A Weekend In Paris

May 31

The Beginners Guide To Points & Miles

Everything You Need to Know About Points and Miles for Beginners

A beginner’s guide to points and miles can be super helpful, as it’s a topic that can seem complex at first but offers lots of rewards for travelers. Here’s an outline to cover the basics:

Points and miles offer a powerful way to make travel more affordable—or even free—by taking advantage of loyalty programs. These rewards are earned through credit card spending, flights, hotel stays, and other everyday purchases. By joining airline and hotel loyalty programs, you can accumulate points or miles that can be redeemed for flights, hotel stays, upgrades, and other travel perks. With a little strategy, these programs allow travelers to stretch their budgets further, making dream destinations more accessible without the hefty price tag.

Using points and miles isn’t just about earning free flights and hotel stays—it’s about making travel more affordable and enjoyable. As you start to earn and redeem points, you’ll find your own strategies and sweet spots. The key is to check for award availability, compare redemption options, and make your points work harder for you.

Example: Redeeming Points for a Free Weekend Trip to Paris

Here’s a step-by-step example showing how to redeem points for a free weekend getaway in Paris. This example will walk through how a beginner might use their accumulated points and miles to cover flights and a hotel stay for a fantastic European escape.

Imagine you’ve been collecting points on a travel rewards credit card and have built up some miles with a frequent flyer program. You’re ready to treat yourself to a weekend in Paris, and you want to use those points to make it as budget-friendly as possible.

Step 1: Check Your Points and Miles Balances

Let’s say you have:

120,000 points on your travel rewards credit card.
30,000 frequent flyer miles with an airline that’s part of a global alliance.
60,000 hotel points with a loyalty program like Hilton, Hyatt or Marriott.

With these balances, you’re well on your way to booking a cost-effective Paris adventure!

Step 2: Search for Award Flights to Paris

First, check flights to Paris from your city on an award flight checker’s website or your airline’s website or app. Let’s assume you find a round-trip economy flight for 25,000 miles plus a small cash fee for taxes. Since you have 30,000 miles, you can fully cover your round-trip flight with miles, paying just a minimal cash fee (often around $50-$100).

Pro Tip: If you’re flexible with dates, try to book flights last minute, as award flights can sometimes be more available or cheaper close in to departure.

Step 3: Find a Hotel in Paris Using Points

Next, head to your hotel loyalty program’s website to look for hotels in Paris. You find a centrally located hotel that’s 10,000 points per night, so with 20,000 points, you can cover two nights—just enough for a weekend!

If you want a little extra luxury, some programs allow you to use a combination of points and cash to upgrade your room. But even with a standard room, you’ll save hundreds of dollars on accommodation by using your points.

Step 4: Explore Transfer Options for More Value

Many travel credit cards allow you to transfer points to airline or hotel partners. If you’re short on miles or hotel points, consider transferring a portion of your credit card points to boost your balance. For instance, if you only had 20,000 miles with the airline, you could transfer an additional 5,000 points from your credit card to hit the required 25,000 miles for the flight.

Step 5: Take Advantage of Additional Perks

If your credit card offers travel perks—like lounge access, trip insurance, or statement credits for travel expenses—make sure to use these during your trip. Some cards even reimburse you for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, which could help you breeze through airport security.

The Final Breakdown

By strategically using your points and miles:

Flight cost: 25,000 miles + $100 in taxes, saving roughly $700 on airfare.
Hotel cost: 20,000 points for two nights, saving around $300 on accommodation.
Total savings: About $1,000, making this Parisian weekend practically free!

Final Thoughts: Getting to Paris Without Breaking the Bank

With a little planning, you can turn your points and miles into incredible experiences. The key is to be flexible with dates, and keep an eye out for availability. As you get more familiar with your rewards programs, you’ll find that even a destination as dreamy as Paris can be within reach for a budget-conscious traveler. Bon voyage!