This summer, we are all staying a little closer to home! Families are road-tripping, renting VRBO properties, and trying to find a way to travel safely. We are grateful that our favorite northern Michigan hotel, The Inn at Bay Harbor, has opened to travelers. We love the property so much that we visit every year. Although this visit was different from the many before because of social distancing and mask-wearing, it was still just as wonderful as we remembered.
The Inn at Bay Harbor, A Marriott Property
How We Used Our Marriott Credit Card Points & Certificates
As you know, we work hard to travel for free, and this trip was no different. The Inn at Bay Harbor is a Marriott property and happens to be a Category 5. Marriott Members know what that means! You can use your annual “free night award certificate” at any Marriott property Category 5 or under…score! That took care of one night, now to book another two nights on points. This property rarely has availability for point redemption, so it takes some patience and constant website checking. We visited late July but started planning in early June. When we saw point availability (35,000 points), we booked one night on points. Then checked back, and lucky us; an additional night was available for point redemption. So, yes, we had three separate reservations. However, upon checking in, all reservations were combined so that we didn’t have to move rooms.
Because we are Marriott Titanium Elite members, we were complimentary upgraded to a one-bedroom quarry suite with a murphy bed, pull-out full size bed, private balcony and kitchen. Who doesn’t LOVE an upgrade?! It definitely pays to be loyal to a hotel brand! Our stay would have cost $712/night + tax = savings of $2136+.
Things to Do
Golf at Bay Harbor Golf Club
Visit the Lavender Farm
Hunt for Mushroom Houses in Charlevoix
Ride Bikes Along the Coast Line
Chase the Sunset
Local Favorite Restaurants
Need help with your credit card points? Looking to maximize your point game so you too can earn free vacations? Book a 1:1 Credit Card Consultation with Tiffany. She’ll lay out a 12 month credit card plan for you and your family. Book here.
Beth S.
Tiffany is truly a credit card point guru. She was very patient and helped my husband and I navigate our credit card point game.
William F.
WE’VE SAT ON THOUSANDS OF POINTS FOR YEARS WITH NO CLUE HOW TO REALLY USE THEM. TIFFANY COACHED US HOW TO COMBINE OUR POINTS, TRANSFER POINTS AND ADD MORE POINTS THROUGH CREDIT CARD SIGN-ON BONUSES. AWESOME SERVICE.
SUZANNE M.
WE OWN A SMALL BUSINESS AND HAVE ALWAYS WRITTEN CHECKS OR USED OUR DEBIT CARD EARNING ZERO TRAVEL REWARDS. WE’VE CHANGED OUR WHOLE WAY OF MANAGING MONEY AND ARE ON OUR WAY TO A FREE LUXURY VACATION THANKS TO TIFFANY.
JANET M.
TIFFANY HELPED MY HUSBAND AND I EARN A VACATION TO CROATIA BY USING SPECIFIC TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS ON OUR DAUGHTER’S WEDDING. WE HAD PLANNED TO WRITE CHECKS TO ALL OF THE VENDORS, SO GLAD WE MADE A 1:1 COACHING CALL.
Liz R.
WITH TIFFANY’S GUIDANCE, we EARNED 400,000 CREDIT CARD POINTS BUT WE DIDN’T KNOW HOW BEST TO USE THEM. WE HIRED HER TO PLAN OUR TRIP USING A COMBINATION OF POINTS, MILES AND CASH (CREDIT CARD). HIRING HER WAS THE BEST MONEY I’VE EVER SPENT. SHE WENT WAY ABOVE AND BEYOND. PARIS HERE WE COME.
