How I Saved $10,000+ on Luxury Hotels
All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins
Family Fun and Memorable Experiences at Carmel Valley Ranch
This chapter recounts a family's unforgettable vacation at Carmel Valley Ranch, showcasing their enjoyable activities and experiences. From hiking to farm interactions and delightful dining, they also offer tips for exploring local attractions beyond the resort.
#244: I'll explain how I saved over $10k on luxury hotels in Costa Rica and Carmel Valley using points, free nights, and elite perks. I’ll walk you through every step, from how to book with points, when to buy them on sale, how to stack hotel credits, which hotel programs give you upgrades and free breakfast, and more!
Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/maximize-savings-costa-rica-carmel-valley
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Resources Mentioned
Credit Cards
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
- Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
Blog Posts
- How to maximize your Hilton cards
- How to use Hyatt's Guest of Honor Globalist benefit
- How to earn up to 6 free nights with Hyatt Brand Explorer
Award Search Tools
- Rooms.Aero
- AwardTool ($20 off annual plans with code ALLTHEHACKS)
- Points Path Chrome Extension
- PointsYeah Hotels
- Awayz ($10 for ATH listeners and 50% off for ATH members)
- Gondola
- MaxMyPoint
- StayWithPoints
Costa Rica
- Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Punta Cacique
- Adobe Rent a Car
- Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste
- Sensoria
- Diamante Eco Adventure Park
- La Finca
Carmel Valley Ranch: Little Ranchers | River Ranch
- Earthbound Farm
- Lucia Restaurant & Bar
- The Great Tide Pool
- Revival Ice Cream
- Snack Shack at Lovers Point
- Lucy's On Lighthouse
- Monterey Bay Aquarium
Buy World Of Hyatt Points For 20% Off
ATH Podcast
- Video Episode with Photos/Videos
- Luxury Hotel Upgrade Program
- Ep #157: Costa Rica: A Top Travel Destination for Adventure, Rainforests and Relaxation with Javier Echecopar
- Ep #167: Best Tools for Booking Hotels with Points & Miles with Greg the Frequent Miler
- Ep #182: Shortcuts to Elite Travel Status with Greg the Frequent Miler
- Leave a review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify
- Email for questions, hacks, deals, and feedback: podcast@allthehacks.com
Full Show Notes
(00:00) Introduction
(00:47) How Chris Got Six Free Hilton Night Certificates
(01:53) How Hilton Free Night Certificates Work
(02:59) Earning Free Nights with Hilton Credit Cards
(04:13) Planning the Trip to Costa Rica
(06:23) Buying Hilton Points (and the Caveats)
(09:40) Ways to Earn Hilton Status
(13:48) Stacking Amex and Hilton Credits
(16:14) Booking Flights with Points & Leveraging Alerts
(19:35) Renting Cars in Costa Rica
(20:55) The Flight Experience
(22:16) Adobe Car Rental Review
(23:03) Waldorf Astoria Costa Rica Overview
(25:20) How We Handled an Issue at the Hotel
(30:09) Resort Layout, Pools & Amenities
(33:16) Our Sensoria Rainforest Excursion
(35:46) Diamante Eco Adventure Park & Zip Lining
(37:06) The Dining, Drinks & Staff Experience
(40:33) Sharing Feedback & Tipping the Hotel Staff
(41:59) Overall Costa Rica Takeaways & Total Costs
(45:33) How to Maximize Travel Perks without Points
(48:50) Booking Carmel Valley Ranch with Hyatt Points
(51:29) Hyatt Globalist Perks & Guest of Honor Certificates
(54:08) Hyatt Brand Explorer Program
(54:37) The Experience at Carmel Valley Ranch
(58:21) Off-Property Activities & Local Recommendations
(01:00:06) Trip Recap & Key Takeaways
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