How to Find Hidden Gem Destinations Using Points and Miles

Traveling to iconic cities like Paris, New York, or Tokyo is a bucket list dream for many, but there’s something uniquely rewarding about discovering hidden gem destinations. These lesser-known spots often offer stunning scenery, rich culture, and fewer crowds—all while costing fewer points and miles to reach. With a bit of strategy and flexibility, you can uncover some incredible locations where your points stretch further. Here’s how to find and book hidden gem destinations using points and miles.

1. Look Beyond Major Hubs

Many travelers default to booking flights to large international airports, but exploring smaller cities or regional airports can reveal hidden gems. For example:

• Instead of Rome, consider Bari or Lecce in Italy’s Puglia region.

• Swap Reykjavik for Akureyri, Iceland’s northern gem.

• Trade Bangkok for Chiang Mai, a quieter haven in northern Thailand.

Using search tools like Google Flights or ITA Matrix, you can identify nearby airports and find award availability that aligns with your points.

Tip: Airlines like Lufthansa and British Airways often allow stopovers on award tickets, giving you the chance to explore smaller cities en route to your main destination.

2. Take Advantage of Airline Alliances and Partners

Airline alliances like Oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam open up a world of possibilities for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations. Partner airlines often fly to smaller cities or unique regions where major carriers don’t operate.

For instance:

• Use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book a flight on Finnair to Rovaniemi, Finland—the gateway to Lapland.

• Redeem United MileagePlus miles for flights on Turkish Airlines to Dalaman, a coastal gem in Turkey.

• Leverage Delta SkyMiles for Air France flights to Bordeaux, a wine lover’s paradise.

Partner airlines often have lower mileage requirements for these destinations compared to major hubs, making your points go further.

3. Search for Sweet Spot Redemptions

Sweet spot redemptions are routes or destinations where you can book award flights for fewer points than expected. These opportunities often lie in lesser-known destinations. Examples include:

• Avianca LifeMiles: Book domestic flights within Colombia for as little as 3,500 miles.

• Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles: Fly within the U.S. on United Airlines for only 7,500 miles one-way.

• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Use 50,000 miles to book business class flights on Cathay Pacific to less-touristy Asian cities like Cebu in the Philippines.

Keeping an eye on award charts and partner agreements can uncover incredible deals.

4. Stay Flexible with Your Travel Dates

Award availability is often better for less popular destinations, but staying flexible with your dates can further improve your chances of finding great deals. Use tools like ExpertFlyer or SeatSpy to monitor award availability for your preferred destinations.

For example, midweek flights or travel during shoulder seasons can yield better availability and lower mileage costs. Visiting Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast in September, for instance, offers mild weather, fewer tourists, and often better award availability than the peak summer months.

5. Use Hotel Points for Unique Accommodations

Hidden gem destinations often have boutique hotels or unique lodging options where hotel points can shine. Programs like World of Hyatt, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG Rewards offer redemptions in places you might not expect:

• Hyatt: Redeem points for stays at SLH (Small Luxury Hotels) properties in lesser-known spots like Luang Prabang, Laos.

• Marriott: Use points for charming European towns like Ghent, Belgium, or Porto, Portugal.

• IHG: Stay in unique properties like the InterContinental Ljubljana in Slovenia, a city known for its stunning architecture and vibrant culture.

6. Explore Low-Cost Carrier Routes with Transferable Points

Many budget airlines operate routes to hidden gem destinations, and transferable points from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Amex Membership Rewards can help you book them. For example:

• Transfer points to British Airways Avios to book Iberia flights to Spanish gems like Granada or Santander.

• Use Flying Blue miles to reach cities like Toulouse, France, or Krakow, Poland.

• Redeem Etihad Guest miles for flights on Air Serbia to Belgrade, a city with rich history and vibrant nightlife.

These carriers often serve regional airports, making it easier to explore off-the-radar destinations.

7. Combine Land and Air Travel

Hidden gems are often easier to reach by combining award flights with local transportation like trains, ferries, or buses. Europe, in particular, offers excellent rail connectivity, allowing you to use your miles for flights to major hubs and then take a train to your final destination.

For instance:

• Fly into Zurich on points and take a scenic train ride to Interlaken in the Swiss Alps.

• Redeem miles for a flight to Stockholm and then hop on a ferry to the remote Åland Islands in Finland.

• Use points for a flight to Athens, then take a ferry to lesser-known Greek islands like Naxos or Milos.

Conclusion: Discover the World’s Hidden Gems

Hidden gem destinations offer the perfect mix of adventure, authenticity, and value—and with the right use of points and miles, getting there can be just as rewarding. By exploring airline alliances, sweet spot redemptions, and flexible travel options, you can uncover incredible places while maximizing the value of your rewards.

What hidden gem destinations have you discovered using points and miles? Share your experiences in the comments, or tag us in your travel photos on Instagram at @roaming.cactus. Let’s inspire each other to explore beyond the usual hotspots and embrace the beauty of the road less traveled.