Our Weekend Getaway: How We Finally Used Our avantstay Travel Credits After Two Years

If you’ve ever had unused travel points or Airbnb-style credits hanging over your head, you’ll relate to this. After two years of postponing, we finally used our AvantStay credit for a weekend vacation—and while it didn’t go as planned, it turned out to be a memorable experience.

Redeeming Expired AvantStay Credits (Yes, It Was a Whole Thing)

We originally earned credits from a 2022 booking of a huge vacation rental in Big Bear, California—perfect for 15 people. But COVID had other plans, and the trip was canceled. Instead of a refund, we got credits.

Fast forward two years, I called AvantStay to book a weekend in March, only to be told our points had expired after 12 months. I felt sick. But I dug through my old emails and found one where a different agent said the credits were valid for 24 months. After explaining the situation and showing the message, AvantStay agreed to honor the points. Huge relief.

Travel Day Drama: Car Trouble and a Long Uber Ride

The day of the trip we were running a bit behind schedule—nothing new there. But halfway through the drive, our car’s dashboard lit up with an engine warning. No rental cars were available, our car got towed, and we were stranded.

Eventually, we found an Uber driver willing to take us the rest of the way. We arrived at the AvantStay property well past 8 PM. A whole day lost, but at least we made it.

Our AvantStay Vacation Rental: Spacious, Cozy, and Family-Friendly

The next day, we finally got to explore the vacation rental—and it did not disappoint.

• 4 bedrooms
• 3 bathrooms
• 2 full kitchens
• Huge backyard with a swimming pool, jacuzzi, and outdoor fireplace
• A game room with pool tables and more

We had breakfast, lounged around, played karaoke, and soaked in the space. The kids were in heaven.

Back to the Dealership (Again) and a Bit More Chaos

We had to drive two hours back to the dealership to check on the car, only to find it was just a minor sensor glitch. Still, better safe than sorry.

We picked up groceries, grabbed coffee, and headed back. It wasn’t the relaxing weekend we envisioned—but we made the most of it.

The Best Night: Stars, S’mores, and Family Time

That night, we had dinner, roasted s’mores by the fire, and stared up at a sky full of stars. The Milky Way was showing off, and the kids were obsessed. We wrapped up with board games inside. Honestly? That moment alone made it all worth it.

On Our Way Home: A Quick Stop at Joshua Tree and the Outlets

Before heading back, we made a quick detour to Joshua Tree National Park. We didn’t go all the way in—let’s be real, the kids wouldn’t have appreciated it—but we snapped a few photos and stopped by the outlet mall on the way home.

Final Thoughts: Would I Recommend AvantStay? 100%.

Despite the chaos, I’m grateful for the experience—and especially for the AvantStay customer service team. They went above and beyond, honored our credits, and even gave us a late checkout to make up for the lost day.

If you’re planning a group trip or family getaway and want something more elevated than a regular Airbnb, I’d definitely recommend checking out AvantStay vacation rentals.