⚽️ Dad & Son Italian Soccer
One on one trip for hubs and son!
Spring Break 2024
💳 Points Notes
This trip was mostly a cash fare that worked perfectly for a special 1:1 adventure — but we used points strategically to keep costs low and hit some minimum spends for future travel ✨
🏨 Hotel Strategy: Marriott Points Win
We booked 3 nights in Milan through Marriott Homes & Villas for 20,000 Marriott Bonvoy points total 🎉
This got them:
2 bedrooms
Small kitchen 👩🍳
Walkable location near the Duomo + train station 🚶♂️
The value was amazing — especially compared to hotel prices in Milan that week.
💼 Why This Was Still a “Points Trip”
Even though the flights were cash:
The fare helped us hit a minimum spend on a new card (hello future points! 👋)
The hotel was covered with points
And now we’re set up for our next redemption 🙌
✨ Lounge Upgrade Moment
I had just been approved for the Amex Platinum, which gave access to Priority Pass lounges.
My husband and son used it at Heathrow on the way home and immediately said:
“We can never go back.”
😂
One of the first travel rewards cards I signed up for was the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Chase Ultimate Rewards points are powerful transferable point that can be used for flight and hotels. My favorite transfer partner is of course, Hyatt!
💖 If you sign up for a credit card through my link, I may receive a referral bonus. Thank you for supporting the blog, it means so much!
A Father–Son Europe Adventure ✈️
I wanted to plan a special 1:1 trip for my husband and son — something memorable, fun, and not too complicated. I found a great cash fare on British Airways from RDU ➡️ London ➡️ Milan, so off they went!
✨ Trip Highlights
🛫 RDU → London
They had a 2-hour layover at Heathrow, which seemed reasonable… until they had to sprint through customs to make the next flight. 😅
Lesson learned: we avoid tight international layovers from now on.
🇮🇹 Milan Arrival
They arrived mid-morning and had time to explore before check-in. We used Marriott points to book a 3-night stay at a Marriott Homes & Villas apartment — 20k points total! 🎉
2 bedrooms
Small kitchen
Walking distance to the Duomo + train station
Perfect home base.
They met up with my brother-in-law and nephews and even did a cooking class via Viator. Apparently, the chef shared a very unexpected life story involving… a surprise career moment in a certain type of film. 😬😂 The pasta was still great.
⚽ AC Milan Game
They couldn’t get regular tickets, so we splurged on a hospitality package. Worth it:
Guaranteed seats
Food + drinks
Amazing view of the pitch
🚆 Change of Plans → Rome!
The original plan was Florence, but a Lazio match in Rome popped up with $25 tickets — so they pivoted!
I grabbed a last-minute Best Western near Termini.
My husband got his Colosseum moment 🏛️
My son got e-scooters and soccer joy 🛴⚽
Everyone was thrilled.
✨ The Lounge Life
On the way home, they had plenty of time in Heathrow.
I finally got approved for the Amex Platinum — so they tried the lounge for the first time.
Now apparently, they are “changed men” and can never go back to the gate seats. 🤣
🏠 Home Again
Another semi-points trip in the books!
Even though it was mostly paid in cash, it helped us hit minimum spending for future points adventures — so win-win.
💡 Lessons Learned
1. Avoid Tight International Layovers
A 2-hour connection at Heathrow sounds fine… until you’re sprinting through customs like you’re on The Amazing Race🏃♂️💨
Next time → 3+ hours minimum for international → international connections.
2. Hospitality Packages Can Be Worth It
For the AC Milan match, getting the hospitality package meant:
guaranteed seats
no stress
food + drinks
Yes, it cost more — but for high-demand games, it’s often the most sanity-saving option ⚽✨
3. Be Flexible — It Can Pay Off
They switched from Florence → Rome last minute for a $25 soccer match.
It turned into one of their favorite experiences of the trip.
Sometimes the best travel plan… is no plan 😄
4. Lounge Access is a Game Changer
The Amex Platinum lounge stop on the return flight has now fully ruined my family for regular airport seating.
They have seen the light 😇🥂
💬 Conclusions
This trip wasn’t fully booked on points — and that’s okay.
It was still:
meaningful
memorable
budget-conscious
and smartly optimized using the points we did have 🎉
Travel doesn’t have to be:
“all points”
“all luxury”
or “all budget”
It can be a mix that supports your real life goals — like spending one-on-one time, making memories, or checking a soccer stadium off the bucket list 💛⚽🇮🇹
This trip helped us:
meet minimum spend toward future points ✨
stretch value with a well-placed Marriott redemption 🏨
and learn what works best for our travel style (hello: flexible itineraries and guaranteed seats)
Would we do it again?
100% yes.
But with one tiny change: give Heathrow a little more wiggle room 😅
**Affiliate/referral disclosure: Please note that I am affiliates or have a personal referral link with many of the companies I recommend. This means that I may receive a commission or a points bonus if you sign- up through one of my links. You are absolutely under no obligation to use their products or services but if you do choose to use them, we may earn a small commission/bonus at no extra cost to you.