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I was twenty-two, fresh out of college, and about to marry my high school sweetheart – paying for a honeymoon was the last thing I wanted to do.

Oh yeah, did I mention I just bought an engagement ring, paid a NYC apartment deposit (ouch), and hadn’t started my job yet?

Enough of my pity party, the bitter truth is that we all want to take incredible trips and it’s never the right time to blow thousands of dollars.

But, this was my honeymoon… I wanted to take my wife on the trip of a lifetime.

That’s when I stumbled across 10xTravel. I read the free e-book, sent Bryce my sob story, and discovered that the honeymoon of our dreams wasn’t out of reach.

So, piece-by-piece I put together a honeymoon that was almost as great as the sex was (too personal?) and it was an adventure that we’ll never forget.

A smiling couple poses in front of a turquoise lake surrounded by mountains and pine trees. The man wears a dark jacket, and the woman, in a plaid scarf, looks happy as they enjoy their travel miles together.

Where are we going?

We had no idea where we wanted to go.

We didn’t want to do the typical Cancun sit-on-the-beach honeymoon (not bashing it), so we typed in “unique honeymoon destinations” and this picture popped up:

A large hotel sits beside a turquoise lake surrounded by dense pine forests and snow-capped mountains under a clear blue sky, offering an ideal travel destination for those looking to earn points or miles.

Banff, Canada

You’ve probably seen this picture before, because it’s the second most photographed place on earth. Needless to say, we were hooked on going to Banff, Canada!

We knew nothing about Canada and quite frankly, we didn’t think there was anything cool up there. After a bit of research, it turned out to be exactly what we were looking for. (I know, I was shocked too)

Check it out.

First Stop: Wedding Night Hotel

“You may now kiss the bride.” Okay, fast forward through the swoon-inducing smooch and bangin’ party, and there we were in a limo (thanks mom and dad) headed to our first – completely free – hotel.

With an early flight out in the morning, I decided our best option was The Westin at Detroit Metropolitan Airport. With a direct personal entrance to the airport, our early flight was MUCH more enjoyable (especially after a long night).

Spacious hotel atrium with tall windows, indoor bamboo plants, and a reflective water feature surrounded by stone walkways and illuminated balconies—ideal for travelers to unwind and earn points on their journeys.

The Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport

The Westin is a Starwood property, so I was able to book a nice room with only a small portion of my high-valued Starpoints, which were earned thanks to my Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card by American Express.

I casually mentioned I would be on my honeymoon, and after the long drawn out “aww that’s adorable” we were instantly upgraded: hospitality suite, champagne, and free club lounge breakfast.

(Note: playing the “honeymoon card” was a huge success throughout our trip. I may even continue playing this card for a while…)

Several airplanes are parked at gates along a large airport terminal under a blue sky with scattered clouds, ready for travel. The tarmac and taxiways are empty, highlighting the calm and orderly scene as travelers prepare to earn miles and points.

The view from our room – Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport

Detroit to Calgary: Delta SkyMiles

Delta had the exact flights we wanted, fast and not too early in the morning, with the added bonus of flying with a well-respected airline.

I was able to book our round-trip tickets from Detroit to Calgary with the 50,000 (100,000 total) SkyMiles we had each earned with the Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card by American Express. The taxes and fees for our itinerary were just $122.50.

Without miles, the total cost for flights would have been about $1,600.

The Delta terminal was a five-minute walk from our hotel room and we each received our first checked bag free (added benefit from our Delta credit cards) We had seamless flights with spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies.

A wide mountain landscape under a clear blue sky, with forested slopes, a winding river, and a small town nestled in the valley below—perfect for travel miles and scenic points of interest.

Flying over the Canadian Rockies

Next Stop: Lake Louise

Once off the plane we headed straight to pick up our rental car. I was able to book the rental using Chase Ultimate Rewards points earned with my Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card.

A payment summary showing a total of $313.10, with 18,889 points redeemed for travel (points value $236.11), and $0.00 billed to your card.

Redeeming Chase Ultimate Rewards Points to rent a car

I booked the option that used the least amount of points, but again after casually mentioning we were on our honeymoon… out came a 2016 Dodge Charger.

Needless to say, driving through the mountains was a great experience filled with elk, grizzly bears, and breathtaking views.

We stayed three nights at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and it was incredible.

A large hotel sits on the shore of a turquoise lake, surrounded by dense pine trees, with snow-capped mountains rising in the background—an ideal travel destination for those looking to earn points as they explore miles of scenic beauty.

The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise

Our first two nights at this beautiful hotel were free thanks to the two free night certificates offered by the Fairmont credit card. We also cashed in our two free room upgrade certificates (also earned with the Fairmont card) to upgrade to a suite.

I booked the third night using my Capital One Venture Card, which earns points that can be used to go back and erase previous travel purchases. The bonus points earned for opening the card were more than enough to cover the charge.

Although I had originally booked the cheapest possible room for the third night, my “honeymoon card” kept us in the same suite we were in for the first two nights (at the price of the cheaper room I had originally booked).

A neatly made bed with a yellow upholstered headboard is centered between two matching dark nightstands, each with a lamp. Travel-inspired touches and minimal decor give the room a clean, modern look.

During our three-night stay, we ate all sorts of delicious food and went on a few escapades. By eating at the hotel restaurants (they had 5 great options) and booking our activities through the hotel, I was able to wipe those costs away with my Venture Capital card.

We also had free breakfast every day (other Fairmont card perks).

Two people wearing helmets and jackets sit on a red all-terrain vehicle (ATV) parked on a rocky area, ready for travel, with trees and mountains visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Two people on horseback pause on a dirt path near a wooden fence, with a forest of evergreen trees and mountains in the background. Other travelers can be seen near a lake behind them, adding to the sense of adventure and miles explored.
A smiling couple poses in front of a bright blue lake surrounded by pine trees and mountains under a clear sky, celebrating their travel adventure and collecting miles as the water sparkles in the sunlight.

Last Stop: Fairmont Banff Springs

Neither of us can stay in one spot for very long, and a castle in the Rockies was too good to pass up.

So we decided to head to the The Fairmont Banff Springs for the final three days of our trip.

A woman in a blue dress stands on a wooden deck, looking toward a large castle-like hotel surrounded by forest and mountains at dusk, dreaming of her next travel adventure and how to earn more points for future stays.

I was able to book two nights for free with the bonus earned from my wife’s Fairmont card. This time I placed the third night on my Barclaycard Arrival Plus, which allowed me to wipe away the cost with my points bonus.

Like the Capital One Venture Card, the Barclays Arrival Plus allows you to use your points to erase any travel related charge made with the card in the previous 90 days.

Located in the heart of Banff National Park, our stay was full of incredible views and unique experiences like: world-renowned hot springs (free certificates from Fairmont cards), gondola rides, and not-so-shy wildlife.

A scenic view of a river winding through forest and mountains, seen through a window from inside a room. A lamp and part of a table are visible beside the window, inviting thoughts of travel for miles beyond.

View from our bathroom window

A man and woman stand together in front of a wooden fence, with a vast mountain range and valley below them under a clear blue sky—capturing the spirit of travel and adventure.
A deer with large antlers and impressive points stands on green grass, looking toward the camera. Trees and bushes fill the background, as sunlight travels through the foliage.
A woman with curly hair kisses a smiling man on the cheek as they stand close together outdoors in front of green pine trees, sharing a joyful travel moment.

Bottom Line: You Should Travel More

Not only was I able to take my wife on a $10,000+ honeymoon for next to nothing, but I was also able to take the looming financial burden completely out of the equation.

If money is the only thing holding you back from taking that once in a lifetime trip, 10xT can help!

Happy Travels,

Luke

 

Photo Credit: Fairmont.com, Starwoodhotels.com