If you’ve been holding out on booking a vacation for this upcoming spring break, know that you aren’t too late. While you might have to be slightly more flexible with your dates and destination, there’s still time to plan that awesome spring break getaway — all on points.
So instead of sitting at home, here are some family-friendly, warm-weather destinations to consider for your upcoming spring break getaway.
Dreams Macao Beach Punta Cana
Located on the beautiful strip of Macao Beach in Punta Cana, this all-inclusive property is a great use of points. With no need to take out the wallet during your entire stay, you can enjoy unlimited food and drinks, daily activities, evening entertainment, multiple pools, non-motorized water sports and even a water park.
Related: 25 best all-inclusive resorts in the world, according to frequent travelers
Rooms cost 29,000 points per night during spring break, for two guests. Additional guests require 14,500 points per guest per night (during peak time), or you might be better off reserving two rooms. You also might be able to save your points and pay a cash up-charge instead for extra guests (you’ll need to call the hotel directly).
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, Bahamas
Located on a picturesque stretch of beach in the Bahamas is the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. This resort has a lot going for it, offering six pools, the largest casino in the Bahamas, access to the new Baha Bay water park and more.
At 29,000 points per night during the month of March, there’s plenty of availability for a points reservation, but only king rooms are showing. While a family may need to splurge and book two king rooms, the extra space courtesy of your points may not be the worst thing ever, especially when rooms are pricing out at over $1,000 per night.
Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort & Spa, Florida
Walk out of the hotel and you are right on Fort Lauderdale Beach. There’s no need to cross state Road A1A — like some of the other hotels along the beach — and you have every amenity at your fingertips. From a lagoon-style pool to on-site tennis courts, your family can relax and enjoy the surroundings.
The property is also incredibly close to many restaurants and Las Olas Boulevard, so you truly don’t need to worry about a car rental for this destination. The hotel is an easy 10-minute taxi ride from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and its location on the Intracoastal Waterway means there are many water shuttles available to take you to various destinations.
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Being a Marriott property, it’s the perfect opportunity to use your Marriott Bonvoy points. Starting at just 51,000 points per night for a standard room, it’s a great savings over the otherwise $450 and up during this popular time period. And, if you stay five nights on points, your fifth night is free — a benefit of using your points at all Marriott properties.
With the current availability, you can wake up at this fabulous resort every morning of spring break.
Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa, Bonita Springs, Florida
The Hyatt Regency Coconut Point is a family favorite. Located on the west coast of Florida in Bonita Springs, this resort offers plenty of fun for your kids, including a water park with five waterslides, four refreshing pools and a lazy river. While the property isn’t right on the beach, there’s ferry access to a secluded private island (although service is currently limited to Thursday through Sunday).
Throughout the property, you’ll find kid-friendly amenities, such as a climbing wall, a putting green, life-size games and a fire pit at night to roast marshmallows.
Related: Fun in the Florida sun — Hyatt Regency Coconut Point resort and spa review
Also, if you happen to have World of Hyatt Globalist status, the property is very giving with room upgrades. During our last stay, we were upgraded to a 1,400-square-foot suite.
If you are looking to be away during spring break this property still has availability. You’ll need 23,000 World of Hyatt points a night, which is a great way to use your points compared to the $550-plus nightly rate. And when you use your points, you won’t be charged any resort fees.
Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, California
While the temperature can be iffy this time of year, a trip to Newport Beach can almost guarantee the sun is shining. Southern California offers so much to do that just having warm-ish weather — free of rain and snow — opens up many fun vacation opportunities.
Related: Our 16 favorite hotels in California for every type of traveler
The Hyatt Regency Newport Beach — despite only costing 12,000 to 18,000 points a night — will give you that resort feel just down the road from the beach. Amid the property’s 26 acres, you’ll find three pools, a golf course, table tennis, a shuffleboard court, a volleyball court and fire pits. You can also reserve the hotel’s beach cruisers to tour the beach or visit nearby Balboa Island. Outside the back of the hotel, there’s a 10.5-mile trail — for those looking for some adventure.
And, if you want to explore a theme park for the day, you’re only 20 minutes away from Disneyland Resort and Knott’s Berry Farm.
And if you have any Category 1-4 free night certificates sitting in your account, this is the perfect opportunity to cash them in for a truly free vacation. Note, if you are booking a multinight stay, you might have to call Hyatt directly to book the reservation with a free night certificate included.
Related: The 11 hotels where you’ll get the most out of your Hyatt reward night certificate
Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino
Striving for a destination with almost guaranteed weather? If so, the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino still has plenty of availability during most of spring break. At 80,000 points a night, this is a great use of your Hilton Honors points. Plus, if you have Hilton Honors elite status, which you can easily obtain by having any Hilton credit card, you’ll receive your fifth night free when redeeming points.
Related: What is Hilton Honors elite status worth?
This property is right on the white-sand beach with two separate zero-entry pools and a pool bar. Beachside palapas (sun huts) can be booked in advance for a fee or are extended as a complimentary service for same-day reservations, if available. The beach is very walkable — even with strollers — and there are many restaurants right across the street. This is one vacation where you truly never have to get in the car and can instead soak in the sun for the entire day.
Related: These are the best times to visit Aruba
And if you can’t find availability at this property but want to redeem your Hilton points, check out the new Embassy Suites Aruba Resort, situated between Palm Beach and Eagle Beach.
Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay All-Inclusive
All-inclusive resorts are great for families. Pay one price and don’t worry about continuously taking out your wallet throughout your vacation. This is why the Holiday Inn Resort Montego Bay is a great option for this upcoming spring break, especially since you can redeem your IHG points.
Related: The best all-inclusive resorts in Jamaica
This beachfront property is located just 10 minutes from Sangster International Airport (MBJ) and offers outdoor pools, water sports, a children’s activity center, spa treatments, a casino, volleyball courts and five on-site restaurants. You are also close to nearby attractions such as the Martha Brae River and Dunn’s River Falls.
For a family of up to two adults and two children (younger than 12), you can book a room for just 50,000 IHG points per night without paying an additional up-charge per guest. Or, if you are short on points, you can use a combination of points and cash to pay for your stay. Also, if you have the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, the fourth night comes with no additional points charge when redeeming points. This is one of many perks of having this card in your wallet.
Related: IHG Premier card welcome offer and benefits
Bottom line
If you feel like you are late to the game to plan a spring break vacation, don’t worry — there’s still time. But you’ll want to start planning quickly.
As long as you are flexible with your dates and exact destination, there are still plenty of beach-friendly hotels available to book with your hard-earned hotel points. Of course, you’ll need to worry about flights, but you might be surprised to see that pricing isn’t as outrageous as you might thought. And of course, that’s where airline miles come in handy.
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