Two of one of the best journey rewards playing cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve®, each at present have sign-up bonuses of 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. There are some ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points, however you will normally get essentially the most worth if you switch your rewards to a number of Chase switch companions.

To illustrate the varieties of journeys you can e book with these new sign-up bonuses, two TPG staffers and I every went on journeys utilizing 75,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I opted to e book flights and an all-inclusive resort for a last-minute weekend escape to Mexico with my husband. Here’s how I did it and what our journey was like.

How I deliberate this journey

When the chance to redeem 75,000 Chase points for a last-minute journey dropped into my lap, my schedule was already fairly full. But we may slot in a long-weekend journey in mid-April. So I began what sort of getaway I may e book that will price 75,000 Chase points or much less for each of us.

World of Hyatt, which is a 1:1 switch associate of Chase Ultimate Rewards, has drastically expanded its Inclusive Collection of all-inclusive resorts over the previous couple of years. But I’d but to discover a possibility to go to any. So, I checked whether or not I may stretch the 75,000 points into a weekend journey to a Hyatt all-inclusive resort for my husband and me. I used to be keen to go anyplace in North America so long as I may match round-trip flights for two and a few nights at a resort into my points allotment.

As it seems, I used to be ready to put collectively the proper last-minute Cancun journey.

Related: 11 causes to select the Chase Sapphire Preferred over the fancier Chase Sapphire Reserve

4,565 points for flights to Cancun

I used to be amazed when I discovered a nonstop flight from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) on my desired Friday departure date bookable for simply 2,905 Southwest points plus $48.23. The adverse: This flight departed Houston at 6:45 p.m. and arrived in Cancun at 9 p.m. That’s a notably late arrival if we have been going to solely spend a few nights in Mexico.

The barely costlier Wanna Get Away Plus fare permits for free same-day flight adjustments beginning at midnight on the day of journey if area is obtainable. So, after having been on many Southwest flights not too long ago that both went out with empty seats or cleared many standby passengers on the gate, I made a decision to e book a Wanna Get Away Plus fare for my husband at 4,565 points plus $48.23 in taxes and costs with the hope we would have the ability to use a same-day change to take one of many two earlier nonstop flights.

You may be questioning, “That’s just one ticket. What about your flight, Katie?” The purpose I solely wanted points for a single ticket was that my husband earned a Southwest Companion Pass in early 2023 that is legitimate by means of the tip of 2024. So, I may add myself to his flight for no further points, as an alternative solely paying $48.23 in taxes and costs for the second ticket.

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No area was obtainable on both earlier flight when the same-day change window opened at midnight on the day of our flight. But I awoke at 7 a.m. to examine availability once more and snagged two of three obtainable seats on the 9:25 a.m. departure. This same-day flight change meant we arrived in Cancun 9 hours sooner than we’d have on our unique flight, albeit with a little much less sleep than is perfect!

The draw back of our same-day flight change: We bought C17 and C18 boarding positions. We anticipated this and deliberate to purchase Upgraded Boarding, as our Southwest® Rapid Rewards® Performance Business Credit Card reimburses up to 4 Upgraded Boarding purchases every anniversary yr. However, no Upgraded Boarding positions have been left for our flight once we checked in.

We assumed these mid-C boarding positions would put us in center seats close to the again of the plane. But though we have been a number of the final passengers to board, we have been stunned to discover empty window and aisle seats close to the entrance of the aircraft. We every sat subsequent to {couples} and located the roughly two-hour flight comfy.

Related: 15 classes from 15 years of getting the Southwest Companion Pass

46,000 points for 2 nights at a Hyatt all-inclusive resort

Hyatt award availability in Cancun was restricted once I booked my keep about two weeks earlier than departure. But, out of the choices obtainable, Dreams Jade Resort & Spa stood out for its Preferred Club — which I may entry as a Hyatt Globalist member — and its beachfront setting simply half-hour from CUN.

Dreams Jade Resort & Spa is a Hyatt Category B property that prices 17,000 points on off-peak nights, 20,000 points on normal nights and 23,000 points on peak nights. Unfortunately, each nights of my weekend keep have been peak nights, so I had to redeem 46,000 points for my two-night keep. If I’d paid money, I’d have wanted to pay $1,088 for the identical room — giving me a stable redemption worth of 2.37 cents per level.

Besides its stunning beachfront location, the highlights of Dreams Jade Resort & Spa are its pleasant workers, excitable visitors and good-quality meals. I used to be impressed with most dishes I attempted, together with the ceviche at Castaways Cafe, the Preferred Club Pool Cafe fish tacos, and the Spice salmon.

I additionally completely beloved the swings and hammock chairs on the beachfront bar — this was my favourite place to chill.

I used to be impressed by the great attitudes of my fellow visitors, lots of whom could possibly be discovered cheering for others in pool actions, chatting to strangers on the bar and studying new dances.

Hyatt elite perks on-site, exterior of Preferred Club entry and a higher-floor room with an interesting view, have been restricted. But the one timeshare gross sales pitch I bought was on the airport whereas ready for my resort shuttle.

Related: When and the way to switch Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt

23,074 points for flights again to Austin

Finding a modestly priced award flight from Cancun to Austin on April 14 proved tough — particularly since we booked inside two weeks of departure and wished to go away later within the day to maximize our time in Mexico.

I booked what is probably going the costliest Southwest award flight I’ve ever reserved for my husband: a nonstop Cancun-to-Austin flight for 23,074 points plus $77.58 in taxes and costs. This nonstop flight was excellent, although, because it allow us to benefit from the morning and even have lunch and a few closing drinks on the resort earlier than leaving for the airport.

As with our different Southwest flights, I may add myself as a companion after reserving my husband’s flight. My price along with his Companion Pass was simply the taxes and costs.

We checked in for our flight precisely 24 hours earlier than departure and bought B15 and B16 boarding positions. We snagged a window and aisle seat in the identical row close to the again of the plane. The flight departed with no empty seats, however a girl appeared joyful to sleep a lot of the flight within the center seat between us.

Related: 7 Chase Sapphire Preferred advantages you may not learn about

Was my weekend escape value it?

I wasn’t certain whether or not touring to Mexico for solely two nights could be pleasurable. But we had a good lengthy weekend, particularly since we had nonstop flights and will spend over 48 hours having fun with the all-inclusive resort. We beloved the vitality of the visitors and workers at Dreams Jade Resort & Spa and spent the weekend stress-free. Knowing what I do know now, I’m joyful we took this journey.

My Hyatt Globalist standing gave us a nicer expertise at Dreams Jade, together with a high-floor room with sweeping views throughout the resort and entry to better-quality drinks within the Preferred Club lounge.

Having the Companion Pass made Southwest a compelling possibility for reserving round-trip flights for my husband and me, particularly since Southwest operated nonstop flights on the routes we wanted. Taking benefit of a same-day flight change for our Houston-to-Cancun flight was additionally extraordinarily priceless.

That being stated, I usually would not switch Chase points to Southwest. After all, I like to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a minimum of 2 cents per level. For reference, we bought 1.79 cents per level on our outbound flight, 2.37 cents per level on our Hyatt all-inclusive keep and 1.35 cents per level on our return flight (assuming you set the points price of my Companion Pass flights at zero).

Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Sapphire Reserve: Should you go mid-tier or premium?

Bottom line

It was enjoyable to present how one sign-up bonus — and a few money to cowl the taxes, charges, ideas and airport transfers — may get us a last-minute getaway to an all-inclusive resort in Mexico.

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve providing 75,000-point sign-up bonuses, now could be a good time to apply. This story targeted on how I redeemed 75,000 points for a getaway, however you can use the 75,000 points in lots of different methods. For instance, you can switch 75,000 Chase points to Hyatt and redeem for up to 21 off-peak Category 1 Hyatt resort nights.