Author: Matthew July 16, 2025
Points and status can help you budget travel in luxury. Sounds like a pipe dream right? But take a look at our full breakdown for our recent trip to San Diego over Memorial Day weekend.
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Travel includes our flights, hotels, and car - usually people biggest expenses. You can see that this huge expense only used the minimal amount of cash which is supplemented by valuable points. To note, we got an extra King bed room just by asking - other perks like the free hotel parking was due to status.
IAD -> SAN for two people in economy
SAN -> IAD for two people in economy
4 nights at Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
Housekeeping tip
Rental car
Hotel parking
Gas
Total
$0 (used United Travel Bank from Amex Biz Hack)
$47.20 + 60,000 miles (Amex -> Hawaiian -> Alaska)
$0 +74,000 points + Suite Upgrade Award
$20
$0 (used Capital One Venture X travel credit)
$0 (Globalist status)
$28.23
$95.43 + 134,00 points
$516.98
$678
$1,581.76 - or an inflated value of $3k+ for extra room
$20
$192.96 - inflated since it's prepaid with the annual fee
$180
$28.23
$3,007.97 - or an inflated value of $4,982.69
Another huge cost was lessened because of our status - giving us club lounge access for free breakfast and dinner. Note, I'm assuming a very conservative amount of $15/person/meal at the lounges.
Thursday Lunch (Capital One Lounge)
Thursday Dinner (Hotel Club Lounge)
Friday Breakfast (Hotel Club Lounge)
Friday Lunch (Poke Bowls)
Friday Dinner (Hotel Club Lounge)
Friday Dinner Pt 2. (Tacos El Gordo)
Saturday Breakfast (Hotel Club Lounge)
Saturday Lunch (Acai bowls)
Saturday Dinner (Wedding)
Sunday Breakfast (Hotel Club Lounge)
Sunday Lunch (Crack Shack)
Sunday Dinner (Hotel Club Lounge)
Monday Breakfast (Chase Sapphire Lounge)
Hotel Dessert
Tiger Coffee
Other Coffee
Total
$0 - Capital One Venture X for free access
$0
$0
$72.70
$0
$15
$0
$17.89
$0
$0
$45.27
$0
$5
$19.12
$6.45
$7.09
$188.52
$15
$15
$15
$72.70
$15
$15
$15
$17.89
$0 - not counting this meal
$15
$45.27
$15
$15
$49.12 ($10 credit per night per room)
$6.45
$7.09
$458.52
So there’s no point in going on vacation, but staying at the hotel all day. Besides the wedding we also did some other activities - some that cost money and others that didn’t.
San Diego Zoo
Tea at Morning Lavender
Boat Tour
Shoe Shine
Diapers
Total
$127.98
$14.95
$0
$5
$19.16
$167.09
$152
$14.95
$36
$25
$19.16
$247.11
And so totaling up everything, we spent $451.04 + 134,000 points for $3,173.60 or an inflated value of $5,688.32.
