How to Plan the Perfect Christmas Market Trip with Points and Miles

There’s something about Christmas markets in Europe that makes you feel like you have landed yourself in a real-life Hallmark movie. With the wood chalets, sparkly lights, cozy mugs of mulled wine, handmade ornaments, and cobblestone streets dusted with frost, these markets are a literal dream. 

But let’s be honest… holiday travel to Europe isn’t cheap. Between flights, hotels, and everything you want to eat and buy, costs add up fast. Luckily, flights to Europe are somewhat less expensive in the winter since people seem to be unaware of how magical it is during the holiday season. On the downside, lodging costs do seem to get a bit more expensive, but with strategic planning, you can make it work.  That’s why I found a way to pay for my Christmas market trip with points and miles.

So slightly expensive, yes. But that’s where points and miles come in. Using the right strategies, you can cover your airfare, stay in beautiful hotels, and even offset transport costs, which turns a dream December trip into reality. I’ve used points to make my own holiday market trip possible, and today I’m breaking down exactly how you can do it too.

Here’s how I booked my own market trip for less using points and miles from my travel credit cards. 

Why A Christmas Market Trip Works Well with Points

One of the best things about Christmas market trips is how flexible they are. You don’t need weeks of vacation or a huge budget. You can easily spend three to six days in Europe and still see multiple markets. That’s the beauty of winter travel: flights are cheaper than in summer, and European cities are so well-connected that you can fly into whichever airport is cheapest, then hop on a train or even grab a short budget flight to another market city.

On my first trip to Europe, I rented a car since I was going to be staying in a small, less connected town, but you could easily fly into Frankfurt (like I did), then take the train to Strasbourg, Cologne, or other major cities. It was affordable, quick, and so much less stressful than trying to drive. And because I used points to cover my flight, rental car, and lodging expenses, the trip was much more manageable than it would’ve been otherwise.

Using Flexible Credit Cards

If you only remember one tip, make it this: get yourself a flexible points card. Cards like the Capital One Venture or Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve let you book travel however you want (think Airbnb, boutique hotels, train tickets, even buses) and then go back later to reimburse yourself with points.

I happened to have Hilton points that paid for my hotel stay when I went to the Strasbourg Christmas market, but since I was staying in a tiny town most of my time in Europe, I got an Airbnb, so I paid upfront and then wiped it off my statement with Venture points. It gave me the freedom to stay somewhere charming and unique without paying full price out of pocket.

Hitting the Bonus While You Book

You might be wondering how the heck you rack up the points in the first place. To my knowledge, all travel credit cards offer sign-up bonuses. This means you usually have to hit a certain spending amount by a certain date to unlock a certain number of points. 

Maybe you’re reading this now and thinking you’re out of luck because you only have two months. Think again! Most cards want you to hit a certain spending amount within 3-6 months. This is how you can do this and still use the points to pay off the trip after the fact. 

So here’s a little trick: 

If you’re planning a holiday trip and it’s coming up soon, you can actually time your credit card application so the spending counts toward your minimum spend requirement. Booking a big trip usually means putting down thousands of dollars all at once. If you use a brand-new card for those purchases, you’ll hit the threshold for the sign-up bonus much faster. When those bonus points post, you can go back and wipe out a good portion of your expenses.

That’s exactly what I recommend if you’re new to the points game. It’s like giving yourself a retroactive discount on a trip you were going to book anyway. Both the Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve and Capital One Venture/Venture X cards give you the option to use points to pay off travel expenses. 

This means that even if you don’t have your 75,000 point bonus yet, you can book your trip (say for $2000), use your card for all expenses during your trip, and hit your bonus, then when the points post the following month you can use points to basically cover up to $750 of those expenses (give or take depending on your bonus amount). 

Keep in mind that you may end up having to pay a month of interest depending on how the timeline works out.

Book Hotels and Airbnb Stays Using Points

Yes, there are plenty of chain hotels in Europe that you can book directly with points from hotel travel cards. On my first trip, I used Hilton points for my one-night stay in Strasbourg, which worked out perfectly. But I didn’t want to spend my entire trip in cookie-cutter properties. I don’t intend to do so for my upcoming trip either.

This is where flexible cards shine again. By using Capital One or Chase Sapphire points, you’re not limited to chains. You can choose that charming boutique hotel or even an Airbnb, pay upfront, and still get reimbursed. 

Let me break down how additional card perks can help you save on accommodation expenses.

Save on Christmas Market Trip Stays with Card Perks

One of the easiest ways to bring down the cost of a Christmas market trip is to use the hotel credits that come with premium travel cards.

With the Capital One Venture X, you get a $300 annual travel credit when you book through the Capital One Travel portal, plus a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth about $100). That’s $400 of value you can apply directly toward your stay in whichever city you’re exploring.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred also comes with a hotel perk: you get an annual $50 credit on bookings made through the Chase Travel portal. On top of that, your points are worth 25% more when redeemed through the portal, which means your stash of points can stretch further toward cozy boutique hotels near the markets.

And if you’re a Delta flyer like me, the Delta Amex Reserve now includes up to $200 in annual statement credits for prepaid hotel bookings through Amex Travel. That can easily cover a night or two in a Christmas market city. Plus, when you stack it with the card’s other perks (like Sky Club access and upgrade priority), it makes the whole trip feel smoother and a little more luxe.

Put simply, these credits are tailor-made for trips like this. December hotel rates in Europe can be steep, but applying your annual credits makes booking a holiday-season stay feel a lot more magical (and budget-friendly).

Flight Costs to Europe in December 

It’s easy to assume December flights to Europe must be expensive because the markets are so popular. The truth? They’re often cheaper than summer flights. From the West Coast, I regularly see round-trip fares between $550 and $800 in economy.

When I went to Germany in 2022, my fare was under $600. My fare for my upcoming Paris/Metz trip is $775.  For the amount of magic I got in return, sipping mulled wine in the market square, listening to carolers under twinkling lights,  it was worth every point. And if you have airline status, there’s always a chance of getting bumped up to Comfort Plus or even First Class. I’ve had that happen on Delta before (though not on an international flight), and it makes those long-haul flights so much more comfortable. You should also note that airfare is 15% off with Delta when you use miles to pay for the entirety of your purchase.

I am a travel credit card hoarder and pretty much have all the American Express and Capital One travel cards, plus my Chase Sapphire card. This means I can use my Amex to book my airfare and save my other (more flexible cards) for my lodging and transportation expenses. 

Travel Insight: If you have a credit card with whatever airline you’re flying on, you’re typically allowed at least one free checked bag. 

Trains and Buses Count Too

Speaking of transportation expenses. Don’t forget that local travel counts as travel expenses too. If you buy train or bus tickets with a card like Chase Sapphire or Capital One Venture, you’ll earn bonus points since you get more points for travel expenses. Plus, since those are travel expenses, you can also reimburse those purchases later.

On my upcoming trip, I’m planning to take trains between French and German Christmas market cities. It’s cheaper than flying, way faster than driving, and even the train rides themselves feel like part of the adventure. I’ll be able to earn bonus points when I pay with my credit card. Then I can go back after the fact and use some of those earned points as cash towards paying the tickets off. 

Tips to Maximize Your Christmas Market Trip Experience

One thing I’ve learned from traveling in Europe during the holidays is that the trip feels a lot smoother when you plan with both flexibility and comfort in mind. Weather delays, crowded airports, and unpredictable train schedules are all part of the adventure, but the right prep makes a big difference.

Choose a Base City

Instead of bouncing around every night, it’s probably best to choose one “base city” and then take a couple of day trips. For example, staying in Strasbourg and then hopping to Colmar or Freiburg by train keeps the trip relaxed while still giving you variety. Though I am guilty of trying to pack a lot of exploration into a little bit of time, which often means shuffling around a lot. 

Pack Smart

Packing smart is another game-changer and also something I fail miserably at, but I hear it can be done. Europe’s cobblestone streets aren’t made for giant rolling suitcases, and checking bags can add unnecessary costs. Focus on packing in layers and make sure you have comfortable, waterproof boots and a solid, but minimal, pair of shoes for walking.

This is also where perks from cards like the Delta Amex Reserve help. You get a free checked bag, which is huge when you’re bringing back ornaments, chocolates, or bottles of mulled wine syrup from the markets. I highly recommend you take a very lightly packed duffel or suitcase so you have plenty of room to bring things back. 

I like to use compression packing cubes and vacuum bags for travel to help me maximize space and make organizing outfits easier.

Travel Insurance Perks 

Finally, here’s something most people don’t realize: many travel cards automatically come with perks like rental car coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and trip delay insurance. That means if a snowstorm leaves you stuck overnight or your suitcase takes a detour, your card may cover hotels, meals, or replacement items. I had this happen once when my flight was delayed, and my travel card reimbursed the unexpected costs, one of those hidden benefits that makes premium cards worth keeping.

That said, if you want extra peace of mind beyond what credit cards provide, I also recommend looking into SafetyWing travel insurance. It’s affordable, covers medical emergencies abroad, and gives you backup coverage if something unexpected happens during your trip. I personally like having both the automatic card protections for delays and bags, and SafetyWing for health or major trip disruptions.

Pay Attention to Extra Perks

That said, if you want extra peace of mind beyond what credit cards provide, I also recommend looking into SafetyWing travel insurance. It’s affordable, covers medical emergencies abroad, and gives you backup coverage if something unexpected happens during your trip.

I personally like having both the automatic card protections for delays and bags, and SafetyWing for health or major trip disruptions. Most travel credit cards also come with a couple of underrated perks that make international trips way easier. For one, they don’t charge foreign transaction fees, which means you’re not paying an extra 3% every time you buy a souvenir or a cup of mulled wine in Europe. That adds up fast, and having a no-fee card is a must for a Christmas market trip.

Another bonus is that many cards will actually cover the cost of things like your passport, TSA PreCheck, or Global Entry. Both PreCheck and Global Entry are game changers for international travel; you’ll move through security faster, skip some of the long customs lines, and save yourself a ton of stress during the holiday travel season. Some premium cards (like the Delta Amex Reserve, Capital One Venture X, or Chase Sapphire Reserve) will reimburse you every few years when you renew, which basically makes these perks free.

All of these little strategies add up to make a Christmas market trip not just magical, but practical and doable too.

Final Thoughts

Using points and miles doesn’t have to mean flying business class or only staying in five-star hotels. For me, it meant making my Christmas market trip possible by using Hilton points for a chain stay, wiping out boutique Airbnb and rental car charges with Capital One, and taking advantage of cheaper winter flights with my Delta points.

Christmas markets are pure magic. With a little planning and the right credit cards, you can experience it all. Who doesn’t want to live their Hallmark dreams in Europe during the holidays? And what a major bonus it is if you aren’t draining your bank account while you’re living the dream.

I’m sharing everything I’ve learned about planning meaningful trips — from Christmas markets in Europe to national park getaways in the U.S. Sign up for my newsletter to follow along and get practical travel hacks delivered to you.

Ready to Start Earning Points for Your Own Christmas Market Trip?

If you’ve been thinking about opening a travel credit card, now’s the perfect time. By using one of my referral links, you’ll unlock the same (or sometimes even better) welcome bonuses I did — and I’ll get a small bonus too, which helps me keep sharing free travel guides like this one.

• Capital One Venture Referral Link
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Referral Link
• Delta Amex Reserve Referral Link

These are the exact cards I’ve used to cover flights, hotels, Airbnbs, and even trains on my own trips. If you’re serious about making a Christmas market trip happen without draining your wallet, starting with one of these cards is the best first step.