How We Booked a 42-Day Honeymoon Across Six Countries Using Points and Dollars
Six countries, 42 days, and a mix of points and dollars—here’s exactly how we booked our dream honeymoon and made every penny and point count!
The Original Plan (That Didn’t Stay the Plan)
My husband and I got married in June 2023, and from late June to early August, we embarked on an unforgettable honeymoon across Europe and Africa. What started as a simple cruise idea evolved into a multi-country adventure, shaped by deals, timing, and a little spontaneity.
How It All Started: The Virgin Voyages Deal
The first piece of our trip fell into place when Virgin Voyages released a deal allowing people to book cruises using points. At the time, we had been eyeing a Virgin Voyages cruise for our honeymoon—no kids, amazing destinations, and a more premium experience. However, they were more expensive than traditional cruises, so we hadn't booked yet.
Then one day, while my fiancé was napping, I saw the deal: 100,000 points for a balcony room for two on a seven-night cruise. Without hesitation, I transferred the points to Virgin Red and locked it in. When my fiancé woke up, I said, "Guess what we're doing!"
The cruise we chose was the French Daze & Ibiza Nights itinerary, departing from Barcelona and sailing through the French Riviera. The catch? These cruises only left on Sundays, and we had to book one that departed before July. Our wedding was on a Sunday (June 18), and the last eligible cruise was on June 25—so just like that, we had our first firm travel date!
The Trip Expands: Ghana and Germany
Around the same time, a friend of mine mentioned that she would be visiting family in Ghana and invited us to join. Since we were already in Europe and had a round-trip flight in and out of Madrid, we decided to extend the trip, flying down to Accra for a couple of weeks.
Then, another unexpected event shaped our itinerary—one of my closest friends was getting married in Germany, and I was the Maid of Honor. Her wedding was two weeks after our cruise ended, so instead of flying home, we decided to extend our trip again and head to Munich for a week of wedding festivities.
At this point, our honeymoon had transformed from a one-week cruise into a month-long European and African adventure!
The Final Stretch: Birthdays in Europe
By now, our trip already included Spain, Ghana, and Germany. But as we looked at our calendar, we realized something: my husband’s birthday was the day after the wedding, and mine was eight days later. So, naturally, we thought—why not keep traveling?
That’s when we made our final adjustment: we extended our stay in Europe for another week, turning our honeymoon into a 42-day adventure.
Booking the Flights & Accommodations
This trip required a strategic mix of points and cash. Here’s how we structured our bookings:
Flights: We initially booked a round-trip flight from Dallas to Madrid, planning to return right after the cruise. However, since we kept extending the trip, we ultimately pushed that return flight to a random date a year later—meaning we ended up using it for our one-year anniversary!
Connecting Flights:
Barcelona to Ghana – One-way flight booked with points.
Ghana to Germany – Booked through KLM, which had a layover in Amsterdam (remember this for later!).
Germany to Our Next Destinations – At this point, we had no return flights booked and figured we’d handle it along the way!
Accommodations:
We leveraged Chase points to book Hyatt hotels.
Some hotels were cheaper when booked through Chase, Amex, or Capital One travel portals rather than using points directly.
Flexibility was key—we stayed where the best deals were!
The Strategy Behind the Points & Miles
I started travel hacking in 2019, so by 2023, I had a solid stash of Chase, Amex, and Capital One points. The beauty of transferable points is the ability to shift them where they’re needed most—whether that’s flights, hotels, or unique experiences.
Our approach was simple: maximize redemptions while maintaining flexibility.
Flights: We transferred Amex and Chase points to airline partners for maximum value.
Hotels: We primarily booked Hyatt properties using Chase points.
Cruise: 100,000 Amex points covered a full week on Virgin Voyages.
Cash Bookings: In cases where cash rates were cheaper than point redemptions, we paid outright.
Lessons Learned
Stay flexible: Our trip evolved over time, but because we had points and miles, we could adjust plans without massive costs.
Look for deals first, then plan around them: The Virgin Voyages deal set the foundation for our trip.
Use transferable points: Having Amex, Chase, and Capital One points gave us the freedom to book what made the most sense.
Think long-term: Instead of canceling our Madrid-to-Dallas flight, we postponed it and used it for our anniversary!
Final Breakdown
Countries Visited: Spain, France (via cruise), Ghana, Germany, Netherlands (layover), and one more European stop.
Total Days: 42
Points & Miles Used: Multiple programs and transfer partners.
Cash Spent: A fraction of what this trip would have cost otherwise!
This honeymoon wasn’t free, but we stretched our points and dollars to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience. With the right strategy, you can plan an incredible trip without breaking the bank!