This one’s been a long time coming, so thank you for your patience as I limp my way out of Maycember, extreme pollen counts, and the general “need eight more hours in the day” malaise that comes with working for yourself.
If you’re new here (Hi! I’m so glad you’re here!), you’ll quickly learn two things about me: 1.) I appreciate the finer things in life, and 2.) I love a deal.
I was raised in a Dutch household in the Midwest, where coupon clipping, driving across town to save three cents on gas, and scouring consignment shops was practically a competitive sport.
Which is why it feels particularly satisfying to share that a month ago, my husband and I spent three nights at an all-inclusive luxury resort in Antigua that would have cost roughly $7,500—and we paid $90.
A private villa! Endless beverages! A plunge pool overlooking the ocean! Daily sushi prepared by a Nobu-trained chef! And absolutely no chance we would have booked it if we’d had to pay cash.
For those of you who only care about the “Okay, but HOW did you do that?” portion of this story—I’ve anchor-linked so you can skip ahead. But if you want an escape for just a moment on this Monday morning and are also curious about how comfy the mattress was, what meals were like, and how we spent all that time kid-free…stay with me for a few.
And, because I’m a nosy person and always want to know exactly what everyone else is spending on vacations, childcare, groceries, and basically every other category of life, I’ve included all the actual numbers on things we did pay for, including our two nights in NYC.
Antigua, pronounced Ahn-TEE-gah (I know, I thought it was Ahn-TEE-gwa too!), is a small island in the Caribbean, positioned where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet.
Although we live just outside Philly, we took the train to NYC the evening before our flight because JFK flies direct to Antigua and therefore bought us a few more hours on vacation…always a yes. It took just under four hours from takeoff to touchdown.
Receipts
Flights
JFK —> ANU: $58.23 per person since we booked using miles and only had to pay taxes and fees.
Flight ANU —> JFK: $45.60 per person for taxes and fees
Airport Hotel
Booked one night before we flew out of JFK and one night when we returned at the Hyatt Regency JFK for 20K Hyatt points.
$30 flat rate for the scheduled ride to the airport
$1 when we checked out on our return stay because we had a $10 credit to buy snacks and a pack of Haribo took us over by $1.
Upon landing, my husband Tim and I were met by an escort holding my name on a sign (yes, I felt very fancy) who fast-tracked us through customs and led us out to our awaiting car. This service was provided by our resort and it’s free of charge for anyone staying three or more nights.
The ride to the resort was about 25 minutes. I’m a sucker for fruit trees and gasped over the mango and banana trees peppering the landscape. As we entered the resort’s drive, we were surrounded by gorgeous, meticulously designed foliage and tropical flowers, and I instantly knew it was going to be special.
We were warmly greeted with cold lavender towels (swoon—but also, I’m never sure if I use them on just my hands or also my face) and the most delicious mocktail with NA champagne, pineapple juice, and mint. Our suitcases and bags were quickly whisked away and we were brought to a patio looking out to the sea.
Our room wasn’t quite ready, so we spent the next couple of hours lunching—crispy pork tacos, fresh seafood, a beer for Tim, another mocktail for me. The water was that stunning blue-green reserved for postcards and the grounds were incredibly quiet, save for a squawking parrot or two.
The resort recently underwent a $30M renovation. All of the accommodations are private villas and there are only 30 in total. Our villa was perched on a hill, overlooking lush forests and when I say it was stunning, I mean, it was absolutely jaw-dropping.
Our private plunge pool was situated under an almond tree and shrouded by hibiscus hedges. Hummingbirds flitted here and there and there were several outdoor sitting areas, including a swing chair and several chaise lounges.
Inside our villa was a king-sized bed outfitted in crisp white linens and mosquito nets that were lowered in the evening by an impeccable housekeeping crew. The TV was one of those fancy ones that rose up from a console and the bathroom…friends, the bathroom was insane.
First off, it was huge with a standalone full-length mirror and a bathtub so deep, I couldn’t even fill it up all the way or I’d be underwater. A treat for someone with a bathtub that home so shallow, the water barely covers my legs! Wooden shutters opened to the rainforest and an outdoor shower was stocked with eucalyptus-scented products.
And for those wondering, I came prepared with two different types of bug spray and Vitamin B6, and was really stressed about the stories I’d heard about the mosquito-infested tropics. Gloriously, the mosquitoes weren’t as bad as I expected. In fact, I only got two bites the entire time which is a minor miracle considering that mosquitoes view me as some sort of rare delicacy and flock every time I step outside.
This resort (which I feel like I need to make clear is not sponsored in any way LOL, I wish!) is all-inclusive. But don’t picture soggy buffet waffles and sad cantelope. The menu is dreamed up by Chef Desroy, an Antigua native and is true five-star quality. All alcoholic beverages are included too (with the exception of a few top shelf liquors and wines) and like I mentioned earlier, there’s a sushi hour every afternoon hosted by Nobu-trained chefs.
At breakfast, you’re offered a host of housemade pastries and fresh-squeezed juice. The menu is small, but everything is excellent. My favorite was a made-to-order spinach and mushroom frittata that nearly melted in my mouth and the crispiest potatoes. I was obsessed with their cranberry sourdough, which was equal parts chewy and spongy—and the endless coffee, of course.
During breakfast, we’d fill out a form with all the beverages we wanted restocked in our minibar. You could also request snacks like chips and trail mix and every day I wrote “anything chocolate,” disappointed when there was no chocolate to be found a few hours later. When we were packing up, Tim found several chocolate bars in our fridge—they must have put them in there so they didn’t melt. I enjoyed them on the plane home. :)
After breakfast, we’d mosey back to our villa. I’d often write, sometimes I’d read, and Tim would noodle around on his iPad dreaming about our house renovation.
Lunch was absolutely phenomenal—tomatoes and burrata so good, we ordered it every single day. Juicy chicken with lemon confit, flaky red snapper, truffle rigatoni, and impossibly silky cheesecake.
Our favorite dinner was our last evening and traditional Caribbean cuisine—jerk chicken, mac and cheese, fresh salsa laced with mango, finished with a cup of decaf while watching the sun go down.
There are plenty of recreational activities—glass-bottom kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, sailboats, snorkeling—and it’s all free. The conditions weren’t great for snorkeling (I’ve still never been…on my Bingo card!), but we took a kayak out one day and also swam every day, which was lovely.
There’s a stunning spa and yes, we booked massages. Tim has never had a massage (!) so he broke the seal in Antigua. Our couples massage was 60 minutes and truly excellent. The therapists were knowledgeable and worked in rhythm together. At the end of the massage, they took Tim and my hands and laced them together so we finished holding hands, which was both cute and hilarious.
I will forewarn you that if you like to party on vacation, this is not your jam. It’s extraordinarily quiet and private which I loved. Give us a pool, a beach, and delicious food and we will figure out a way to entertain ourselves. Maybe that makes us boring?
But honestly…no one is asking us for a snack for a few days? We can wake up…when we want to? Unheard of in non-vacation life with children! I know I hide from my children in the bathroom on the regular (so does Elin Strong and this is why we’re friends) and as much as I love and adore my kids, I am SO happy when I get a break from them.1
All in all, it was our most relaxing trip since…our honeymoon 12 years ago.2 Three kids, a career change, a new house, and you know—the general precarious state of the world—had left us running on fumes. It would actually be an amazing place to go with another couple, so if anyone wants to plan that with me…GAME.
The Receipts
Hermitage Bay, 3 nights / Total cost: $90 for points (cash price would have been ~$7,500 for three nights)
Spa / total cost: ~$480 with tip
Hermitage Bay was glorious and I wish I could go back annually—oh wait I CAN and so can you. Read on!
This trip wasn’t the result of years of travel hacking or spending a fortune. In fact, I didn’t start to plan for this trip until around 9 months ago.
I opened a Hilton Surpass card early last spring, put my normal spending on it for several months, and used the points—plus the two Free Night Awards that came with the offer—to cover my stay that would’ve cost roughly $7,500.
You can do it too with one catch: The offer I signed up for isn’t available right now. But Hilton typically brings it back at least once a year (it came back this spring, and I imagine it will return again later this year or in 2027). And if it returns, I’ll share it here first.
Also, it’s worth noting that contrary to popular belief, you do not need to spend exorbitant amounts of cash nor do you have to spend more than you normally do to get points. Just use this card as your default card for everything.
If you’re like, “But Nicole, I want to start NOW!” you can absolutely still open the card. Just know that you will need to come up with a couple hundred thousand Hilton points to make up for the Free Night Award you won’t get at this time.
Option 1: Wait for the elevated offer (what I did)
Open the Hilton Surpass when the enhanced bonus returns (I look for 130K+ points offer, plus (1) Free Night Award upon hitting your minimum spend and (1) Free Night Award for hitting $15K in a year.)
Meet the minimum spend using normal expenses
Earn (2) Free Night Awards + Hilton points (I paid $90 to top off my points for enough to book)
Book Hermitage Bay. Currently, standard rooms are available for 230k points per night, which is what I “paid.”
Option 2: Start right now
Open the Hilton Surpass
Earn 130k points after minimum spend
Spend $15k over the year for (1) Free Night Award
Use Hilton points (or transfer AMEX points) for additional nights
Free Night Award #1 = $15k annual spend
Free Night Award #2 = elevated offer (when available)
Third Night = ~230k Hilton points
AMEX transfers 1:2 to Hilton if you need extra points and have AMEX points!
The offer I used isn’t available right now—but these elevated bonuses come back regularly. When it does, I’ll send it to subscribers first so you don’t have to obsessively check points blogs or Reddit forums.
Lastly, I didn’t shop much for this trip, due to a crazy schedule beforehand and all the summer camps I’m currently paying for (IYKYK). But there are a handful of things that I found to be excellent choices for this tropical trip.
The sweatshirt I won’t shut up about—still 50% off and still the thing I want to wear every day. Perfect for flights!
Coverup, plane shirt, or even pair with a skirt. It’s $23.99 right now!
Wore a sarong nearly every day. Mine was from Zara, but similar here for $17.99 and here for $13.29 (cutie fish!). I would personally not spend more than $50 on one—Etsy, Ebay, and Poshmark are fulllll of them.
This kept the mosquitoes at bay! I had two travel size that I carried everywhere. Does not contain DEET if you’re worried about that.
The best moisturizer for travel*. Serum on one side, cream on the other with a lovely cooling feel. Basically took the concept of the multi-step Korean skincare routine and made it easy. I’m currently rationing mine because I love it so much and don’t want to hit the bottom of the container.
This sunscreen that is also dude-approved for the face!
For the body—I’m still haunted by a few years ago when TSA confiscated mine because I put it in the wrong bag. It’s the best!
Favorite tinted lip balm that I’ve used for years. Excellent for anytime you want a bit of color that looks totally natural—just like you’ve enjoyed some cherries or smooches.
Travel hacking can feel a little overwhelming when you’re first getting started, but I promise it’s far less complicated than it seems. This trip cost less than a Target run and gave Tim and me a reset we desperately needed (and need again already LOL).
If you’re curious about travel hacking and want to learn more, I highly recommend my friend Rachel Lipson | The Point whose knowledge outweighs mine, Tori Simokov queen of luxury travel, and Points Talk Squad—a podcast that taught me a lot of what I know.
A quick note: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. As always, I only share things I genuinely use, love, or am heavily influenced to buy myself. * denotes gift
Thank you so much for reading Double Dutch. It truly means the world. For more, follow along on Instagram. Connect on LinkedIn. Let’s work together. Buy me a coffee!
Need a place to start? Check out everyone’s favorites: ✨ Motherhood Series ✨20+ Hacks Your Grandmother Probably Used ✨ The Ultimate Baby Registry List ✨ How I’m Traveling to Paris for $368 ✨ 3 Easy Dinners I Make Every Week ✨
That’s not to say I didn’t message school and my in-laws multiple times a day to check-in. Because you can put a mom on vacation, but vacation doesn’t remove the innate need to know the children are happy.
We were so exhausted from wedding planning that we flew to Mexico and proceeded to watch every single season of Homeland, which is to say—we barely left our room and by the third day, the staff began sending up the room service menu instead of asking us where we wanted to make a reservation.
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