Los Angeles for Less: Your Guide to Booking LA on Points

These days, it feels like booking a great deal using points and miles is getting harder, especially in the US. Award availability is limited, prices are up, and many programs have quietly devalued their redemptions.

But we recently pulled off a fantastic three-night trip to LA where points and credits covered a lot more than we expected: two roundtrip flights from DC, a full hotel stay, concert tickets at the Greek Theatre, and a little bit of our rideshare costs (every bit counts). Here’s exactly how we did it – and how you can, too.

Flights: 24,000 American Airlines Miles + $22.40 Total for Two

Coast-to-coast flights can sometimes be surprisingly affordable if you’re flexible with dates and don’t mind a short layover. We both had American Airlines miles and found roundtrip tickets from Washington, DC to LAX for 12,000 miles each. That’s a great value for a transcontinental roundtrip.

Our outbound flight had a stop in Pittsburgh, and the return was nonstop, which easy and efficient. We found a nice Priority Pass lounge at Pittsburgh, so the wait was no big deal. Taxes and fees were just $11.20 per person, which we covered with our travel credit cards.

Pro Tip: To find the lowest award flights, check off-peak days and use tools like AA’s Fare Finder Map. Also, try searching one-way segments separately. Our deal was unusually good, but we did see plenty of award fares out there for 15k round trip each with one layover in each direction.

Our total out-of-pocket cost: $22.40 in taxes.

Hotel: 1 Free Night Certificate + 24,000 Hyatt Points

We all know LA hotel prices have gotten out of control. Even basic rooms in central areas can run $300+ per night after taxes. So here’s how we got smart:

• We stayed near LAX. The airport is closer than you think to Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and other hotspots. Plus, we were going to use Ubers to get around anyway, and the hotel offered a free shuttle. Since we stayed at the airport the whole time, we also put together a quick guide on what you can realistically do from LAX on a long layover.
• We picked a Hyatt. Hyatt offers some of the best value for award stays. We used a Category 1-4 Free Night Certificate (which we earned as a credit card perk) and transferred 24,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt to book two more nights.

Our total out-of-pocket cost: $0.

Pro Tip: If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve card, you can transfer points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. Hyatt redemptions generally get better value than other hotel programs.

Concert Tickets: Free via Capital One Shopping Rewards

We wanted to see Wet Leg at the Greek Theatre, one of LA’s best venues. Ticket prices at home at the 9:30 Club in DC were insane, but the Greek is a much larger venue, so we found fantastic seats for just $75 each on StubHub. But we got smart about this cost.

We booked a couple of tours and activities through Viator using the Capital One Shopping portal, which sometimes offers 20-25% back in gift cards. You don’t need to be a Capital One cardholder to use the portal.

We chose to redeem our rewards for StubHub gift cards, then used those to book our tickets for free. If you have the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, that also now comes with a twice-annual $150 StubHub credit.

Pro Tip: Look out for big portal bonuses on Capital One Shopping during seasonal promos. Booking activities you were already planning can turn into free event tickets.

Our total out-of-pocket cost: $60 for a bottle of wine the show.

Uber and Lyft: Offset with Credits

OK, the free party is over. We spent more on rideshares than we would have liked on this trip. LA traffic is real, and distances between neighborhoods add up fast. But depending on which credit cards you have, there are ways to soften the blow:

• The American Express Platinum offers up to $15/month in Uber Cash (plus a $20 bonus in December).
• The Chase Sapphire Reserve now includes a $10/month Lyft credit through Chase Offers (limited time).

We only had the $10 Lyft credit available, but every little bit helps.

Our total out-of-pocket cost: $350.

Dining: Shockingly Expensive But A Few Cheap Eats

We did splurge on a few meals, including a nice dinner before the concert and cocktails at the Santa Monica Pier at sunset. LA is expensive, but we also had some cheap wins, and you can definitely do it for way less than we did. Here’s what we spent for two people:

• Meals on the plane each way ($40).
• Dinner on arrival at the hotel ($100)
• Tacos in Venice ($30).
• Sunset drinks at Maria Sol on the Santa Monica Pier ($60).
• Sol Agave in Santa Monica for delicious Mexican fare ($130).
• In-N-Out by LAX ($20).
• Kismet for an extraordinary meal near Greek Theater ($250).
• After show martinis at the Dresden ($50).
• LAX airport meal ($100).

We didn’t have our Chase Sapphire Reserve dining credit activated on this trip (it rolled out just after), but now it offers $150 in annual restaurant credits through partners like OpenTable, which is helpful when food and Bev are so expensive. Pro Tip: Set calendar reminders for expiring credits so you don’t forget to use them.

Our total out-of-pocket cost: $800.

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Total Savings and Cost Summary

• Flights: 24,000 AA miles + $22.40 in taxes
• Hotel: 1 free night certificate + 24,000 Hyatt points
• Concert: 100% covered with shopping portal gift cards
• Rideshare: $10 offset with Chase card credits
• Dining: Future credit potential with Chase cards

Total Cost: $1250 for two people

This obviously wasn’t a completely free trip. We spent money on meals, cocktails, and some long ride-shares. But for three nights in LA with a concert, great meals, tons of fun exploration, and some fancy cocktails at legendary locations, the out-of-pocket cost was very low. The flights alone could’ve cost that much for two people!

Tips to Recreate This Trip

• Start with a flexible schedule. We planned our LA dates around the concert and low points availability for flights and hotel nights (leaving on a Wednesday and returning on Saturday).
• Use transferable points. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards offer flexibility. For us, Hyatt and AA redemptions were key for this trip.
• Track your credits. Whether it’s rideshares, dining, or event perks, keep a list of what’s available across your cards.
• Don’t overlook Capital One Shopping. This free portal often has high gift card redemption rates.
• Combine certificates and points. We used a free night, credit card points, airline miles, and shopping portal gift cards to make this trip happen.
• Skip renting a car. LA traffic is mad. Use rideshares, but budget for them. Don’t be surprised by $50-100 rides if you’re crossing town.

Points and miles aren’t what they used to be. But if you stay flexible and take time to learn how your credits work, you can still pull off trips like this.

Los Angeles is expensive, but we saw live music at an iconic venue, explored the city, ate well, and slept comfortably – all without blowing our budget.

What’s your favorite way to maximize points and travel credits?

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