One of the best things about collecting points and miles is what they leave room for.
In Maui, room for the extraordinary.
Our flights and hotels were covered through points, miles and certificates. That didn’t make a doors-off helicopter tour cheap, but it made it easier to spend on something we would remember long after checking out.
The coastline and waterfalls from above are still among our favourite moments from the trip.
In Tuscany, the freedom to take our time.
Using points for hotels left room in the budget for a private day exploring Siena, San Gimignano and Chianti. We could stop where we wanted and give the smaller moments more space.
The reward wasn’t fitting more into the day; it was having the freedom to enjoy the places we found.
And sometimes, the flight itself.
Etihad First was different again. Six hours in First Class were something I genuinely wanted to experience. When an unusual award made the flight accessible, I built a trip around it.
Three very different payoffs. The memories matter more to me than their theoretical points valuations.
Three trips. Three different payoffs. The memories are what stayed.← Back to all stories