points per night or 280,000 points for 5 nights (70,000*4=280,000 since the 5th night is free when booking on points).

1.     Sign up for the American Express Hilton Honor credit card. Make sure you start with the lowest level card in the category you want. Check out our post "Starting with the Lowest Level Reward Card is Best"

2.     Moved all our monthly spending to the new card, and I mean ALL expenses.

3.     Once I reached the minimum $2,000 spent to earn the sign-up bonus, my Person 2 (in my case, it is my husband) opened the same card. Make sure to open a new account for Person 2, NOT adding an authorized user to your account. This will earn a new sign-up bonus. See our article on Person 2 signups here

4.     In our case, as long as we spent the minimum amount to earn the bonus on my husband’s card, we could leave all of our expenses on my credit card since they both had the same bonus categories and the same reward program to meet our goal.

This card also earns 5 Hilton Honors points per dollar spent on Gas, Supermarkets, and Restaurants (all must be made in the U.S.) and 3 points per dollar on all other spending.  

So, we have 200,000 points from our sign-up bonus. We were also earning 10,500-11,500 points a month for our regular monthly spending (see the chart below). In my example, we earned enough points for our Lake Placid trip in 8 months, spending no more money than we would have anyway.

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 credit card points. Earning and redeeming points 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 cards, and higher-level cards your sign-up bonuses and earnings on reward categories become higher too, allowing you to earn points faster. 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!

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 to have a memorable family vacation on a budget.  

We chose Lake Placid for our first travel hacked trip using travel rewards. Since it was our first trip trying out travel reward points we wanted to make this a road trip, instead of flying. The drive to the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York was very scenic. The Town of Lake Placid is actually on Mirror Lake. Lake Placid has many historic sites since it was the home to 2 Winter Olympics. The Olympic Museum is filled with historical fun facts and interactive exhibits. Many of the sites of the Olympics are still in use today, making it a great destination for outdoor enthusiasts. There are tons of outdoor activities to do in the Lake Placid Area. One of my kids' favorites was at the base of Whiteface Mountains, they had an obstacle course for the kids to do. Since it was the summer, the ski slopes were closed, but we had a great time. We took a ride to the top of WhiteFace Mountain which was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. We stayed at the Hampton Inn- Lake Placid which is within walking distance of the main street, where there are restaurants, ice cream shops and nice shops.  Walking along the downtown area, is scenic as well, as the main street is right along the lake. The hotel has beautiful views of the lake, activities for kids in the evening, and an indoor pool which the kids enjoyed. The kids had the best time jumping into Mirror Lake. At the end of the day, Lake Placid was one of our best travel experiences. We have been there 3 times so far, and my kids keep asking to go back. Our last visit was in the winter, and while we do not ski,  we had a lot of fun sledding, enjoying the downtown Lake Placid area, and embracing the cold. Lake Placid has become one of our best free getaways. Upstate NY is beautiful all year round. Any time of year is a good time to visit.  No matter if it is your first visit or you are a seasoned travel hacker, Lake Placid is a wonderful place for unforgettable family vacations.

What Comes Next?

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.  Some places we have travel hacked trips to include Disneyland, San Diego, LA, Universal Studios, England, Trinidad, Switzerland, and Jamaica. Coming up next is Disney World.