Hawaii has at all times been on my household’s bucket record. So after not touring for nearly 2 years, my spouse and I made a decision to take our 2 children to Maui and Oahu.
We (as most vacationers have) rapidly realized that touring post-pandemic is fairly intense. Flights are full, motels are busy, and costs are costly! We had a couple of weeks to work with across the holidays and faculty schedules in January 2022, so I started working attempting to benefit from our factors and miles.
Sadly, I’m not writing the last word redemption success story, largely as a result of we didn’t get our most well-liked flights, there have been cancellations, and we nonetheless spent a good amount of money. Nonetheless, I’m nonetheless fairly proud of the journey and might simply say it will not have been attainable with out factors and miles.
That is extra alongside the traces of what you may count on for those who have been to e-book a visit to Hawaii proper now — not excellent, not as “free” as individuals brag about on social media, however with the proper mindset, some good individuals, and some factors, it’s attainable to e-book your self an excellent trip.
All mentioned and carried out, this was simply a $15,000+ journey. Nonetheless, I solely spent $2,000 out of pocket and coated the remaining with factors and miles that my spouse and I had been accumulating. We aren’t large spenders and don’t consistently chase bank card sign-up bonuses, however we’re aware about incomes factors organically and benefit from promotions and class bonuses. This gorgeous a lot means any household can simply replicate this journey and most likely do it for cheaper than we did.
With out additional ado, let’s check out how I flew my household of 4 from the East Coast to Hawaii and again, staying in luxurious motels and saving cash alongside the best way — and the way you are able to do it, too!
Flights
My spouse, children, and I had spent the vacations in New England with household, so I (initially) booked us a flight out of Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) to Kahului Airport (OGG).
I had been sitting on a stash of Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership Factors from a canceled ANA flight to Tokyo, so I used to be actually wanting ahead to utilizing them to fly to Hawaii. My aim was to make use of them to fly on Hawaiian Airways direct from Boston to Honolulu (HNL) in top quality, which is the longest nonstop flight within the U.S. Nonetheless, as we now have all seen, associate award availability is tough to return by recently.
After months of looking, I lastly gave up and settled on utilizing the miles to e-book Delta BOS-SEA-OGG for 30k miles every in financial system. Not nonstop, not top quality, however I couldn’t complain in regards to the value.
Nonetheless, all of that looking and planning turned out to be a waste of time, as a result of the evening earlier than our flight, an enormous snowstorm descended on Boston and all flights for the next day have been canceled!
We have been routinely rebooked on flights 2 days later, however that meant 2 fewer days in Hawaii and it will complicate our present reservations. So, as a substitute of simply ready round within the snow, I started working and located the final flight out of Boston earlier than the storm hit.
I couldn’t discover something fairly priced to Hawaii, however I knew we wanted to get west. I used to be shocked (and thrilled) when I discovered 4 enterprise class seats to Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) leaving in 3 hours.
I put the flights on maintain, my spouse packed up all the pieces she might, and I went to select up the children who have been out with their grandmother. Sorry, Nana!
American Airways BOS-LAX
Regardless of loopy last-minute money fares, American Airways nonetheless had 4 enterprise class seats on a direct flight to LAX for under 22,500 every — on one in every of my favourite planes, no much less!
Clearly spending 90,000 AAdvantage miles was not deliberate, however fortuitously, I had them accessible. Plus, after a fast textual content with Virgin Atlantic, the 120,000 factors from the rescheduled flight have been again in my account.
Money costs have been over $700 (and never less expensive for financial system), so I bought over 3 cents per mile, which is greater than double the Upgraded Factors miles valuation.
This flight was on a 3-cabin Airbus A321, so enterprise class wasn’t even one of the best seat. Nonetheless, when flying as a household of 4, the 2-2 enterprise class setup is most well-liked.
The last-minute change of plans was a blessing in disguise. After the chaos of rebooking, packing, and dashing to the airport, we bought to calm down within the lounge and have a little bit of a breather with the children earlier than boarding.
The flight was extraordinarily comfy, and I do know all of us most well-liked sleeping in a lie-flat seat versus the unique flight to Seattle in financial system.
And regardless of the necessity to get a lodge on the airport that evening (extra on that beneath), taking this flight and breaking apart our journey made the long-distance journey to Hawaii not really feel not so dangerous. I’m constructive it helped with our jetlag after we lastly made it to Maui.
Oh, that’s proper, we nonetheless must get to Maui!
Complete Value: 90,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles + $22.40 in taxes and costs
Estimated Worth: Seats have been $700+ every, so we bought over $3,000 in worth
How I Earned These Miles: I earned most of these miles from the latest SimplyMiles promotion
American Airways LAX-OGG
I didn’t have a lot time to determine our flight to Maui … just about simply the couple of minutes spent within the Admirals Membership in Boston.
After working via all of my regular searches, I couldn’t discover something value spending miles on. Both the flights have been too costly or would get us into Maui too late. So, towards all odds, I paid money.
![American Airlines Hawaii Safe Travel bands American Airlines Hawaii Safe Travel bands](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/American-Airlines-Hawaii-Safe-Travel-bands.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
For $149.50 every, we flew American Airways from LAX to OGG in financial system. I believed that was a good value for a last-minute flight to maintain our bucket record journey on monitor.
Plus, we ended up attending to Maui 2 hours earlier than our unique flight, and we had much less jetlag because of the in a single day keep in Los Angeles.
The 5.5-hour flight was operated by an Airbus A321neo, so not as good because the A321 we flew the evening earlier than. There was no IFE, however we have been ready with iPads for the children they usually did very well since they have been effectively fed and had a very good sleep.
The financial system part was a 3-3 format, so we selected window and aisle seats, one row in entrance and the opposite behind, and we have been fortunate sufficient to have the center seats keep open. Had somebody booked the center seat, we might have merely provided to swap.
Complete Value: $598.00 — I used my Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard® as I used to be engaged on a 7,500-mile retention provide, earned 2x miles on the AA flights, and acquired free checked baggage and most well-liked boarding
Hawaiian Airways OGG-HNL
After per week on Maui, we headed to the island of Oahu and flew into Daniel Ok. Inouye Worldwide Airport (HNL).
![Boarding Hawaiian Airlines at Maui OGG Boarding Hawaiian Airlines at Maui OGG](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Boarding-Hawaiian-Airlines-at-Maui-OGG.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Intraisland flights are typically fairly low-cost, so I booked us financial system seats for $49 every from OGG to HNL.
Nonetheless, after we determined to increase our keep on Maui to take a look at a lodge that simply launched some award availability, I needed to rebook and costs had jumped a bit. I ended up having to pay $79 every, however there have been no change charges, so it was value it.
The 35-minute flight was on a Boeing 717, which was completely comfy for the short flight. The financial system part was a 2-3 format, so my spouse sat with the two children and I sat throughout the aisle.
Complete Value: $316.14 — I used my Citi Status® Card which earns 5x on journey and triggered the $250 annual journey credit score
Delta Air Traces HNL-LAX-ATL
We wanted to get to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Worldwide Airport (ATL) to catch our flight again to Rio de Janeiro (GIG), so flying Delta was an apparent selection.
![Delta A350 900 at ATL Delta A350 900 at ATL](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Delta-A350-900-at-ATL.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
A direct HNL-ATL flight exists, but it surely wasn’t accessible with the Virgin Factors that I wished to make use of from our canceled flight.
After loads of looking, I paid 27,500 miles every for a red-eye flight with a connection at LAX. It was removed from superb, however the value was proper.
The daytime flight from Honolulu to Los Angeles was tremendous, however a bit bittersweet as our trip was coming to an finish. After grabbing a fast dinner at LAX, we boarded a really full flight to Atlanta on the very clean and cozy A350-900. Once more, we bought fortunate with the center seats staying open on the red-eye flight so the children have been in a position to unfold out a bit.
Complete Value: 110,000 Virgin Atlantic Flying Membership factors + $22.40 in taxes and costs
Estimated Worth: Seats have been over $300 every, so we bought about $1,200 in worth
How I Earned These Factors: I had lots of Virgin Factors redeposited into my account after our flights to Japan on ANA have been canceled in 2020 as a result of pandemic; most of these factors have been transferred from American Specific with a 30% bonus
Backside Line: All mentioned and carried out, I spent 200,000 miles + $958.80 for 4 round-trip flights from the east coast to Maui and Oahu. No, that isn’t the best redemption story (removed from it), but it surely did enable my household to fly in enterprise class on crucial flight and gave us the flights we wanted when confronted with last-minute modifications. However all issues thought of, 50k miles + $240 per individual for all of these flights is just not horrible. Find out about one of the best methods to fly to Hawaii with factors and miles in our detailed information.
Motels
For what was missing in stable factors redemptions with flights, I made up for with lodge stays.
We had a complete of 13 lodge nights — all paid with factors — at good motels.
Hyatt Regency Los Angeles Worldwide Airport
Our 8-hour keep on the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles Worldwide Airport was unplanned however pleasing.
![Hyatt Regency LAX breakfast Hyatt Regency LAX breakfast](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Hyatt-Regency-LAX-breakfast.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Whereas on our flight from Boston, I booked us a room on the airport lodge in order that we might simply get again to the terminal the next morning for our flight to Maui.
The lodge is a Class 3 property, so I used a Free Night time Award from The World of Hyatt Credit score Card. Charges have been round $250, in order that simply justified the $95 annual price.
The lodge offered a shuttle that picked us up and dropped us off at our terminal. And since I’ve Globalist elite standing, all 4 of us bought free breakfast, which was truthfully a extremely spectacular unfold for an airport lodge. We ate very effectively earlier than our flight!
Complete Value: 1 World of Hyatt Free Night time Award
Estimated Worth: Subtracting the $95 annual price from the $250 price, I bought about $155 in worth from that award
How I Earned These Factors: Annually upon renewal of my World of Hyatt card, I get 1 Free Night time Award that can be utilized at any Class 1 to 4 lodge
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
In addition to really visiting and exploring Maui, one of many issues that we (particularly my children) have been most wanting ahead to was our keep on the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa.
![Family at the Hyatt Regency Maui Family at the Hyatt Regency Maui](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Family-at-the-Hyatt-Regency-Maui.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
I had been build up my World of Hyatt factors steadiness over the previous 2 years and now had Globalist standing, so redeeming the factors at this beautiful Hawaiian property was an excellent name.
The beachfront resort is totally gorgeous with a number of swimming pools and nice actions for teenagers, and it had tons of perks for elite members.
I used to be in a position to e-book 5 nights at 25k World of Hyatt factors per evening. That was more difficult than I believed it will be, because the lodge (and Hawaii usually) has been actually busy, and normal awards weren’t available.
As a Globalist staying on an award reservation, I acquired a complimentary improve to an oceanview room, waived resort charges, free parking, Regency Membership entry, and extra. The Regency Membership entry meant that my household of 4 acquired free breakfast, snacks, and a lightweight dinner free of charge on daily basis. That saved us a whole lot of {dollars} over the course of our keep!
In addition to being our favourite lodge of the journey, it ended up being the most affordable, as effectively! We will’t wait to return.
Complete Value: 125,000 World of Hyatt factors + $0 in resort charges and parking
Estimate Valued: Charges have been round $800 per evening, so I bought over $4,000 in worth (not together with Globalist perks)
How I Earned These Factors: My spouse and I each have The World of Hyatt Credit score Card and have been incomes and hoarding factors with a redemption like this in thoughts
Scorching Tip: In March 2023, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa moved as much as a Class 7 and now requires 25,000 to 35,000 factors per evening.
Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort
Anybody focused on factors and miles and Hawaii most likely has the Grand Wailea, A Waldorf Astoria Resort on their to-do record — I used to be no exception.
![Grand Wailea Maui Waldorf Astoria Resort Reflecting Pool Grand Wailea Maui Waldorf Astoria Resort Reflecting Pool](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Grand-Wailea-Maui-Waldorf-Astoria-Resort-Relfecting-Pool.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
I saved checking, however couldn’t discover any normal rooms accessible for 95,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening (that price has since elevated to 110,000 per evening) throughout our keep in Maui. Nonetheless, after I booked our flights to Honolulu, 2 nights turned accessible! So I rebooked our flights and booked 2 nights on the well-known Grand Wailea.
The sprawling property is ready on the gorgeous Wailea Seaside on a quiet a part of the island. The resort itself has lots to supply, however sadly was going via an intensive renovation throughout our keep.
As a Hilton Diamond member, I acquired an improve to an oceanview room, a $50 day by day meals and beverage credit score, and waived resort charges (since this was an award keep). The $65 valet cost is just not waived for elite members.
My children beloved this resort because it had an excellent pool with a bunch of waterslides, a lazy river, and a Child Seaside. However coming from the Hyatt Regency, I used to be just a little disenchanted with the entire further fees, lack of first rate elite advantages (corresponding to a lounge), and intrusive development noise.
I wish to return as soon as the renovations are full and can possible attempt to use a Free Night time Reward to assist offset the usual room value improve on level redemptions.
Complete Value: 190,000 Hilton Honors factors + $130 in parking charges
Estimated Worth: Charges have been round $1,100 per evening, so I bought over $2,200 in worth
How I Earned These Factors: Most of these factors got here from Hilton Honors playing cards
Sheraton Waikiki
A primary-time journey to Hawaii wouldn’t be full with out visiting the well-known Waikiki Seaside in Honolulu. Since our return flight was out of HNL, we deliberate to spend our ultimate days on the island of Oahu.
After a lot backwards and forwards, I lastly determined to e-book 5 nights on the Sheraton Waikiki. Charges began at 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening, however I wished to ensure an oceanfront room, so I booked an upgraded room for 70,000 factors per evening. When reserving Marriott Bonvoy award nights, the fifth evening is free while you reserve 4 nights, so the entire got here out to 280,000 factors for five nights.
![Sheraton Waikiki Edge pool Diamond Head view Sheraton Waikiki Edge pool Diamond Head view](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Sheraton-Waikiki-Edge-pool-Diamond-Head-view.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
But it surely took some time to land on the Sheraton Waikiki. Honolulu is a giant metropolis, so there are lots of lodge choices, which made analysis fairly time-consuming. After I settled on utilizing Marriott Bonvoy factors, I narrowed our choices right down to the Sheraton Waikiki and The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Seaside. It appears loopy to assume that I selected a Sheraton over a Ritz-Carlton, however I believe I made the proper resolution.
I had really reserved The Ritz-Carlton however ended up canceling after intently evaluating the two properties. The Ritz-Carlton Residences is beautiful and newer, with apartment-style rooms, but it surely’s not beachfront. That meant strolling a few blocks to the seashore with children in tow. Plus, there is no such thing as a actually good choice for the children to make use of a pool. Only a good infinity pool, which is superior for adults.
The Sheraton, alternatively, had 2 swimming pools, one in every of which was the Helumoa Playground pool filled with water slides and play areas. It was additionally simply steps from the sand of Waikiki Seaside, so we might bounce backwards and forwards between the seashore and swimming pools all day with out lugging our gear with us.
The Sheraton Waikiki had loads of reasonably priced eating choices, plus it’s positioned proper on the primary strip in Waikiki, so we have been surrounded by nice retailers and eating places. For our household, it was an excellent match.
Complete Value: 280,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors + $210 in resort charges
Estimated Worth: Charges have been round $300, so I bought over $1,500 in worth
How I Earned These Factors: A lot of the factors got here from my spouse’s Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card welcome bonus and lodge spend
Backside Line: All mentioned and carried out, I spent 595,000 factors, 1 Free Night time Award, and $340 in charges for 13 nights at very nice Hawaiian motels. All of these factors have totally different valuations, but it surely provides a pleasant overview. A median of 46k factors + $26 per evening is an absolute steal in my e-book when visiting Hawaii through the peak journey season. You may also take into account our information to one of the best Hawaii motels to e-book with factors for max worth.
Rental Automobiles
Personally, I really like having a rental automotive when touring, particularly to a brand new vacation spot. With the ability to discover at my very own (and my household’s) tempo is an effective way to wander away the overwhelmed path and discover distinctive experiences.
So after we booked our journey to Hawaii, I knew I used to be going to cruise across the islands.
The one difficulty was the INSANE rental automotive costs. We’re all seeing what occurs when corporations promote their fleets after which journey demand comes roaring again. Much less provide + extra demand = greater costs!
Hertz on Maui
Having a rental automotive in Maui was non-negotiable for me.
Sure, some individuals will get a experience to the resort and keep put for per week, however not me and my household! In addition to transferring motels, we additionally deliberate different actions across the island together with driving the Highway to Hana. Plus, parking was free on the Hyatt Regency with Globalist standing.
![Hertz rental car on The Road to Hana in Maui Hawaii at sunset Hertz rental car on The Road to Hana in Maui Hawaii at sunset](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Hertz-rental-car-on-The-Road-to-Hana-in-Maui-Hawaii-at-sunset.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Nonetheless, a week-long SUV rental from Hertz on the Maui airport in January 2022 was over $2,000! It was truthfully unbelievable. Fortuitously, because the journey bought nearer the costs dropped and I used to be even in a position to redeem my Hertz Gold Plus Rewards factors for the week-long rental.
I’ve President’s Circle standing with Hertz, so which means I can select (virtually) any automotive within the lot. So after we arrived on Maui, I took the lovable airport tram to the rental automotive storage and grabbed a model new Chevy Blazer.
This was an excellent choice for us, as (most significantly) it match all of our baggage, was good on gasoline, and was comfy on the lengthy drive across the island.
Maui is such a ravishing island, so having the ability to discover it at our personal tempo was nice.
Complete Value: 3,750 Hertz Gold Plus Rewards factors + $145 in taxes
Estimated Worth: Charges dropped to round $1,000 for the week, so I ended up getting about $850 in worth (not together with the improve)
How I Earned These Factors: I earned these factors from renting automobiles through the years; I solely redeem them for week-long leases, as that’s the greatest worth
Turo on Oahu
Throughout our time on Oahu, we didn’t want a automotive as a lot. Being proper on Waikiki Seaside places you in the course of all of the motion in Honolulu — plus the parking is pricey.
Nonetheless, we did wish to discover the North Shore and different elements of the island, so I appeared into renting a automotive for two days.
The foremost automotive rental corporations have been nonetheless charging a fortune, near $200 per day for a primary automotive. As an alternative, I turned to Turo the place I used to be in a position to hire a Tesla Mannequin 3 for much less.
![Turo Tesla Model 3 Honolulu Hawaii Sheraton Waikiki Turo Tesla Model 3 Honolulu Hawaii Sheraton Waikiki](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Turo-Tesla-Model-3-Honolulu-Hawaii-Sheraton-Waikiki.jpeg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
The Tesla I selected was $99 per day, however after the entire further charges and insurance coverage, it got here out to $183 per day. A part of these charges have been add-ons that I selected, together with day by day pick-up and drop-off and charging. Had I not added these choices, I’d have needed to pay for parking and charging on the lodge, which might have value me much more. So, it was nonetheless a greater deal than a conventional rental, plus it was rather more handy.
The island of Oahu is a lot extra than simply the Waikiki neighborhood, and cruising within the Tesla was a enjoyable technique to discover it. We visited the unbelievable Lanikai Seaside, the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore, hiked Diamond Head, and extra … issues we merely wouldn’t have carried out and not using a automotive.
Complete Value: $366 together with insurance coverage, parking, supply, and charging for two days
Scorching Tip: I booked the Turo rental utilizing my American Specific Blue Sky® Card because it had a focused Amex Supply to spend $150 and get $30 again. For Turo leases, you may additionally think about using a card that earns bonus factors or cash-back on transit, corresponding to the three% cash-back on the Blue Money Most popular® Card from American Specific.
Complete Value
This was not a cheap journey.
Although most bills have been coated by factors and miles, it was lots of factors and miles. However, on the finish of the day, that’s what they’re there for! To be loved, proper?!
In complete, for 13 lodge nights, 4 flights, and a couple of rental automobiles, my household of 4 spent:
- 200,000 airline miles
- 595,000 lodge factors
- 3,750 rental automotive factors
- $1,904.80 on flights, automobiles, taxes, and resort charges
In fact, there have been some further bills like meals and souvenirs, however nothing out of the extraordinary.
Closing Ideas
![Sheraton Waikiki stand up paddle Sheraton Waikiki stand up paddle](https://upgradedpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Sheraton-Waikiki-stand-up-paddle.jpg?auto=webp&disable=upscale&width=1200)
Wanting on the ultimate numbers could be a little startling. However this was a bucket record journey and we had been sitting on these factors and miles for years after a number of canceled journeys as a result of pandemic.
Spending 2 weeks in probably the most lovely locations on earth with my spouse and a couple of kids, staying at luxurious motels for lower than $2,000 out-of-pocket? That works for me.
We bought $13,000 value of worth out of these factors and miles, they usually helped us make last-minute modifications and fly enterprise class to maintain the journey on monitor. That’s a wonderful redemption in my e-book, particularly as a result of it was a visit that my household beloved and can at all times bear in mind.
Have you ever carried out Hawaii utilizing factors and miles? Let me know your favourite redemptions within the feedback in order that I can begin planning my subsequent journey!
The knowledge concerning the American Specific Blue Sky® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Factors and never offered nor reviewed by the issuer.
The knowledge concerning the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Choose® World Elite Mastercard® was independently collected by Upgraded Factors and never offered nor reviewed by the issuer.
The knowledge for the Citi Status® Card has been collected independently by Upgraded Factors and never offered nor reviewed by the issuer.
The knowledge concerning The World of Hyatt Credit score Card was independently collected by Upgraded Factors and never offered nor reviewed by the issuer.
For charges and costs of the Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® card, click on right here.
For charges and costs of the Blue Money Most popular® Card from American Specific, click on right here.