Dreaming of a vacation locale that offers a variety of experiences, from white sand beaches and exciting nightlife to high-end shops and a diverse food scene? Then consider Miami for your next getaway.

Located on the southeast coast of Florida on Biscayne Bay, Miami also offers high-end shopping at the Bal Harbour Shops and a vibrant art scene, including the famed international Art Basel art fair in December, the galleries of the Wynwood arts district and the Miami Design District.

With such a diversity of offerings, you'll likely find something you like. Here’s our guide on how to travel to Miami on points and miles.

Getting to Miami

Nearest airports

When traveling to the Magic City, you have a few options for air travel. The major airports serving the Miami area are:

Miami International Airport.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Palm Beach International Airport.

Miami International Airport has flights from 80+ airlines to around 150 destinations around the world. It’s relatively painless to get from the airport to the South Beach area (about 12 miles away). You can take a taxi to South Beach hotels for a $32 to $40 flat rate. A rideshare like Uber or Lyft costs $15 and up, while Miami-Dade Transit’s Airport Flyer costs $2.25 each way. You could also rent a car, which may be the most practical option since exploring the city requires some sort of transportation.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is about 30 miles from the heart of South Beach. Palm Beach International Airport is about 73 miles away, so factor in drive time if you fly into this airport.

Major airlines flying to Miami

Major airlines that fly to Miami include:

American Airlines.

United Airlines.

Delta Air Lines.

Frontier Airlines.

Flying to Miami on points and miles

American Airlines

American still works off of an award chart that shows you can fly within the contiguous U.S. states and Canada starting at just 12,500 points one-way. Especially if you're coming from the New England area or cross country from the West Coast, that can be a cheap way to get to Miami from your home airport.

Delta Air Lines

If you’re a Delta devotee, there are also some deals to be had when traveling to Miami on points and miles. For example, take a quick weekend getaway from Cincinnati to Miami for just 10,000 miles, plus $11.20 in taxes and fees. You can find similar pricing around the country, but Delta doesn't have a set award chart so check your travel dates with your location for specific pricing.

Other tips for flying to Miami

A few more tips for traveling to Miami on points:

Enjoy a range of lounges at Miami International Airport: There’s no shortage of lounges at the Miami airport, from several Priority Pass lounges to a Centurion Lounge.

Navigate the airport on moving walkways: Miami International Airport has three separate terminals, linked by the Skyride Connector.

Hotels on points in Miami

There are a lot of hotels to book with points in Miami, from the swanky to the more budget-friendly. Here are some picks for staying on points with Marriott, Hilton, and Hyatt.

Marriott

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa

At the posh JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa, about 18 miles from Miami airport in the city of Aventura, you can learn to catch a wave at the resort’s new water park, Tidal Cove, or watch the little ones live it up in the 4,000-square-foot kids’ pool. There’s also a state-of-the-art spa and two 18-hole golf courses. End your day at this 300-acre tropical resort with a meal at the hotel’s marquee eatery, Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, where you can explore varietals from a wine list boasting more than 1,000 selections.

Cost to book in points: Depending on when you travel, you’ll usually need between 40,000 and 60,000 points per night at this Marriott Bonvoy property. NerdWallet values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cent each. This hotel charges a $44-a-day resort fee, which includes waterpark admission. Marriott generally does not waive resort fees on reward stays.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

For a chance to earn a lot of Marriott Bonvoy points quickly, you can sign up for the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card, which right now has a bonus offer: Earn 3 Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening with the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card. The card also comes with a free night award, good for a hotel night valued at 35,000 points, which you can get every year after your card renewal month.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card comes with an anniversary night valued up to 50,000 points. This card is also offering a welcome offer: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply.

Travelers who like to keep their options open (not commit to a Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card) should consider The Platinum Card® from American Express. It comes with automatic Marriott Gold Status (enrollment required), plus the card is now offering a nice welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Hilton

Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach

Photo courtesy of Hilton

Located in the beachfront SoFi section of Miami Beach, the Hilton Bentley Miami/South Beach is a solid option if you want to go to Miami and do it right. Reality TV fans might recognize it from the Kardashian spinoff “Kourtney & Kim Take Miami.” Spend the day at the beach then walk to Ocean Drive’s famous nightlife and restaurants.

Cost to book in points: Points prices vary, so search the hotel’s website for your exact dates. A recent search showed rooms starting at 72,000 Hilton Honors points per night. An upgraded room was a splurge at 212,000 points per night.

NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.5 cent per point. Hilton usually waives resort fees on award stays.

How to earn Hilton points

The Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card has the following welcome bonus: Earn 170,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Terms Apply. This card also offers a free night certificate after spending $15,000 in a calendar year.

The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card also has a welcome bonus: Earn180,000Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.Offer Ends 1/17/2024.

If you want status in the Hilton Honors program but don’t want to commit to a Hilton Honors-branded credit card, consider The Platinum Card® from American Express, which comes with automatic Hilton Gold Status (enrollment required). You can qualify for a welcome bonus: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Those points can usually be transferred to the Hilton Honors program at a 1:2 ratio.

Hyatt

Hyatt Regency Miami

Photo courtesy of Hyatt

Next to one of Miami’s trendiest neighborhoods, Brickell, the Hyatt Regency Miami has spacious rooms with views of Biscayne Bay or the Miami skyline. You can walk to fashionable shops, eateries and cultural attractions like the Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. The location is also convenient for catching a concert at FTX Arena.

Cost to book in points: You can find rooms here starting at just 12,000 World of Hyatt points per night.

How to earn Hyatt points

The World of Hyatt Credit Card is currently offering a welcome bonus: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

If you use the card for stays at Hyatt family hotels you’ll earn a total of 9 points per dollar. If you have Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, you can transfer them to World of Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio. NerdWallet values Hyatt points at 2.3 cents per point. Hyatt usually waives resort fees on award stays.

The bottom line

With its beaches, nightlife and cultural riches, Miami is an ideal destination for a vacation. If you want to travel to Miami on points, there is no shortage of deals to be had on airfare and hotel stays, from the budget-friendly to the luxurious.

To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card, see this page.

All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.

To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.