Fly with me to Jamaica for my birthday celebration in February 2024. We are gonna do this, inexpensively, by simply getting one credit card. Here’s the plan in a nutshell:
- Apply and get a Southwest credit card that offers a free companion pass.
- (Get passport, if needed)
- Use the points acquired to get the flights to and from Jamaica and just pay the taxes.
- Get a 4-5+ bedroom AirBNB and split the cost between 4-5+ couples.
- Enjoy!
Applying for the credit card
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is offering 30,000 points and a Companion Pass that is valid until February 28, 2024. Please use our referral link here:
Southwest Application
Once approved, you have to spend $4,000 on it within 3 months. So, hint hint, charge everything you are going to pay with cash on it for 3 months like cell phone, internet, utilities, groceries, gas, clothes, everything including your rent, if they accept credit card payment. Even if they don’t and you don’t mind paying a 2.9% fee, you can even pay your rent on it to help you get to the spend quickly.
Using the points
After the spend is done, you will have at least 34,000 points (30,000 for the points and 4,000 or more for what you charged.) This can be enough for a round trip rewards ticket on Southwest Airlines to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Taxes are always due and to Jamaica or about $50 and Taxes from Jamaica are about $100. That’s where I get the figure above in the title. $150 for the flight. Since, you will have earned a Companion Pass, you will have to pay the taxes again for your Companion; another $150. So, for a couple $300.
Getting a passport
You will need a passport to enter Jamaica. Work on acquiring one as soon as you can. It takes weeks to receive a passport in the mail. The cost is $165 ($130 for the book and $35 to the facility you use.) This little book is the best travel purchase that you will ever make. Add another $15, if you want the facility to take the passport photos for you. Alternatively (because I’m frugal), with some commonly found templates online, you can make your own passport photos like I do and have it printed out at Walgreens as a photo for under $1.
Question that usually arises: Should I get a Passport Card to save money? No, the card is only for neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico!
Passport information found here!
Getting an AirBNB
Hotel rooms average over $200 per night plus taxes in Jamaica. For a 5-night stay, that runs about $1000. For half that amount, per couple, we can pool and get a nice accommodation using AirBNB. A nice 4-5 bedroom unit costs about $550 per day, including taxes. With each couple paying for one day, 5 couples would stay for 5 days for $550 per couple. The total of the trip for 5 days in Jamaica, including airfare, for each couple would be $700.
Enjoy!
In Jamaica, there is a plethora of things to do and lots of discounts for groups, especially groups of 8 or more. We can negotiate drivers, tours, massages, excursions at discounted rates, if we wanted. Let’s do this!
