How I spent 5 nights in Costa Rica for FREE (A $417 value)

When I started travel hacking in 2020, I was fascinated by the concept of being able to travel the world for free. The concept of being able to go anywhere you wanted without stressing about the cost was foreign to me, but it was also very Intriguing. I spent days researching the best cards, hotel points, and airlines. However, after I got my first travel rewards credit card, I realized that earning enough points for a free trip was a very simple process, and could be done without changing your spending habits. In this article, I will cover the credit cards and travel hacking strategies I used to book 5 nights in Costa Rica without spending a penny.

To make this trip the success it was, I used three different cards. The Chase Freedom Unlimited, The Hilton Honors card, and the Chase Saphire Preferred. The Chase Freedom Unlimited (CFU) was my first card that earned travel rewards points. It's my #1 recommendation for those starting travel hacking. It has no annual fee and has an easily achievable signup bonus. To get it, you need to spend $500 within the first three months your account is open. After you meet that spend, you will receive 20,000 Ultimate rewards points, valued at $200. These points can also be transferred to other Chase cards to be redeemed for a higher value. You can read more about this card HERE

The second card is the Chase Saphire Preferred. This card is a travel card, meaning most of its benefits are designed for travelers. When I got this card, it came with a 100,000 point ($1000) sign-up bonus after I spent hit the minimum spend. This bonus has since gone down to 60,000 points but is still a good choice for those interested in free travel. This card is sought after by many, and there's a good reason for that. In addition to the high sign-up bonus, this card works in tandem with other Chase cards, making it possible to get 25% more value out of your ultimate rewards points when you redeem them for travel through the Chase travel portal. This means that the 60,000 point sign-up bonus is worth $750 when redeemed for travel, and the 20,000 points sign-up bonus for the CFU is worth $250. In 2021, chase added a new benefit to this card, a $50 annual hotel credit. This means when you use your Chase Saphire Preferred card to pay for your hotel, you can earn up to $50 back every calendar year, in the form of a statement credit. When you consider both of these benefits, it's no wonder that this card is so highly recommended for travelers. It comes with a $95 annual fee, which is offset easily by the enhanced value of your ultimate rewards points. This card is a good card for those who have prior experience with credit cards, and who have at least a year of credit history. To read more about or sign up for this card, go HERE

The third and final credit card I used was the Hilton Honors card. This card works differently than the first two. Instead of slowly earning flexible points, it allows you to quickly earn rewards points that can be redeemed for free nights at any Hilton property. I earned all the points necessary to make my trip a reality with just the signup bonus. The current offer for this card is 80,000 Hilton Honors points after you spend $1,000 in 3 months. 80,000 points are worth about $400, but I've found they can be redeemed for a higher rate. This card also comes with an automatic upgrade to silver status at Hilton locations. Silver status comes with a few perks, like a higher earn rate when staying with Hilton, complimentary water bottles, and the ability to get a 5th night free when you spend 4 consecutive nights with Hilton. This card does not come with an annual fee, making it a perfect starter card. However, many people recommend prioritizing Chase credit cards at first, as Ultimate Rewards points are more valuable. To read more about this card or to sign up, click HERE.

So here's how I was able to utilize these cards to get my free stays.

My first night was spent in a regular room at DoubleTree by Hilton. This room typically goes for $102 a night. I was able to get it for 20,000 Hilton points. The next 3 nights were spent at the Claro de Luna Hotel in Monteverde. As is typical with small hotels in Costa Rica, this hotel was very cheap, and I was able to book a room for $35 a night. However, instead of paying cash, I used ultimate rewards points. Because I was paying with my Chase Saphire Preferred, I was able to get 25% more value out of my points, so the cost only came to $84 worth of points. In addition, I was able to stack my $50 annual hotel credit, so my total cost was only 3,400 points. On our last night, I decided to splurge a little. Instead of getting a regular room, I went all out and booked an executive room with a balcony and lounge access. Had I paid cash, this room would have set me back $202 a night. Instead, I used 48,000 Hilton Honors points to book it for free.

In conclusion, although it might seem intimidating, travel hacking is not as complex as it might initially appear. With the right credit cards, anyone can travel the world for little to no cost.

If you enjoyed this article, and are considering signing up for any of these cards, please consider using the links below, as I earn a small commission when you sign up using my link. :)

Chase Freedom Unlimited - https://bit.ly/325htBe

Chase Saphire Preferred - https://bit.ly/3yDXlln

Hilton Honors - https://bit.ly/3qcDiqK