How I Booked a European Christmas Market Trip With Points and Miles

Visiting the Christmas markets in Europe is a bucket list trip for many travelers. Strolling through storybook towns decked out in twinkling lights with a warm cup of glühwein or hot chocolate is what holiday dreams are made of.

I got a taste of them last year on a trip to Paris and London, and I wanted more. So, when a friend asked if I wanted to go with her to the Christmas markets in December, I said yes immediately.

Let’s jump into the details of how I booked this trip using points and miles.

Choosing Which Christmas Markets in Europe To Visit

There are Christmas markets all over Europe, so you have plenty to choose from.

We didn’t have a specific destination in mind at first. We were thinking southeast Germany would be a good area to include, but we weren’t ruling out other places. Strasbourg was also high on my list, so with that in mind, we narrowed our focus to France, Germany, and the surrounding areas.

We wanted to travel the first week of December and only had a few days of wiggle room, so, while we had an idea of the region we wanted to focus on, we let flight award availability dictate our ultimate destinations.

When you’re searching for business class flights to Europe with points and miles, especially when booking just a couple of months in advance during a peak travel season, flexibility is key to finding good deals.

How I Booked Business Class Flights to Europe

One of the main challenges we had for booking flights was that my friend only had Delta SkyMiles and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to work with. Delta SkyMiles are notoriously hard to use for international business class flights, so I focused on frequent flyer programs I could access with Chase’s transfer partners.

With those parameters in mind, I headed to seats.aero to start my search. Using this tool, I was able to search for flights from multiple cities in the U.S. to multiple cities in Europe, using only programs that were transfer partners with Chase.

I searched for major East Coast hubs like New York City, Chicago, and Boston to major airports in the general area of Europe I was targeting including Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris.

Nothing popped up immediately, so I set alerts (a huge benefit of having a pro seats.aero membership) and waited.

I soon got an alert for a flight from Chicago (ORD) to Frankfurt (FRA) in Lufthansa business class for 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan points plus $56.98 in taxes and fees. This fit the bill almost perfectly, so we quickly transferred our points to book.

Unfortunately, we had to wait almost a week for my friend’s points to transfer since she signed up for an Air Canada account right before transferring. It was tense, but thankfully, the award space was still there when we were ready to book.

With our outbound flight booked, I adjusted my seats.aero alerts and waited again. I kept getting alerts for flights that were the day before our ideal travel day. I was getting nervous about passing those up, but we finally found a good flight on the exact day we wanted to travel.

We booked SWISS business class from Zürich (ZHR) to New York (JFK) for 60,000 Aeroplan points plus $113.30 in taxes and fees.

For both of these flights, I used my Chase Sapphire Reserve^® to pay for the taxes and fees to take advantage of the card’s excellent travel protections.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

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Chase Sapphire Reserve^®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

125,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$2,500

Annual Fee

$795

APR

19.99% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Excellent

Why We Like This Card

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve^® is one of the best options.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like worldwide airport lounge access, with excellent point earning and redemption options. Plus, it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to cover you at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the more than $2,000 in annual credits, which can offset the annual fee!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases
• 5x points on Lyft rides
• 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly

Cons

• $795 annual fee

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Card Highlights

• Earn 125,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Get more than $2,700 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
• Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase Travel℠, including The Edit℠ and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge^® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck^® every 4 years
• Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
• Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $250 annually
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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Positioning Flights

With our main flights booked, we shifted our focus to booking positioning flights to and from our home city of Columbus, Ohio.

I purchased a flight for $188 from Columbus (CMH) to Chicago (ORD) using my United Travel Bank funds. I paid an additional $35 for an Economy Plus seat with my Platinum Card^® from American Express, which was quickly refunded thanks to that card’s airline fee credit of up to $200 per year (enrollment and airline preselection required).

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

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Platinum Card^® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

Welcome Offer

You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

As High As 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $3,850

Annual Fee

$895

APR

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Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Good to Excellent

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than the Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,550 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges (enrollment required), Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

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Card Highlights

• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
• Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards^® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel^®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts^® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel^® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• More Value! With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection^®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club^® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges. * As of 07/2025.
• More Value! $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card^® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card^® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
• More Value! $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $25 in statement credits each month after you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card^® at participating partners. Enrollment required.
• More Value! $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel^® using the Platinum Card^®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• New! $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: When you use the Platinum Card^® to pay at U.S. Resy restaurants and to make other eligible purchases through Resy, you can get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter with the $400 Resy Credit benefit. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card^®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you, enrollment required.
• More Value! $209 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR Plus Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR Plus with the Platinum Card^®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card^® Account*. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
• Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts^® through American Express Travel^®, enjoy noon check-in upon arrival, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
• New! $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card^® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That’s up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card^®.*Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
• $100 Saks Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases at Saks Fifth Avenue or saks.com on the Platinum Card^®. That’s up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December. No minimum purchase required. Enrollment required.
• Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
• $895 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

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• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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For the way home, I bought a flight from New York (JFK) to Columbus (CMH) for 14,000 Delta Sky Miles and $5.60 in taxes and fees. That flight would have otherwise cost $189.

How I Booked Christmas Market Hotels Using Points

Once we had our flights booked, we sat down and looked at which Christmas markets we would be able to visit between Frankfurt and Zürich. Here’s what we ended up with:

• Frankfurt: 2 nights to visit markets in Frankfurt and Cologne
• Stuttgart: 3 nights to visit markets in Stuttgart, Strasbourg, Esslingen, and Ludwigsburg
• Zürich: 1 night to visit the markets in Zürich

I had a healthy balance of points in all of the major hotel programs, as well as 5 Marriott 50,000-point free night certificates to use, so my options were pretty wide open.

Hotel in Frankfurt, Germany, on Points

My friend was planning on staying at the Kimpton Main Frankfurt, so I looked at that hotel as well as hotels that would take my Marriott free night certificates.

I decided to also stay at the Kimpton after checking out what was around through The Edit by Chase Travel. It was a Points Boost hotel (a feature that offers up to 2 cents per point in value), so I booked 2 nights for 58,765 Chase points. The cash cost would have been $1,175.

The new Chase Sapphire Reserve card benefits kicked in on October 26, 2025 (after I originally booked), so I tried to rebook this reservation using the new $250 hotel credit with The Edit. Unfortunately, the only room categories that were left were much more expensive than what I originally booked, so I left the reservation as is.

Hotel in Stuttgart, Germany, on Points

I had 5 Marriott free night certificates that I needed to use, and I found a great place in Stuttgart, Germany. I booked 3 nights at Le Meridien Stuttgart using 3 of my certificates. The cost would have been 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy points or $830. While this didn’t completely maximize my 50k certificates, I was happy to be able to use them for good value instead of letting them expire.

The hotel is in a central location, near the town center and the train station (which is important because we’ll be taking day trips), so I think it will be a great spot to use as a home base for a few days.

Hotel in Zürich, Switzerland, on Points

Zürich, Switzerland, is not a cheap place to visit, and my hotel search supported that. I found a couple of hotels that would have worked for my Marriott free night certificates, but their locations weren’t great. Since we will only be there 1 night, I wanted a centrally located hotel that was within walking distance to the main part of the city.

After considering a couple of places, I ended up booking 1 night at the Park Hyatt Zürich, a hotel I stayed at a couple of years ago. I paid 35,000 World of Hyatt points for 1 night. The cash cost would have been $966.46, which means I was getting about 2.8 cents per point in value. That’s fantastic considering we value Hyatt points at about 2 cents each.

The hotel is in a great location, and I really enjoyed my last stay there, so I was happy to book it again.

My friend, who is paying cash for the night, booked the Neues Schloss Privat Hotel Zürich, Autograph Collection, which is right around the corner from the Park Hyatt. Rooms were 81,000 Marriott points per night, so I couldn’t use my free night certificate, unfortunately.

Final Thoughts

One of my favorite things about the points and miles hobby is that it turns trips like this, which would otherwise be expensive and perhaps frivolous, into a reality. In total, I booked round-trip flights and 6 nights in luxury hotels for 237,765 points, 3 Marriott free night certificates, and $363.88 out of pocket. Valuing those business class flights at a conservative $2,000 each, this trip would have cost over $7,300 had I not used points and miles.

But here’s the real value: Had I not had points and miles ready to go, I never would have booked this trip. So, while the cash value of what I booked is over $7,300, you can’t really put a price tag on the real-life value I’m getting … and that’s the beauty of points and miles.