Let’s be honest — Universal is expensive.

When families start pricing out flights, hotels, and park tickets, it’s easy to feel like a Universal trip is completely out of reach.

That’s exactly why I wanted to write this post.

Because when you see the numbers side by side — what we actually paid vs what this same trip would have cost without points and planning — the difference is shocking.

Here’s the real breakdown of our Universal trip for a family of four.

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Quick note

Some of the links mentioned in this post may be affiliate links. I don’t publish direct credit card links on my blog. If you’re interested in applying for any card I mention, please message me on Instagram at @pointsandmilesteachers so I can send you the correct link.

Using my links is how I get paid and allows me to continue sharing free content and trip planning help for families like yours — thank you for supporting my work.

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Planning a Universal Trip With Tweens and Teens?

This post is part of my Universal Studios + Epic Universe planning series, created specifically for families traveling with tweens and teens.

You can read the full series here:

• How We Fly Our Family to Universal Studios Using Points and Miles
• Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure in One Day With Tweens and Teens
• Where to Stay Near Universal With Tweens and Teens (Including Free Express Pass Options)
• What to Know About Epic Universe Before You Take Tweens and Teens
• How Much a Universal Trip Really Costs for a Family of 4

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The Trip We Planned

Our trip included:

• 4 people
• 3 nights near Universal
• 1 day at Epic Universe
• 1 day at Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure (park hopper)

This is a very realistic trip for families who can’t take a full week off work or school.

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What This Trip Would Have Cost Without Points

Let’s start with the real sticker shock.

Flights

Roundtrip flights for four people during school break:
≈ $1,200

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Hotel

Three nights near Universal:
$719

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Park tickets

• Epic Universe (1 day)
• Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure park hopper (1 day)

Total:
≈ $1,500

Total without strategy:

≈ $3419 + food and transportation

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What We Actually Paid

Now here’s what we really spent — and why.

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✈️ Flights: $1,200 → $0

We flew Spirit for this trip because the flight times worked best for our schedule.

Cash cost:
$1,200

But we booked those flights with our Capital One Venture card and later used miles to pay off the charge.

Final cost:
$0

If you want to see exactly how this works, I explain it step by step here:
[Capital One points blog post]

And if we had booked earlier—and had earned our Companion Passes again—these flights could have cost us about $45 total, plus points.

I explain that strategy here:
[Southwest Companion Pass blog post]

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🏨 Hotel: $719 → $0

We stayed at a Hyatt directly across from Universal.

Cash price:
$719

Points used:
Hyatt points

Final cost:
$0

Perks that mattered:
• free Universal shuttle
• no Lyft costs adding up
• free breakfast for all four of us

That alone saved us hundreds.

Here’s how we regularly book Hyatt stays like this:
[How We Stay at Hyatt for $0 Using Points ]

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🎟️ Park tickets: $1,500 → $1,000

Tickets are expensive — but timing matters.

We purchased our tickets through Undercover Tourist / Theme Park Frog during a promotion.

Because we used our Capital One card through the Capital One Shopping portal, we earned:

50,000 Capital One miles

Those miles alone are worth roughly $500 in travel.

Out-of-pocket ticket cost:
$1,000

This is a strategy I often use —stacking portals with purchases we already planned to make.

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The Final Comparison

Without points & strategy:

≈ $3,419 + food and transportation to and from the airport

What we actually paid out of pocket:

≈ $1,000 + food and transportation to and from the airport

And we earned additional points along the way that we’ll use for future trips.

That’s the part most people miss — points don’t just save money once.

They compound.

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Why This Matters for Families

We are not luxury travelers (but sometimes we do stay in some really bougie hotels thanks to points for $0!!!)

We travel during school breaks.
We fly economy.
We plan around real life.

And this is exactly why points and miles work so well for families — not because we’re chasing upgrades, but because we’re reducing the biggest costs.

Flights.
Hotels.
Transportation.

Those three things determine whether a trip happens at all.

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If You’re Just Getting Started

If this feels overwhelming, start here:

• How We Fly Our Family to Universal Studios Using Points and Miles
• Where to Stay Near Universal With Tweens and Teens
• Capital One points explained
• Southwest Companion Pass guide

You don’t need to do everything at once.

Even one strategy can make a massive difference.

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Final Thoughts

Universal doesn’t have to be an “once in a lifetime” trip.

With the right planning and points strategy, it can be something families actually afford — without sacrificing experiences or going into debt.

This is exactly why I share this content.

Because families deserve to travel too.

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Want help planning your own Universal trip?

If you’re planning a Universal trip and want help deciding which points or strategies make sense for your family, message me on Instagram at @pointsandmilesteachers before you apply for anything.

Using my links is how I get paid and allows me to continue providing free content and trip planning support — and I’m always happy to help you think it through.

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