Spring break 2011 we headed to Washington DC. We went via Amtrak, which was so easy!!! and so much better than those long six hours that we would have spent in the car. Upon booking our train tickets, I got my whole family Amtrak Guest Rewards accounts. (See #8 in Getting Started To Earning Free Travel) We all got points for the trip, but there those points sit. We have never traveled by train again…we are too busy flying. 🙂
In D.C., we stayed for free of course in Georgetown (love Georgetown!!) on Starpoints at the Westin Georgetown, Washington D.C. Hotel. This resort is a Starwood Resort and a SPG Category 5. We stayed 5 nights. Rooms here are 12,000 Starpoints per night and we got the 5th night free. So we used 48,000 Star points for our 5 night stay. During spring break (cherry blossom season), rooms run conservatively about $300 per night. We saved at least $1,500 using Starpoints.
We had a great time in DC and did all of the relevant tourist attractions that appealed to my kids at that time. Now that they are older (and can read), we will definitely make a return trip. Hmmm, maybe I can figure out a way to put those Amtrak Guest Rewards points to use after all.
