This was definitely one of those “yes, I'm really in Puerto Rico” moments! ☀️🇵🇷
There's something special about arriving in Puerto Rico, feeling that warm Caribbean breeze, seeing the beautiful palm trees, and knowing it's finally time to relax.
During our trip, we stayed at The Royal Sonesta San Juan, where we had a beautiful room facing the beach. Waking up to those gorgeous ocean views and knowing the beach was just steps away made our stay even more enjoyable.
We spent time relaxing by the ocean, soaking up the sunshine, enjoying the tropical scenery, and simply slowing down.
Sometimes traveling isn't about having every minute planned. Sometimes it's about putting on your favorite sun hat, finding a comfortable spot by the beach, listening to the waves, and enjoying exactly where you are.
But what made this trip even sweeter was knowing how much we saved along the way!
Between our Frontier Airlines GoWild! Pass and our American Express Platinum Card, we found ways to enjoy a wonderful Puerto Rico vacation without paying full cash prices for some of our biggest travel expenses.
And I'm going to share exactly how we did it!
How We Flew from California to Puerto Rico for Just $55 ✈️
One of our favorite ways to find affordable airfare is through the Frontier Airlines GoWild! Pass.
We purchased our passes for $199 each, and they've given us opportunities to explore destinations at some pretty amazing flight prices.
For our Puerto Rico adventure, here's what we paid for the two flight segments:
San Francisco (SFO) to Atlanta (ATL): $16
Atlanta (ATL) to San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU): $39
Total: Just $55 in flight charges!
Now, that's the cost of the two flight segments—not the entire vacation. It doesn't include our GoWild! Pass purchase, baggage charges, or any other applicable travel expenses.
Still, finding flights at those prices made this trip feel like an incredible deal.
And here's how we made it happen.
Our Frontier GoWild! Strategy: Book Each Flight Separately
One thing we've learned about using our Frontier GoWild! Pass is that sometimes it pays to search for individual one-way flights instead of looking for one complete itinerary.
For this trip, we booked:
Flight 1: San Francisco → Atlanta
Flight 2: Atlanta → San Juan, Puerto Rico
Rather than booking everything as one connecting ticket, we treated each flight as a separate trip.
This allowed us to take advantage of the GoWild! fares we found for each route.
Of course, Frontier's GoWild! availability can vary, and booking windows and other restrictions apply. Not every destination or flight will be available at these prices.
But for our trip, this strategy worked!
The Downside: You Have to Collect and Recheck Your Luggage 🧳
Now, I believe in sharing the good and the inconvenient parts of traveling, because sometimes saving money means doing a little extra work.
When you book separate flights like we did, your checked luggage generally isn't automatically transferred to the next flight.
That meant when we arrived in Atlanta, we had to:
Exit our first flight and go to baggage claim.
Collect our checked luggage.
Return to the airline check-in area.
Check our bags again for our flight to San Juan.
Go back through airport security before heading to our next gate.
Yes, it takes extra time!
But for us, the airfare savings made the additional effort worthwhile.
My travel tip: If you decide to book separate flights, make sure you allow enough time between them. You have to account for baggage claim, check-in deadlines, security lines, and possible flight delays.
Also remember that separate tickets generally don't provide the same missed-connection protections as a single connecting itinerary.
Why Atlanta Is One of Our Favorite Frontier Connection Airports
We've found that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) can be a useful airport to check when searching for affordable Frontier flights to different destinations.
Because we're traveling from California, we sometimes look at Atlanta as a possible connection point when searching for good GoWild! Pass fares.
For our Puerto Rico trip, our flights were approximately three hours apart.
We didn't have to deal with an extremely long layover, and the timing worked well for our travel plans.
That doesn't mean three hours will always be enough time for separate-ticket connections, especially with checked luggage. Every trip is different.
But we've learned that comparing individual flight segments through airports like Atlanta can sometimes uncover affordable travel options we might otherwise miss.
If you're a Frontier GoWild! Pass holder, it's worth exploring different routes and comparing your options before booking.
Our Beachfront Hotel Was Covered Using Amex Points! 🏖️
Now, let's talk about where we stayed!
We booked our accommodations at The Royal Sonesta San Juan through American Express Travel, using approximately 100,000 American Express Membership Rewards points toward our room.
And here's the exciting part: our room cost was covered with points instead of cash!
We had a beautiful room facing the beach, with gorgeous ocean views and easy access to the tropical scenery we'd come to Puerto Rico to enjoy.
I loved being able to step outside, relax near the ocean, enjoy the sunshine, and take in the beautiful surroundings.
For me, those peaceful moments are just as important as sightseeing and exploring.
Using our accumulated points toward the hotel room made the experience even better.
Of course, points have value, and there may still be hotel fees or incidental expenses depending on the reservation. But being able to redeem rewards rather than pay the room rate out of pocket was a wonderful benefit.
The Best Travel Card for This Trip: American Express Platinum 💳✨
For this particular Puerto Rico vacation, I would have to say our American Express Platinum Card was the star of the show!
Why?
Because we were able to enjoy two benefits that made a real difference in our travel experience.
First: We used Membership Rewards points earned through our American Express account toward our beachfront hotel stay.
Second: We enjoyed access to the American Express Centurion Lounge during our travels.
Between the hotel savings and airport comfort, the Platinum Card added a little luxury to our budget-friendly trip.
Now, the Platinum Card has a substantial annual fee, and its benefits won't make financial sense for everyone. But for this trip, we appreciated the value we received from the benefits available to us.
Relaxing, Eating, and Showering at the Centurion Lounge 🛋️🍽️🚿
One of my favorite parts of having access to the Centurion Lounge is being able to enjoy a more comfortable airport experience.
During our travels, we were able to spend time in the lounge between flights.
We could relax, enjoy food, and even freshen up with a shower!
And let me tell you, after traveling, being able to take a shower and feel refreshed before continuing your journey is a wonderful experience.
Instead of spending all our airport time searching for somewhere comfortable to sit or purchasing another expensive meal, we enjoyed the amenities available to us through our card benefits.
It made the travel day feel a little less exhausting and a lot more enjoyable.
A helpful note: Centurion Lounge entry depends on eligibility, the airport, flight timing, capacity, and current American Express access policies. Shower facilities and availability also vary by lounge. When traveling on separate tickets, always make sure you can meet your next flight's baggage and security deadlines before spending time in a lounge.
What Did Our Puerto Rico Travel Savings Look Like?
Here's a breakdown of the major travel costs and rewards we used.
Travel expenseWhat we paid or usedFrontier GoWild! Pass$199 per passSFO → Atlanta flight$16Atlanta → San Juan flight$39Total for the two flight segments$55Royal Sonesta San Juan roomApproximately 100,000 Amex pointsCenturion LoungeAccess through eligible Amex Platinum benefitsThe airfare figures reflect the flight charges we paid for the segments described, not a total trip or per-person cost comparison. Pass purchases, baggage, other fees, meals, transportation, and additional vacation expenses are separate.
Even so, combining low-cost airfare with our travel rewards helped us save cash on two major parts of the trip: flights and accommodations.
And we still got to enjoy a beautiful beachfront vacation!
Was It Worth It? Absolutely! 🌴💛
For us, Puerto Rico was a wonderful getaway.
We enjoyed the beach, beautiful ocean views, warm tropical weather, and the opportunity to simply slow down and appreciate the moment.
And knowing we'd used our travel rewards and affordable airfare options made the trip feel even more rewarding.
I love finding ways to travel without automatically paying full price for everything.
Sometimes that means being flexible with flight routes.
Sometimes it means booking separate one-way flights and dealing with the inconvenience of rechecking luggage.
And sometimes it means using the credit card points you've accumulated to enjoy a hotel you might otherwise have paid hundreds of dollars for.
The key is understanding the benefits, the restrictions, and the trade-offs before booking.
My Final Puerto Rico Travel Tips ✈️
If you're planning a trip to Puerto Rico—or anywhere else—here are a few things I'd encourage you to consider:
Compare one-way flight options. Sometimes booking separate legs can reveal better fares.
Research the Frontier GoWild! Pass. Understand the purchase cost, booking windows, availability restrictions, and additional charges before deciding whether it's right for you.
Check connecting airports like Atlanta. Depending on your destination and travel dates, you might discover useful route combinations.
Allow enough time between separately booked flights. Especially when traveling with checked luggage.
Use your travel rewards wisely. Compare the cash price of a hotel with the value of the points you're redeeming.
Take advantage of eligible airport lounge benefits. Food, comfortable seating, and other amenities can make travel days more pleasant.
Puerto Rico, You Were Good to Us! 🇵🇷
This trip reminded me that beautiful experiences don't always have to come with the highest price tag.
With a little planning, flexibility, and the right travel rewards, you can enjoy wonderful destinations while being mindful of your spending.
We loved our time at the Royal Sonesta San Juan, relaxing by the beach, and experiencing the beauty of Puerto Rico.
And I'm already looking forward to sharing more of our travel adventures!
Have you ever used Frontier's GoWild! Pass or American Express points to save on a vacation? I'd love to hear about your experience!
Until our next adventure,
CaliWanderer 🌎
Explore. Discover. Belong.
Travel note: This article reflects our personal experience. Airline fares, GoWild! Pass terms, hotel redemption rates, credit card benefits, and lounge access policies can change. Always verify current terms and availability before booking.