Miles For Family

We show middle class folks (like us) how they can leverage their good credit score to finally take that long-awaited trip. Travel isn’t free but we can help you take trips for pennies on the dollar!

  • Start Here
    • Free Consulting Service
    • Ask a Question
  • About
    • Resources
  • Credit Cards
    • Best Credit Card Deals
    • Apply for Credit Cards
  • Support the Site

Upgrade Offer for Upcoming Andaz Papagayo Stay

October 2, 2019 By Nancy 9 Comments

My family of five is traveling to Costa Rica early next year for spring break. My husband and I each spent our points from the World of Hyatt credit card for five nights at the Hyatt Andaz Peninsula Papagayo Resort.

Since we booked on points using two accounts, we each requested connecting rooms on our reservations. The plan is to have my husband and I in the king room and my kids in the double room with a rollaway. The kids will all have their own beds, the parents will have some privacy, and everyone will be happy.

Even though we’re still a few months away from our trip, I decided to email the hotel to make sure we can get connecting rooms. I was pleasantly surprised by the reply!

Hyatt Andaz Papagayo vs. Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana Punta Cana for Points Redemption
Hyatt Andaz Papagayo. Photo credit: Hyatt

The Offer

The hotel rep told me that we booked standard view rooms, and the hotel does not have any connecting rooms in that category. But, he said if we wanted to upgrade to rooms with a better view and get guaranteed connecting rooms, we could pay $15 for the king room and $35 for the double room each night. Plus, the upgrade comes with free breakfast for four.

What?!?! Yes, sign me up!

Since I am only a World of Hyatt Discoverist (not a Globalist), I don’t have free breakfast privileges. The breakfast buffet at Rio Bhongo that everyone raves about is ~$40 per person with tax and service charge. Even with kids 12 and under at half price, it would still cost my family of five $160 each day.

As I mentioned in my post a few weeks ago about 5 Travel Experiences I Refuse to Splurge On, I normally don’t splurge on expensive hotel breakfast buffets. Not to sound cheap, but there was no way we would spend $160 on breakfast each day for five days. I’d rather pack granola bars and muffins for breakfast and spend that money on an excursion.

But when the cost goes down significantly and includes guaranteed connecting rooms, it was a no-brainer for me to accept this upgrade offer. We are still short one breakfast for our “extra” kid. However, our youngest kid can order from the $9 kids’ menu or even the full buffet for $20.

If by some miracle my kids decide to sleep in, we may fill up on a late breakfast and skip lunch.

What About Guest of Honor Perks?

Even though I’m not a Globalist, I still could have gotten free breakfast if a Globalist would have booked the room for me with the Guest of Honor perks. I would just have to find a Globalist I trust, transfer our points to her and have her book the rooms.

Unfortunately, due to the timing of receiving our points from our credit card bonuses and the category increase this hotel had last year, I did not have time to transfer points to get Guest of Honor perks.

Bottom Line

I’m glad I reached out to the hotel when I did about the connecting rooms. I am happy with our little upgrade situation. Although I’m curious if the hotel would have reached out to me eventually, or if I would have just been disappointed at check-in that we didn’t have connecting rooms. Either way, breakfast is now going to be much cheaper and I won’t be packing as much food in my suitcase.

If you have a reservation on points at the Andaz Papagayo, I recommend you reach out to see if there are any cash upgrade offers to a bed and breakfast rate. Has anyone received a similar offer at this resort?

CLICK HERE TO VIEW VARIOUS CREDIT CARDS AND AVAILABLE SIGN-UP BONUSES

Author: Nancy

Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • More
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Comments

  1. Lynn says

    October 2, 2019 at 5:08 pm

    What a great offer! Enjoy – even their continental breakfast is awesome with all the unlimited coffees and smoothies offered! Loved it.

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      October 2, 2019 at 9:02 pm

      @lynn I’m looking forward to those smoothies and juices!

      Reply
      • Anonymous says

        October 3, 2019 at 11:01 am

        Make sure you go to the Beach House. The shuttles are free. Nice place to relax. Monkeys will visit periodically during the day (usually around lunch time).

      • Nancy says

        October 3, 2019 at 11:07 am

        Thanks for the tips. I’m looking forward to relaxing and seeing the monkeys.

  2. Jennifer says

    October 2, 2019 at 12:21 pm

    That’s awesome. I’d be doing a happy dance for sure!

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      October 2, 2019 at 9:01 pm

      @Jennifer I was totally happy dancing all morning!

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Review: Andaz Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo - Miles For Family says:
    March 24, 2020 at 10:20 am

    […] 6 because it is right next to the main restaurant and family pools. Some of you may remember that I corresponded with the concierge to solidify our connecting rooms and arrange an extra $50/day for an upgrade with the breakfast […]

    Reply
  2. My Family’s 2020 Travel Plans - Miles For Family says:
    January 3, 2020 at 11:13 am

    […] Spring Break Costa Rica Trip: This trip is almost entirely on miles and points. We are flying to Miami Beach for two days and staying at the Confidante. Then, we fly to Costa Rica for five nights at the Andaz Papagayo. We even got an upgrade offer that includes the breakfast buffet. […]

    Reply
  3. Qantas' Weird Advertisement, Andaz Papagayo Upgrade Offer & Most Powerful Passports In 2019 - Miles to Memories says:
    October 6, 2019 at 11:07 am

    […] UPGRADE OFFER FOR UPCOMING ANDAZ PAPAGAYO STAY – Miles for Family […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search

Follow Us on Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow me on Twitter

My Tweets

Archives

Recent Posts

  • Top 3 Things I’m Looking Forward to on Japan/China Trip
  • Finally, a Firm End Date for Amex to Hawaiian/Alaska Point Transfers
  • Hilton Honors Devaluation, New Bilt Transfer Partner and More
  • Longest Lazy River in the World Coming to Perfect Day Mexico
  • Fixing a Mess of My Own Making (LATAM Schedule Change)

Find Us On Facebook

Find Us On Facebook
  • Privacy Policy

© Miles for Family All Rights Reserved.

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Miles for Family with appropriate and specific directions to the original content.

 

Loading Comments...