How to Book a Free Luxury Family Trip to Costa Rica: Staying at the Andaz Papagayo on Points

Imagine a family vacation in Costa Rica, staying at a luxurious resort nestled in the heart of paradise, all without breaking the bank. This dream can become a reality by leveraging points from credit cards and airlines. Here’s a guide to how our family did it, enjoying the Andaz Papagayo Resort without spending a fortune.

Earning Points: The Foundation of Your Free Trip

To book a luxury trip on points, you’ll first need to accumulate them. Here’s how we did it:

1. Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses: The easiest and most lucrative way to earn a significant amount of points is through credit card sign-up bonuses. We started with the Chase Sapphire Preferred card, which currently offers an elevated sign-up bonus. This card is an excellent starter option, providing a substantial number of points after meeting the minimum spending requirement.
2. Multipliers and Spending Categories: Pay attention to bonus categories that offer multipliers. For instance, the Chase Freedom Flex card often has rotating categories that offer 5x points. This quarter, it includes Amazon purchases, which helped us rack up points quickly.
3. Airline Points: We focused on earning Southwest points for our flight. Southwest frequently offers promotions and has its own credit cards that can help you earn points faster. We took advantage of these opportunities to earn enough points for our flights to Costa Rica.

Booking Your Stay at Andaz Papagayo with Hyatt Points

Once you’ve earned enough points, the next step is booking your hotel. Here’s how we booked our stay at the Andaz Papagayo:

1. Check Points Availability: Go to the Hyatt website and check the availability of rooms for the dates you wish to stay. Make sure to click through and verify that the room type you want is available for points bookings.
2. Transfer Points: When you find the availability, transfer the necessary points from your Chase Sapphire Preferred card to your Hyatt account. The transfer is usually quick, allowing you to book your stay almost immediately.
3. Book the Stay: Once the points are in your Hyatt account, book your stay at the Andaz Papagayo. This resort offers exceptional customer service and luxurious accommodations that would typically cost around $2,000 per night if paid in cash. Thanks to points, we could experience this luxury without the hefty price tag.

Flying to Costa Rica with Southwest Points

For our flights, we used Southwest points:

1. Earning Southwest Points: Besides the points earned through Southwest credit card bonuses, we also took advantage of the Southwest Shopping Portal to earn extra points on our everyday purchases.
2. Booking the Flight: We booked a non-stop flight from Houston to Liberia, Costa Rica, using our Southwest points. The process was straightforward and saved us a significant amount of money.
3. Transportation to the Resort: Upon arriving in Liberia, we had a car shuttle service pick us up and take us to the Andaz Papagayo. This added convenience allowed us to start our vacation stress-free.

Enjoying Your Luxury Stay

At the Andaz Papagayo, we indulged in the resort’s luxurious amenities, including the pool and beach. Here are a few tips to maximize your stay:

• Be Mindful of Food Costs: While food at luxury hotels can be pricey, it wasn’t significantly higher than other luxury resorts we’ve visited. To manage costs, consider having some meals offsite or bringing snacks.
• Enjoy the Amenities: Make the most of the resort’s offerings, such as complimentary activities and beautiful natural surroundings.

Final Thoughts

Booking a luxury family vacation to Costa Rica at the Andaz Papagayo using points is not only possible but incredibly rewarding. By strategically earning and using points from credit cards and airlines, you can experience a dream vacation without the steep costs. The key is to plan ahead, take advantage of bonus opportunities, and enjoy the process of turning points into unforgettable travel memories.