Yes, I did. I booked another trip for later this year using miles. I couldn’t help myself. The destination: Guatemala, Central America.
In college, I spent a summer and winter in Guatemala. Most of my time was in Quetzaltenango and San Lucas Toliman (on the side of Lake Atitlan). But I also visited Guatemala City, Antigua and Monterrico (black sand beach). It’s been 30 years (gulp!)
Booking Award Flights for Guatemala Trip
The other day, I was playing around on point.me website and I decided to see if any good award flight deals corresponded with my kids’ school fall break. I was a bit excited to see some saver awards on a non-stop flight from DFW to Guatemala City.
I wasn’t thinking seriously about booking this trip since I still have two more short trips coming up this summer. But when I mentioned it to my husband, he encouraged me to book the flights. (Maybe he’s trying to get rid of me since we’ve been together so long!). Not surprisingly, the only family member who wants to join me in Guatemala is my daughter.
For the flights to Guatemala, only business class award seats were available at the saver level on a non-stop flight on American Airlines. I booked these using partner Alaska Airlines miles for 15k miles each. For the return flight, I booked us in economy with Alaska miles for 7500 miles each.
Itinerary and Lodging
For this 5-night trip, I’m planning on two nights in Antigua:
And 3 nights somewhere on Lake Atitlan (exact location TBD):
Hotel points won’t do me any good at these locations. However, hotel prices are actually quite cheap. And, hostels and Airbnbs are plentiful. I’m looking forward to exploring our options and seeing how this trip comes together.
Author: Nancy
Nancy lives near Dallas, Texas, with her husband and three kids. Her favorite vacations include the beach, cruising and everything Disney.
Thanks, Nancy!
When booking American Air with Alaska, how do you get it all transferred to your AA account?
@Lynn I DM American Airlines on Twitter (X) with my confirmation number and AAdvantage number. They usually respond quickly. If I don’t, then I don’t get my AA credit card benefits of free baggage and lower boarding number.
What a wonderful trip you’ve planned! I love how spontaneously you booked this adventure to Guatemala, reconnecting with a place from your past. Antigua and Lake Atitlan sound like perfect choices for a nostalgic yet fresh experience. If you’re ever looking for more exciting adventures, I’d highly recommend checking out the Toubkal Ascent 3 Day Trek—it offers breathtaking views and an unforgettable experience. Safe travels and keep sharing these great travel stories!