This Couple Booked a Dream Honeymoon to Japan Worth $25,000 Entirely on Points-Here's How They Did It

"The Brooklyn-based couple first met in July 2015 in Columbus, Ohio, where Simokov was living at the time. McDougle, who was touring internationally with a band, was in town for work. They hit it off at a concert, began dating long-distance, and for two years, their love story was written in airline miles and airport terminals. That initial passion for aviation has become a cornerstone of their relationship. "Now we go plane spotting, visit aviation museums, and plan our lives around travel," Simokov said."

"The pair were married in June 2023. As they considered honeymoon spots, Japan quickly became a top choice. McDougle had a deep admiration for the country's listening bars, intimate spaces devoted to high-quality sound experiences (the couple actually got engaged at a listening bar in Brooklyn). For Simokov, lifelong obsessions with Nintendo and Pokémon made Japan feel like the ideal spot, too."

Tori Simokov and Dylan McDougle built a relationship around curiosity and frequent flying. Simokov feared flying at first but flew monthly to see McDougle. The Brooklyn-based couple met in July 2015 in Columbus, Ohio, after meeting at a concert and dated long-distance for two years. Aviation became a cornerstone; they plane-spot, visit aviation museums, and plan around travel. They married in June 2023 and chose Japan for their honeymoon because of McDougle's admiration for listening bars and Simokov's love of Nintendo and Pokémon. They aimed to book the trip entirely with points and secured refundable Delta Premium Select tickets with SkyMiles as backup while pursuing ANA business-class seats.

Read at Travel + Leisure