With just a few weeks left this winter and daylight saving time right around the corner, spring will be here before we know it. March is always a great time to cross another destination (or two!) off your travel bucket list, and we’ve got you covered with four of the best spring break getaways.
Let’s dive right in!
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is one of the best Caribbean islands, offering a blend of rich culture and picture-perfect beaches to explore. A tried-and-true itinerary to San Juan includes eating mofongo in colorful Old San Juan, sipping two-for-one mojitos in the nightlife district of La Placita, hopping aboard a catamaran from Fajardo, and hiking through the El Yunque National Rainforest.
How to Get There:
If the above itinerary sounds like your dream getaway, you’re in luck. San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU) is well-connected to tons of U.S. airports. Plus, you won’t have to worry about waiting in long customs lines or bringing your passport to visit this U.S. territory.
You can transfer your Bilt Points to American or United at a 1:1 ratio, as both airlines offer nonstop flights from many U.S. cities from New York to Washington, D.C.
Where to Stay:
If you’re looking for a beachfront resort, you can book a standard room at the Hyatt Regency Grand Reserve Puerto Rico for only 18,000 World of Hyatt points per night. But if you’re the type of traveler who won’t spend too much time in their room, the Hyatt Place San Juan and the Hyatt House San Juan are close to all the action in Old San Juan. Both of these properties cost just 15,000 points per night.
Maui, Hawaii
Maui offers an endless number of activities, whether you’re interested in hiking waterfalls or volcanos, surfing at world-renowned beaches, or taking a helicopter tour to experience the island from a bird’s eye view. With mostly sunny days in the low 80s, March is just the right time to visit the archipelago of Maui.
How to Get There:
For February’s Rent Day, we partnered with Hawaiian Airlines to offer an outstanding 100% transfer bonus to the airline’s frequent flyer program. If you missed out on this amazing deal, don’t fret: you can still score award flights starting at 20,000 points one-way this March through the HawaiianMiles program.
If you happen to live on the West Coast, you may want to consider paying cash instead. For example, nonstop flights from Los Angeles cost as low as $219 round-trip to Maui’s Kahului Airport (OGG) this March. With these discounted prices, you may as well accumulate your Bilt Points and purchase your flights with your Bilt Mastercard® to earn 2x Bilt Points. Terms apply to earn points.
Where to Stay:
While you may find a great flight deal to Maui, lodging can be a different story. Fortunately, we’ve already outlined the best points hotels in all of Hawaii where you save hundreds of dollars on accommodations. For example, the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa (25,000 points/night) offers an oceanfront stay at Ka'anapali Beach that’s close to the airport.
London, United Kingdom
Thanks to milder temperatures, lower rainfall, and fewer crowds, March is a lovely time to visit London. Better yet, you’ll see the flowers bloom in the city’s famous green spaces, from Hyde Park to Kensington Gardens.
How to Get There:
Virgin Atlantic offers flights starting at just 20,000 points round-trip from cities like New York and Boston, although taxes and fees will set you back about $350 in economy class. Similarly, fuel surcharges on British Airways can be costly, but U.K.’s flag carrier offers tons of options — even in lie-flat seats in business class. Plus, British Airways operates flights between its Heathrow hub and a whopping 26 U.S. cities.
If you want to keep your out-of-pocket costs minimal, consider booking on American or United, as both domestic carriers also fly to London from a number of U.S. cities.
Where to Stay:
We’ll have to hand it off to Hyatt for this one, as there are so many fantastic options to choose from at low award rates.
This March, we’re seeing the brand-new Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment for just 20,000 points per night, situated ideally near Big Ben and other major tourist attractions. For a posh stay, the Great Scotland Yard Hotel in Covent Garden costs 25,000 points per night — makes for a great place to have afternoon tea!
Austin, Texas
With temperatures consistently in the 70s in Austin, the capital city is well-regarded for its Texas barbecue and outdoor activities on Lady Bird Lake. For music lovers, the annual SXSW music festival is happening March 10-19, 2023.
How to Get There:
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) offers flights to 90+ domestic and international cities, so getting here should be no problem. For flight distances on the shorter end, you may be able to book your flight for just a few thousand Bilt Points.
You can book an American Airlines flight (under 1,150 miles) starting at 6,500 points British Airways Avios one-way, while United flights (under 500 miles) through Air Canada cost 6,000 Aeroplan points one-way. Knowing these partner sweet spots can help you stretch your Bilt Points further, as they can sometimes be cheaper than what American or United charges themselves.
To quickly compare award options, be sure to check out Bilt’s Transfer Partners tool powered by Point.Me in the Bilt app.
Where to Stay:
Both of Bilt’s hotel partners, World of Hyatt and IHG One Rewards, offer a myriad of options to redeem your Bilt Points. Hotel Indigo Austin Downtown University and the Thompson Austin are both centrally located near the nightlife on 6th Street. You can book nights at these hotels for about 47,500 IHG points and 29,000 Hyatt points, respectively.
Bottom Line
If you’ve got a healthy pile of Bilt Points, why not take some well-deserved PTO this March? Whether you’re looking to vacation closer to home or book a far-flung trip abroad, time is ticking to start plotting your great travel escape!