On the morning of New Yr’s Eve 2022, Pope Benedict XVI died. The late pontiff had lengthy been an essential non secular determine and position mannequin to me and, upon receiving the information, I felt known as to pay my respects at his funeral in Vatican Metropolis.

With airfare and lodge rooms every priced within the hundreds of {dollars}, it appeared like this last-minute journey was out of attain. Somewhat than forking over large sums of cash, I made a decision to piece collectively a visit utilizing frequent flyer miles and lodge factors — a method that I hoped would carry my out-of-pocket bills right down to a extra affordable determine. I’ve outlined the steps I took to e-book the journey under.

Planning a schedule

Pope Benedict was scheduled to lie in state in St. Peter’s Basilica from January 2 to January 4, with a funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Sq. on January 5. I needed to attend each occasions, however the earliest I might depart was January 2, with an arrival in Rome the next day.

My excellent itinerary was to depart on January 2 and spend 3 nights in Rome, returning to Boston on January 6, the day after the funeral. Given the actually last-minute nature of my journey and the spike in demand for flights to Rome, I understood that some flexibility could be required.

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Reserving flights from Boston, MA to Rome, Italy and again

I hardly ever seek for spherical journey award tickets — most airways permit vacationers to e-book one-way tickets utilizing frequent flyer miles and not using a price penalty.

Though I hoped to fly to Rome in enterprise class, there was no availability on my most popular dates and I opted as a substitute to fly in financial system class. The award ticket from Boston to Rome (with connections in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia) price solely 30,000 American Airways AAdvantage miles plus $5.60 in taxes and costs. The itinerary departed on January 2, with an arrival in Rome the morning of January 3 — aligning completely with my desired schedule.

Securing a return flight proved to be a bit extra sophisticated. On the time of my preliminary search, there was no availability for a January 6 departure from Rome. I continued looking out, however didn’t discover a return ticket till after I had began my journey to Rome. Dangerous, I do know!

I finally booked a enterprise class ticket from Rome to Boston (with a connection in London) for 57,500 American Airways miles plus $387.95 in taxes and costs. The taxes and costs have been costly as a result of I flew on British Airways, which assesses a excessive gas surcharge even on award tickets booked by its companion airways.

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My whole airfare prices have been 87,500 frequent flyer miles and $393.55 in taxes and costs — a a lot better end result than spending hundreds on a last-minute money fare and I acquired to fly house in enterprise class!

Reserving an accessible lodge room in Rome with factors

There are numerous resorts that may be booked with rewards factors in Rome, however I discovered a reasonably whole lot on the Sina Barbini Bristol lodge. Positioned on Rome’s Piazza Barberini, the 5-star lodge is a part of Marriott’s Autograph Assortment.

For 135,200 Marriott Bonvoy factors plus 21 EUR of taxes and costs, I used to be in a position to e-book 3 nights in a wheelchair accessible lodge room with a roll-in bathe. Money room charges on the time of reserving have been 521 EUR per evening, equal to about $564 U.S. {dollars}. The usage of factors saved me simply shy of $1,700 USD, so I contemplate it a giant win! My Titanium standing within the Marriott loyalty program supplied an extra advantage of free each day breakfast valued at roughly $100 over the course of my keep.

Tallying up the full price of a last-minute, 3-night journey from america to Rome, Italy

Since I used to be utilizing factors to cowl flights and a lodge, my aim was to maintain whole out-of-pocket bills to $1,000 or much less for this journey. Right here’s a whole account of my spending:

• Flight taxes (Boston to Rome) — $5.60
• Public transportation fare to Boston airport — $2.40
• Premium cocktail in American Airways Admirals Membership — $11.00
• Leonardo Specific prepare ticket from Rome Airport — $14.99
• 3 Pepsi Max soda pops — $4.53
• 5 restaurant meals in Rome — $113.85
• Lodge room taxes — $22.73
• Lodge mini bar prices — $7.18
• Flight taxes (Rome to Boston) — $387.95
• Wi-Fi on British Airways flight (Rome to London) — $6.01
• Wi-Fi on British Airways flight (London to Boston) — $14.44

The whole price of this journey got here to $590.68. Though the $1,000 funds I had set was a smooth one, I’m nonetheless excited to have met my aim.

Don’t hail Caesar, have a good time the ability of factors and miles!

Factors and miles democratize journey. They’re an ideal equalizer, permitting individuals who might not have some huge cash to buy airfare, lodge rooms and extra at a major low cost. Used correctly, they afford on a regular basis individuals the chance to realize experiences which may in any other case be unattainable.

The reality is, as a lot as I needed to journey to Rome for this particular (albeit somber) event, I wouldn’t have spent the cash. I acquire factors and miles exactly for this goal — in order that, when the pope dies, or when my faculty soccer crew performs within the nationwide championship, I received’t want to fret about the fee — factors and miles can take me there.