Two Trips, Two Weeks Apart—Was Redeeming Miles for Puerto Vallarta Worth It?

I got back from Japan in mid-March. I was jet-lagged, a little broke, still half-living out of my suitcase—and yet, less than a week later, I booked a trip to Puerto Vallarta.

Using miles, of course.

And now, fresh off that second trip (I literally got back at midnight), I’m unpacking more than just my beachwear. I’m asking the question that haunts every travel rewards nerd: Was using my miles worth it?

Let's Start With the Basics

At the time, I had about 67,479 AAdvantage miles and 6,515 loyalty points. Thanks to flights, credit card points, and some impulsive Mileage Multiplier purchases, I had a nice little stash.

American Airlines miles are generally valued at 1.7 cents per mile, which is kind of the golden rule when deciding whether to redeem. If your redemption hits or exceeds that number, it’s probably a smart move.

Here’s the math: Cash price of flight ÷ miles redeemed = value per mile

(Then multiply by 100 to get cents)

The Puerto Vallarta Breakdown

I booked a round-trip to Puerto Vallarta for 20,000 miles. Had I paid in cash, it would’ve cost around $340.

Let’s plug it in:

$340 ÷ 20,000 = 0.017 → 1.7 cents per mile

Right on the dot.

So, did I book a luxury suite in the sky? No. Was it a redemption that travel influencers would brag about on YouTube? Also no. But it got me a flight, it saved me money, and it checked the value box. That’s a win in my book.

About That Mileage Multiplier

Earlier this year, I paid $376.46 to buy extra miles through American’s Mileage Multiplier. Since I used my AAdvantage credit card, I earned 2 miles per dollar, which got me around 752 miles back on the purchase.

Would I do that again? Maybe. It depends how I use the miles. If I get at least 1.7 cents per mile in value again, then yes—it’s like buying discounted airfare in advance. If I let those miles sit and never use them, then no—it’s just expensive pixel dust.

So Was It Worth It?

Absolutely.

Puerto Vallarta was a dream. Sun, ocean, tacos, drag shows, and enough Vitamin D to temporarily cure my seasonal depression. And booking it just a week after Japan? That felt wild—in the best way. Like I was really leaning into the “you only live once, use the damn miles” mindset.

More importantly, using those 20,000 miles let me travel without draining my bank account (which, let’s be honest, was already recovering from Japan).

The Bigger Lesson

There’s a reason we collect miles. For me, it’s not just about upgrading to business class or hoarding them like Pokémon cards. It’s about freedom. About being able to say yes to a trip on a whim. About honoring that voice in your head that says you need a break and being able to actually take one.

The travel bug is real. And apparently, it doesn’t care how recently you flew across the Pacific. Sometimes you need ocean therapy twice in one month.

Using miles helped me justify the getaway. And hitting that 1.7 cent value reassured me that I wasn’t just being impulsive—I was being strategic.

Kind of.

Final Thoughts

Travel is emotional. So is money. Miles live right at that chaotic intersection. But I’ve made peace with it. Here’s my personal strategy going forward:

• If a redemption hits 1.7 cents per mile or more, I’ll go for it.
• I’ll use miles when I want to save cash for food, experiences, or skincare hauls.
• And I won’t feel guilty about using them “too soon.” They’re meant to be used.

Would I recommend using 20,000 AAdvantage miles for Puerto Vallarta? Absolutely—especially if it gets you to sunshine, rest, and $1.50 tacos.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got laundry to do… and a tab open for flights to Mexico City.