How We Booked a 2-Week Europe Adventure for $800 Out-of-Pocket ($15,000+ Value Using Points)
A Points Insiders Success Story by Brandon
TLDR: Our $15,000 Europe Adventure for $800
- 🇬🇧 London: 4 nights at Inhabit, Queen’s Gardens (boutique hotel using Marriott certificates)
- 🇪🇸 Barcelona: 3 nights at Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona (ocean view suite upgrade)
- 🚢 Mediterranean Cruise: 7 nights Virgin Voyages with balcony cabin
- 💳 Points Used:
- 150,000 Capital One miles (transferred to Etihad)
- 160,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points (40% Virgin bonus!)
- Marriott free night certificates for London stay
- Hilton points for Barcelona hotel
- ✈️ Flights: JetBlue Mint business class JFK → London, budget flight London → Barcelona
- 💵 Out-of-Pocket: $800 total (taxes, fees, and incidentals)
- 💰 Total Cash Value: $15,000+
- 📈 Point Values Achieved:
- Capital One: 2.8¢ per mile (exceptional for JetBlue Mint)
- Chase: 7¢ per point!! (boosted by 40% Virgin bonus)
- ⭐ Diamond Status Magic:
- London suite upgrade + late checkout = extra exploration day
- Barcelona ocean view suite + free breakfast + food credits
- Executive lounge access with ocean views and open bar
- 🌊 Why Virgin Voyages Changed Our Cruise Game:
- Best cruise restaurants we’ve ever experienced
- No buffets, no set dinner times — just chef-curated menus from 20+ specialty restaurants, all included!
- Adults-only atmosphere with sophisticated vibe
- Balcony cabin with tips and WiFi included in points redemption
How You Can Do This Now (2025 Edition)
Good news: This exact redemption strategy is still achievable with current card offers. Here’s your roadmap:
Step 1: Get the Core Cards
Capital One Venture X: 75,000 miles (covers one JetBlue Mint ticket)
Chase Sapphire Preferred: 75,000 points (for cruise redemption via Virgin transfer)
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 100,000 points + free night certificate
Hilton Aspire: 175,000 points + Diamond status
Step 2: Build Your Balance (6-12 months)
Focus spending on signup bonuses first (480,000+ total points/miles available)
Use Capital One Venture X for everyday spending (2x everything)
Use Chase Sapphire for dining and travel (3x and 2x)
Step 3: Watch for Transfer Bonuses
Monitor Chase transfer bonuses to Virgin Voyages
(typically 2-3 times per year)
Use our Transfer Bonus Tracker to never miss one
Timeline: With current signup bonuses, you could have enough points for this trip within 6-8 months of strategic card applications.
Total potential value: $15,000+ trip for $800 out-of-pocket (same as our experience)
The Trip That Redefined Our Europe Strategy
We wanted to tackle a multi-city European adventure combining cities, culture, and our first Virgin Voyages cruise experience. What started as a way to use accumulated points efficiently turned into the trip that made us rethink everything we thought we knew about European travel and cruise experiences. This incredible redemption actually set the stage for our later Bora Bora adventure and showed us the true power of strategic points optimization.
Want to see how this evolved into our annual Bora Bora strategy? Read our Conrad Bora Bora redemption success story here.
Here’s exactly how we turned credit card points into 14 days of European luxury — and why this redemption strategy became our template for future premium trips.
The Booking Strategy
Total Cash Value if Booked Normally: $15,000+
Our Actual Out-of-Pocket Cost: $800 (taxes, fees, and incidentals)
Points Investment: 150,000 Capital One miles + 160,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards + Marriott certificates for London + Hilton points for Barcelona
Total Savings: Over $14,200 (94% savings vs. cash booking)
Flights: JFK → London → Barcelona
Outbound (JetBlue Mint Business Class):
- Route: JFK → London Heathrow (JetBlue Mint)
- Points used: 150,000 Capital One miles (75K each, transferred to Etihad)
- Cash equivalent: $4,200 for two Mint class tickets
- Point value achieved: 2.8¢ per mile (exceptional for Capital One)
Connecting Flight:
- Route: London → Barcelona (Ryanair)
- Cost: Covered with Capital One Venture X $300 annual travel credit
- Strategy: Budget airline for short 2-hour flight = smart points conservation
Our Venture X card’s annual travel credit made this connection essentially free: → Get the Capital One Venture X (current offer: 75,000 miles + $300 annual travel credit — the same credit we used for our London-Barcelona flight)
Hotels: London & Barcelona (Premium Locations with Status Benefits)
London: Inhabit, Queen’s Gardens (4 nights)
- Points used: Marriott Bonvoy free night certificates
- Location: Boutique hotel in prime Bayswater location near Hyde Park
- Cash equivalent: $1,600 (peak London rates during summer season)
- Key benefit: Central London location with easy access to major attractions
Barcelona: Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona (3 nights)
- Points used: Hilton Honors points for beachfront location
- Diamond upgrade: Standard room → Ocean view suite
- Cash equivalent: $1,200 (including suite upgrade premium)
- Diamond perks: Free breakfast, food credits, executive lounge access
Note: Hilton Diagonal Mar is part of Amex’s Hotel Collection, not Fine Hotels & Resorts — but Diamond status covered most elite-style perks anyway.
The certificates we used came from our Marriott Bonvoy cards: → Get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card (current offer: 100,000 points + free night certificate — the exact certificates we used for London)
The Game-Changer: Virgin Voyages Mediterranean Cruise
7-Night Mediterranean Cruise (Barcelona roundtrip)
- Points used: 160,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards (with 40% Virgin bonus!)
- Cash equivalent: $8,000+ for balcony cabin with all inclusions
- Route: Barcelona → Marseille → Cannes → Palma de Mallorca → Ibiza (2 days) → Barcelona
- Point value achieved: 7¢ per point! (thanks to Chase’s periodic 40% Virgin bonus)
The Chase points for our Virgin Voyages cruise came from our Sapphire Preferred: → Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred (current offer: 75,000 points + access to transfer partner bonuses — essential for catching limited-time Virgin bonuses like we used)
London: Boutique Charm in Prime Location
The Inhabit, Queen’s Gardens Experience
Inhabit, Queen’s Gardens offered a completely different London experience than the typical large chain hotels. This boutique property in Bayswater put us right next to Hyde Park with easy access to the entire city.
Why this location was perfect: Being steps from Hyde Park meant morning walks along the Serpentine, and the Bayswater/Paddington location provided excellent transport links. The Central and District lines got us anywhere in London quickly, while still feeling like we had a peaceful neighborhood base.
The certificate value: Using Marriott free night certificates for a boutique London property during peak summer season was incredible value. These certificates, earned from our Marriott Bonvoy cards, covered what would have been $400+ per night in one of London’s most expensive hotel markets.
London Highlights That Made It Special
My wife’s high tea quest: My wife was determined to find an authentic traditional high tea experience in London. After researching options, we chose The Rosebery at Rosewood London, and it was absolutely excellent. The elegant setting, perfect tea service, and incredible selection of pastries and finger sandwiches exceeded even her high expectations. It was worth every penny we didn’t spend on hotel upgrades!
The Tower of London: Even though I’d been to London several times, experiencing it together was different. The Crown Jewels never get old, and the Yeoman Warder tours are genuinely entertaining. Pro tip: book the earliest entry time to avoid crowds.
British Museum: Free admission to one of the world’s greatest museums. We spent an entire afternoon just in the Egyptian and Greek sections. The Rosetta Stone and Parthenon sculptures are worth the trip alone.
Sushi Samba Covent Garden: Having loved the Vegas location, we had to try the London version. While the food wasn’t quite as exceptional as Vegas, the ambiance in their Covent Garden location with its vibrant atmosphere was incredible. The energy of being in the heart of London’s theater district while enjoying cocktails and sushi was unforgettable.
Warner Bros. Harry Potter Studio Tour: This was my personal highlight of London haha, and I’ll admit I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The attention to detail is extraordinary — from the actual sets like the Great Hall and Diagon Alley to seeing the real costumes and props. Even if you’re a casual Harry Potter fan, the behind-the-scenes filmmaking aspects are fascinating!
Barcelona: Coastal Luxury with Hilton Diamond Perks
Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona: Ocean Views and Executive Perks
The Hilton Diagonal Mar Barcelona sits right on the Mediterranean coast, and our Diamond status upgrade to an ocean view suite made all the difference. Waking up to Mediterranean sunrise views never got old.
Diamond benefits that mattered:
- Free breakfast: Excellent variety with local Catalan specialties alongside international options
- Daily food credits: Used every evening for dinner at the hotel’s restaurants
- Executive lounge access: The real gem here — ocean view balcony with complimentary evening cocktails and appetizers
The executive lounge experience: Every evening from 6-8 PM, we’d head to the executive lounge with its open-air balcony overlooking the Mediterranean. Watching the cruise ships and sailboats come and go while enjoying complimentary drinks and Spanish tapas became our daily ritual. The sunset views were phenomenal.
Barcelona Exploration
Barcelona’s combination of historic architecture, Mediterranean coast, and vibrant food scene made it the perfect pre-cruise destination. The hotel’s beachfront location meant we could walk along the coast in the mornings, then explore Gaudí’s architectural masterpieces in the afternoons.
La Sagrada Familia: This is an absolute must-see — Gaudí’s unfinished masterpiece is unlike anything else in the world. The intricate facades and soaring interior columns that mimic a forest canopy are breathtaking. Even after seeing photos countless times, experiencing it in person is overwhelming. Book tickets in advance with tower access if possible!
Barcelona’s tapas culture: I absolutely love the tapas scene in Barcelona, and honestly, I don’t understand why this style of dining isn’t more popular in America. It’s my preferred way to eat — small plates that let you try multiple dishes, perfect for sharing, and the social aspect of lingering over food and drinks. We spent hours hopping between tapas bars, trying everything from patatas bravas to jamón ibérico. The Spanish have perfected the art of making dining an experience rather than just a meal.
Virgin Voyages: The Cruise Experience That Changed Everything
Why Virgin Voyages Is Different
After experiencing several cruise lines over the years (my cruise addiction actually started with travel hacking my way onto free cruises — but that’s a whole other success story for another post!), Virgin Voyages completely redefined what we expect from cruise vacations. Virgin Voyages operates an adults-only cruise experience with 20+ eateries featuring menus curated by Michelin-starred chefs, no buffets, and an all-inclusive approach that includes dining, WiFi, fitness classes, and gratuities.
What made Virgin different:
- Adults-only atmosphere: Exclusively for passengers 18 and older, creating a sophisticated yet relaxed environment
- Restaurant-style dining:
As a huge foodie, this was everything. Virgin Voyages completely shattered my expectations of cruise dining. There are no buffets, no set dinner times — just actual restaurant-style experiences at 20+ chef-curated spots. Each one has its own menu, vibe, and aesthetic — and every meal is made-to-order, not mass-produced. It felt like dining at a collection of boutique restaurants, not a cruise ship. This alone honestly made the trip for me! - All-inclusive value: Points covered our balcony cabin, all meals, WiFi, gratuities, and fitness classes
- Modern ship design: The cabin design with convertible furniture and mood lighting felt more like a boutique hotel
The Chase 40% Virgin Bonus: Perfect Timing
The real magic happened when Chase offered one of their periodic 40% transfer bonuses to Virgin Voyages. These bonuses don’t happen often, but when they do, they’re incredible for cruise redemptions.
The math: Instead of the standard 1:1 transfer rate, we got 1.4 Virgin points for every Chase Ultimate Rewards point transferred. This meant:
- Our 114,286 Chase points became 160,000 Virgin points
- Effective point value: Effective point value: 7¢ per Chase point (exceptional for cruise redemptions)
- Cash equivalent: $8,000+ for our balcony cabin with all inclusions
💡 Pro tip: Use our Transfer Bonus Tracker to get alerts when these limited-time bonuses become available. We monitor all major transfer partners so you never miss these valuable opportunities.
Mediterranean Itinerary Highlights
Barcelona → Marseille: Our first port introduced us to French coastal charm. We rented bikes and cycled along the Mediterranean coastline — one of the most scenic rides I’ve ever experienced. The coastal route from the Old Port to the Calanques offered stunning limestone cliffs and turquoise waters.
Marseille → Cannes: The glamour of the French Riviera was evident even outside of film festival season. We spent the day walking the Promenade de la Croisette and enjoying café culture with views of luxury yachts.
Cannes → Palma de Mallorca: The Spanish island offered a perfect blend of historic architecture and beautiful beaches. The Gothic cathedral and surrounding old town provided cultural exploration, while the coastal areas offered relaxation.
Palma → Ibiza (2-day stop): The extended stop in Ibiza was a highlight. While known for nightlife, we discovered incredible snorkeling spots and crystal-clear waters. Swimming and snorkeling with stingrays in the shallow, protected coves was magical — they’re completely harmless and curious about visitors.
Ibiza → Barcelona: Returning to Barcelona after a week at sea gave us a new appreciation for the city and time to explore areas we’d missed before the cruise.
The Virgin Dining Experience
Virgin Voyages ditched cruise buffets for 20+ eateries with made-to-order food featuring menus curated by Michelin-starred chefs. After experiencing typical cruise dining on other lines, this was a revelation.
Standout restaurants:
- Test Kitchen: Molecular gastronomy with surprise courses
- Pink Agave: Elevated Mexican cuisine with creative cocktails – My favorite was the selection of Mezcal cocktails!
- The Wake: Steakhouse with panoramic ocean views
- Razzle Dazzle: Vegetarian-focused with incredible creativity
The room service reality: Everything was included — even extensive room service through their app. No additional charges for in-cabin dining made those lazy morning breakfasts on the balcony even more enjoyable.
The Points Strategy Behind the Trip
Building Our Capital One Balance for JetBlue Mint
Primary cards used:
- Capital One Venture X: 75,000 miles signup bonus + ongoing 2x earning
- Capital One Savor for dining: 4x miles on restaurants built our balance quickly
Our Capital One miles for JetBlue Mint came primarily from the Venture X signup bonus: → Get the Capital One Venture X (current offer: 75,000 miles + $300 annual travel credit + Priority Pass — the 75,000 mile bonus alone covers one business class ticket like ours)
The Etihad transfer strategy: Capital One’s partnership with Etihad Guest allowed us to book JetBlue Mint seats for 75,000 miles each instead of paying $2,100+ cash per ticket.
Key insight: JetBlue Mint business class via Etihad transfers often provides better availability and value than booking directly through JetBlue’s program.
Chase Ultimate Rewards for Virgin Voyages
Building our Chase balance required strategic timing:
The accumulation phase (12 months):
- Business travel on Chase cards: ~80,000 points
- Daily spending optimization: ~60,000 points
- Sign-up bonuses: ~100,000 points from Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Strategic category spending: ~40,000 points
The 40% bonus opportunity: Chase periodically offers transfer bonuses to select partners. When the Virgin Voyages bonus appeared, we were ready to transfer immediately. These bonuses are limited-time and often disappear within days.
💡 Pro tip: We keep track of all the latest transfer bonuses inside the Points Insiders app so you never have to worry about missing one. Get alerts the moment these valuable opportunities become available.
→ Get the Chase Sapphire Preferred here (current offer: 75,000 points + access to transfer partner bonuses)
Building Our Marriott Balance for London
Primary cards used:
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless: 100,000 point signup bonus + free night certificate annually
- Marriott Bonvoy Business: Additional free night certificate + strong earning rates
The certificate strategy: Marriott free night certificates (up to 50,000 points value) worked perfectly for boutique London properties that would normally cost 35,000-50,000 points per night. During peak season, this provided exceptional value.
The Marriott certificates we used for London came from multiple card bonuses: → Get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card (current offer: 100,000 points + free night certificate — these annual certificates are perfect for expensive European cities like London)
Diamond status from the Aspire card was essential for our Barcelona experience: → Get the Hilton Aspire Card (current offer: automatic Diamond status + 175,000 points + free weekend night certificate — the Diamond status alone provided $500+ in upgrades and perks during our Barcelona stay)
Hilton Strategy for Barcelona
The strategic approach:
- Hilton Aspire card for automatic Diamond status and strong earning rates
- Strategic use of Hilton points for beachfront Barcelona location
- Diamond status upgrades and benefits maximized the coastal experience
Barcelona strategy: The Hilton Diagonal Mar was booked using Hilton Honors points during peak European summer season. The Diamond status upgrades and benefits made this beachfront location incredibly valuable.
The Hilton Aspire card gave me automatic Diamond status, which was crucial for our Barcelona upgrades: → Get the Hilton Aspire Card (current offer: automatic Diamond status + 175,000 points + free weekend night certificate)# How We Booked a 2-Week Europe Adventure for $800 Out-of-Pocket ($15,000+ Value Using Points)
Capital One Venture X Travel Credit Optimization
The $300 annual travel credit covered our London → Barcelona flight on Ryanair, making the short connection essentially free. This is a perfect example of using annual credits strategically for incidental travel expenses while saving points for premium redemptions.
Why This Trip Changed Our Europe Strategy
The Multi-City Approach Works
Instead of choosing between a city trip or a cruise, combining both gave us the best of European culture and Mediterranean relaxation. The 4-3-7 split (London-Barcelona-Cruise) provided perfect pacing.
Mixed Hotel Strategy Works
Using different hotel programs for different cities showed the value of maintaining multiple point currencies. Marriott certificates for boutique London properties and Hilton Diamond status for Barcelona beachfront luxury provided the best of both worlds.
Virgin Voyages Is Our New Cruise Standard
Critics and guests consistently rate Virgin Voyages as providing an elevated cruise experience that’s “light-years ahead” of traditional cruise lines. After this experience, we’re focusing future cruise points on Virgin Voyages redemptions exclusively.
Points Strategy: Mix Transfer Partners
Using Capital One for flights and Chase for cruise showed the value of maintaining multiple point currencies. When transfer bonuses align with your travel plans, the value multiplication is significant.
The Numbers: Was It Worth It?
Cash Cost Analysis
If booked with cash:
- JetBlue Mint (business class): $4,200
- London Hilton suite (4 nights): $1,600
- Barcelona Hilton suite (3 nights): $1,200
- Virgin Voyages balcony cruise (7 nights): $8,000
- Total: $15,000
Our actual cost:
- Points/certificates: $0 out-of-pocket (accumulated over time)
- Flight taxes/fees: $300
- Connecting flight: Covered by Venture X credit
- Cruise port fees: $500
- Total out-of-pocket: $800
Point Valuations Achieved
- Capital One miles: 2.8¢ each for JetBlue Mint (exceptional)
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: Chase Ultimate Rewards: 7¢ each with 40% Virgin bonus (exceptional)
- Marriott certificates: Excellent value for boutique London properties during peak season
- Hilton points: Great value for Barcelona beachfront luxury with Diamond upgrades
Key insight: Transfer bonuses can turn good redemptions into exceptional ones. The 40% Chase bonus to Virgin added $2,000+ in value to our cruise redemption.
Lessons Learned for Future Europe Trips
What Worked Perfectly
- Multi-city strategy: London culture + Barcelona coast + Mediterranean cruise = perfect variety
- Mixed hotel strategy: Marriott certificates for boutique London properties + Hilton Diamond for Barcelona luxury maximized value
- Transfer bonus patience: Waiting for the 40% Virgin bonus added significant value
- Status benefits: Diamond upgrades and perks enhanced the Barcelona stay
What We’d Do Differently
- Book virgin earlier: Award availability disappears quickly, especially for balcony cabins
- Consider longer London stay: 4 nights felt too short for such an incredible city
- Research cruise ports more: Some Mediterranean ports require tender boats and careful planning
- Pack for variety: European cities, cruise ship, and beach destinations require diverse wardrobes
Our Future Europe Template
This trip established our template for future European adventures:
- Use different hotel programs strategically (Marriott certificates for boutique properties, Hilton Diamond for luxury chains)
- Combine different point currencies for optimal value
- Plan around transfer bonuses when possible
- Mix cultural cities with relaxation components
My Take as Software Dev
Look, after 20+ years of optimizing systems, I approach travel rewards the same way I approach complex software architecture: understand the components, identify the optimal paths, and execute efficiently. I know, I know, I’m a nerd!
This Europe trip perfectly demonstrates why points strategy matters more than just accumulating points. We could have booked this same trip using points inefficiently and ended up with maybe $8,000 in value. Instead, strategic timing, transfer bonuses, and certificate optimization delivered $15,000 in value.
What most people miss is that the best redemptions require patience and planning. The 40% Virgin bonus didn’t happen overnight — it required having points ready and being prepared to act quickly when opportunities appeared.
“The best redemptions aren’t just about having points — they’re about having the right points at the right time with the right strategy.”
The Virgin Voyages experience also taught us something important: sometimes paying a premium (in points) for significantly better experiences is worth it. The adults-only atmosphere, exceptional dining, and sophisticated vibe justified using more points than budget cruise options.
Building multiple point currencies (Chase, Capital One, Hilton) provided flexibility that single-ecosystem strategies can’t match. When transfer bonuses align across different programs, the value multiplication is extraordinary.
Our European adventure reinforced that travel rewards optimization is about experiences, not just savings. The combination of business class comfort, suite upgrades, and cruise luxury created memories that justified every hour spent learning credit card strategies. This trip actually gave us the confidence and experience to later tackle our annual Bora Bora strategy, proving that strategic points use can unlock incredible travel experiences.
Want More Help?
Ready to plan your own European points adventure? Check out our Points Insiders dashboard for personalized recommendations on building point balances, timing transfer bonuses, and finding optimal European redemption opportunities.
The cards that made this specific trip possible:
- Capital One Venture X – The 75,000 mile signup bonus covered one JetBlue Mint ticket, plus the $300 travel credit paid for our London-Barcelona flight
- Chase Sapphire Preferred – Our Chase points came from this card’s earning and signup bonus, giving us access to the crucial 40% Virgin transfer bonus
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Card – The free night certificates from this card (and the business version) covered our entire London stay at Inhabit, Queen’s Gardens
- Hilton Aspire Card – Automatic Diamond status provided suite upgrades, free breakfast, and executive lounge access in Barcelona worth $500+
💡 Use our specialized tools:
Sign up for our newsletter to get alerts when Virgin Voyages award availability opens up and when transfer bonuses become available for European travel.
And if you want to dive deeper, join our Discord community where we share real European redemption experiences and coordinate transfer bonus strategies.
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Success Story Disclosure: This redemption represents actual experiences and point values achieved. Your results may vary based on availability, timing, and individual spending patterns. Point values and transfer bonuses change frequently. Please check with Chase regarding current Virgin Voyages transfer bonus availability as noted in my email under “Ibiza” and “Virgin red” searches.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. When you’re approved for a card through our links, we may receive compensation. This doesn’t affect our recommendations — we only suggest cards we actually use and believe in.
