Robin sent us her reader success story that includes Washington, D.C., Paris and London! Here it is:

My husband and I celebrated our ten-year anniversary last April with a dream trip to Paris and London, starting with a quick stop in Washington, D.C. It was an unforgettable experience in each city, and I’m excited to share how we made it happen: mostly using credit card points and miles!

 

How It Started: Our Points & Miles Strategy

We’ve been loyal Southwest® flyers for over a decade, slowly earning points along the way. In 2023, we finally earned the Companion Pass® for the first time through spending. (We built a house that year, which helped a lot.) That’s when I really dove into the world of points and miles.

Here’s the credit card strategy that made this trip possible (these were the offers at the time I earned them):

• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card – 60,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card – 90,000-point welcome offer
• Ink Business Cash® Credit Card – 90,000-point welcome offer
• World of Hyatt Card – 60,000-point welcome offer
• A Southwest credit card – used to earn a Companion Pass®

These bonuses, along with spend, gave us the flexibility to start planning this anniversary adventure.

 

Stop 1: Washington, D.C.

We began with a positioning flight from LAX to DCA on Southwest Airlines, using our Companion Pass® to book my husband’s ticket for free.

We then spent two nights at the Thompson Washington, D.C., booked with 33,000 Hyatt points. The hotel was modern, stylish, and in a great area with plenty of nearby dining options.

Some highlights:

• We rented scooters and visited monuments and museums during the day. (Scootering through the monuments at night is also a must—no crowds, and everything is beautifully lit.)
• We ate memorable meals at Old Ebbitt Grill (across from the White House) and Filomena Ristorante in Georgetown.

 

Stop 2: Paris, France

From D.C., we took an Uber to Washington Dulles Airport and visited our first airport lounge ever (and now we’re addicted to lounges). I surprised my husband with Air France business-class seats:

• 132,000 Flying Blue points + $407 in taxes (for two passengers) 
• Transferred points from Chase Ultimate Rewards®

Business class was everything I hoped for—the lie-flat seats, champagne, and service made it a once-in-a-lifetime moment (and yet I want to repeat it!).

Once we landed in Paris, we struggled a bit to find the rideshare pickup area at CDG and had a mild language barrier, but made it to the Hyatt Regency Paris Étoile in about 45 minutes. We stayed four nights using 78,000 Hyatt points and booked a Club Room with a view of the Eiffel Tower. We paid an extra €25 per night for a view of the Eiffel Tower, and it was so worth it. We really appreciated the breakfast, snacks, and drinks in the lounge throughout our stay.

Some Paris highlights:

• Visited Versailles, cruised the Seine, and toured several museums.
• Hired a photographer for some incredible Eiffel Tower pictures that will last a lifetime.
• Spent May 1st (a holiday) strolling Montmartre, which ended up being our most relaxing day.

We’re already dreaming of a slower return trip focused more on shopping and café-hopping.

 

 

Stop 3: London, England

We took the Eurostar train from Paris to London—a great way to break up the trip.

• $146 total for two tickets 
• Easy process, comfortable ride, and no checked-bag hassles
• Departed Gare du Nord, arrived St. Pancras Station in about 2h 18m

In London, we stayed four nights at the Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment, using 74,000 Hyatt points. The hotel left champagne and fruit in our room for our anniversary—such a thoughtful touch!

The location was peaceful and walkable to major attractions like Big Ben, Covent Garden, and Buckingham Palace, though not super-close to an Underground station, though there was a bus stop out front, which helped.

Some London highlights:

• First stop: Dishoom for an incredible Indian lunch (a favorite of my husband’s)
• Explored Borough Market, had afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason, and walked everywhere 
• Saw a West End show in Soho and enjoyed a self-guided walking tour

We LOVED London and can’t wait to return—next time with more planning and maybe a day trip or two outside the city.

 

 Flying Home: London to LAX

We ended the trip with premium economy seats on Virgin Atlantic from London to LAX:

• 44,000 Virgin points + $788 in taxes (for both passengers) 

Although it wasn’t lie-flat, it was a daytime flight, and the seats, food, and service were excellent. We would absolutely fly Virgin again in a heartbeat.

 

Final Thoughts

This trip exceeded every expectation. Even with London being so expensive, the memories, comfort, and experiences were completely worth it. I’d happily revisit all three cities—next time with less planning in Paris and more planning in London.

I’ve officially caught the points and miles bug and can’t wait to book the next trip using what I’ve learned. The best part? We saved thousands and celebrated our milestone anniversary in style.

 

Points & Miles Breakdown

Travel	Points Used	Cash Paid
Southwest LAX → DCA (1 ticket + Companion)	14,267 RR	$5.60
Hyatt – Thompson D.C. (2 nights)	33,000	$0
Air France IAD → CDG	132,000	$407
Hyatt – Paris (4 nights)	78,000	€100 (~$110) (view room)
Eurostar Paris → London (2 tickets)	–	$146
Hyatt – London (4 nights)	74,000	$0
Virgin Atlantic  – LHR → LAX	44,000	$788
TOTAL	375,267	~$1,457

 

 

Related Posts

Washington, D.C. on Points and Miles

Reader Success Story: Family Trip to London and Paris With a Cautionary Tale

Bougie, Budget, or Basic: Paris on Points

Podcast 195. London on Points: Flights, Hotels, and Things to Do