This Is Exactly How I Booked a Wellness Retreat in the Berkshires on Points

Earlier this year, I redeemed points and miles for a Berkshires retreat. My good friend and travel companion had just gotten married a few weeks prior; it was finally time to put the stress of wedding planning behind her.

The charming towns, pastoral scenery, and historic museums of the Berkshires are a stone’s throw from the big cities of the Northeast. There are luxury accommodations galore, and as such, the area typically requires a hefty budget — especially if you partake in the many wellness activities and farm-to-table dining the region is known for. 

But for this trip, thanks to World of Hyatt points, we avoided paying thousands of dollars in hotel, food, drink, and activities costs at the Miraval Berkshires. Here’s exactly how I did it, and how you can replicate the experience. 

A Points and Miles Primer

One major benefit of points and miles is unlocking travel adventures that otherwise wouldn’t be accessible. In other words, I like to save and ultimately redeem my loyalty rewards on hotels and flights that skew toward the luxury end. These high-value redemptions can include business- and first-class flights, or fancy accommodations offered by some of the major hotel chains. 

My favorite travel rewards credit cards offer the ability to transfer points to a variety of airline and hotel partners. Transferring points — instead of redeeming directly through the credit card’s travel portal — can often provide the best value and flexibility. 

For instance, one of my favorite ways to redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards — points I earn from my Chase Sapphire Preferred card — is by transferring them to the World of Hyatt hotel program. Hyatt has one of the best loyalty programs out there, not just because of the variety found in its 1,150 properties, but also because the number of points required typically costs less than competitors. 

Most importantly, the program has an award chart, meaning you’ll know roughly how much every Hyatt hotel will cost in points. (That can’t be said for other hotel programs that offer “dynamic” points pricing.) 

How I Booked It 

The Miraval brand, with locations in the Berkshires, Austin, and Tucson, focuses on wellness experiences with an all-inclusive-like model. And yes, that means most food, nonalcoholic drinks, and an array of activities are included in the total cost of your stay. Even better, Miraval is part of World of Hyatt, so guests can earn and redeem Hyatt points when staying there. 

A midsummer experience for two guests at Miraval Berkshires would typically start at around $2,000 per night. Alternatively, a booking with points required 65,000 points per night for two guests. (Since the hotel has an all-inclusive model, a booking with only one guest costs 45,000 points per night.) 

I booked my stay by transferring points from my Chase Ultimate Rewards account to Hyatt — a process that occurs instantly online through an easy-to-use portal. Instead of paying over $4,000, I booked this wellness weekend with 130,000 points, most of which were Hyatt and some moved over from Chase. 

Was It Worth It? 

A couple of hours north from New York City, we quickly became immersed in the bucolic splendor of the Berkshires. While 130,000 Hyatt points is certainly a large amount, it’s also much better than paying over $4,000 in cash. (If you do the math, that’s about 3.1 cents per point in value, which is a solid redemption.) 

At Miraval, my friend and I got to experience some of the region’s best offerings, including an array of wellness activities, from sound baths and vibrational therapy to guided silent nature walks, hatchet throwing, and beekeeping. 

The food and drink were also a major highlight, with fresh and locally sourced ingredients for breakfast, lunch, and dinner along with healthy smoothies and mocktails. As mentioned, with the all-inclusive-style model, most activities and dining were part of the deal, even when using points. 

Guests at Miraval also earn a $175 resort credit per person each night of their stay — both on points and cash bookings. That credit can be used on anything, from spa treatments to additional-cost activities. 

Best of all, the trip was a perfect way to spend a weekend with a close friend who lives across the country — and for her to decompress post-wedding planning. But the true beauty of points and miles? It makes it possible to create these experiences without spending a lot out of pocket.