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October 20, 2021

Southwest Companion Pass: Best U.S. Destinations for Families on Southwest

Have you earned a Southwest Companion pass this year? Or maybe you are thinking about earning one for next year? Either way, here are some great ideas for the best USA destinations to fly to with your Southwest companion pass.

How to Earn the Southwest Companion Pass

If you don’t know how to earn a companion pass or know what that is, grab my free guide HERE.

This guide walks you through earning the Companion Pass the traditional way, but about once a year, Southwest also offers a nearly one-year Companion Pass as a sign-up bonus.

Here’s how that offer typically works: you open a Southwest personal card when the offer is available, meet the minimum spend, and earn a smaller welcome bonus (usually around 30,000 points) plus the Companion Pass, which is valid through February of the following year. Once you meet the spending requirement and your statement closes, the pass is issued. (Always check the current offer details before applying.)

This is a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to open two cards. While you won’t earn as many points with the one-card Companion Pass strategy, it’s much easier to earn for most people.

And if you’re short on Southwest points, you can transfer points from Chase Ultimate Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Just be sure you’re getting at least 1.5 cents per point in value when you redeem.

What is the Southwest Companion Pass?

When you earn the Southwest companion pass, you can have a companion fly with you by paying just the taxes all year long and hopefully up to two years, if you plan it correctly. Your ticket can be booked with points or cash!

This year, I earned a Companion Pass through a sign-up bonus, and my husband earned one the traditional way. His is valid through next year, while mine expires at the end of the year. Because of that, we’ve been traveling several times a month to make the most of my Companion Pass while we have it.

Flying a companion for free is incredible, but it only makes sense if you’ll actually use the benefit enough to get real value from it. If you’re only planning to use the Companion Pass once or twice, or if earning it feels like a stretch, it may not be the right goal for you right now.

We’ve gotten so much value out of the Companion Pass by using it to explore destinations all across the United States. Some of our favorite trips are listed below.

Below are some of our favorite destinations where Southwest flies. And if you have a Companion Pass, chances are you also have other credit card points to work with, so I’ve included some of the best points-friendly places to stay at each destination as well.

Bozeman, Montana

Things to see in the area: Yellowstone National Park, Grand Tetons, Big Sky, & Missoula:

Best Hotel Points Redemptions near Yellowstone:

West Yellowstone Holiday Inn (23,000-75,000 IHG points/ nightly)Great for families!

Fairfield Inn and Suites Yellowstone (35,000 Marriott points/nightly)Great for families!

Residence Inn Big Sky/The Wilson Hotel (35,000 Marriott points/nightly)Great for families!

Best Hotel Points Redemptions near Grand Tetons:

The Cloudveil, Autograph Collection (60,000 Marriott points/nightly)

SpringHill Suites Jackson Hole (50,000 Marriott points/nightly)Great for families!

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

2. Orlando, Florida

Things to see in the area: Walt DisneyWorld Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld, Waterparks or take a cruise from Port Canaveral

Best Hotel Points Redemptions near Walt Disney World Resort:

Walt Disney World Dolphin or Swan Reserve (50,000+ Marriott points/nightly)Great for families!

Springhill Suites Orlando Theme Parks (25,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for large families!

Gaylord Palms Resort (35,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for families!

Orlando World Center Marriott (35,000 Marriott points/nightly)Great for families!

Hyatt Regency Orlando (12,000 Hyatt points/nightly)Great for families!

Orlando Suites- Waterpark Holiday Inn Resort (28,000 IHG points/nightly) Great for large families- 2 bedroom suite!

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have change.

Best Hotel Points Redemptions near Universal Studios Resort:

Hyatt House across from Universal (12,000 Hyatt points/nightly)Great for families!

Residence Inn Near Universal Orlando (35,000 Marriott points/nightly)Great for families!

Universal Orlando Holiday Inn (13,000 IHG points/nightly)Great for families!

Do you want to get discounts on theme park tickets and Disney cruises? You should be a travel agent!

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

3. Seattle

Things to see in the area: Seattle Downtown, Mount Rainier, Olympic National Park, Mount Baker, Bellingham, San Juan Islands, & Leavenworth

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

4. Hawaii

Things to see in the area: Maui, Kauai, Big Island, & Oahu

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Maui:

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort (25,000 Hyatt points/nightly) Great for families!

*Hyatt Residence Club Maui (30,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

*While this is a great resort for families, I prefer to listen to a timeshare presentation to get a discounted stay, rather than use so many Hyatt points. See my post here on how we stayed at this resort.

The Westin Maui Resort & Spa Ka’anapali (50,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for families!

Wailea Beach Resort (60,000 Marriott points/nightly)

**The Westin Nanea Ocean Resort Villas (70,000Marriott points/nightly)

**While this is a great resort for families, I prefer to listen to a timeshare presentation to get a discounted stay, rather than use so many Hyatt points. See my post here on how we stayed at this resort.

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Kauai:

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa (25,000 Hyatt points/nightly) Great for families!

The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas (60,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for families!

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Big Island:

The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort (50,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for families!

Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel (35,000 Marriott points/nightly) Low point redemption!

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Oahu:

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa (40,000 Marriott points/nightly)

Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach (15,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa (20,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Waikiki Holiday Inn Express (37,000 IHG points/nightly)

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

5. Lake Tahoe

Things to see in the area: Lake Tahoe, Truckee, Eagle and Cascade falls, Boating & Parasailing, Heavenly Resort Coaster, Emerald Bay, Skiing & Snowmobiling

Related: Best beaches in Lake Tahoe

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Lake Tahoe:

Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort (25,000 Hyatt Points/nightly)

Resort at Squaw Creek (25,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Marriott Grand Residence (60,000 Marriott points/nightly) 2 Bedroom! Great for large families!

Springhill Suites in Truckee (35,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for large families!

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

6. San Francisco

Things to see in the area: San Francisco, San Jose, Muir Woods, Half Moon Bay, Monterey & Carmel by the Sea

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in San Francisco:

Hotel Kabuki (20,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square (40,000 Marriott points/nightly)

San Francisco Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf (35,000 Marriott points/nightly)

Kimpton Alton Hotel (45,000 IHG points/nightly)

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

7. Phoenix/Scottsdale

Things to see in the area: Scottsdale & Sedona

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Scottsdale:

The Phoenician, Scottsdale (60,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for families!

Adero Scottsdale, Autograph Collection (35,000 Marriott points/nightly)

Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort (21,000 Hyatt points/nightly) Great for families!

Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows (25,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

8. Nashville

Things to see in the area: Downtown area, Franklin, Great Smokey Mountains

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Nashville:

Kimpton Aertson Hotel (30,000 IHG points, nightly)

Gaylord Opryland Resort (35,000 Marriott points, nightly) Great for families!

Holston House Nashville (20,000 Hyatt points, nightly)

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

9. Panama City Beach

Things to see in the area: 30A including, Seaside & Aly’s Beach

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in PCB/Destin:

Holiday Inn Express Panama City Beach Beachfront (40,000 IHG points/nightly) Great for large families with ocean views!

SpringHill Suites Panama City Beach Beachfront (35,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for large families!

Hyatt Place Sandestin/at Grand Boulevard (12,000 Hyatt points/nightly) Great for large families!

Hyatt Place Panama City Beach (17,000 Hyatt points/nightly) Great for large families!

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

10. Austin

Things to see in the area: Downtown, Great Restaurants, Ladybird Lake, Magnolia Market in Waco

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Austin:

Kimpton Hotel Van Zandt (40,000 IHG points/nightly)

Hyatt Regency Austin (15,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Hyatt Place Austin Downtown (15,000 Hyatt points/nightly) Great for families!

SpringHill Suites Austin Northwest/The Domain Area (18,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for families!

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

11. New Orleans

Things to see in the area: The city of New Orleans, French Quarter

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in New Orleans:

The Eliza Jane (15,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Hyatt Centric French Quarter (15,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Hotel Fontenot (29,000 IHG points/nightly)

Q&C HotelBar New Orleans, Autograph Collection (35,000 Marriott points/nightly)

The Saint Hotel, New Orleans, French Quarter (50,000 Marriott points/nightly)

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

12. Salt Lake City

Things to see in the area: The City Center, Ice Castles in Midway, Park City, Wasatch Mountains, Various Ski Resorts

Best Hotel Points Redemptions near Salt Lake City:

Hyatt Place Provo (5,000 Hyatt Points/nightly)

Heber City Holiday Inn Express (17,000 IHG points/nightly) Great for families, can sleep up to 6!

Springhill Suites Salt Lake City Sugar House (15,000Marriott points/nightly)

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Park City:

Hotel Park City, Autograph Collection (50,000 Marriott points/nightly) Great for families!

Hyatt Place Park City (15,000 Hyatt points/nightly) Great for families!

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

13. Telluride/Montrose

Things to see in the area: Telluride, Ouray (Switzerland of America), Durango, Silverton, Durango-Silverton Train

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Durango:

Holiday Inn Durango Central (19,000 IHG points/nightly) Great for families, get a room with a balcony!

Springhill Suites Durango (35,000 points/nightly) Great for families!

Mesa Verde-Cortez Holiday Inn Express (15,000 IHG points/nightly) Great for families, rooms with bunk beds!

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

14. Buffalo, NY

Things to see in the area: Niagara Falls, Toronto

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Niagara:

Niagara Falls Marriott on the Falls (50,000 Marriott points/nightly)

Sheraton Fallsview Hotel (50,000 Marriott points/nightly)

Niagara Falls- Fallsview (20,000 IHG points/nightly) Great for families! Indoor waterpark!

Best Hotel Points Redemptions in Toronto:

The Anndore House, part of JdV by Hyatt (12,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Park Hyatt Toronto (25,000 Hyatt points/nightly)

Saint George Hotel (35,000 IHG points/nightly, 35,000 Marriott points/nightly)

Please note that these award rates were accurate at the time of posting but may have changed.

Of course, there are many more amazing destinations that Southwest Airlines flies to, but these are some of our favorites.

Honorable mentions:

Fresno- To visit Yosemite National Park or Sequoia National Park!

San Antonio- Riverwalk and the Texas Hill Country

Review of the Newly Rebranded Grand Hyatt Scottsdale

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Hi, I'm Melissa and I help families just like yours turn everyday spending into nearly free flights, luxury hotels, and incredible vacations—using credit card points and miles. For over a decade, we’ve explored the world for nearly free, and now I’ll show you how to do the same. Your dream trip is closer than you think!

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