Affiliate Disclosure: Melissa's Travel Addiction has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Melissa's Travel Addiction and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.

We recently returned from a long weekend in Nashville. We flew nonstop from Phoenix to Nashville on Southwest and stayed at the Kimpton Aertson Hotel. The total cost for two round-trip flights and three hotel nights came to a total of $22.40! Here’s how we did it.

We booked the flights with Southwest points and we earned a companion pass earlier this year. We paid for just the taxes on the flight for $22.40.

We stayed at the Kimpton Aertson with IHG points & annual free nights and paid nothing. We received a $10 credit per night to use on food and beverage. IHG includes Holiday Inn and other hotel brands.

You can plan a similar vacation by using the same techniques as we did, by signing up for the right credit cards and using the points for free hotel nights or flights. Grab my free beginner’s guide to get started.

Affiliate Disclosure: Melissa's Travel Addiction has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Melissa's Travel Addiction and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.