Using Credit Card Points for Excursions and Experiences
Now your trip is booked, and you're ready to make the most of it.
Excursions can take a trip to the next level and create memories you'll talk about for years—but those experiences can also get expensive quickly.
If your credit card has a travel portal, it's worth checking there before booking an activity somewhere else.
Many of the same excursions you'll find on traditional travel sites may also be available through your credit card's travel service, giving you another opportunity to use points toward the experience.
Depending on the destination, you may find:
Adventure excursions
Beach days
Guided tours
Boat trips
Food and dining experiences
Private tours
Photography sessions
Local attractions
And much more
You Don't Have to Be on Vacation
One thing I love about using points for experiences is that you don't necessarily have to be traveling.
You can be a tourist in your own backyard.
I discovered this when I found a professional photo shoot through the travel portal—something I never would have thought to search for there.
I had been wanting professional photos with our pups, so I booked the experience and used points to pay for it.
The result was a gorgeous desert photo shoot that captured our family beautifully. 📸🐾
That experience completely changed the way I thought about using travel rewards.
Points don't always have to mean a plane ticket or hotel room.
Sometimes they can help pay for the memories you want to create.
Some of the Experiences We've Booked With Points
Over the years, we've used points toward some really fun experiences:
🍷 Napa Valley — Wine tour
🏝️ Catalina Island — Golf cart rental
🏜️ Sedona — ATV adventure
🐋 Newport Beach — Whale watching
🌺 Hawaii — Private Road to Hana Jeep tour
🤿 Hawaii — Nā Pali Coast snorkeling
🐋 Alaska — Whale watching
🚙 San Andreas Fault — Private Jeep tour
📸 Palm Springs — Professional photo shoot
Some were adventurous.
Some were relaxing.
Some were experiences we probably wouldn't have booked if we were paying the entire cost out of pocket.
And that's one of the things I love most about rewards—they give us more flexibility to decide where we want to splurge.
Sometimes We Skip the Excursion
Using points doesn't always mean adding more activities to the itinerary.
Sometimes we do the opposite.
We'll skip an excursion—or choose a less expensive one—and put those points toward a nicer hotel, upgraded room or resort experience instead. 🏨✨
Because while I'm not always looking for the most extravagant vacation possible...
Let's be real.
Sometimes I absolutely am. 😂
I love a beautiful hotel, a great view, a relaxing pool and a little bit of luxury.
For some trips, the hotel is part of the experience.
Other times, we're barely in the room and would rather spend those points on an adventure.
Decide What Matters Most for Each Trip
That's really what maximizing rewards means to me.
It isn't about using points the exact same way every time.
It's about asking:
What will make this particular trip better?
Maybe it's:
✈️ The flight
🏨 The hotel
🎟️ An excursion
🍽️ A special experience
💻 A product you've been wanting
✨ Or a little bit of everything
Our credit card rewards have given us more flexibility to decide where we want to spend, where we want to save and where we want to splurge.
And sometimes the best redemption isn't the one that gives you the most mathematical value.
It's the one that gives you the experience you'll remember.
Want to learn more about how I earn and use points?
Follow SimplyLindaLee — I'll continue sharing how I earn rewards, redeem points and decide when it makes more sense to spend them or save them for the next adventure. ✈️💰
Interested in a Chase Sapphire Card?
At the time of this post, Chase is offering eligible new cardmembers:
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 100,000 bonus points after meeting the required spending requirements.
Chase Sapphire Preferred®: Earn 75,000 bonus points after meeting the required spending requirements.
Offers and eligibility requirements can change, so always review the current offer details before applying.
Referral disclosure: If you apply through my referral link and are approved, I may receive a referral bonus from Chase. There is no additional cost to you.
Apply through my Chase referral link
This post reflects my personal experience and is for informational purposes only. Credit card rewards, point values, travel inventory and available activities can change. Always review your card issuer's current terms and redemption options before booking.
