Is Costa Rica on your travel wishlist? Here's your chance to get there for less than the cost of most domestic flights … using Delta SkyMiles.
We uncovered this unpublished Delta SkyMiles flash sale, with roundtrip fares down to Liberia (LIR) in Costa Rica from just 11,000 SkyMiles roundtrip. You can find those ultra-low rates from Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP), but there are equally incredible deals to be found from Los Angeles (LAX), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Pittsburgh (PIT), Kansas City (MCI), and more under 16,000 SkyMiles roundtrip.
Some of the lowest rates have disappeared since we first sent this to Thrifty Traveler Premium+ members last week. Still, there are some amazing bargains to be had with your SkyMiles.
Want more award alerts like this one? We send them to Thrifty Traveler Premium+ members first, along with dirt-cheap domestic and international flight deals.
We're still seeing wide-open availability on these flights down to Liberia, with the best availability from mid-March through May 2021. And unlike most SkyMiles flash sales, you can book from major Delta hubs like Minneapolis and Los Angeles (LAX) for dirt-cheap – no Delta SkyMiles hub penalty here! Each ticket will also get hit with $75 to $80 in taxes and fees, a reasonable expense for international travel.
This is a truly phenomenal way to use your SkyMiles, as flights to Costa Rica typically cost $500 or more roundtrip. Delta SkyMiles have taken a beating lately after several massive devaluations, but flash sales like this one are a major upside. Other airlines would charge at least 30,000 miles or more for flights like these.
Thrifty Tip #1: When booking with SkyMiles, make sure to select “Flexible Dates” and “Price Calendar” to maximize the bookable dates and find the best deals.
Thrifty Tip #2: Load up your SkyMiles balance for the next deal – and get airport lounge access, too. You can earn up a whopping 225,000 points (or even more!) with the Platinum Card from American Express, then transfer those points over to Delta. Or go for the 75,000-point bonus on the Amex Gold Card!
Thrifty Tip #3: Stay at the Andaz Costa Rica Papagayo, a short drive from the airport. Cash rates are often $400 or more a night, but you can book for just 20,000 Hyatt points – you can transfer points from your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and book!
Getting in should be a cinch, as Costa Rica no longer requires visitors to present a negative COVID-19 test for entry – though testing and quarantining before any travel is still a wise idea. Because you're leaving the country, you'll need a negative COVID-19 test in order to return home. Some resorts throughout Costa Rica are providing testing onsite.
Read our master guide to the new international travel testing requirements!
The beauty of booking with SkyMiles goes beyond these ultra-low rates. Delta is offering free change or cancellation on all flights booked by March 30 – including all SkyMiles award tickets for future travel. That means you could book today, then decide later on to cancel if necessary and get your miles back free without paying the usual $150 redeposit fee.
These low rates book into Delta’s basic economy. Delta began selling these no-frills fares even when using SkyMiles a few years ago, even on many international flights. If you want to pick your seat free and board earlier, you can typically upgrade to a main cabin fare for about 5,000 to 8,000 SkyMiles more.
Bottom Line
These Delta SkyMiles flash sales just keep getting better and better.
From 10,000-mile trips to Hawaii or even Puerto Rico, it doesn't get any cheaper than this. We've never seen fares to Costa Rica this low. And while cash rates are fairly low, too, this remains a great way to use your SkyMiles for a tropical trip.
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FYI the Flash Sale extends to Basic Economy and Main Economy tickets. I just booked two tickets for May 1 – May 9 for $232 for Basic Economy – thanks a ton!!