Hello, Reader.

Have you ever really wanted to take a vacation, but thought, "It's just too expensive"? We sure have, and I bet you have, too.

Our recent trip to the Dominican Republic was one of those trips. We'd had our eyes on the DR for years, but the cost of a trip like that, done right, can feel like a wall. Eleven nights. Two people. Flights, hotels, excursions, food, transportation. It adds up fast.

When we finally ran the numbers, a fully paid version of our trip would have come to around $6,700.

What we actually paid? Just under $2,400.

That gap didn't happen by accident. Over the years, we've gotten intentional about how we fund our travel: we have a timeshare with Hilton, a couple of strategic credit cards, and a few booking habits that help stretch every dollar further than it looks like it should go.

So let's talk budget.

It's not a secret system. It's just paying attention. We know 'just use your points' sounds easier said than done, so let's get specific. Here's the full breakdown: every expense, every freebie, nothing held back.

Let's start with the big two: lodging and airfare.

​Round-trip flights from Indianapolis to the Dominican Republic in May (shoulder season), cost about $650 per person.

A luxury, all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana cost $1,543 for 4 nights. And a moderate hotel in La Romana cost $1,462 for 7 nights (both including local taxes).

We didn't pay any of these expenses! The RT airfare and four nights in Punta Cana were a bonus trip offered through our Hilton ownership. To extend our trip, we redeemed credit card points to book four nights in La Romana and cashed in three extra free nights earned from past bookings.

That's 40 percent of the total budget FREE!

What we DID pay for

$547 | Additional transportation costs, including checked bags (1 each), airport-hotel transportation, and taxi service around La Romana.

$938 | Excursions. We wanted to explore different aspects of the island beyond just the resorts, so we pre-scheduled 5 tours during our time in the Dominican Republic:

• An all-day trip to Los Haitises National Park, with additional stops along the way
• A visit to Monkeyland, a popular Punta Cana activity
• Boat ride, snorkeling and lunch on Catalina Island
• ​Catamaran trip to Saona Island, including unlimited drinks and a traditional Dominican buffet lunch
• ​Tour of the Colonial District in Santo Domingo (DR's capital city) with a bonus stop at Tres Ojos (3 Eyes) National Park

$523 | Food & Drink costs outside the all-inclusive resort. This included everything from street food to cocktails on the beach to fine dining in town.

$389 | Souvenirs & Miscellaneous expenses. This included shopping in Santo Domingo, tips, and spending cash in Dominican Pesos that we exchanged before leaving the U.S. to get the best exchange rate.

Now it's your turn. Ready to start planning your next trip?

Whether you've dreamed of a vacation in the Dominican Republic or somewhere else, getting there doesn't have to be out of reach.

Your trip might look different than ours, and you may have different resources, but taking a smart approach to travel makes even dream destinations within reach.

Start with one point system, one strategic card, one destination you've been dreaming about. Do a little research, plan a little ahead, and make it happen.

We'll keep exploring and searching for deals, then sharing what we find.

If you have a favorite money-saving travel hack, hit reply and tell us about it. We love learning new tips and sharing them with our Wander for Days community.

Until next week, happy planning!

With love,

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