Saving $10K in summer award travel to Central Europe

A Sudden Change in Plans 

Val and I originally intended to spend Labor Day Weekend in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, but she just started a new job at a different hospital (literally a week before the extended holiday). Since I would be traveling solo, I decided to scratch all existing plans and challenge myself by putting together a kickass itinerary for an end-of-summer trip. 

I imposed the following arbitrary constraints on myself to challenge how I would plan a last-minute trip:

• Burn a Delta Global Upgrade certificate (I have at least 4 to redeem by January 2026).
• Burn 2 World of Hyatt Free Night certificates that would expire within a month.
• Visit a new UN geoscheme region that I have not yet experienced.
• Visit at least 2 Traveler’s Company partner shops.
• Chip away at the reserve of Airbnb employee credit I have remaining.

After a deep thinking shower session, I realized that Central/Eastern Europe would fit the bill. And so I planned, and then I lived it. 

For my fellow award travel fiends who strive to unlock high-value travel without the exorbitant price tag, I’ll walk through in a trip report how I’ve bricolaged a weekend geared toward solo adventure, coffee house culture, and a love of stationery. And for those who really want to get into more details, I’ve created a travel sheet that outlines my complete hour-by-hour itinerary, expenses, packing list, and reviews.

Trip Report Breakdown

Flights for 1 person yielded $11,102 of value from award redemptions, and I only needed to pay $238.92 in taxes and fees to fly across continents:

• 1 international business class flight on Delta Airlines from JFK to PRG retailed for $7,878. I redeemed 110,500 Delta SkyMiles for an original Comfort+ seat and upgraded to the Delta One cabin via a Global Upgrade Certificate (and $5.6 in taxes and fees). I knew the aircraft configuration didn’t have a Premium Select, so this certificate would bump me up directly to Delta One!
• CPP = 100 * (7,878 - 5.6) / 110,500 = 7.12 CPP 
• 1 premium economy flight on Air France KLM from AMS to JFK retailed for $3,224. I redeemed 80,000 Flying Blue miles (and $283.32 in taxes and fees). I applied $50 in airline credits from the AmEx Aspire Card to lower the taxes and fees to $233.32.
• CPP = 100 * (3,224 - 233.32) / 80,000 = 3.74 CPP

Accommodations for 1 person resulted in $442.36 of value from award redemptions, and since all of the stays were redeemed through the Hyatt portfolio, we did not have to pay any hidden resort fees:

• 1 night at Lindner Hotel Prague Castle in a King Bed room retailed for $214.12 USD. I used a free night certificate received from the World of Hyatt Brand Explorer perk. I booked a King Bed as a Discoverist member.
• 1 night at Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere in a King Bed room retailed for $228.24. I used a free night certificate as a World of Hyatt cardholder

When I was booking this hotel, I had no idea it was a Michelin Key hotel, and I later learned it’s the only (at the time of this writing) Michelin Key property that can be booked with a World of Hyatt free night certificate.

While I spent ample time sightseeing, I did waive 1 paid excursion with my existing Airbnb employee credit balance. I took a grand city tour of Prague on a scooter for a retail price of $69.44. 

Reviews

Eats

• Cafe Louve: This cafe had speedy service, and the interiors were well maintained with a beige pink aesthetic—nods to Einstein's patronage were sprinkled throughout the space. I tried the signature Cafe Louve-titled coffee and dessert; both were beautifully presented and tasted as such. 
• Cafe Imperial: The walls and ceilings of this grand cafe were intentionally tiled to produce evocative artwork. The service was slow, but the food tasted fresh. 
• Cafe Central: I was fortunate to listen to live piano playing a couple of meters away as I was eating an authentic Viennese dinner. The establishment also includes an informative 5-minute documentary near the exit gift shop, with local goods available for self-checkout. It's a must for anyone wanting to experience Vienna's coffeehouse culture firsthand.

Excursions

• Nuclear Bunker Tour: Karl was highly knowledgeable in Cold War history. He added flair to his recitation of history, ranging from the Velvet Revolution to contemporary culture. 
• Grand City Scooter Tour Airbnb Experience: Peter was a phenomenal experience host! He showed us around the hidden gems of Prague on an exhilarating scooter tour. Peter took the time to teach us the mechanics and watched out for our safety from beginning to end. He also went the extra mile to capture photos and video footage of us riding our scooters on busy streets. I'd totally do this again when I return to Prague with a group.
• Train Transfer to/from Vienna Center: The wi-fi that was advertised was nonexistent. Fortunately, I was able to watch a movie on the train's entertainment system to keep me occupied. 
• Big Bus Vienna Tour: I booked a 24-hour ticket the day I arrived in Vienna and didn't activate my ticket until the following morning (I intended to do an evening tour initially, but my plans were derailed due to train schedules). The companion mobile app showed me where different buses were minute-by-minute, and I was able to at least stay on for a whole hour before departing for Vienna's airport for a flight back home.

Stationery Shops

• Gentleman Store: The staff was knowledgeable about Traveler's Company products and reminded me to get prints of the exclusive ink stamp as a licensed Travelers Partner shop. He showed me all of the available TN offerings the store had to offer, and I was able to grab a medley of stationery items to start my journaling at the start of my weekend in Europe. The store itself was spacious and catered to a modern generation of men's aesthetics.
• Paper Republic: I wanted to check out this place, given how its stationery products have flooded my TikTok feed this past year. The staff were kind and greeted me upon entry. It was fascinating to see and hear the leather specialists in the background work to place orders around the globe.
• Sous Bois: I arrived at the opening hour of this shop on a Monday morning, so I was only able to check out the stationery (its cafe section did not seem open). The sole store employee welcomed me with a smile, and I was able to browse around a variety of stationery offerings. There was a dedicated corner to Traveler's Notebook products, especially with the exclusive partner shop stamp in full view, with convenient access.

Hotels

• Lindner Hotel Prague Castle: I expected much more from the amenities, given that the place was described as a castle, but my room's water kettle was not functioning. I called the front desk, but there was no alternative offered as a result.
• Andaz Vienna Am Belvedere: The art pieces that decorated this hotel were tastefully curated, which I felt contributed to its Michelin Key designation. I received a personalized greeting card upon entering my room, along with a vase of fruit-infused water. The staff were kind and the rooftop added a nice evening viewpoint. This became a fantastic venue to redeem one of my free night certificates from my World of Hyatt card, and I'd recommend it to travelers who are seeking outsized value for their award travel.