The Traveling Tinsleys

How We Booked a Dreamy Airbnb in Sámara, Costa Rica

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tinsleymaggie

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Our trip to Costa Rica was magical. I’m going to break down each part of our stay and how we used points and miles to make it happen.

🌊 The Airbnb of my dreams

First of all…this Airbnb was everything. Think: insane ocean views, a private pool, and the kind of peaceful jungle vibes that make you forget what day it is.

It’s perched up on a hillside overlooking Sámara, and we were obsessed from the moment we walked in.

Picking a mango from the tree the house was built around

A quick heads up for families:
This property is not designed for young kids. There’s a steep cliff, open spaces, and it’s definitely not kid-proof. If you’ve got older kids, you’ll be fine—but I’d be cautious with littles.

That said, my kids still had the BEST time:

  • They lived in the pool
  • Loved the boogie boards provided
  • And were all about our daily golf cart rides down to the beach
Not included with the house but Blazing buggys drops it off and picks it up
Kids and adults never wanted to get out
The kitchen opens up the backyard when all the doors are open. And against what I thought, there really weren’t any mosquitos
Views are just ridiculous

💳 How We Paid for It (Without Paying Full Price)

Here’s where the magic happens.

Option 1: Use a Travel Card to “Erase” the Cost

We love using a card like the Capital One Venture X for Airbnb stays because you can:

  • Earn a big signup bonus
  • Then go back and erase travel purchases

👉 Apply here.

At current bonus levels, you can cover around $750 of your Airbnb stay just from the welcome bonus alone. That’s a huge chunk gone.

Option 2: Our Favorite Hack (What We Actually Did)

This is one of my favorite strategies for Airbnb stays 👇

We used our Ink Cash card to:

  • Buy Airbnb gift cards at office supply stores
  • Earn 5x points on those purchases
  • Hit the signup bonus (currently 75,000 points)

👉 Apply here and click down to Ink Cask

Why this works so well:

  • You’re earning points fast
  • You can budget ahead of time by buying gift cards gradually
  • You’re essentially turning a big expense into a points-earning machine

We used the signup bonus + points earned from gift cards to offset a big portion of this stay—and it made the whole trip feel way more doable.

And if you think you don’t qualify for a business card, message me and I can share how you probably do. Sell things on FB marketplace? Have any side hustle no matter the size? You probably qualify. Have a larger business, then applying should be straight forward. Message me and I can walk you through the process.

🌴 Final Thoughts (And the Airbnb Link 👀)

We absolutely fell in love with Costa Rica. Sámara was the perfect mix of laid-back beach town + adventure, and this Airbnb made it unforgettable.

Was it the most kid-friendly place ever? No.
Would we stay there again in a heartbeat? 1000% yes.

👉Book it here

If you’ve been wanting to travel more with your kids, this is your sign—it is possible. You just need the right mix of planning, points, and a little creativity.

Have questions about booking trips like this or using points for Airbnb stays? Send me a message—I’m always happy to help 💛

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