Get in Loca, We’re Going to Forks
Forks, Washington has been in my travel rotation for a few years now because I have been a vendor at the annual festival there (yes, that Forks—the little town made famous by Twilight). Nestled on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, it’s the perfect mix of small-town charm and misty Pacific Northwest beauty.
But what made this trip even sweeter? My friend Meghan and I pulled it off for just $11.20 out of pocket each thanks to points and miles.
Here’s how we pieced it together:
How we got there: Alaska + Southwest
We flew Alaska Airlines into Seattle to start our trip. Booking with points brought our cost down to just the $5.60 in taxes and fees for each of us.
On the way home, I used 30k Southwest Rapid Rewards points, gained from opening the Southwest Business and Personal cards. That meant we only paid another $5.60 in taxes for each of us. I also used my companion pass for this flight. Since you can change your companion up to three times per year, I switched my daughter to Meghan, then can change back to my daughter after this trip.
That’s it—two flights, one round trip, and only $11.20 total out of pocket each! Total cash price would have been over $600/pp round-trip.
Meghan and I with the iconic Forks sign
Where we stayed: Chase + Hyatt Points
First 3 nights: I redeemed Chase Ultimate Rewards® points through the Chase travel portal, which gave me flexibility in picking my hotels. Having those covered with points meant we didn’t have to worry about lodging while exploring the Olympic Peninsula.
The first night we spent at Forks Motel. Don’t let the name fool you. I’ve stayed here four times now, and it is always clean, and the beds are super comfortable. This property was 28,092k/night when I booked in February 2025. Cash price would have been $351.
The second night, we stayed at the Quiluete Oceanside Resort, which is a beautiful property right on La Push beach. It’s La Push, baby. Sorry, had to do it ;) This property cost 34,355 points, and cash price would have been $449.44.
Our third night, we chose to stay in Port Angeles. This is a cute little town in between Forks and Seattle. We stayed at the Olympic Inn & Suites right in town. This cost us 17,656 points + $0 instead of $220. I highly recommend visiting Bella Rosa Coffee House on S. Lincoln St. They had an amazing Caprese crepe and their coffee is superb!
Our final night, we treated ourselves to the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington at Seattle’s Southport—a gorgeous property right on the water, perfect for unwinding before heading home. Thanks to World of Hyatt points (transferred from Chase), that night cost us 12k points and $0 instead of $371.
The view from River’s Edge Restaurant on the Quileute Reservation in La Push, Wa
Rental Car: Hertz
We always book our rental cars through the portal because we like to keep expenses for trips as free as possible. The rental car for our entire stay was only 23,372 UR points for a Wednesday - Sunday. Cash price would have been $292.16.
Before I booked this car, I noticed on my IHG account that I could link my IHG account with my Hertz account, giving me Hertz status. This allowed us to skip the line at the airport, plus add an additional driver for free. It also gave us the freedom to pick our car at the lot and drive away! I highly suggest doing this if you already have IHG status.
*Travel Portal Tip: Always check your booking before your cancellation date. I had originally booked a car for 43k UR points, however, I checked about a week before we left, and it had went down 20k points for the same times and dates! So I received 20k UR points back into my account after I was able to cancel and rebook. This is why it’s also good to make sure your booking is refundable.
I exchanged pictures with a friendly hiker before hiking High Ridge Trail. I highly recommend if you can handle steep inclines.
Cape Flattery in Neah Bay — A MUST SEE in Washington since it is the northernmost point of the contiguous United States!
Places to See:
We were able to visit a few places while we were here. I highly recommend visiting Hurricane Ridge. You literally drive up the mountains, then you are rewarded with this amazing view of the Olympic Mountains. If you’re more of a hiker, definitely take the High Ridge trail. You get a clearer view higher up on this trail. You can go higher towards Sunrise Point, which will give you a more amazing point of view. It is a steep incline, however, so be aware.
Another recommendation is Cape Flattery in Neah Bay. You may have heard of this because it is the most northernmost point in the contiguous US. It is absolutely breathtaking. Pictures cannot do it justice, whatsoever. You have to experience it for yourself.
We also were able to visit Hoh Rainforest. Even though there were other people there — but by no means crowded — we were on the trail by ourselves a lot. It was so quiet in this rainforest, and the moss covering the trees was so mystifying.
And, if you’re driving through Port Angeles, you might as well eat at Bella Italia, the restaurant that Edward takes Bella in the first Twilight book. They have the famous Bella’s Mushroom Ravioli (yes, I did order that and a Coke ;)). The food was quite good, and it’s an enjoyable experience if you’re a Twilight fan. The staff was amazing here, as well.
While you’re on your way to either Forks or Port Angeles, you might as well make a stop at Lake Crescent. It’s a beautiful lake set upon the mountains. It’s worth a photo op.
Lastly, you have to visit the beaches. The enormous and gorgeous sea stacks combined with the giant driftwood along the beach makes it feel like you’re in a dream world. First Beach and Rialto are my favorite, but you should see all of them if you have the time :)
Lake Crescent in between Forks and Port Angeles
Bella Italia restaurant in Port Angeles, Wa
We couldn’t get over how beautiful Cape Flattery was ❤️
Meghan and I in front of the gorgeous Olympic Mountains at the Hurricane Ridge entrance
In Summary:
Airfare: Alaska Miles: 10k miles + $5.60/pp + 30k SW Points total (bc of Companion Pass) + $5.60 for taxes/fees/pp
Hotels: 92,102k Chase UR points total for 4 nights (12k of those transferred to Hyatt) + $0
Rental Car: 23,372 UR points total + $0
Original Price we would have paid for this trip: $2,901.60 or $1,450.80/pp
What we paid after using points: $11.20/pp
The Bottom Line
Four nights in Washington, roundtrip flights, and all we paid was $11.20 in taxes and fees/pp. That’s the power of points and miles!
This trip was proof that you don’t need a huge budget to visit bucket-list destinations—you just need the right strategy. By combining airline loyalty programs with flexible points like Chase Ultimate Rewards® and a strong hotel partner like Hyatt, we were able to stretch our rewards for maximum value.
Girls’ Trip for the win! 💃🏻
