Dream Weekend Trip: Escape the Winter Cold in Miami With Capital One Miles

If you’ve ever lived in Midwestern cities like Chicago or Minneapolis, you know December through March is filled with snow, ice, and freezing temperatures. The bone-chilling cold will make anyone want to get out of town and flee somewhere warmer — and what better place than sunny Miami?

It’s filled with some of the best beaches in the U.S., an excellent dining scene, and incredible artwork. Not to mention, Miami’s weather is nothing short of perfect during the winter months, with the average high and low temperatures being 74 and 66 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively, in January.

But it’s an expensive city, with everything from food and drinks to hotel rooms eating away at your travel budget. Because of this, if you’re traveling to Miami this winter, consider using points and miles to book your flights and hotels. This will free up your budget for more Cubanos, ropa vieja, and key lime pie during your visit — and trust me, those are all worth trying.

With that in mind, let’s look at how you can book a trip from the Midwest to Miami with Capital One Miles.

How To Earn 75K to 150K Capital One Miles

Earning enough Capital One miles for a trip to Miami is easier than you think. One of the easiest ways to earn them is to apply for a new Capital One card and, once approved, earn its welcome bonus offer. These tend to start at 75,000 miles (or more) for personal cards, which can cover your flights and potentially even a hotel stay over a long weekend.

If you don’t want to pay a high annual fee, consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. This card has an annual fee of $95 and earns 2 miles per $1 on all purchases, with some Capital One Travel purchases earning bonus miles.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

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.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$95

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (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.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee
• Limited elite benefits

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Card Highlights

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is worth considering if you’re looking for a card with more travel benefits. It has a higher $395 annual fee, but includes premium benefits like access to Capital One Lounges, a Priority Pass™ Select lounge membership, an annual $300 Capital One Travel credit, and cell phone protection.

It also earns 2 miles per $1 on all eligible purchases, and you can earn more when you book with Capital One Travel. The welcome bonus offer is generous and can help you earn a ton of Capital One miles quickly.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

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.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel.

100,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,800

Annual Fee

$395

APR

Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (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 (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn 100,000 bonus miles once you spend $10,000 on purchases in the first 6 months from account opening - equal to $1,000 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: Purchases: 19.99% - 28.99% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

If you’re a business owner, the Capital One Venture X Business Card is similar to the Capital One Venture X card but tends to have a higher welcome offer with a significantly higher spending requirement.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Capital One Venture X Business Card

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.

The Capital One Venture X Business card offers at least 2x miles on all purchases, and comes packed with premium perks.

Capital One Venture X Business Card

The Capital One Venture X Business card offers at least 2x miles on all purchases, and comes packed with premium perks.

Welcome Offer

Earn up to 400k bonus miles: 200k miles when you spend $30k in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months.

Up to 400,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

Up to $7,200

Annual Fee

$395

APR

This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month.

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Business card is a great all-around premium rewards card that helps you rack up miles on all of your business expenses.

From 2x miles per dollar on all purchases, airport lounge access, an annual travel credit, complimentary employee cards, and more, there is plenty to love about the Capital One Venture X Business card.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Business Travel
• 5x miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Business Travel
• 2x miles per dollar on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee
• 10x and 5x bonus categories are limited to Capital One Business Travel

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
• Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
• With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
• Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
• Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month

Financial Snapshot

• APR: This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month.
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Read our complete guide to Capital One credit cards for information on the rest of the bank’s credit card portfolio. Between earning the welcome offer for a new Capital One card and using it to pay for everyday expenses, you can quickly rack up enough miles for a winter trip to Miami.

Booking Flights to Miami With Capital One Miles

Capital One miles transfer to 18 airline loyalty programs that span all 3 major airline alliances. You can redeem Capital One miles to book flights on any of the Big 3 U.S. airlines. Plus, you can book flights on budget carriers like Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines with Capital One miles by covering the cost of your flights with miles on your statement credit within 90 days of purchase, as we’ll explain below.

If you’re flying from Chicago (ORD) to Miami (MIA) this winter, you can fly nonstop with American Airlines by transferring Capital One miles to Qantas Frequent Flyer. This program charges 13,700 miles plus $5.60 for a one-way ticket on this route, bringing a round-trip ticket to 27,400 miles and $11.20.

The same pricing applies to other Midwest-to-Miami routes, like Cleveland (CLE) or Detroit (DTW) to Miami. That said, with Qantas Frequent Flyer, longer routes like Minneapolis (MSP) to Miami fall into a higher 20,500-mile price band.

For longer flights, you may be better off booking flights on Delta Air Lines through Air France-KLM Flying Blue. You can book a one-way ticket from Minneapolis to Miami for 15,000 miles plus $20.77 in taxes and fees. However, pricing varies by route.

Regardless, it’s always worth checking the cost of a paid ticket before you transfer Capital One miles to a partner. Flights to Miami can be cheap depending on when you fly, and you can redeem Capital One miles at a flat rate of 1 cent per mile toward eligible travel expenses charged to the card, including flights, within 90 days of the purchase posting to your statement credit.

For example, this one-way ticket on Spirit Airlines from Chicago to Miami costs $49. You can pay for the ticket with your eligible Capital One credit card and redeem just 4,900 miles to cover the charge completely within 90 days. Of course, only book with Spirit Airlines if you’re comfortable paying for extras like seat assignment and a full-size carry-on bag.

Booking a Hotel in Miami With Capital One Miles

There is no shortage of great hotels in Miami. If you’re looking for city vibes, you can stay in the Brickell neighborhood, which is jam-packed with high-rise buildings and boutique shopping. Meanwhile, staying in Miami Beach — which is technically a different city from Miami — is perfect for soaking up the sun, with many hotels having direct access to the city’s legendary beaches.

Capital One miles transfer to 4 hotel loyalty programs: ALL Accor Live Limitless, Choice Privileges, Preferred Hotels I Prefer, and Wyndham Rewards. Accor transfers process at 2:1.5, while Choice and Wyndham transfers process at a standard 1:1 transfer ratio. Unfortunately, however, these brands have a limited presence in Miami.

But not all hope is lost on redeeming Capital One miles for a Miami hotel stay. As mentioned previously, you can redeem Capital One miles at 1 cent per point toward eligible travel purchases within 90 days of purchase. This includes boutique hotel stays and vacation rentals, where you can find stays for under $250 per night, even during the peak winter months.

Let’s look at 2 promising hotels: 1 in Miami Beach and 1 in Brickell.

Miami Beach: Cavalier Hotel South Beach

The Cavalier Hotel South Beach is a boutique hotel in the heart of Miami Beach, right across the street from iconic South Beach. First opening in 1936, the hotel has a rich history, an art deco look, and rooms filled with artwork and modern furnishings.

Capital One Travel shows nightly rates at the Cavalier Hotel hovering around $200 per night during the winter. Again, be sure to book through Capital One Travel, if the rate is competitive, and pay with your eligible Capital One card to earn extra miles on your booking.

For example, this 3-night stay costs $609, and I would earn 10 miles per $1 with my Capital One Venture X Business card. In turn, I’d earn 6,090 miles on the stay, helping to offset the 60,900 miles I would need to redeem to cover the charge within 90 days of purchase.

Brickell: citizenM Miami Brickell

citizenM is a small chain of hotels in big cities like New York City, London, and Miami. It offers a unique hotel experience, with small yet functional rooms and an automated check-in process. I’ve stayed in a couple of citizenM properties and think they’re perfect for short stays in cities where you won’t be spending much time in your hotel room, like Miami.

The citizenM Miami Brickell has everything you need for a great trip this winter. There’s a rooftop bar and pool, and the CanteenM, where you can buy snacks anytime. Rooms are relatively small but outfitted with a large king bed, a workstation, and functional furniture that doubles as storage for your luggage.

Rates are reasonable (by Miami standards) during the winter months. For example, you can book a 3-night weekend stay at the beginning of January through Capital One Travel for $652 after taxes and fees. This requires 65,200 Capital One miles to cover within 90 days of purchase, but remember that you can earn 10 miles per dollar if you pay for your hotel stay with a Capital One Venture X card or Capital One Venture X Business card.

It’s worth noting that the citizenM brand was recently acquired by Marriott and has begun integrating these hotels into its loyalty program. Therefore, you might consider booking through Marriott so you can earn Bonvoy points and use your elite status benefits, if you have them.

Final Thoughts

From stunning beaches to a buzzing culinary scene, Miami is a great place to escape the cold this winter. And as you learned in this article, you can make your trip much friendlier on your wallet when you use Capital One miles to pay for your flights and hotel room.