How to Plan a Multi-City European Trip Using Points and Miles

Europe’s diverse landscapes, historic cities, and interconnected transportation make it an ideal destination for a multi-city adventure. What’s even better? You don’t need to spend a fortune to explore multiple cities when you strategically use points and miles. Whether you’re hopping between capitals or discovering hidden gems, here’s a step-by-step guide to planning a multi-city European trip using points and miles.

1. Choose Your Destinations and Map Your Route

Start by selecting the cities you want to visit and outlining a logical route. Consider geography to minimize backtracking. For example, a trip from London to Paris, then Amsterdam, followed by Berlin is more efficient than zig-zagging across the continent.

Tips for Route Planning:

• Open-Jaw Tickets: Fly into one city and out of another to save time and miles. For example, fly into Barcelona and depart from Rome.

• Hub Cities: Look for major airline hubs like London, Frankfurt, or Madrid, which often have better award availability.

• Regional Airports: Don’t overlook smaller airports like Bilbao, Valencia, or Bordeaux, which can offer great value and access to unique destinations.

2. Maximize Your Points for Flights

Airline alliances and transferable points programs are your best friends when booking multi-city trips. Here’s how to make the most of them:

Oneworld Alliance:

• Use American Airlines AAdvantage miles to book Iberia, Finnair, or British Airways flights within Europe.

• Look for off-peak awards, which require fewer miles.

Star Alliance:

• United MileagePlus miles can be used to book Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, or LOT Polish Airlines. Avoid fuel surcharges by booking directly through United.

• Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles often offers lower mileage redemptions for intra-Europe flights.

SkyTeam Alliance:

• Delta SkyMiles can book flights on Air France, KLM, or ITA Airways. While SkyMiles doesn’t publish an award chart, flights within Europe often require fewer miles than long-haul routes.

Transferable Points Programs:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards: Transfer to Aer Lingus Avios or Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

• American Express Membership Rewards: Transfer to British Airways Avios or Lufthansa’s Miles & More.

• Citi ThankYou Points: Redeem with Turkish Airlines or Air France-KLM.

3. Add Stopovers and Open-Jaw Flights

Many frequent flyer programs allow stopovers (extended layovers) or open-jaw tickets, letting you see more destinations on a single award ticket.

• Stopovers: For example, with Aeroplan (Air Canada), you can add a stopover for 5,000 extra miles. Fly from New York to Paris with a three-day stopover in Lisbon.

• Open-Jaw: Book a ticket that arrives in one city and departs from another. For instance, use Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan to fly from the U.S. to Madrid and return from Amsterdam.

4. Use Points for Regional Flights

Once you’re in Europe, use your points for short-haul flights to hop between cities. Budget airlines like Ryanair and easyJet are popular, but you can often find great value using miles with full-service carriers.

• Avios (British Airways and Iberia): Fly short-haul routes like Madrid to Barcelona or London to Dublin for as few as 4,000 Avios.

• Flying Blue (Air France-KLM): Intra-European flights start at just 6,000 miles one-way.

• Lufthansa Miles & More: Use points for connections to smaller cities like Salzburg or Verona.

5. Leverage Train Travel for Points and Miles

Europe’s extensive rail network makes train travel an efficient and scenic option for short distances. While train tickets typically aren’t bookable with airline miles, some credit card programs allow you to redeem points for rail passes or tickets:

• Chase Ultimate Rewards: Redeem points for train bookings through the Chase Travel Portal.

• Amex Membership Rewards: Use points to book train tickets through Amex’s travel platform.

Train passes like the Eurail Pass can also be a cost-effective way to explore multiple destinations, and some travel portals let you book these passes using credit card points.

6. Book Hotels Using Points

Accommodation costs can add up quickly during a multi-city trip, but hotel loyalty programs offer fantastic opportunities to save. Here’s how to maximize your hotel points:

• Marriott Bonvoy: With over 8,000 properties across Europe, you can find hotels in both major cities and smaller towns. Use points for free nights or take advantage of the "fifth night free" benefit.

• World of Hyatt: Redeem points for boutique stays at Small Luxury Hotels (SLH) properties in unique destinations like Ghent or Lucca.

• Hilton Honors: Use points for consistent value at Hilton properties across Europe, from budget-friendly Hampton Inns to luxury Waldorf Astoria hotels.

• Airbnb Alternatives: Use credit card rewards to offset costs for unique stays via platforms like Airbnb or VRBO.

7. Plan for Transportation Between Cities

Flexibility is key when traveling between multiple European cities. Here are some tips for maximizing convenience and savings:

• Regional Flights: Use points for quick flights between destinations.

• High-Speed Trains: Book trains like the Eurostar (London to Paris) or TGV (Paris to Marseille) for comfortable, efficient travel.

• Car Rentals: Use points from programs like Chase Ultimate Rewards to rent cars for exploring rural areas or smaller towns.

Conclusion: Explore More, Spend Less

Planning a multi-city European trip using points and miles might take a little extra effort, but the rewards are well worth it. By leveraging airline alliances, transferable points, and hotel loyalty programs, you can create a memorable journey that covers multiple destinations without straining your wallet.

Have you used points and miles for a European adventure? Share your tips and experiences in the comments, or tag us in your travel photos on Instagram at @roaming.cactus. Let’s inspire each other to explore Europe like never before!