How I Scored Our Beach Trip for Free

In case you missed our recent Sunday Money Talk, I discussed how I scored our beach trip for free. We paid literally $0 for our hotel with our Marriott Bonvoy Points from my Chase Card, and I’m going to give you all the nitty gritty details on how we did this.  First, I want to start out by saying that I get no commission from this post. This is totally my opinion and how we were able to pay for this trip for free.

Also, please note that I am not a financial counselor, so I cannot diagnose, treat, or prescribe your finances. However, I do have a Masters Degree in teaching and I love to teach others how to save money.  Each week I host a Sunday Money talk at 8pm ET on our Debt Free Spending Facebook page and then convert the video to our You Tube channel as well. Make sure to check in each week on how to balance your budget, pay off your debts, and reach your financial goals.

How I Scored My Beach Trip for Free

Now, on to the fun part – how I scored this trip for free.  As you know, we have zero credit card debt.  I do not believe in carrying a credit card balance.  However, several years ago I did open a Marriott credit card where I could earn points for hotel stays.  Now, while there is an annual fee with this card, it has been totally worth it for my family. My annual fee is $85, but you get a FREE night’s stay with those points. That free night is separate from the points you earn.  I used this card to earn points that I used to pay for four night, five day stay at the beach this year. I literally spent $0 on the hotel stay for this trip.  Here are all my best tips on how to find the right travel card for you, and make sure you don’t end up with a credit card balance.  Make sure to check out our post on How to Plan a Vacation During Coronavirus, and all of our tips for How to Social Distance at the Beach.

1. Book stays with low point values. This is my magic secret for small getaways. UPDATED TO ADD: We are scoring a free night away for Valentine’s Day within an hour of where we live for only 4,000 points.  Once you are a Bonvoy member, you can go to the Marriott page, and click the box when reserving that says, “Use Points” instead of AAA or other benefits.  So when we went to the beach I searched the site for Virginia Beach hotels, and picked the lowest point (with highest rating) hotel I could find. While we weren’t ocean front, this was still a huge savings for our family, and we paid NOTHING! Also, once you use the card enough, for long enough, they allow free upgrades to suites, early check-ins, and several other benefits.
2. Pay off the card every single month.  Like literally, you should NEVER carry a balance on any credit card. To prevent owing money at the end of each month, I deduct each credit card charge directly from my checkbook ledger as though it were a debit, so I know that I have already deducted that amount from the money I currently have in my checking account.
3. Make sure there are no hidden fees. I want you to know up front that my account does have an $85 annual fee. However, we also score a certificate for a free night each year with that annual fee.  We also budget the $7.99 each month for this expense so it doesn’t come as a surprise each year.  Make sure there are no other hidden fees with your card.
4. Pick the card that works for you.  I do not like to fly, and I’m not a frequent flyer, so a card that gives free flight miles would be of no use to my family. If you love to travel by flying, it may make more sense to pick a card that provides you with free flight miles. You have to know which card works best for your family, and this is why we chose a hotel card.
5. Know yourself.  If you do not have the skill sets or discipline to keep track of expenses, this is not worth it for your family.  I do not recommend this if you are someone who knows that you won’t be able to keep track of this card’s balance each month and pay it off.
6. Understand the redemption process. For our card, certain hotels are worth more points than others. We know how to search the Marriott website for the cheapest hotels in points.  We have traveled with Marriott for years and have never been disappointed with their hotels. They are a fabulous brand, and we’ve never felt that we weren’t comfortable or safe in one of their hotels, and we’ve stayed with Marriott all over the United States. Make sure you know how to cash in your points. For example, if you have a flight card, make sure there are not blackout dates.  Make sure you understand the exact process for redeeming your rewards.
7. Do your research. Make sure you research everything you can about your travel card before you open your account. It’s very important to read reviews and make sure the card is a good fit for you. It’s also great to ask around and poll your friends who might already have travel cards as well. Get as much information as possible before you make your decision.
8. Don’t open multiple accounts. You don’t want to hurt your credit score, so I don’t see it as beneficial to open multiple accounts where you earn high entry point rates. I do not suggest this method, as it is also more to keep track of on a monthly basis. Stick with one card, and keep it simple.

It’s really that simple. I have other benefits with my card as well, such as free upgrades to suites, extended checkout, and more.  Know the benefits of your card and make sure it works for you and your family. This card has been a huge benefit to our family and we have traveled and stayed for many nights for free by using our points.  We’d love to hear from you. Do you have a favorite travel card? Why is it your favorite?  Make sure to check out our Top 10 Beach Hacks too.