10 Best Family Destinations to Book With Miles

As if flying with children isn’t stressful enough, the cost of doing so takes it up a notch. Family vacations are an expensive business with flights, hotel stays, dining and entertainment costs adding up to significant sums of money.

And coming back home to a near-empty bank account is a surefire way to kickstart your stress levels after a week or two of beachfront relaxation.

However, you can cut the costs of your family vacations by at least half (if not far more) by leveraging points and miles earned through credit cards.

In this article, we’ll help you outline a solid strategy for using your travel rewards. We’ll also look at some of the best U.S. family destinations to book with miles, as well as some of the best credit cards to earn points and miles and some insider tips on how to use them.

If you’ve been wondering, “How can I get miles for family members?” or “Can I earn miles for my child?” you’ve come to the right place.

Turn Points Into Family Travel Savings

Whether you prefer a more frugal life or that of a profligate jetsetter, you can’t get by today without spending a few dollars here and there. That’s all the more so for families, with multiple mouths to feed, the yearly family vacation to fund and many more day-to-day expenses to cover.

However, by charging these expenses to the right credit card, you can earn hundreds of thousands of points in return. You can then use these points to cover the cost of flights and hotels, drastically reducing vacation expenses and enabling you to travel more often.

The best part of credit card points is that you earn a return on money you’re spending anyway. The art of leveraging your everyday expenditure to earn the greatest return in points is what the points and miles game is all about.

And if your family tends to spend a lot anyway, you have even greater potential to rack up hundreds of thousands of points on this spending.

Top 10 Family-Friendly Destinations in the U.S. to Book With Points

When planning a vacation with points to a destination within the United States, you’re probably going to fly with a domestic airline, such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines or United Airlines.

You can find cheap award fares with any of these airlines, depending on when and how you book your airfare.

It’s important to hold a credit card that earns flexible points you can transfer to a range of domestic airlines, instead of earning points with one airline rewards program alone. Flexible points are great for family vacations, as they give you much more freedom of choice when it comes time to redeem your travel points for flights.

One of the best rewards currencies to earn when it comes to booking domestic award fares is Chase Ultimate Rewards points. By using Chase points for family travel, you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to JetBlue, Southwest and United, all at 1:1 ratios, giving you the widest choice of airline transfer partners for domestic award flights.

Second to Chase would be Citi ThankYou Points, as they transfer to JetBlue and American Airlines.

In contrast, American Express charges $0.0006 per point transferred to its domestic airline transfer partners—Delta and JetBlue—up to a maximum of $99 per transfer, as an excise tax offset fee. While Capital One offers zero U.S. airlines as 1:1 transfer partners, but offers 5:3 transfer ratio to JetBlue.

When redeeming travel points, both JetBlue and Southwest offer cost-effective award fares.

JetBlue’s Best Fare Finder makes it easy to search for low-priced award fares by month. It’s a solid choice if you’re flying from a JetBlue hub, such as New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale or Los Angeles.

Southwest also offers its Low Fare Calendar to help you find low-priced award fares by month. Southwest offers the major benefit of two free checked bags in its basic airfare, which can mean significant savings for a traveling family. And if you score yourself a Southwest Companion Pass, you can fly your companion for just $5.60 in taxes and fees per way—offering even more savings potential.

United also offers Saver Award fares as well as a first-class product if you want a bit of luxury when flying coast to coast.

When it comes to booking hotels, Amex and Chase offer the best options for points transfers. Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to Choice Privileges, Hilton Honors and Marriott Bonvoy, while Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to IHG One Rewards, World of Hyatt and Marriott Bonvoy. All of these hotel chains can be found in family-friendly destinations, offering budget-friendly family travel redemption opportunities.

Without further ado, here are some of the best destinations for family-friendly travel with points.

Orlando, FL

Heading South to Orlando is the dream of many kids and adults alike. Home to the House of Mouse, Orlando offers a magical vacation experience at Walt Disney World resort, as well as Universal Studios and Seaworld.

You and the kids can also enjoy an educational, awe-inspiring day at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Merritt Island, with everything from IMAX theaters to spacecraft and more.

In the summer months, you can combat humidity with days spent at Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach or Cocoa Beach. Alternatively, if you’re looking for fewer crowds and cooler temperatures, visiting in January and February or September to November is a great option.

Both Hyatt and Hilton have affordable properties in the Disney Springs area, and Marriott owns the famous, and somewhat pricier, Swan and Dolphin hotels.

San Diego, CA

If your family wants a colorful mix of beaches, parks and urban fun, San Diego is an ideal destination with something for everybody.

The 1,200-acre Balboa Park is home to a range of gardens, waterfalls, museums, fountains, trails and the famous San Diego Zoo. At the San Diego Zoo you can enjoy a display of more than 600 animal species, from pandas and polar bears to kangaroos and koalas. Kids can also enjoy the Fleet Science Center and New Children’s Museum or a trip to Legoland or Coronado Beach.

You can visit the coast at La Jolla Cove, a protected beach where you can see stunning views of the Pacific and, if you’re lucky, sea lions.

And if you’ve got a taste for some urban adventures, you can take a stroll through the Gaslamp Quarter and Old Town or get your adrenaline rushing at Belmont Park.

Washington, D.C.

A trip to the capital can inspire excitement in adults and children alike, with a wide range of historical sites and museums to visit.

Whether it’s a trip to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, The White House or the U.S. Capitol, history buffs will be in their element in D.C. You can enjoy one of the many memorials—from the Lincoln Memorial and Thomas Jefferson Memorial to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial—among scenic outdoor spaces.

If you go in the Spring, rows of cherry blossoms will lace your walkways. If you opt for September or October, you’ll enjoy a temperate climate with verdant outdoor spaces. And for winter visits, you can have a blast ice skating with the whole family.

If you rent a car, you can also venture outside of D.C. to historic sites such as Harpers Ferry or one of the many Civil War battlefields.

Honolulu, HI

Hawaii blends pristine beaches with gorgeous rainforests and is an awesome choice for a family vacation.

For panoramic views of Honolulu and the surrounding Pacific, you can take a family-friendly hike up Diamond Head Crater Trail. During the day, you can work on your tan and enjoy world-class snorkeling on Waikiki beach. If you have a real taste for adventure, you could take lessons in surfing or scuba diving, and explore the depths of the ocean.

History buffs can enjoy a visit to Pearl Harbor, while city-lovers can shop, dine and stroll to their hearts’ content on Kalakaua Avenue.

Denver, CO

While the Mile High City is well-known as the gateway to the Rockies, Denver is also a sprawling metropolis with dining, entertainment, shopping, museums and more. It’s also a year-round playground that takes on a new charm with each season.

In the winter, you can enjoy world-class skiing at one of the many resorts close to Denver. You can also enjoy sledding and snowshoeing across its 4,000 acres worth of parks. And in any season, the kids are sure to love a visit to the Snöbahn Action Sports Center, where they can enjoy an action-packed day of indoor skiing, snowboarding and more.

Denver is packed with museums and things to do, including Denver Zoo, City Park, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, the Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, the Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum and many more attractions.

On your way back home, eligible cardholders can take advantage of the Denver airport Chase lounge.

New York City, NY

A trip to the Big Apple is always exciting, with skyscrapers that soar high into the sky and an endless range of dining and shopping options.

New York City has something to offer in every season, including a magical Christmas experience in December, cheaper off-peak prices in January and February, blossoming streets in the spring and warm days spent in Central Park in the summer.

Entertain the kids with a trip to Ellis Island, the Natural History Museum, a day spent at Coney Island and a trip to the Statue of Liberty. Spending a sunset at the Top of The Rock is also sure to inspire the whole family.

Your days will be action-packed, whether you’re strolling through Central Park, shopping on Fifth Avenue, enjoying the hustle and bustle of Manhattan and Times Square or exploring some of New York’s lesser-known neighborhoods.

Nashville, TN

Despite its reputation for parties and country music, a trip to the Music City can be fun for the whole family.

It’s a foodie’s paradise, with everything from Nashville hot chicken and fried catfish sandwiches to lobster mac and cheese and a good ol’ southern banana pudding.

You can fill your days with trips to one of the many state parks within driving distance of Nashville, including Cedars of Lebanon, Montgomery Bell, Long Hunter, Radnor Lake and Bledsoe Creek. If you prefer urban adventures over nature excursions, you can catch a show at the Grand Ole Opry, visit the Nashville Zoo or stroll around the Gaylord Opryland Garden Conservatory.

Chicago, IL

The Windy City offers an exciting urban getaway, with charm in all seasons.

For heavy snow and a magical experience, you can visit during Chicago’s winter season. And if you want to explore the Great Lakes and bask in the sun, Chicago’s summers are hard to beat.

Chicago has a wide range of museums to choose from, including the American Writers Museum and the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. You can also visit the Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo, Centennial Park, Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier and the Chicago Children’s Museum.

Boston, MA

Boston is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, where the Atlantic meets the Charles River and green spaces abound.

You can walk the Freedom Trail and the Black Heritage Trail, visit Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, take the kids to explore the U.S.S. Constitution, enjoy local eats in North End, visit the New England Aquarium and take the Boston City Harbor Cruise.

You can enjoy local seafood, New England clam chowder, Boston cream pie and many more local delights.

And if you’re there in summer, take advantage of the great weather and explore the city on rental bikes.

New Orleans, LA

A trip to The Big Easy isn’t just for party-goers looking for a weekend getaway. New Orleans offers fantastic dining options combined with exciting day-time activities.

You can kickstart your days with a famous cup of chicory coffee and sugar-coated beignets at Cafe du Monde, just steps away from scenic views of the Mississippi River. You can take the kids on a riverboat swamp tour to Honey Island, with the chance to see alligators, turtles and other wildlife. And you can stroll down the picturesque streets of the French Quarter, listening to one live jazz band after another.

New Orleans’s public streetcar system makes it easy and cheap to zip around the city, enabling you to explore the quiet beauty of the Garden District and Uptown. You’ll never be far from a good meal, with New Orleans classics such as po-boys, étouffée, jambalaya and more.

You can also take a trip to one of the many historical plantations nearby or spend the day immersed in the National WWII Museum.

How To Maximize Points for Family Travel

Maximizing your points for family travel begins with holding the right credit cards.

You want to pick a credit card with a lucrative welcome offer and that is best suited to your particular spending habits and travel goals.

A card that offers the greatest rewards on the bonus spending categories you typically spend the most in will enable you to earn the greatest number of points. It will also make offsetting the card’s annual fee easier.

Similarly, you want to prioritize cards with additional cardholder benefits that you’ll use—for instance, Uber or Lyft credits are of no value if you never use these services. By selecting perks that you’ll use often, such as complimentary airport lounge membership, you’ll reap even more value from the card and offset the annual fee further.

For example, families typically spend a significant amount on groceries and dining, making the American Express® Gold Card an excellent choice for earning points. The American Express Gold Card (see rates and fees) earns 4X points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 annually, then 1X points thereafter) and 4X points at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 annually, then 1X points thereafter).

The average household spends $9,985 on dining and groceries per year, which would earn you 39,940 Membership Rewards points if charged to the Amex Gold Card. Redeemed for 1 cent apiece through American Express Travel^®, this spending alone would offset the card’s annual fee—not to mention the card’s other earning rates and statement credit perks.

Likewise, families often spend a significant amount on miscellaneous purchases—from online shopping to utility bills—that don’t fall into typical bonus spending categories. Having a credit card that can earn you a lucrative rate of return on these general purchases can earn you tens of thousands more points every year. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is another solid choice, earning a baseline rewards rate of 2X points per dollar spent on all purchases.

Adding a card like the Venture Rewards Card to your Amazon account and other online shopping accounts can enable the whole family to rack up points on their spending. Alternatively, you can add your children—as young as 13 years old, depending on the card issuer—as authorized users to your cards, enabling their spending to earn miles for the whole family.

And if that wasn’t enough, most frequent flyer programs enable your kids to create their own accounts and start earning miles on every flight starting when they are as young as 13 years old when a parent/guardian signs them up. So sign them up today and let them earn a return on every mile.

You’ll want to prioritize cards that earn a transferable rewards currency, such as American Express Membership Rewards points, Bilt points, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou points and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This means that come vacation time, you’ll have the flexibility to transfer your points to any of your card issuer’s hotel and airline partners, often for oversized value, instead of being stuck with just one rewards program.

Lastly, ensure you set yourself up for success by making a plan to earn your card’s welcome offer. Credit card welcome offers earn you the highest number of points per dollar spent, making them essential to earn. For instance, a 100,000 points welcome offer with a minimum spend of $4,000 gives you an effective rate of 25X points per dollar spent—an unparalleled points multiplier compared to any bonus spending category you’ll find.

For this reason, it’s key to ensure you’re ready to meet the minimum spend naturally by leveraging your natural expenditure.

You typically have three to six months to earn a card’s welcome offer, so charging your everyday expenses to the card, alongside any bills, insurance premiums, vacation costs and other large expenses can help you reach the minimum spend organically. If you don’t plan your spending when trying to hit a welcome offer’s minimum spend, you’ll either overspend or lose out on the welcome offer altogether—a recipe for disaster in either case.

If you need some inspiration on ways to earn your card’s welcome offer, check out these creative ways to hit the minimum spend.

Best Credit Cards for Family Travel Using Points

There are many credit cards on the market that can help you earn points for family travel, from co-branded airline and hotel credit cards to flexible points-earning cards.

Here’s a small selection of credit cards that can help you earn points for family travel.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

When it comes to solid beginner credit cards, you can’t do much better than the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This card can deliver outsized value to all sorts of travelers and enable you to earn points for family travel.

The Sapphire Preferred offers the following bonus spending categories:

• 5X points on travel purchased and booked through Chase Travel℠ (excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 annual hotel credit)
• 3X points on dining, including eligible takeout, delivery services and dining out
• 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
• 3X points on select streaming services
• 2X points on all other travel purchases
• 1X points on all other purchases

That means you can earn 3X points on everyday purchases, including dining and online grocery shopping as well as 2X points on travel purchases. Considering Chase’s wide definition of travel, you can take advantage of this bonus spending category to net yourself thousands of points.

Chase Ultimate Rewards points can be transferred to 14 airline and hotel partners, all at a 1:1 ratio, including JetBlue, Southwest and United, making it ideal for domestic award fares.

The Sapphire Preferred also offers the following cardholder perks:

• An annual 10% points bonus, every cardholder anniversary
• An annual $50 hotel credit, cutting down the cost of a cash booking
• A one-year complimentary DashPass membership—you’ll enjoy reduced service fees and waived delivery fees on DoorDash and Caviar orders. You’ll need to activate this benefit by Dec. 31, 2027 to be eligible. You’ll also get up to $10 off a month on non-restaurant DoorDash orders as a DoorDash member.
• Comprehensive Sapphire Preferred travel insurance perks

For an annual fee of $95, the Chase Sapphire Preferred packs a punch and makes earning points for family travel a breeze.

The Platinum Card® From American Express

The Platinum Card® from American Express is a heavyweight premium travel rewards card, offering you the opportunity to earn points for family travel while enjoying luxury perks. While its $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) is far from cheap, it offers double the value in cardholder perks, which equates to budget-friendly family travel.

The card offers the following bonus spending categories:

• 5X points on eligible flights booked with American Express Travel^® or directly with the airline (on up to $500,000 in charges per calendar year; 1X points thereafter)
• 5X points on eligible prepaid hotel reservations when booked with American Express Travel^®
• 1X points on all other purchases

When spending through American Express Travel^® or directly with airlines, you can earn 5X points per dollar spent, giving you a solid return on your vacation expenditure. For all other purchases, you’ll earn just 1X points per dollar spent. While the card lacks breadth in its bonus spending categories, it makes up for this in cardholder perks.

Likewise, you can transfer your Amex Membership Rewards points to any of Amex’s 20 airline and hotel partners. That said, it’s often better to transfer points to domestic airlines through Chase rather than Amex, as Amex charges an excise tax offset fee of $0.0006 per point transferred to U.S. airlines (up to $99 per transfer).

Here’s what the Amex Platinum offers in additional cardholder perks:

• Access to the Fine Hotels & Resort Collection for bookings made through American Express Travel^®
• Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite and Hilton Honors Gold status
• Access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection®, with more than 1,550 lounges across 140 countries (including Airspace Lounge, The Centurion Lounge, Delta Sky Club, Escape Lounges, Lufthansa Business and Senator Lounges, Plaza Premium and Priority Pass Select)
• Access to the American Express International Airline Program
• Digital entertainment credit of up to $300, issued in $25 monthly statement credits for eligible purchases at select news and entertainment providers (enrollment required)
• Hotel credit on prepaid Fine Hotels & Resorts or The Hotel Collection (a minimum two-night stay is required) bookings through American Express Travel^®
• Complimentary premium status for a range of car rental companies (enrollment required)
• Yearly statement credit toward a CLEAR Plus membership
• Airline incidental fee credit of up to $200, issued as statement credits
• Up to $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit, issued in increments of $15 per month with a bonus of $20 in December (To receive this benefit, you must have downloaded the latest version of the Uber App. You must add an American Express card to your Uber account, and then pay with any AMEX card). The Amex Benefit may only be used in the United States.
• Solid travel insurance protections

For $895 per year, you and your family can benefit from the perks of elite status with Marriott and Hilton, as well as access to The American Express Global Lounge Collection when flying. You can also enroll children 18 and under in Global Entry free of charge if their parent/guardian is enrolled, allowing the whole family to speed through immigration and TSA security screening lines.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Southwest is one of the most cost-effective carriers in the U.S. with one major savings benefit: two-free checked bags included in its basic airfare.

As if that wasn’t good enough, Southwest offers the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which can enable your companion to fly for just $5.60 in taxes and fees per flight to any destination. The Companion Pass lasts for the calendar year you earn it plus the following calendar year—so if you earn it early in January, you can reap its benefits for almost two years.

And if your significant other happens to also have a Companion Pass, each of you can nominate one child as a companion and fly them for just $5.60 in taxes and fees per child per flight—offering massive savings on family vacations. Check out our article on how to earn the Southwest Companion.

The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers the following perks and earning rates:

• 3X points on Southwest purchases
• 2X points on Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partners
• 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare
• 2X points on internet, cable, phone services and select streaming service purchases
• 1X points on all other purchases
• 7,500 bonus point boost each card anniversary year
• $75 Southwest annual travel credit
• Four upgraded boardings per year (subject to availability)
• 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent (with no earnings cap)
• 25% back on in-flight beverage and Wi-Fi purchases, given as a statement credit
• 10,000 Companion Pass qualifying points boost each year
• Complimentary one-year DashPass membership, giving you $0 delivery fees and lower service charges. Thereafter, you’re automatically enrolled in DashPass at the current monthly rate (enroll by Dec. 31, 2027).
• Baggage delay insurance reimbursement of up to $100 a day for three days for essential item purchases, when common carrier delays exceed six hours
• Lost luggage reimbursement of up to $3,000 per passenger
• No foreign transaction fees

This card offers a $75 annual travel credit for Southwest purchases that helps offset the $229 annual fee.

You’ll receive 1,500 TQPs for every $5,000 spent with your card, putting you closer to elite status. You’ll also enjoy four upgraded boardings per year (subject to availability) and an annual point boost of 7,500 points each card anniversary year.

For families that fly frequently with Southwest, the Priority Card offers excellent benefits, points and savings. Find out which Southwest card is best for you based on how often you fly.

Additional Tips for Family Travel Using Points

Finding family-friendly accommodation is key to making your vacation comfortable.

Most standard hotel rooms come with a maximum of two double beds. While a family of four might be able to squeeze in, larger families will need to book at least two separate rooms. If you’re booking with points, you may be able to afford to book two rooms, giving you more space to unwind. After booking your rooms, you can call the hotel and ask them to give you adjoining rooms—this can be particularly convenient when you have small children.

You can also book hotels that offer suites as part of their standard rooms. One example is Embassy Suites. You can redeem your Hilton points—or transfer your Amex points to Hilton Honors—to score yourself a family suite. Embassy Suites’ rooms come with a dividing door between the sleeping and living area, giving kids and adults alike some privacy.

Likewise, if you have elite status with the Marriott Bonvoy program, you might be able to get upgraded from a base room to a family suite at properties such as the Residence Inn and Fairfield Inn hotels. However, you won’t know if you’re eligible for an upgrade until check in, so ensure you have a backup plan.

Other hotels to consider for larger family-style rooms include Hyatt House, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Springhill Suites by Marriott.

Even if you can’t book your hotel using points, you could take advantage of a travel statement credit to save a few hundred dollars on your booking. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® offers a $300 travel statement credit, and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offers a $300 statement credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel.

You can also leverage free night awards to reduce the cost of your hotel stays. You can get free night awards on co-branded hotel cards with Hyatt, Hilton and Marriott, either as a complimentary card perk or as a perk with a minimum spending requirement. Free night awards can be redeemed for anywhere between 35,000 and 85,000 points, and you can top them off using existing points in your account.

Some cards, such as the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, sometimes offer anywhere between three and five free night awards as part of their welcome offer. If both you and your travel partner applied for and earned these welcome offers, that could net you between six and 10 free night awards—perfect for a memorable family vacation.

You can also benefit from automatic free nights when staying on points with Marriott, Hilton and IHG, maximizing rewards for families and significantly reducing costs.

For stays at Marriott properties, you’ll automatically receive the fifth night free on consecutive award stays of five or more nights. If you hold any IHG One Rewards credit card, you’ll receive the fourth night free on award stays with no limit on the number of nights stayed consecutively. And if you have Hilton Honors elite status, which you can earn by holding the $0 annual fee Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees), you’ll receive the fifth night free on consecutive award stays of five nights or longer.

Check out our article on how to plan a family vacation using points and miles for the ultimate guide.

Start Planning Your Family Vacation on Points

Family vacations can be some of the most memorable times of your and your children’s lives. By leveraging your everyday expenditure to earn you hundreds of thousands of points and miles, you can travel bigger, better and more often for a fraction of the price, ensuring you never have to skimp on travel again.

Using credit card points for family trips is your key to traveling the way you’ve always dreamed.

So, ditch the debit card, forget about cash and stick to credit cards. Pay your balance in full and on time, every billing cycle, and watch your points balance and credit score increase side-by-side.

Join the 10xTravel community today and sign up for our free course on travel savings. Once you’ve made the family trip of a lifetime come true using points, tell us all about your redemption by joining and posting on our 10xTravel Insiders Facebook group.