Today's Success Story: Over $27,000 Saved going to Japan!

Today's Success Story: Over $27,000 Saved going to Japan!  

Happy Tuesday!

A trip to Japan might be on your family’s bucket list of travel, but unfortunately, it can also feel like a budgeting nightmare when you add up the cost of airfare, hotels, transportation, meals, and activities.

I often share stories about how others have saved tens of thousands of dollars on travel, but today I'd like to share my own recent trip to Japan - and why there's no reason you can't enjoy your dream trip while saving just as much.

✈️ My 12-Day Japan Success Story

I've traveled to Asia many times, but this was my first visit to Japan, so I was especially excited about this trip.

In our household, my wife handles the destination research and plans what we want to see and do. My job is figuring out the most cost-effective way to get there and back - finding the best flights, hotels, and experiences while maximizing points and miles instead of paying cash.

My first question is always: Which airlines fly to my destination, and do I have access to the right alliance partner miles to book them?

One strategy I almost always use is booking two separate one-way tickets instead of a traditional round trip. Doing so often opens up far more flight award options and creates additional booking flexibility.

For this trip, we flew to Japan in Japan Airlines business class using JAL miles that I transferred from my Capital One account during a recent 30% transfer bonus promotion. Then, just before our return, an incredible award opportunity opened up on Hawaiian Airlines using Alaska miles.

The result? More than $18,000 saved on just airfare alone.

We also scored tremendous value with our hotel stays. We redeemed Hyatt points—before the recent devaluation—for several nights at the beautiful Hyatt Centric Ginza Tokyo. In Kyoto and Hakone, we used soon-to-expire credit card travel credits to stay in more authentic properties and booked our local food, eBike and small group tours typically found at TripAdvisor using our Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

When everything was added up—including flights, hotels, taxis, tours, taxes, and fees—we spent less than 10% of what this trip would have cost if we had paid cash. That's a win in my book!

So if you've ever wondered:

"Is a family trip to Japan even possible without spending a small fortune?"

My answer is a resounding…YES!

With the right strategy, points and miles can turn a dream trip into an affordable reality.

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