Italy’s special. There’s a reason it draws over 60 million visitors a year like pasta-seeking moths to a flaming trattoria.
But that popularity means hotel prices can err on the side of offensive, especially in peak season, making your dream Tuscan, Roman, or Sicilian getaway as much of a financial burden as it’ll be on your waistline.
But there is a way to save a ton on your trip costs. In fact, it’s possible to pay almost nothing at all if you play it smart. And that’s by using points. Wrangling these useful loyalty rewards can save you literally thousands of dollars, and even set you up for more luxury than you could ever afford.
To help you plan, we’ve found some of the most postcard perfect hotels in Italy that you can book with points.
Postcard perfect hotels in Italy that you can book with points: Hilton
Rome Cavalieri
Location: Rome, Italy
Price: 80,000 points/ $700+
Vibe: Iconic Roman institution
The rundown: We could have gone for a value option in Rome and grabbed you as many as five nights, but sometimes it’s worth going big. Rome Cavalieri is one of the most iconic hotels in the country. Its astounding views over the city validate the price tag even on the worst of days, but the world-class service, the city’s only three-star Michelin restaurant, and Turkish baths add to the feeling of prestige. It’s a hotel you’ll never forget and one you’re definitely allowed to brag about.
While Hilton’s dynamic system means rates can soar, it’s possible to find plenty of off-season dates in October for just 80,000 points. Frankly, that’s one of the best times to visit Rome anyway. If you open one of Hilton’s co-branded cards like the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card and hit the $6,000 spending threshold, you’ll earn 175,000 points. That’s enough for two free nights at the hotel. The card also comes with a free night award each year, so you could combine them for three nights in the Roman capital.
Postcard perfect hotels in Italy that you can book with points: Hyatt
7Pines Resort Sardinia
Location: Sardinia, Italy
Price: 35,000 points/ $1,000+
Vibe: Heaven on a Hyatt budget
The rundown: We’re still waiting for Hyatt to catch on to their own generosity. The 7Pines Resort on the ever-perfect island of Sardinia typically runs at around $1,000 a night. But thanks to the World of Hyatt award chart, it’s possible to grab rooms for just 35,000 points a night. This isn’t a budget hotel—it’s a high-end beach resort and you can grab it for pennies on the dollar. If Hyatt isn’t your life, it’s time you made a change.
To earn enough points, you have a few options. Chase and Bilt both allow transfers to World of Hyatt, so opening cards from each of those companies is a good call. If you have a small business, you could grab 120,000 points by opening the Chase Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card and hitting the $8,000 spending threshold. You’re not far off four free nights at that rate.
Postcard perfect hotels in Italy that you can book with points: Marriott
Grotta Gusti Thermal Spa Resort
Location: Tuscany, Italy
Price: 29,000 points/ $300+
Vibe: Sun-kissed Tuscan perfection
The rundown: A 19th-century Tuscan villa; Europe’s largest natural thermal cave; 40 acres of heavenly Tuscan grounds. Should I just keep saying happiness trigger words? That’s just a taste of everything on offer at the incomparable Grotta Gusti in Tuscany. It’s not far from Florence or Pisa, but with the experience on offer you may find it a stretch to leave the grounds. Maybe cut your trip into two parts.
The best part? You can book a room here for as little as 29,000 Bonvoy points. Like Hilton, Marriott’s loyalty program is dynamic but rates are generally a little more forgiving. The average does seem to be around 40,000, but I found multiple date strings of the lower rate a flexible traveler can take advantage of. American Express allows transfers to Marriott, so you could open The Platinum Card® from American Express and grab the 80,000-point intro bonus. You’ll need to spend $8,000 within six months opening the card to earn it, but once you do you’ll have almost three nights covered at Grotta Gusti.
Postcard perfect hotels in Italy that you can book with points: Accor
ibis Styles Roma Vintage
Location: Rome, Italy
Price: 6,000 points/ $110+
Vibe: High-value budget choice
The rundown: We’re taking things down a notch on the opulence scale, but considering the value you can reap, I’d suggest you keep reading. The ibis Styles Roma Vintage is a cute little budget in the capital. Rates run at around 100 euros—making it a palatable option if you’re paying cash. But its parent company Accor’s unique system means you could stay there for nothing…for over two weeks…seriously.
All Accor gives its points a fixed value of 40 euros per 2,000 points. With that math in mind, if the average rate for your stay was 120 euros, you’d be able to grab seven nights for just 42,000. Double that for a fortnight. All the major credit card companies allow transfers to All Accor, so you could open a card like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, score the massive intro bonus, and be just 1,000 miles away from a completely free two-week stay in Rome. That’s epic.
Accor is underrated if you didn’t just realize.
Postcard perfect hotels in Italy that you can book with points: Accor
Ramada by Wyndham Naples
Location: Naples, Italy
Price: 15,000 points/ $110+
Vibe: Pompei for peanuts
The rundown: The Ramada is another pleasant budget option for those hoping to explore Naples and its surrounding attractions like Pompei. It’s not going to change your life, but it will keep the costs down and that’s important. Wyndham flies under the radar in most markets, and it’s probably that relative anonymity that allows its loyalty program to keep award rates low. It’s possible to book the Ramada for just 15,000 points a night.
Capital One and Citi are the only credit card issuers allowing transfers to Wyndham, giving you some solid options. As it stands, we’d recommend the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Don’t be confused with the Venture X, already mentioned. This is the less premium version, but comes with the same intro bonus and is currently offering a $250 travel credit on top. You could use that to book another couple of nights in a different city. You’ll need to hit the same $4,000 spending threshold to earn the miles and the travel credit.
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
