How to Relive Your Favorite Holiday Movies Using Points
'Tis the season to light a fire in the fireplace, sip on mulled wine and press play on the holiday movies you've waited all year long to watch. But this year, you can do even more to get into the holiday spirit. Put your points to use and visit the cities — and settings — of your favorite holiday classics. Here's how you can make it happen.
The film: Home Alone
The destination: Chicago, IL
KEVIN! It feels like just yesterday I watched this classic for the first time, and it still never gets old. If you too want to relive Home Alone, head to Chicago this holiday season. Start your tour by visiting the McCallister family's home located just outside the city at 671 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka, IL. Next, head to Hubbard Woods Park, and skate on the rink where Kevin made his famed getaway.
When it's time to find your own home, choose Hotel EMC2, Autograph Collection. Rates in December start at $299 per night, or 40,000 Marriott Rewards points per night.
The film: A Christmas Story
The destination: Cleveland, OH
Is there a more quintessential holiday film than A Christmas Story? To relive this treasured classic, pack your bunny PJs and head to Cleveland, Ohio. There, you can take a trip down memory lane and visit the Christmas Story House museum, where you'll find the Parker home restored to all its movie glory. Or, head to Castle Noel and slide down the Santa display and mountain used in the 1983 film. To experience more film nostalgia, check out the Cleveland Play House adaptation of the movie from November 24 to December 23.
Round out your trip by staying where the cast stayed during filming: the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel. Room rates start at $154 per night or 30,000 Marriott Rewards points in December.
The film: It's A Wonderful Life
The destination: Seneca Falls, NY
What is it about Christmas that ups the nostalgia ante? The town of Seneca Falls knows what I mean. Each year, it holds a festival dedicated to all things It's a Wonderful Life. The celebration includes a bell ringing, parade, an It's a Wonderful Run 5K race, "Uncle Billy's" scavenger hunt and a memorabilia exhibit along with wagon and horse-drawn carriage rides. Visit locations from the movie with the custom location map and spend the night at the nearby Fairfield Inn & Suites Geneva Finger Lakes in Rochester, NY. Hotel rates start at $127 or 25,000 Marriott points per night.
The film: The Holiday
The destination: Los Angeles, CA
This is one of my favorite holiday movies, and not just because one of the lead characters is named Amanda (or is it?). No, it's because sweet Iris escapes her awful two-timing boss-slash-lover and heads to sunny California to… That. House. Okay, so you can't stay in Amanda's mega-mansion, but you can still splurge for movie star treatment by booking the Cozy Cabanas at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles.
Tuesday through Saturday throughout the month of December, both hotel guests and the general public are invited to reserve one of the hotel's holiday-themed rooftop cabanas. As you screen a classic holiday film under the twinkling lights of your private cabana, a dedicated butler will serve seasonal treats along with holiday punch from Wolfgang Puck's WP24 restaurant. Packages are available for $300 for two people. Looking to stay the night? Room rates for December start at 60,000 points per night.
Details: Reservations for the Cozy Cabanas must be made 72 hours in advance by calling WP24 restaurant at 213-743-8824.
The film: Elf
The destination: New York, NY
New York City radiates holiday spirit this time of year; department stores have window displays, Christmas markets pop up in parks all over the city and, of course, there's the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree — a tree fit for a human-sized Elf! With the city as your movie set, relive Buddy and Jovie's first date with a skate around the iconic Roc Center rink. Next, channel your inner elf and stuff your face with all the sweets imaginable at Dylan's Candy Bar. And if you're lucky enough to experience a snowfall during your visit, make sure you head to Central Park for the best sledding.
When you've had your fill of fun, put your points to work at the Crown Plaza Times Square. Room rates start at 50,000 IHG Rewards Club points per night in December.
TPG featured card
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Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Unlimited up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Housing payments may include transaction fees, depending on the payment method
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 3 months + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.