5 DAYS IN CANCUN
This short trip would have cost $5,718 if we had paid cash. But by using miles and points, our airfare and lodging expenses were only $370!
The driving force for this trip was to return to Cancun to dive at the MUSA (Museum of Underwater Statues and Art). On our trip in April 2024, the harbor had been closed due to high winds so we weren’t able to dive.
TRIP ITENERARY
We flew business class on Aeromexico from San Francisco to Cancun. While we were at SFO, we used our Priority Pass membership (received through our Amex and other cards) for free access to The Club lounge. Our flight had a layover in Mexico City, so we went to the Aeromexico VIP SALA lounge (accessed by having Aeromexico business class seats) and enjoyed some free lunch there. After we arrived in Cancun, we checked into the Iberostar Coral Select Cancun all-inclusive hotel.
On our first day, we dove at the MUSA and also at a reef off of Isla Mujeres. We saw over 20 lobsters!
For our second day, we mostly relaxed at the hotel.
On our third day, we did a zipline/ATV/cenote/tequila tasting tour.
We had an early departure from Cancun and none of the lounges were open yet. But during our stopover in Mexico City we hit the same lounge again.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT, BUT HOW DID YOU DO IT FOR ONLY $370?
For the Aeromexico flights, the cost was 172,000 points plus $354 in taxes. I had previously transferred about 110,000 Amex points to Aeromexico for a trip that we ended up cancelling. To add to these points, I transferred an additional 64,000 Amex points. These were Amex points we had earned from opening American Express cards.
For the Iberostar hotel, it is an IHG property. IHG credit card holder benefits include “stay three nights and get a fourth night free.” I booked the four nights for a total cost of 243,000 IHG points plus $16 in taxes. I earned the points from opening two IHG cards. I opened an IHG Premiere Mastercard and received 165,000 points as a welcome bonus and I opened an IHG Business Rewards Premiere Mastercard and received 140,000 points as a welcome bonus. Additionally, in knocking out the minimum spend to receive the welcome bonuses I received an additional 176,000 points.