When you’re in this hobby long enough, it’s easy to end up with rogue points and random nights. For example, after booking all of your upcoming travel, you might be left with 25,000 points in this program, a few free nights in another, and some random cash-back.
Since I churn through cards and bonuses pretty frequently, this happens to me every time. Fortunately, I’m usually willing to piece something spectacular together – even if it means enduring a certain level of inconvenience in the process.
Our upcoming trip to Puerto Rico is no exception. Over winter break, we’re staying in three different properties over seven nights. First, we’ll start things off with a two-night stay in an AirBNB in San Juan. Hotel availability was scarce over the New Year’s Holiday, so I used cash back to rent a little condo instead. After that, we’ll transition to the InterContinental San Juan for two nights there. Since rooms go for 50,000 IHG points, this was an obvious place to use the free anniversary nights that come with our IHG Rewards Select credit cards.
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Once we’re done there, we’ll transfer to Fajardo, Puerto Rico for three nights at one of my favorite properties in the world – the El Conquistador. This stay was made possible thanks to Hilton HHonors points, and I cannot wait.
Does this sound crazy? According to my friend, I’m absolutely nuts to go through the hassle of changing hotels. Of course, I disagree, and as I told her, I actually like switching things up mid-trip. Here’s why:
You can use up your hotel points and free nights. If you’re willing to switch hotels or resorts mid-trip, you can make the most of the rogue and random rewards you already have. And if you’re not going to use them elsewhere, you might as well put them to work.
Enjoying different properties spices things up. I don’t know about you, but I can get bored staying in the same place for seven nights straight. The same beach. The same pool. The same faces. On the other hand, switching hotels can make you feel like you’re starting your vacation over.
You can try different restaurants and amenities. Depending on where you’re going, switching hotels can mean trying different cuisine and amenities. And if you like to relax at your resort, moving properties can let you try something new.
See different landscapes and neighborhoods. In a place like Puerto Rico especially, switching hotels means being able to enjoy different landscapes and cultural activities. The condo we rented for the beginning of our stay is adjacent to Old San Juan, which will make sightseeing a breeze. Our stay at the InterContinental, on the other hand, is nearly 45 minutes away and overlooks Playa de Isla Verde. Our final stay at the El Conquistador is nearly an hour and a half away, and will be a treat on its own. Right next to El Yunque, we’ll be able to take our rental car into the rainforest. And since the El Conquistador has its own private island, we’ll gain another beach perspective, too.
Final Thoughts
Switching hotels mid-trip isn’t for everyone, but I don’t mind. As long as I have transportation (in this case, a rental car) and the time to do it, I enjoy a change of scenery mid-trip. How about you?
Do you ever change hotels in the middle of a trip? Why or why not?
[Image via Getty]