How to Book Charleston, SC for Almost Free Using Points and Miles (We Paid $31)
Yes, $31. No, it’s not a typo.
Let’s set the scene. Five nights in Charleston, South Carolina — one of the most beautiful, history-soaked cities on the East Coast. Two hotels. Round-trip flights for two. The kind of trip that, if you booked it the “normal” way, would run you $2,878.81.
What we actually paid out of pocket? $31.00.
We’ve been playing the points and miles game for a while now, and this booking might be one of our best yet. So we’re breaking down exactly how we did it — the programs we used, the math behind each redemption, and the strategy that made it all click together. Whether you’re just starting out with points or you’re a seasoned collector looking for new angles, there’s something in here for you.
Let’s get into it.
Why Charleston?
Charleston was already on the calendar. We had 3 nights booked at Wild Dunes Resort for a content creator meetup — open to anyone — and that was the foundation of the trip.
Then the flights got complicated. Friday departures weren’t working out — reasonable fares arrived too late, and earlier flights cost way too many miles. Wednesday was the sweet spot, which meant we suddenly had two extra nights to fill.
That’s when we looked at our unused Chase Sapphire Reserve credits — the Edit Collection credit and the Chase Travel credit — and started researching downtown Charleston properties. The Ryder Hotel checked every box, and once we started digging into everything Charleston has to offer, two extra nights felt less like a scheduling fix and more like a gift. Over 350 years of history, incredible food, and a waterfront city that rewards slow exploration. We weren’t mad about it.
A flight timing problem turned into the trip of a 5-night trip we can’t wait to take.
The Full Booking Breakdown
Here’s every piece of the puzzle, and what we got per point or mile (cpp = cents per point).
✈️ American Airlines — 26,000 Miles + $11.20
Redemption value: 2.4 cpp
We used AA miles for one leg of our flights and landed at a solid 2.4 cents per point. The sweet spot with American miles is finding saver-level availability — when you do, the value is hard to beat. The $11.20 covers taxes and carrier fees, which is about as low as it gets.
Tip: AA miles are earned through the Citi AAdvantage cards, the Barclays AAdvantage cards, and of course flying American. Don’t sleep on transfer partners either — Marriott Bonvoy and Bilt both transfer to AA.
✈️ Delta — 14,600 Miles + $5.60 (+ $200 Credit + $14.20)
Redemption value: 1.4 cpp
Delta’s redemption value came in a bit lower at 1.4 cpp, but here’s the key detail: we had a $200 Delta credit to apply, which dramatically changed the real out-of-pocket cost. When you factor in the credit, this flight was essentially free — the miles just handled the base fare.
The $14.20 covers the remaining fees after the credit was applied.
Tip: Delta miles are notoriously variable in value — you can get anywhere from 1 to 2+ cpp depending on the route and timing. Flexibility is your friend. If you have a Delta credit sitting around, pair it with a miles redemption to stretch it further.
🏨 Wild Dunes Resort (Hyatt) — 60,000 Points
Redemption value: 3.6 cpp
This is the star of the whole redemption. Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms is a World of Hyatt property, and we redeemed 60,000 Hyatt points for our stay there. At 3.6 cents per point, this is well above the standard benchmark of ~1.5–1.8 cpp that most people quote for Hyatt.
World of Hyatt is consistently one of the best hotel loyalty programs out there, and redemptions like this are exactly why. Cash rates at Wild Dunes can get steep, especially in peak season — which makes points redemptions here a genuine no-brainer.
Tip: Hyatt points are earned through the World of Hyatt Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire cards (Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer to Hyatt at 1:1). That transfer ratio is one of the most valuable in the game.
🏨 The Ryder Hotel (Hyatt / The Edit Collection) — 13,000 Chase Points
Redemption value: 1.65 cpp
Here’s where it gets a little creative — and this is the booking we’re most excited to tell people about.
The Ryder Hotel is a stunning boutique property in downtown Charleston. It’s a Hyatt hotel, but it’s also part of The Edit Collection by Chase Sapphire Reserve — a hand-curated portfolio of unique, independent-spirited hotels that come with exclusive perks when booked through Chase Travel.
We used 13,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points at 1.65 cpp through the Chase Travel portal, and stacked two credits on top:
- $250 The Edit Collection hotel credit (applied to dining, spa, or on-property spend)
- $259 Chase Travel credit
Between the two credits and the point redemption, The Ryder was essentially covered. The 13,000 points were redeemed to offset the base booking, and the credits handled the rest.
What Is The Edit Collection?
If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve and you haven’t looked into The Edit Collection yet, stop what you’re doing and go check it out.
The Edit is Chase’s answer to Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts — a curated list of boutique and lifestyle hotels where CSR cardholders get perks like property credits, early check-in, late checkout, and room upgrades when available. The Ryder is a perfect example of the kind of property you’ll find there: boutique, beautiful, and loaded with personality.
The $250 Edit Collection credit is a benefit that resets annually and can be applied at participating properties. Stack that with the Chase Travel credit on your CSR, and you’re getting serious value out of a card you’re probably already carrying.
Tip: Not all CSR travel credits work the same way — always confirm how credits apply before booking. When in doubt, call Chase directly.
The Math at a Glance
| Redemption | Points/Miles Used | Cash Value | CPP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Dunes (Hyatt) | 60,000 Hyatt pts | ~$2,160 | 3.6¢ |
| American Airlines | 26,000 AA miles | ~$624 | 2.4¢ |
| The Ryder (Chase) | 13,000 UR pts | ~$215 | 1.65¢ |
| Delta | 14,600 Delta miles | ~$204 | 1.4¢ |
| Total | 113,600 pts/miles | ~$3,203 | 2.6¢ avg |
Out of pocket: $31.00 Retail value: $2,878.81
Tips You Can Take Away From This Booking
1. Stack your credits intentionally. The Edit Collection credit + Chase Travel credit is a combination most people never use together. Before you book any hotel, ask yourself: which credits do I have available, and which properties qualify? Credits are only valuable when you actually use them.
2. Know your programs. We used four different programs for this trip — Hyatt, AA, Delta, and Chase UR. Each one had a specific role. You don’t need to be loyal to one program; you need to know which program gives you the best value for each leg of the trip.
3. Chase Ultimate Rewards is the Swiss Army knife. UR points transfer to Hyatt, United, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Singapore Airlines, and more — all at 1:1. They also redeem at 1.5 cpp through Chase Travel with the Sapphire Reserve. Flexibility like that is what makes UR one of the top earning currencies out there.
4. Don’t overlook boutique hotel collections. The Edit Collection, Amex FHR, Marriott’s Design Hotels — these curated collections often come with credits and perks that effectively pay for themselves. If your card has access to one, learn which properties qualify in your destination before you book.
5. Hyatt points punch above their weight. If we had one piece of advice for someone just starting out: earn Hyatt points. The redemption rates at mid-tier and upper-tier properties are consistently among the best in the hotel loyalty world, and the transfer from Chase UR makes accumulating them straightforward.
Bottom Line
Five nights in Charleston. Flights and hotels. $31 out of pocket.
This is what the points and miles hobby is all about — not just saving money, but traveling more intentionally and getting to experiences that would otherwise be out of reach. We’re counting down the days until we’re walking the streets of one of America’s oldest and most storied cities, soaking in 350+ years of history.
If you have questions about any part of this booking — the programs, the credits, the strategy — drop them in the comments. We love this stuff and we’re always happy to talk through it.
And if you’re not following along yet on @stacystravelpoints, come join us. There’s a lot more where this came from.
Total points & miles used: 113,600 | Average redemption value: 2.6 cpp | Out of pocket: $31.00
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