Stella Shon at all times beloved to journey. After graduating from school in North Carolina, she moved to New York Metropolis to pursue a profession as a author at a serious journey publication. However in August of 2022, Shon’s life as a wholesome 26-year-old modified endlessly. 

Shon was identified with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a uncommon however severe dysfunction affecting the pores and skin and mucous membranes. After battling flu-like signs for a number of days, her temperature spiked to 107 levels. This was accompanied by extreme ache, and Shon’s situation deteriorated a lot that she was pressured right into a hospital’s burn middle. 

“After I was within the ICU, my world fully shattered ,” Shon stated. “I used to be blind for a few months, and elements of my physique had been so broken that returning to my regular life, not to mention hopping on a aircraft once more, appeared not possible.” 

Miraculously, Shon survived the ordeal, beating a mortality fee of 30-50%. Whereas she has nonetheless needed to navigate a seemingly unending array of physician’s appointments, power ache, and uncertainty, journey turned a part of Shon’s routine as soon as once more. 

Eight months after her hospitalization, Shon took her first huge journey—an epic journey to Hawaii along with her greatest buddy. “The journey felt like reclaiming part of my identification. Having the ability to step again into journey, one thing I beloved, confirmed me that I may nonetheless pursue a significant life, even when on completely different phrases,” she stated. 

Right here’s how she made the resort keep occur on factors, and what made it so significant. 

How She Booked It 

In March 2023, Shon jetted off on her first huge journey post-ICU, and Hawaii appeared like the proper vacation spot. Not solely had she not been there earlier than, however her greatest buddy of practically a decade, Taylor Hobgood, had simply moved to Honolulu. 

“Taylor was one in every of my many wonderful associates who spent days with me within the hospital and helped my household out as a lot as doable. She noticed me at my absolute worst, and I may belief her with my entire coronary heart to take issues gradual, see some lovely sights, and share new reminiscences collectively,” Shon recalled. 

Shon and Hobgood determined to go to Maui, with a keep at Hyatt’s Hana-Maui Resort. Shon booked the three-night getaway utilizing World of Hyatt points—precisely 30,000 of them—per evening. Hyatt assigns every of its motels a class, and so they correspond to a set variety of factors. As a Hyatt Class 7 property, rooms on the Hana-Maui resort require between 25,000 to 35,000 factors per evening (relying on the season). For context, on the time, the Hana-Maui was charging over $800 per evening. 

The Hyatt chain has many aspirational motels, and its loyalty program usually has high-value redemptions. Apart from Hana-Maui, motels just like the soon-to-open (or reopen) Park Hyatt Tokyo and Park Hyatt Los Cabos at Cabo Del Sol could be booked with factors. 

Conveniently, two of one of the best loyalty packages within the house—Chase Ultimate Rewards factors and Bilt Rewards factors—switch to the Hyatt program immediately, at a one-to-one ratio. To switch Chase or Bilt factors to journey companions, you should log into your account, navigate to the respective journey portal, and choose the choice to switch to Hyatt. For first-timers, you’ll additionally must enter your World of Hyatt account info. 

What the Expertise Was Like

For Shon, the expertise in Maui was about pursuing her love for journey as soon as once more. 

“This was my first huge journey the place I needed to fastidiously plan and pack drugs for an prolonged time away, however I conquered it, which gave me the arrogance to proceed to journey fully by myself phrases.” 

In Hawaii, Shon says not a single second was taken without any consideration, regardless of now having to vary how she sees the world. “Earlier than I acquired sick, I at all times beloved seaside holidays. I may spend hours simply floating within the ocean, fully mesmerized. Now, my situation means I can’t swim anymore, however there have been so many wonderful issues we did that we nonetheless snort about to today.” 

Shon recalled how the property, sprawled over 100 acres of land, was built-in into the primary city of Hana. The resort distinctly felt prefer it was part of the group, Shon stated. “Meals vans are at the doorstep, and there’s a hidden pink sand seaside close by.” 

As well as, with Hyatt Globalist advantages—the very best degree of standing with this system—Shon was upgraded from a backyard view room to a seaside bungalow, which not solely afforded her and Hobgood more room, but additionally killer oceanfront views.

The dynamic duo went on loads of hikes close to the resort, drove the complete size of the Road to Hana, and stopped at each meals truck they noticed for garlic shrimp, poke, acai, and banana bread. 

“Most of all, the journey gave me a way of normalcy I hadn’t felt because the begin of my illness,” Shon stated. “Journey is not only a trip for me; I see it as proof of survival.”

A Factors and Miles Tip for Vacationers

Don’t be afraid to make use of your factors, Shon suggested. Her method isn’t to hoard and replenish over time, however as an alternative to redeem at any time when doable. Factors can unlock experiences price way over their money worth. And in contrast to cash, factors don’t admire over time. Airline and resort packages can devalue with out warning. 

Most significantly, life is unpredictable, so in case you have the possibility to show factors into significant reminiscences or moments of therapeutic, take it. “If there is a reward in any of this, I’ve beloved embracing gradual journey and taking my time to discover a vacation spot,” Shon famous.  

Today, Shon is an outspoken champion for SJS advocacy, and you may watch her TikTok movies here.