Reading Time: 4 minFamily vacations are some of the best ways to make memories, but once you start accounting for additional family members in the mix, vacations can suddenly get very expensive.
This past summer, I was determined to not only explore a new country I hadn’t been to, but to do it affordably by using points and miles. Here’s how I planned a family trip for three to the gorgeous Balkan destinations of Croatia and Montenegro.
I'd already visited Croatia and Bosnia before the pandemic, but Montenegro was still on my list. Flying into the country’s capital, Podgorica (TGD), was complicated — plus it was far from the coastal areas I wanted to visit.
The tiny airport of Tivat (TIV) was closer to my desired destinations of Kotor Bay and Herceg Novi, but I would have to fly from my home in Madrid (MAD) to Amsterdam (AMS), then to Belgrade (BEG), and finally to Tivat, which seemed extreme.
If I were coming from the U.S., the trip would be even longer. That said, Iberia will launch seasonal summer service between Madrid and Tivat in 2026, which could be a valid option if you want to arrive using Iberia Avios.
So, I decided to fly to Dubrovnik, Croatia, a destination that many European hubs serve, and a short drive from the Montenegrin border.
I used 16,500 Iberia Avios + $48 in taxes and fees per person to fly round-trip on the three-hour flight between Madrid (MAD) and Dubrovnik during the peak summer months. Since cash prices were elevated during this time ($460 per ticket in August), I got a value of 2.5 cents per point, which is solid for Iberia Avios.
If you’re starting off in the United States, though, you have many options. Although you can fly nonstop on United, award rates can be high in the summer. I’d opt to transfer Chase or Amex points to Avios (British Airways or Iberia) or Flying Blue, where you can find one-way tickets to Dubrovnik with a stop in Madrid or Amsterdam, for fewer points, especially if you take advantage of the frequently available 30% or 20% transfer bonuses.
We booked our rental car for around $350 for 10 days, plus an additional $50 to take the car over the border to Montenegro. Although I didn’t use points for this expense, I booked via Capital One Travel and paid with my Venture X card, earning 10x miles (about 4,000 in total).
While the rental car was the most expensive part of this trip, it was essential, as we drove from Dubrovnik over the border, then to Kotor Bay and the medieval village of Kotor, then to Herceg Novi, and back.
There was a lot of traffic on these one-lane roads and at the border crossing, and I wouldn’t have wanted to be stuck on a bus. We even had to take a car ferry at one point. (Hint: Kids love this — my 4-year-old is still talking about the car ferry as his favorite part of the trip.) But the drive was stunning and a true adventure, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Besides wanting to explore Montenegro’s charming villages and beautiful beaches, there was one hotel that had been on my bucket list for years: the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay. And since I’m a big fan of Iberostar properties (now part of IHG One Rewards through the IHG x Iberostar alliance, with amazing all-inclusive options for families), the Iberostar Waves Herceg Novi was also on my list.
I was able to get a standard suite award (we were three, so we wanted the extra space) for 24,000 Hyatt points per night at the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay. Thanks to my Hyatt elite status, we were upgraded to a spacious suite with stunning views, featuring a large terrace with a Jacuzzi. I’ll never forget the incredible views of the bay from this hotel or my son’s delight in swimming in the calm, clear waves.
The Iberostar Waves Herceg Novi was equally as wonderful. Because I get the 4th night free thanks to my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, I spent a total of 284,000 IHG One Rewards points, coming out to 56,800 per night for 5 nights. Since the hotel was all-inclusive (it included all meals, house wine and beer, a kids club, and other entertainment), this was an amazing deal. We spent our final two nights in a serene and small boutique hotel in Cavtat, Croatia, which I booked using the $300 travel credit that comes with my Venture X card.
All in all, the trip was filled with beauty, wonder, and delight, and it proved that even family adventures can feel luxe when you play the points game right.
