Planning a family trip to Europe can get expensive fast, especially when you’re booking flights and hotels for multiple adults and kids. But thanks to booking with points and miles, we were able to book a summer 2025 family trip to England and Scotland at a fraction of the cost.
In total, this trip would have cost us $16,908.85 in cash, but instead we paid $3,509.46 out of pocket + 348,400 points + 3 Marriott Free Night Certificates + 3 Hyatt Free Night Certificates, which brought this dream family vacation within reach for us financially.
Here’s exactly how we did it, what cards and programs we used, and the value we got along the way.
✈️ Flights to and from England & Scotland on Points & Miles
Tampa → London (Virgin Atlantic)
- Cost: 81,000 Virgin Atlantic Miles (transferred from Capital One) + $616.80 in taxes/fees
- Cash Price: $4,209
- Value: 4.4 cents per point (cpp)
- Travelers: 3 adults + 1 child + 1 lap infant
Flying Virgin Atlantic was the perfect overnight option for us, leaving Tampa at 10:10pm and arriving in London early the next morning. I like Virgin Atlantic’s service and find that they are a very family-friendly airline.
Edinburgh → Orlando (Virgin Atlantic)
- Cost: 68,400 Virgin Atlantic Miles (transferred from Capital One) + $939.66 in taxes/fees
- Cash Price: $9,005.46 (realistic value closer to $6,840)
- Value: ~3.5–12 cpp depending on benchmark
This redemption was a HUGE win. Even valuing it conservatively, it was an excellent use of miles for an expensive transatlantic route.
🏨 Hotels in England & Scotland on Points & Miles
Great Scotland Yard Hotel, London (Hyatt)
- Stay: 2 nights, 2 rooms
- Cost: 116,000 Hyatt Points (transferred from Chase)
- Cash Price: $3,107.46
- Value: 2.7 cpp
This centrally located luxury property was perfect for our London sightseeing days. We even managed to get connecting rooms, which was ideal for traveling with kids.
If you want to see more about what we did in London with Kids, check out my London Family Travel Guide here!
Thorabella Farm (via Wyndham/Cottages.com)
- Stay: 2 nights at a farm with small cottages outside of Inverness, Scotland
- Cost: 27,000 Wyndham Points (we have a Wyndham card, but you could also transfer from Capital One)
- Cash Price: $548
- Value: 2.0 cpp
Booking cottages and unique stays with Wyndham points was a fun alternative to traditional hotels! It takes a little hunting but you can find great value using your Wyndham points for this.
Millburn House B&B
- Stay: Paid cash — $1,193
Sometimes paying cash just makes sense, and this cozy B&B was worth it for the location and family feel. Don’t forget to have me check rates for you if you end up booking a cash stay!
Isles of Glencoe Hotel
- Stay: Paid cash — $760
- Booked through me (as my own travel agent – I had the best rate available for this property by far!). This is a super family-friendly hotel with Loch Leven Trail right outside, and an indoor pool and sauna.
Schloss Roxburghe (Hyatt)
- Stay: 3 nights, 2 rooms
- Cost: 108,000 Hyatt Points (transferred from Chase)
- Cash Price: $2,700.53
- Value: 2.5 cpp
- Perks: Free breakfast daily, luxury countryside resort
This was one of the highlights of our Scotland stay — a castle-like property with plenty of outdoor activities for families. We had an amazing time here!
Residence Inn Edinburgh (Marriott)
- Stay: 3 nights in a large studio suite
- Cost: 3 Marriott Free Night Certificates + 2,000 Marriott Points
- Cash Price: $1,759.86
- Value: 1.2 cpp
- Perks: Free breakfast and space for the whole family
A great use of free night certificates, keeping our out-of-pocket costs low. Great location, much quieter than the rest of the city. However, there are nicer, more luxurious stays in the city if you have less people.
💳 Credit Card Strategy & Points Transfers
- Virgin Atlantic flights: Miles transferred from Capital One.
- Hyatt hotels: Points transferred from Chase Ultimate Rewards + FNCs.
- Wyndham cottage: Points from Wyndham Earner card.
- Marriott Residence Inn: Free night certificates from Marriott co-branded credit card.
By combining transferable currencies (Chase, Capital One) with free night certificates, we maximized flexibility and got outsized value.
📊 Trip Value Breakdown
| Expense | Cash Price | Points/Miles Used | Our Cost | Value (cpp) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Atlantic TPA–LHR | $4,209 | 81,000 miles | $616.80 | 4.4 cpp |
| Great Scotland Yard (2 nights) | $3,107.46 | 116,000 Hyatt | $0 | 2.7 cpp |
| Wyndham Thorabella Farm (2 nights) | $548 | 27,000 Wyndham | $0 | 2.0 cpp |
| Millburn House B&B (3 nights) | $1,193 | — | $1,193 | — |
| Isles of Glencoe Hotel (2 nights) | $760 | — | $760 | — |
| Schloss Roxburghe (2 rooms, 3 nights) | $2,700.53 | 54,000 Hyatt points + 3 FNAs | $0 | 2.5 cpp |
| Residence Inn Edinburgh (3 nights) | $1,759.86 | 3 FNAs + 2,000 Marriott points | $0 | 1.2 cpp |
| Virgin Atlantic EDI–MCO | $9,005.46 ($6,840 realistic) | 68,400 miles | $939.66 | 3.5–12 cpp |
Total Cash Price: $16,908.85
What We Paid: $3,509.46 + 348,400 points + 3 Marriott FNCs + 3 Hyatt FNCs
📝 Tips for Families Booking Trips on Points & Miles
- Book early – Finding 4+ award seats on the same flight takes planning.
- Leverage free night certificates – They stretch your hotel budget further.
- Mix cash + points – Not every night is worth using points; sometimes paying cash makes sense.
- Use flexible currencies – Chase and Capital One give you options across multiple airlines and hotels.
- Track cpp (cents per point) – Helps you decide when to redeem or save points and book with cash.
✨ Final Thoughts
This trip reminded me why I love points & miles for family travel. Without them, this vacation would have cost over $16,000 — instead, we paid just over $3,500 out of pocket while enjoying luxury hotels, flights across the Atlantic, and unique family experiences in England and Scotland.
If you’ve been on the fence about starting with points and miles, let this be your sign — with the right strategy, your dream trip is possible too!
And, if you need any help booking the cash parts of your hotels, I likely have access to the best rates available. Let me check the rate or plan your trip – at no cost to you!
