If the winter games in Milan have you dreaming of Italy, your points and miles can take you there—even on a limited budget! Whether you’re drawn to the city for fashion, food, or architecture, Milan has something for everyone. 

In this series of blog posts, we show you ways to get to a specific destination, whether you’re looking to splurge or save. You can choose one or mix and match to make your trip. 

 

Low Points Flight – American Airlines Economy  

American Airlines miles can be challenging to earn, but if you have them, you can fly from New York to Milan for only 19,000 AA miles per person (+$5.60). I found availability in October 2026 for this price per person nearly every day. 

 

 

If you don’t have any AA miles, you can also often find this flight available via partner airlines, though usually for more miles. For example, this same flight is available in October for 25,750 British Airways Avios + $153 per person. This could be a great alternative if you don’t have AA miles. All major transferable currencies can be transferred to at least one Avios-earning airline, and you can move Avios between selected airlines that use the points currency. If you can time this with a transfer bonus, you may be able to save even more points. 

 

 

Low Points Price Hotel – Hilton Garden Inn Milan North 

The Hilton Garden Inn Milan North is within walking distance of the Villa San Giovanni metro station, so it’ll be easy to get where you need to go in Milan. 

I’ve found dates at this property for as few as 40,000 Hilton points per night. As the name implies, this hotel is a bit north of the city center, but you can take a train to the Duomo in only about 20 minutes. So, this may be worth it if you have Hilton points, especially if you need to book multiple rooms. 

 

 

This hotel has some rooms that accommodate more than two people (which is not common in Europe), but all the dates I found required booking a premium award at a higher price. Still, you might find it more economical to book the whole family in one higher-priced room rather than in two less expensive rooms. 

In August 2026, the hotel had a two-person room availability every night for 40,000 points. However, if you search for two adults and one child, the price range goes up from 68,000 to 96,000 points per night. You’d want to check the prices and see what makes more sense for your group.  

 

 

You can save even more by taking advantage of Hilton’s fifth night free policy if you have status and are booking your full reservation with points (no free-night certificates). 

Redeem four nights, get the fifth night free when you redeem points for a consecutive five-night Hilton hotel stay. You can receive a fifth Reward Night free, redeemable at that same hotel during that same stay.

 

 

Medium Points Price Flight – Emirates Economy 

Emirates has long been a favorite among points-and-miles enthusiasts, but its program has devalued in recent months. As of late 2025, Bilt was the only transferrable currency still transferring to Emirates at a 1:1 ratio. Other programs have lowered their ratios, adding complexity and increasing the number of points you’ll need to book an award. 

Still, Emirates’ fifth-freedom flight from New York to Milan can be a good option, especially if you’re willing to fly in economy. I found one-way economy flights for 17,500 Emirates Skywards miles. If you were transferring points from American Express or Citi, you’d need to transfer 22,000 points to book this flight (plus pay $122.50 in taxes and fees). The cash price of this flight was $706 when I searched, so even with the reduced transfer ratio, you’re still getting more than 2.5 cents per point. 

 

 

Medium Points Price Hotel – Crowne Plaza Milan City (IHG Points)

Although a bit farther from the main tourist attractions than some pricier properties, the Crowne Plaza Milan City offers several public transit options. It’s close to Milan Central Railway Station and has bus and tram stops nearby. 

In addition to standard hotel amenities, the Crowne Plaza offers an outdoor pool and a fitness center with a sauna and steam room for relaxing after a busy day of travel. 

As with most IHG properties, the points price varies widely. But I found nights in August for around 45,000 points per night, a solid deal for IHG points. 

 

 

 

This hotel appears to accommodate only two people per room, which is typical in Europe. However, a suite option is available for a cash booking that accommodates three people. So, you’d want to do the math and see what makes most sense for your family.

For a shorter stay, you could use a free-night certificate from your IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card and top up with the number of points needed per night. For a longer stay, it may make more sense to book your trip entirely on points and take advantage of the fourth night free benefit of holding one of these cards.  

Redeem three nights, get the fourth night free when you redeem points for a consecutive four-night IHG® hotel stay. You can receive a fourth Reward Night free, redeemable at that same hotel during that same stay.

 

High Points Price Flight – Emirates Business Class 

Emirates Business Class is a luxurious option for travel between Milan and New York. The airline offers lie-flat seats, gourmet food, and even an onboard bar. This is one of Jess’s favorite business-class flights. 

This fabulous experience will cost you—both in miles and dollars. The flight typically costs 87,000 points each way plus about $433.50 in taxes and fees. Unfortunately, with the new transfer ratio mentioned earlier, this flight has gotten significantly more expensive. You’ll now need 109,000 American Express Membership Rewards® or Citi ThankYou® Points to book this flight for one person, one way. Capital One is also reducing its transfer ratio, and Chase dropped Emirates as a transfer partner entirely. 

 

You can also book this flight round-trip for 108,000 Skywards miles (which may cost more points depending on your transfer partner), but I didn’t find round-trip availability in my searches. 

If you’re very flexible with your schedule, you might also be able to book this flight via Emirates’ partner airline, Qantas, for fewer miles. I found availability on a handful of dates in 2026 to book on Qantas for 82,100 miles plus $434 one-way. 

 

 

High Points Price Hotel – Park Hyatt Milan

This five-star property offers everything you’d expect from the luxury Park Hyatt brand. The Park Hyatt Milan is within walking distance of the famous Duomo and close to shopping and many other attractions in Milan. The hotel has a modern, elegant vibe and offers high-end dining options and a luxurious spa. Jess loved her stay there during the Eras Tour! 

The Park Hyatt Milan is a Category 8 property and costs 35,000 to 45,000 points per night. While that’s a lot of valuable Hyatt points to part with, it could be worth it for such a high-end stay in a central location, especially if you have limited time in the city. 

 

 

 

Bottom Line

 A trip to Milan can be in your future, whatever your points budget. Which options are you booking?

 

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