The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
Advertiser disclosure
The Points Guy believes that credit cards can transform lives, helping you leverage everyday spending for cash back or travel experiences that might otherwise be out of reach. That's why we publish a variety of editorial content and card comparisons: to help you find a great card to turn your goals into reality.
Our site may earn compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened with our partners, and this may impact how or where these products appear. While we don't cover all available credit cards, our editorial team creates and maintains all of the analysis of these cards, and our content is not influenced nor subject to review by any credit card company, bank or partner prior to (or after) publication. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.
News
Why you should use points and miles to book holiday travel
Rachel Craft is a travel writer at TPG. She's excited about introducing more people to the world of points & miles and helping fellow travel newbies make the most of their points.
June 20, 2024 • 9 min read
The cards we feature here are from partners who compensate us when you are approved through our site, and this may impact how or where these products appear. We don't cover all available credit cards, but our analysis, reviews, and opinions are entirely from our editorial team. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Please view our advertising policy and product review methodology for more information.Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
Related stories
Quick summary
Holiday travel often comes with higher prices, but using points and miles can help offset these costs.
Award bookings for hotels and flights during peak periods like July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's can offer strong value compared to cash rates.
Loyalty program points and miles may provide above-average value during holidays, as award prices sometimes remain stable even when cash prices surge.
Planning ahead and exploring multiple booking options is key to securing the best deals for holiday travel.
What to consider
Some offers mentioned in the article may no longer be available.
Award availability can be limited during peak travel times, so early booking is recommended.
Point and mile valuations referenced are based on TPG's June 2024 data and may fluctuate.
What you'll miss from the article
Specific examples of high-value award bookings for major holidays, including point valuations and tips for maximizing your redemptions.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Holidays can be a great time to travel if you have kids in school or you’re running low on vacation time at work, and sometimes they’re your only chance to get together with extended family. The downside? Prices tend to spike around Thanksgiving, Christmas and even long holiday weekends like Labor Day.
At TPG, we often discuss the value of being flexible in your travel plans, which can help you find the best deals. But sometimes holidays are the only times you can travel. Thankfully, points and miles can help you avoid paying exponential prices on holiday trips.
Here are some points and miles deals I found for upcoming holidays, from the Fourth of July to New Year’s. Whether you’re looking for a long weekend getaway, visiting far-flung family on a budget or planning a dream vacation over winter break, these suggestions can help save you money on holiday travel.
July Fourth falls on a Thursday this year, making it perfect for a long weekend getaway. Unfortunately, many hotels know this and adjust their prices accordingly.
Let’s look at Hyatt’s boutique New Orleans hotel, The Eliza Jane. While rates start at $230 per night most weekends in July, those prices spike to over $500 per night the weekend of July Fourth.
But thanks to World of Hyatt’s award chart, award rates start at only 20,000 points per night. For a room that would cost at least $538, that comes out to a value of 2.7 cents per point — well above TPG’s June 2024 valuation of 1.7 cents apiece for World of Hyatt points.
HYATT.COM
Marriott Bonvoy, like most hotel loyalty programs, has ditched its award chart in favor of dynamic pricing, but there are still deals to be found. For instance, you could spend three nights at the W Chicago — City Center for a total of 80,000 Bonvoy points — a stay that would set you back $723. This comes out to 0.9 cents per point, slightly above TPG’s June 2024 valuation of 0.85 cents each for Bonvoy points.
MARRIOTT.COM
Labor Day getaways
Banff National Park. GUNTER MARX PHOTOGRAPHY/GETTY IMAGES
If you’re hoping to beat the heat this Labor Day, Air Canada has some cheap award flights from the West Coast to the Great White North. You can fly from Los Angeles to Calgary (near Banff National Park) for as little as 25,000 Aeroplan points in business class, which is actually slightly cheaper than economy.
AIRCANADA.COM
You could fly home for about the same price or downgrade to economy for only 10,000 points, for a grand total of 35,000 points.
AIRCANADA.COM
Cash rates start at $631 for the same route, giving you a solid value of 1.8 cents per point — well above TPG’s June 2024 valuation of 1.5 cents apiece for Aeroplan points.
Air Canada also has round-trip Calgary fares from Denver for 23,000 Aeroplan points and from Seattle for 24,000 points.
If you’d prefer to spend the long weekend on a beach, Hawaiian Airlines has main cabin fares from Los Angeles to Honolulu for 47,500 HawaiianMiles plus $12 in taxes and fees. If you don’t have enough HawaiianMiles tucked away, don’t worry; you can transfer them from American Express Membership Rewards.
HAWAIIANAIRLINES.COM
You could also fly Southwest Airlines from the Bay Area to Lihue on the island of Kauai for around 34,000 Rapid Rewards points and $12 in fees. These flights start at $485 round-trip, giving you a solid value of 1.4 cents per point (TPG pegs Rapid Rewards points at 1.3 cents each, according to our June 2024 valuations).
SOUTHWEST.COM
Spend Thanksgiving with family ... or not
A jazz band plays on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. SIMPLYPHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES
Airfares are often cheap if you can fly on Thanksgiving Day, but for any other day that week, rates can be eye-popping. Still, you may be surprised to see great — or at least reasonable — award rates on the same flights. And because cash prices tend to be so high over holidays, you can get outsize value from your points.
For example, say I wanted to visit my relatives in New York City over Thanksgiving. Economy fares from Denver, where I live, start at $600 round-trip on United Airlines, or I could pay 25,500 MileagePlus miles.
UNITED.COM
This gives me a value of 2.4 cents per mile, which is pretty good considering that TPG values United miles at 1.35 cents each, per our June 2024 valuations.
Or you might skip the family reunion in favor of a mini vacation, as I did in 2022 when I spent Thanksgiving on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. This year, I could fly Delta Air Lines from Denver to New Orleans for only 31,000 SkyMiles plus $11 for a round-trip ticket. Plus, if I had a Delta cobranded credit card, I would need only 26,350 miles due to Delta’s TakeOff 15 feature, which allows cardholders to save on award tickets.
DELTA.COM
For a flight where cash rates start at $413, I’d get a value of 1.3 cents per mile, a little higher than TPG’s June 2024 valuation of 1.15 cents each for SkyMiles. Delta is offering similar award fares to New Orleans from Boston (starting at 30,500 miles round-trip), Atlanta (starting at 27,000) and Seattle (starting at 32,500).
Christmas abroad
One of Munich's Christmas markets. ANDREAS SCHEBESTA/MUNICH AIRPORT
If you’re dreaming of a European holiday, you could spend Christmas in London for only 38,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles and under $200 round-trip.
AA.COM
For a flight that starts at $820, this provides an excellent value of 2.2 cents per mile (compared to TPG’s June valuation of 1.7 cents each for AAdvantage miles).
If you’d rather explore Germany’s magical Christmas markets, United Airlines has economy fares to Munich from East Coast cities like New York and Boston for 110,000 MileagePlus miles plus $144 round-trip.
UNITED.COM
The same economy seats start at $1,600 in cash, giving you a solid value of 1.5 cents per mile.
New Year’s Eve in New York City
JOHN LAMPARSKI/GETTY IMAGES
New York City is at the top of the list for many travelers looking to ring in the New Year. Unfortunately, hotels know this and room rates tend to skyrocket Dec. 31.
For instance, rates at the Motto by Hilton New York City Times Square are going for a ridiculous $558 on New Year’s Eve. (On Jan. 1, the price drops to $245; by Jan. 7, it’s down to $138). Alternatively, you could book a room on New Year’s Eve with 80,000 Hilton Honors points.
HILTON.COM
This comes out to 0.7 cents per point, a good value for Hilton points, which TPG values at 0.6 cents each, per our June 2024 valuations.
The Hyatt Place New York City / Times Square is similar, with rates spiking from around $300 to $563 on New Year’s Eve. But if you book an award stay, you’ll pay only 23,000 points that night, giving you an excellent value of 2.4 cents per point.
HYATT.COM
Best credit cards for booking holiday travel
If you have to pay cash for some or all of your holiday travel plans, make the most of it by using a credit card that earns bonus points or miles on travel. The following cards earn valuable transferable points or miles, with at least 2 points or miles per dollar on travel categories, and some even come with trip insurance. Here are some of our favorite travel credit cards:
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express
Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Card (see rates and fees)
Points and miles can come in handy when you’re staring down outrageous holiday travel prices. And because cash prices often spike around the holidays but award prices may not, you can find some great deals and get extra value from your points and miles.
But remember to start planning holiday travel early, and always check multiple avenues before booking to help you find the best rates. If you do end up paying cash, be sure to use a travel credit card to maximize your rewards.
Comments
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
