How to Travel on Points in 2025: The Best Credit Card Rewards & Loyalty Programs
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Dreaming of five-star hotels, long-haul flights, or spontaneous weekend getaways—all without draining your savings? I’m right there with you!
In 2025, traveling on points has evolved from a niche hobby into a smart, strategic way to explore the world. Whether you’re collecting Amex travel points, stacking miles, or juggling rewards programs, the opportunities to turn daily spending into unforgettable memories has never been better.
Below, we explore the best hotel and airline loyalty programs—plus, the credit cards that help you earn and redeem faster. We’ll help you plan your next trip around rewards instead of receipts.
Hilton Honors Rewards
With more than 7,000 hotels worldwide, Hilton Honors remains one of the most flexible programs for travelers who want to earn free nights and upgrades quickly. Members earn points on every stay, dining purchase, and partner booking. Higher-tier members enjoy perks like late checkout, digital check-in, and room upgrades.
Why we love it: Hilton’s partnerships with airlines and credit card issuers make it easy to combine travel rewards. For example, you can redeem Amex travel points or airline miles for Hilton stays or transfer them directly into your Hilton Honors account for faster redemptions.
IHG One Rewards
The IHG One Rewards program covers brands from the budget-friendly Holiday Inn to luxury InterContinental hotels. Members earn 10 points per $1 spent and can redeem them for free stays, gift cards, or even flights through airline partners.
Why we love it:
Milestone rewards like suite upgrades or food-and-beverage credits
No blackout dates on reward nights
Easy point transfers from select best credit card rewards programs
IHG is especially appealing for frequent business travelers or families who want value and flexibility across multiple hotel tiers.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy is a global favorite among luxury travelers. With over 8,000 properties spanning more than 30 brands, their roster includes everything from the Courtyard to The Ritz-Carlton. Members earn points through hotel stays, dining, and spending on co-branded credit cards.
Why we love it: Marriott offers unique redemption options beyond free nights, such as exclusive concerts, culinary experiences, and VIP access through its Moments platform. If you’re building Amex travel points or Capital One travel miles, you can transfer them directly into your Bonvoy account to supercharge your balance.
Qatar Airways Privilege Club
For international travelers, Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club is one of the most rewarding airline programs. Members earn Avios—an increasingly versatile currency shared with British Airways and Iberia—on flights, hotels, and partner purchases.
Why we love it:
Excellent redemption rates for business- and first-class tickets
Family pooling so everyone earns together
Seamless transfers from Amex, Capital One Travel, & more
If your goal is to use points for luxury long-haul travel, Privilege Club offers some of the best value in the sky.
JetBlue TrueBlue
TrueBlue from JetBlue is beloved for its simplicity. There are no blackout dates, points never expire, and you can pool them with family members to reach free flights faster. Members earn points on flights, vacation packages, and select retail partners.
Why we love it: TrueBlue points can be combined with Capital One travel miles through partner redemptions, giving you extra flexibility for domestic and Caribbean getaways.
Southwest Rapid Rewards
If you love flexible, low-stress travel, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards should be on your radar. Members earn points based on ticket price and fare type, and there are no hidden fees or blackout dates.
Why we love it:
Two free checked bags on every flight
Points that never expire
The legendary Companion Pass, which lets you bring a friend for free after earning 135,000 points
You can also boost your earning potential with Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards credit cards, which often include welcome bonuses large enough for multiple round-trip flights.
The Role of Credit Card Rewards
Loyalty programs are powerful—but pairing them with the best credit card rewards multiplies your earning potential. Programs like Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Travel let you earn transferable points that can be moved into dozens of airline and hotel programs, giving you total flexibility.
For example:
Amex travel points can transfer to Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and Qatar Airways Privilege Club.
Capital One travel miles can move to IHG One Rewards, JetBlue TrueBlue, and several international airlines.
Many travelers use OneTravel and similar booking platforms to stack even more rewards from multiple sources at once.
Using a single co-branded card can be great—but if you want to travel on points strategically, pairing a general travel card with one or two loyalty programs gives you the best balance of flexibility and value.
How to Choose the Best Travel Points Program
We’ve lined up all the options. So, what is the best travel points program? The best loyalty program depends on where, when, and how frequently you travel.
The Takeaway
In 2025, traveling on points isn’t just a perk—it’s a strategy. Whether you prefer the convenience of Capital One Travel, the flexibility of Amex travel points, or the simplicity of TrueBlue and Southwest Rapid Rewards, there’s a program designed to fit your travel style.
The key is to start early, sign up for at least one hotel and one airline loyalty program, and link them to a rewards credit card that lets you earn on every purchase. Before long, you’ll be booking your next flight or hotel stay using points—not your wallet.