How to Turn a $100 Trip Into a $1,000 Experience Using Points and Miles

As a Daily Drop reader (and Kara and Nate fan), you know nobody squeezes the juice out of a destination quite like they do.

And their recent Hong Kong video might be one of the best examples yet: one day capped at $100… and one day where they let loose with a $1,000 budget.

Watching them bounce between those two worlds made me think about something we talk about all the time around here…

… how points and miles let you live the “$1,000 day” life… on a “$100 day” budget.

Here’s what I mean 👇

The $100 Day: Classic Kara and Nate Hustle

They kicked things off backpacker-style:

• A hostel stay straight out of the early YouTube-era playbook

• Lion’s Rock hike with views that will rob you of words

• A stop at the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred restaurant, Tim Ho Wan (proof that great food doesn’t require questionable financial decisions)

• A scenic harbor ferry crossing for pennies

• And of course… the ferris wheel redemption arc
  (Early fans know, back in 2016, Nate told Kara “no” because they couldn’t justify the cost of a ferris wheel ride. This time they got to close the loop — literally.)

Truly a perfect day — and one that reminds us that travel doesn’t have to be expensive to be incredible.

The $1,000 Day: Same City, Whole New Universe

Then came the glow-up:

• A very shiny stay at the Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

• Reflexology massage because their feet earned hazard pay after that hike

• A Michelin-Guide dinner at Yuan that made me drool

• Drinks at the highest rooftop bar in the world, Ozone at the Ritz-Carlton

• Time in the Cathay Pacific lounges, which belong in a museum

• And finally… boarding a flight to Beijing like royalty

Here’s the thing: this looked like a $1,000 day… but in the world of points and miles, it doesn’t have to be.

A massage? Sure, still cash. An unforgettable meal? Also cash.

But the biggies — the business-class flights, luxury hotels, jaw-dropping lounges… the polished, premium parts of the travel experience — those are what points can wipe out entirely.

And when you’re earning the right points from the right card… suddenly you’re not choosing between $100 and $1,000.

You’re choosing between “earn points from it” or “use points for it.”

The Travel Trick Nobody Sees in the Video

When Kara and Nate upgrade a trip, it usually stems from the same thing we talk about every day: having a flexible stash of points ready to go.

That’s what lets you fly premium without paying premium. That’s what gets you into lounges that 2016 Kara and Nate could only look at longingly.

And the easiest place to start building that stash?

A travel rewards card that earns flexible points you can use for flights, hotels, and more. If you really have your heart set on a Ritz-Carlton stay in Hong Kong, that’s totally possible!

You can transfer points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to Marriott at a 1:1 ratio, where you can book your ritzy stay… but it’ll cost you a little over 115,000 points per night.

Or save some points and book at one of the other incredible Hong Kong hotels, of which there are plenty:

You’re probably thinking, “Okay, but getting to Hong Kong is so expensive,” and you’d be... wrong!

Come on, people, we’re thinking (and traveling) like travel influencers here. That means points can get you there.

You can score some seriously affordable economy award space like this Cathay Pacific flight for only 27,000 miles.

And since Cathay partners with Capital One, you can transfer points directly from the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, which is offering a 100,000-mile welcome offer right now. 🤯

Or… find hidden United award availability as a United cardholder.

My cardholder status got me access to this deal, which I happily booked using Ultimate Rewards points from the Sapphire Preferred. You can find me flying non-stop, lie-flat Polaris to Hong Kong in March. 😎

Let’s put all of this into perspective:

Say you booked that Cathay Pacific economy flight for 27,000 miles, and you reserved the Novotel Hong Kong Century for 7,945 points per night…

You could fly to Hong Kong and stay 5 nights, all with the 100,000-mile welcome offer you’d earn from the Venture X — with plenty of extra miles to spare!

Or you could splurge it all on a fancy flight or hotel. Who am I to tell you what to do with your points and miles? 🙂 

How To Make This Trip Happen

Whether you're using a premium card with an elevated welcome offer like the Venture X to unlock dream trips, or looking for the most affordable path to outsized travel value, the point is the same: great travel days don’t have to come with a $1,000 price tag.

And if you're just getting started, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is still our favorite “first step” card for turning everyday spending into trips like this one.

It's simple, flexible, and earns rewards you can use for high-end hotels, flights, and more — without a crazy annual fee.

If you’re ready to start building your version of a $1,000-day for way less, you can learn more about Kara and Nate’s favorite card offer below.

Start now, and who knows — your next trip might include a lounge visit, a business-class seat, or your version of a full-circle Ferris wheel moment that you’ve been putting off. 🎡