Travel to Costa Rica Using Points and Miles

Costa Rica is the ultimate destination for families, sun seekers, adventure travelers, and everyone in between. It’s easy to get to from the US, and it is affordable and diverse in its travel offerings. Moreover, leveraging points and miles can make your trip to Costa Rica even more affordable by allowing you to spend loyalty program points on flights, hotels, rental cars, and other travel expenses.

Whether you’re seeking a luxury escape or a budget adventure, Costa Rica has it all. Below are effective ways to travel to Costa Rica using points and miles.

Costa Rica Hotels to Book with Points

You can find many great hotels in Costa Rica available for booking with points. Major hotel chains operate multiple properties in popular tourist destinations like San José and Papagayo, Guanacaste Province. Whether you’re an adventure traveler or looking for a beach vacation, you can book hotel stays starting from as low as 3,500 points per night.

IHG One Rewards

IHG One has five hotels in Costa Rica, with points per night ranging from around 18,000 to 25,000. The program does not publish an award chart; therefore, rates may vary by season and demand. One advantage of booking with IHG is that cardholders can receive the fourth night free on consecutive bookings, translating to a 25% discount. Additionally, IHG allows Points + Cash bookings for partial point redemptions.

Best Budget Hotel: Holiday Inn San José La Sabana

The newly-renovated Holiday Inn San José La Sabana provides an excellent location in the downtown area with resort amenities, including an on-site casino and indoor and outdoor pools.

The courtyard of the Holiday Inn San Jose La Sabana © Holiday Inn San Jose La Sabana

Best Mid-Tier Hotel: Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana

Located near La Sabana Park, the Crowne Plaza San José La Sabana offers a more elevated experience at a reasonable rate. The hotel boasts an on-site casino and pool, making it a perfect place to unwind.

Best Luxury Hotel: InterContinental Hotels Costa Rica

If shopping is your goal, the InterContinental Hotels Costa Rica is the place to be, located near Multiplaza Mall. While it may not have abundant award availability, you can book at a cash rate with a credit card and redeem miles accordingly.

How to Earn IHG Points

You can accumulate IHG points through co-branded credit cards or by transferring points from programs such as Bilt Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards.

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card: Earn substantial bonus points upon meeting the required spending within your initial months.
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card: Another option to earn bonus points after hitting your spending target.

Hilton Honors

Hilton offers standard award nights typically ranging from 5,000 to 150,000 points, with eight properties available in Costa Rica. The Hilton Honors program also includes Points and Money awards, enabling you to stretch your points further. Additionally, Silver members and above receive the fifth night free on award stays, further enhancing your savings.

Best Budget Hotel: Hilton Garden Inn San José La Sabana

The Hilton Garden Inn San José La Sabana offers an exceptional experience, combining affordability with luxury feel, located next to Sabana Park.

A room with a view at the Hilton San Jose La Sabana © Hilton San Jose La Sabana

Best Mid-Tier Hotel: Hilton San José La Sabana

This hotel near the National Stadium boasts modern amenities including a luxurious indoor pool and an executive lounge accessible to Diamond members.

Best Luxury Hotel: Gran Hotel Costa Rica

Located in downtown San José, the Gran Hotel Costa Rica is steeped in boutique glamour and historical significance, making it a worthwhile redemption for your Hilton points.

How to Earn Hilton Points

Earning Hilton points is straightforward with ample credit card options providing substantial bonuses. You can transfer points from various rewards programs to Hilton at favorable rates.

Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Earn 150,000 bonus points achievable through defined spending amounts within your card’s first six months.

The Cheapest Award Flights to Costa Rica

Flying to Costa Rica with miles is generally affordable, especially in economy class, with award flights ranging from 16,000 to 35,000 miles round trip depending on the loyalty programs. Business class may not offer significant advantages on these routes.

American AAdvantage

American Airlines provides direct flights to San José and offers award flights from just 16,000 miles round-trip from select cities.

JetBlue TrueBlue

Known for its comfort, JetBlue offers low-cost award tickets to Costa Rica and operates flights from many major US airports. You can also earn points using a variety of credit cards, enhancing your ability to find affordable award flights.

Activities and Ground Transportation

Once your flights and hotels are secured, consider budgeting for ground transportation and activities. Points redemption can extend to tours and transit through programs like Chase Travel℠ and Capital One miles for further savings.

Bottom Line

Traveling to Costa Rica on points and miles is an economical and accessible approach. With multiple options for earning and redeeming points, including affordable flights and hotel nights, a memorable trip is within reach. Utilize available points to cover activities and ground transportation, maximizing your travel experience while minimizing costs.

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