How I Booked a Dream Trip to Vienna for Under $400 (original) (raw)

For various reasons, most of my past travels have been within the U.S., and one of my goals for 2020 is to expand my horizons and visit a few different countries.

The first opportunity to do that presented itself when I saw Delta Air Lines running a fare sale on business-class tickets to Europe. The result is a trip to Vienna, Austria, which I'll enjoy in March 2020.

The flight alone would have cost more than 5,000ifIhadpaidcash.Butalltold,bookingtheeight−daytriphascostmejust5,000 if I had paid cash. But all told, booking the eight-day trip has cost me just 5,000ifIhadpaidcash.Butalltold,bookingtheeight−daytriphascostmejust397 so far by utilizing the rewards offered by my credit cards. Here's how I get to travel to Europe for nearly free — and how you can too.

Flights

My flight to Vienna starts in Salt Lake City, Utah, and makes a 13-hour stop in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on Delta One before I finish the journey in KLM Royal Dutch Airlines business class, one of Delta's SkyTeam partner airlines.

On the way back, I'll make another 13-hour overnight stop in Paris via Air France business class, then finish the trip back to Salt Lake City on Delta One again.

I booked my flight shortly after I heard about an award fare sale Delta was running. My cost? 98,000 Delta SkyMiles and 123.05intaxesandfees,whichisastealcomparedwiththe350,000milesit′sgoingfornow.Thecashpricewasroughly123.05 in taxes and fees, which is a steal compared with the 350,000 miles it's going for now. The cash price was roughly 123.05intaxesandfees,whichisastealcomparedwiththe350,000milesit′sgoingfornow.Thecashpricewasroughly5,200 (including taxes and fees), which meant I got a redemption rate of about 5.2 cents per mile.

You can calculate the value of your miles by dividing the cash price by the number of miles needed for the redemption. So, in this case: 5,200−5,200 - 5,200−123.04 of taxes and fees = $5,076.95 / 98,000 SkyMiles = .0518 or 5.2 cents per mile.

I had only about 56,000 Delta SkyMiles at the time I booked this trip, so I transferred 42,000 Membership Rewards points to my Delta account (Delta is an Amex Membership Rewards transfer partner.) and booked the trip the same day I learned about the sale.

Hotels

With eight of the best hotel credit cards to my name, booking my hotels was the most complicated part of the process. I have several other trips planned for the year, and I wanted to make sure I was taking advantage of my rewards without draining my rewards accounts too early in the year.

I decided to start my trip with three nights in Vienna, then take a train to Salzburg for two nights, before I head back to Vienna for my final night in the country.

• Nights 1-3: As I researched my options, I couldn't find a good fit based on the points I have and where I wanted to stay. So I decided to book a private room at a hostel for the first few nights and pay cash. The total cost for the three nights was $170.68.
• Nights 4-5: After a roughly three-hour train ride from Vienna to Salzburg, I'll spend the next two nights at the H+ Hotel Salzburg, which is a Wyndham hotel. I used 30,000 points to book the stay, mostly because my Wyndham rewards account has been collecting dust lately and the points were set to expire in July. The cash price for these nights was $192.89, which gives me a measly 0.64 cents per point (192.89 / 30,000 = .0064) That's below the average 0.9 cents per point Wyndham commands, but I don't mind because it's better than losing the points in a few months.
• Night 6: For my last night, I decided to use the free anniversary night on my Hyatt Credit Card to stay at the Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere. The cash price of one night at the property is 211,whichismuchhigherthanthe211, which is much higher than the 211,whichismuchhigherthanthe75 annual fee I pay on the card (Note: I have an old version of The World of Hyatt Credit Card, which currently has a $95 annual fee).

I didn't score any mind-blowing redemptions with my hotel stays, but I managed to use up one of my many anniversary credit card nights and get rid of points I hadn't previously found a good use for over the years.

Transportation

I'm not planning to rent a car while I'm in Austria, opting instead to use public transportation. My roundtrip train ticket between Vienna and Salzburg will cost roughly 53,andIexpecttopaylessthan53, and I expect to pay less than 53,andIexpecttopaylessthan50 on public transportation. If I were to book a rental car for the entire trip, it would cost me $448.

The travel rewards credit cards I used

American Express Platinum Card®

The Platinum Card® is one of the three rewards cards I use to rack up Membership Rewards. The other two, including the American Express® Gold Card as well as The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, make up what's known as the Amex trifecta.

I don't spend a lot of money on this card because it offers bonus rewards only on select flights and hotel stays. But I used it to pay for my Global Entry application because this card offers up to $120 statement credit every four years for your Global Entry fee (five year plan only). This security perk will save me time when I return to the U.S. and have to go through customs. I may also use this card's airport lounge access benefit during my layovers in Amsterdam and Paris.

I got the Platinum Card® a few years ago and have held onto it despite its $895 annual fee because of the luxury perks it offers, including:

• Up to $200 in Uber Cash annually
• Up to $120 in annual Uber One Credit
• Complimentary airport lounge access with several lounge networks
• Hilton Honors™ Gold Status and Marriott Bonvoy® Gold Elite Status
• Car rental privileges
• Enrollment required for select benefits

With this card you can as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending 12,000oneligiblepurchasesonyournewcardinthefirst6months(welcomeoffersvaryandyoumaynotbeeligibleforanoffer;applyandfindoutyouroffer),plusyoucanearn5Xpointsperdollarspentoneligibleairfare(onupto12,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in the first 6 months (welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer; apply and find out your offer), plus you can earn 5X points per dollar spent on eligible airfare (on up to 12,000oneligiblepurchasesonyournewcardinthefirst6months(welcomeoffersvaryandyoumaynotbeeligibleforanoffer;applyandfindoutyouroffer),plusyoucanearn5Xpointsperdollarspentoneligibleairfare(onupto500,000 per calendar year, after that 1X) and eligible hotel purchases, and 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases.

Get more details in our full Platinum Card® review.

American Express® Gold Card

The Amex Gold Card is my go-to card because you can earn 5X Membership Rewards points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App, 4X Membership Rewards points at restaurants worldwide (up to 50,000peryear,afterthat1X),4XatU.S.supermarkets(upto50,000 per year, after that 1X), 4X at U.S. supermarkets (up to 50,000peryear,afterthat1X),4XatU.S.supermarkets(upto25,000 per year, after that 1X), 3X on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines, 2X on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com, and 1X on all other eligible purchases.

With two kids, I spend a healthy amount each month on groceries without any extra effort. And to earn all the points I can with this card, I try to pay the restaurant bill whenever I'm out with friends and have them pay me back.

My favorite benefits include:

• Up to $120 in annual dining credits with select restaurants and merchants
• Up to 120inUberCasheachyearin120 in Uber Cash each year in 120inUberCasheachyearin10 monthly credits to use on U.S. Eats and rides
• Up to $84 annual Dunkin' credit
• Up to $100 annual Resy credit for eligible U.S. restaurant purchases

Enrollment required for select benefits.

These credits alone can potentially offset most of the card's $325 annual fee.

Get more details in our full Amex Gold Card review.

The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

The Blue Business Plus Card is a straightforward business credit card that offers 2X Membership Rewards points on everyday eligible business purchases up to $50,000 each year, and 1X points on eligible purchases after that. I use this card for most of my purchases because I know I can get a much better redemption rate with my Membership Rewards points than I can with cash back.

You can also earn 15,000 membership rewards points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first 3 months of card membership.

Get more details in our full Amex Blue Business Plus Card review.

The World of Hyatt Credit Card

I have the previous version of The World of Hyatt Credit Card, and I primarily use it for its free anniversary night, which is good for any Category 1-4 Hyatt property.

You can't apply for the card I have anymore, but the current World of Hyatt Credit Card actually offers two free anniversary nights — the catch is that the second requires you to spend $15,000 each calendar year to earn it. You'll also get Hyatt Discoverist status.

On the rewards front, the card gives you an opportunity to earn up to 60,000 Bonus Points: earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend 3,000onpurchasesinyourfirst3monthsfromaccountopening,plus,upto30,000moreBonusPointsbyearning2BonusPointstotalper3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening, plus, up to 30,000 more Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per 3,000onpurchasesinyourfirst3monthsfromaccountopening,plus,upto30,000moreBonusPointsbyearning2BonusPointstotalper1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

You'll also earn up to 9 total points per 1spentatHyatt(4bonuspointsper1 spent at Hyatt (4 bonus points per 1spentatHyatt(4bonuspointsper1 on qualified purchases at Hyatt hotels and up to 5 base points per 1fromHyattasaWorldofHyattmember);2bonuspointsper1 from Hyatt as a World of Hyatt member); 2 bonus points per 1fromHyattasaWorldofHyattmember);2bonuspointsper1 at restaurants, on airline tickets purchased directly from the airlines, on local transit and commuting and on fitness club and gym memberships; and 1 bonus point per $1 on all other purchases.

Get more details in our full The World of Hyatt Credit Card review.

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

I applied for the Wyndham Rewards® Earner Plus Card a few years ago when it had a 45,000-point sign-up bonus. I initially planned on using the points for three nights at one of the brand's all-inclusive resorts. But the timing never worked out, and now the rewards program not only prohibits you from using points to book its all-inclusives, but it also changed its redemption structure. Instead of charging a flat rate of 15,000 points per night, you may see 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 points to book a room.

Currently, the card offers up to 45,000 bonus points — 45,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. It also offers 6X points at participating By Wyndham properties and gas purchases; 4X on eligible dining and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart); 1X on everything else. Cardholders get automatic Platinum status with the rewards program.

Get more details in our full Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card review.

Bottom line

So far, points and miles have saved me roughly $5,800 on my trip to Vienna — and I haven't even left the country yet.

For the most part, my strategy has been focused on using points I've built up over time instead of getting multiple credit card welcome bonuses in a short period. I didn't even get a welcome bonus when I opened my Amex Gold Card because I had previously held its predecessor, the Premier Rewards Gold Card. Although bonuses can be a great way to rack up points fast, they can be unsustainable as a strategy if you travel on the regular.

I spent two years in Germany several years ago, and I'm looking forward to dusting off my German language skills and taking in the sights and culture of two of the most beautiful cities in Europe. As you consider your next trip and how to make it happen, the best place to start is at the beginning. Our beginner's guide to travel rewards will walk you through exactly what you need to do to achieve your travel goals by using some of the best travel credit cards.

• $0 annual fee

• Simple, flat-rate rewards

• Flexible redemption options

• Up to 75% Bank of America Preferred Rewards® bonus potential

• Apply Now

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least 1,000inpurchasesinthefirst90daysofaccountopening−thatcanbea1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a 1,000inpurchasesinthefirst90daysofaccountopening−thatcanbea250 statement credit toward travel purchases.

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.

• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants, including takeout.

• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.49% - 27.49% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.

• This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

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Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least 1,000inpurchasesinthefirst90daysofaccountopening−thatcanbea1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a 1,000inpurchasesinthefirst90daysofaccountopening−thatcanbea250 statement credit toward travel purchases