Are you dreaming of a memorable trip to Nashville, the bustling hub of music, culture, and culinary delights? Imagine if you could unlock the full potential of the Music City by using credit card points to enhance your experience.
Nashville, often referred to as the "Music City", holds an irresistible allure for travelers from around the globe. As the undisputed capital of country music, Nashville boasts a rich musical heritage and vibrant live music scene. From the iconic Grand Ole Opry to the legendary honky-tonks of Broadway, visitors can immerse themselves in the songs that echo through the city's streets.
As a lover of country music, I wanted to experience Nashville for the first time with my mom, the one to whom I can accredit my love of country music. What better way to celebrate Mother’s Day than a long weekend girls trip! Come discover how I leveraged points and miles to indulge in round-trip airfare and luxurious hotel stays, all at a price lower than the cost of filling up an SUV with gas!
Overview of Credit Card Rewards Programs
Credit card rewards are incentives offered by credit card issuers to encourage cardholders to make purchases using their credit cards. These rewards typically come in the form of points, miles, or cashback. When a cardholder uses their credit card for eligible purchases, they earn a certain number of points or miles based on the card's rewards program.
To earn initial rewards (also known as signup bonuses), cardholders must meet the spending requirements specified by the credit card issuer. Typically, they earn a set number of points or miles per dollar spent on eligible purchases. Some credit cards may also offer bonus rewards in certain spending categories, such as dining, groceries, or gas. It's essential to understand the specific earning rates and bonus categories of a credit card to maximize received rewards.
While it may seem difficult to gain a significant amount of miles or points, focusing on credit cards with generous initial signup bonuses will help to gain a significant number of points and rewards faster. This process can also be known as travel hacking. It's important to note that responsible financial management is vital when travel hacking. This includes paying off credit card balances in full each month to avoid interest charges and managing credit card accounts wisely to maintain a good credit score. The approach I used for this journey may not suit everyone, and that's perfectly fine!
Choosing the Right Credit Cards for the Trip
In today's vast landscape of credit cards, where countless options entice you with unique rewards and benefits, selecting the ideal card for your upcoming trip can feel overwhelming. To simplify the process, I prefer breaking it down by determining specific aspects I want to cover with points. For my own trip, ensuring I had points to cover round-trip flights and a three-night hotel stay was my priority. By narrowing down your requirements, you can streamline the selection process and find a credit card that aligns perfectly with your travel needs and aspirations.
Knowing that I have a decent amount of travel within the next two years I decided early in the year to try to achieve the Southwest Companion Pass. The Southwest Companion Pass allows for one additional person to fly with me for free! What is great about the program is if you time it correctly you can end up with the companion pass for almost two years. One can achieve the companion pass if they fly 100 qualifying one-way flights but for me, that would be very unlikely. Instead, I opted to earn the 135,000 points one would need instead. I achieved this by opening two Southwest credit cards, with each signup bonus I achieved over the needed 135k points. What is even better, you are not exchanging your points for the companion pass. You can use your points as you want! Points for flights – CHECK!
Next up, points to cover our hotel stay. I knew I wanted enough points to cover 3 nights’ worth of hotel stays. By luck of the draw at the same time I was looking for hotels in the area, Marriot’s branded credit card released an elevated signup bonus of five free night awards (up to 50,000 points a night) after hitting the minimum spend in three months. You also have the option to top up those certificates with up to 15,000 points. With up to 65,000 points a night, I had plenty of hotel options to choose from. Here is what I ended up going with:
Night 1: Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center Room: Upgrade to Interior Atrium view Room Points: 48,000 – Covered with free night certificate Resort Fee: $25/night Total (with tax): $27.31
Night 2 and 3: The Union Station Nashville Yards
Room: Upgrade to Top Floor Guest Room
Points 55,000/night – Topped each free night certificate off with 5k points
Resort Fee: None
Total (with tax): $0
About the Hotels
When walking into the Gaylord Opryland Resort, you’ll be great by a beautiful atrium containing stunning botanical gardens, cascading waterfalls, and of course live music. While this hotel has over 2,800 rooms and suites our room was perfectly located, and we were able to listen to the music and take in the views from our balcony! I had high expectations for this hotel and was not disappointed. I wish we were here for two nights instead of one to take advantage of more of the hotel amenities and restaurants.
I loved that we split our stay and moved to a hotel on Broadway. Staying at the Union Station hotel was perfect! This hotel is housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century railway station. When walking into the lobby you will be captivated by the architectural beauty, with high arching ceilings, gorgeous stained-glass windows, and elegant furnishings.
Personal Recommendations and Must-See Attractions in Nashville
For a first time visit here are a list of recommendations and must-see attractions that will make your visit truly unforgettable:
- Grand Ole Opry House – Highly recommend both watching a show and taking a backstage tour
- Opry Mills – Try on some cowboy boots!
- Hop On & Off Nashville Tour – Funny knowledgeable drivers, lots of stops
- Walking into each Bar/Restaurant on Broadway – Each place had its own vibe!
- Assembly Food Hall – Multi-level food hall with tons of dining options
- Line Dancing at Wildhorse Saloon – Free lessons at a variety of times
Final Thoughts
Nashville offers an enchanting blend of music, culture, and culinary delights that captivate travelers from all walks of life. Whether you're a die-hard country music fan, a food enthusiast, or simply seeking a vibrant and energetic destination, Nashville has something to offer. By utilizing credit card points, you can unlock the full potential of your trip, enhancing your experience without breaking the bank. So, gather your loved ones, plan your getaway, and let Nashville's rhythm and charm sweep you off your feet as you create memories that will last a lifetime.