There’s much to enjoy in Spain’s capital city—from famous museums to delicious food. Points can significantly reduce your travel expenses to Madrid, which leaves room in your budget for more churros! (Really, don’t miss the churros if you’re going to Spain.) Madrid has something for every budget. Whether you have a lot of points or just a few, a great trip for a fraction of the cash price is definitely possible!

In this series of blog posts, we show you ways to get to a specific destination, whether you’re on a tight points budget, are looking for something mid-range, or have points to splurge. You can choose one or mix and match to make your trip. 

 

Low Points Price Flight – Iberia in Economy 

Let’s say we’re looking to go from Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Madrid on Sunday, March 8, 2026. 

At the time I searched in October, there were six seats available in economy on Iberia Airlines for 16,000 Avios (plus $91) per person, one-way to Madrid on this date. All major transferable currencies can be transferred to at least one Avios airline, and you can move Avios between selected airlines that use the points currency. 

 

 

I searched other Avios airlines for this exact flight and didn’t find a better points price, so I would transfer points to Iberia and book directly. Even if I had found a less expensive option with another Avios program, I’d still want to book directly because of Iberia’s cancellation or change policy on partner bookings. You’d want to decide based on your risk tolerance and the likelihood you’d need to cancel or change your flight.  

Unfortunately, Alex and Jess had difficulties with their Iberia flights being rescheduled and canceled. I was also planning to fly this route in February 2026, but had to scrap my plans due to an Iberia schedule change. Still, I would book Iberia again for the right points price and just have a backup plan in mind. Luckily, Avios are flexible and can be used on future trips! 

 

Low Points Price Hotel – Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid 

Once you arrive in Madrid, you can stay in Madrid’s Paseo de la Castellana neighborhood using points or a Category 1-4 Hyatt free-night certificate at the Hyatt Regency Hesperia Madrid. While the hotel itself is not as centrally located as some other options, it’s close to public transit that can take you to popular tourist destinations like the Prado Museum. 

This property is a Category 4, a great way to maximize the value of a certificate. If you’re paying with points, a standard room will cost between 12,000 and 18,000 points per night. 

Like nearly all European hotels, I found standard rooms slept only two people. However, when I searched for two adults and two kids in March 2026, the hotel’s Family Suite was bookable for 15,000 points plus about $420 U.S. dollars. Given the relatively low points price of a room, two rooms would likely make more sense—unless you place a high priority on all being in the same room. 

 

 

If you’re traveling with one child who doesn’t mind sleeping on a sofa, you can book the Regency Executive Suite with Club Access for 24,000 points per night (or a mix of points and cash). Just as with the other suite, you’d want to see what makes sense for your family and budget.  

 

 

 

 

Medium Points Price Flight – United in Economy 

You can also fly from Washington, D.C. to Madrid on the same day with United in economy for more points. United had saver award availability (at the time I searched in October) on that same evening for 31,200 points plus $5.60 per person. That’s a great option if you have United miles to spend. 

 

 

What if you want to book this flight and don’t have United miles? The only way to transfer credit card points to United to book a United flight directly is to transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Bilt Rewards points. Those are also the same programs that transfer to Hyatt, and many travelers like to save those points for Hyatt. 

So if you don’t have enough United miles, you might opt to book this ticket through a partner airline, such as Air Canada. For this fight, booking through Air Canada would cost you 40,000 Aeroplan points and about $56 USD per person. 

 

 

Though at a higher cost, this would give you the opportunity to take advantage of any transfer bonuses that may be happening between different programs and Air Canada Aeroplan. Also, since Aeroplan partners with nearly all of the major banks, you have more points currency options to use for this flight by booking through a partner. 

 

 

Medium Points Price Hotel – Hotel Indigo Madrid – Gran Via

If you have IHG points and want to be a bit closer to the major attractions, check out Hotel Indigo Madrid – Gran Via. This quirky-looking hotel is a short walk to the Plaza Mayor, the royal palace, and other sites. It also has a (small) rooftop pool with some beautiful views of the city! 

In March, I found that this property was generally around 55,000 IHG points per night for a standard room that sleeps two. The hotel also offered a few three-person rooms, but those were only available with cash during the timeframe I searched. 

If you hold the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card or the IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, you can get the fourth night free if you book your entire stay on points (i.e., no free-night certificates).

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 – Iberia in Business 

Although this is the highest point price we’ll look at today, Iberia is actually one of the least expensive ways to get from the U.S. to Europe in business class! While this business-class product may not be the fanciest one in the sky, it’s still a lie-flat seat for your trip across the ocean. Pam and a friend had a comfortable flight with great service flying from Madrid to New York in 2024. 

Availability can be limited on Iberia’s business-class flights between the U.S. and Madrid, but I found two business-class seats for 40,500 Avios plus $126 from Washington, D.C. to Madrid on March 30. There were plenty of economy seats on this flight when I searched. So, if your kids are old enough, you can leave them in the back of the plane! 

 

 

If you want to take this flight, Thrifty Traveler often sends alerts when it finds availability. 

 

High Points Price Hotel – The Thompson Madrid 

Team PTS loves Thompson hotels, and Thompson Madrid is no different. The Thompson is in the heart of Madrid; it’s less than a ten-minute walk to the Plaza Mayor. This property also has a rooftop pool. 

The Thompson Madrid is a Category 6 and costs between 21,000 and 29,000 Hyatt points per night for a standard room. Similar to the other hotels, I found a suite that could sleep three people (with a sofa for one child 12 or under). But it costs 50,000 points per night (or 25,000 points plus about $544 per night), for the days I was searching. Depending on the time of year you’re staying, it might be less expensive to get two rooms and give everyone more space. The property does have spacious family suites you can upgrade to if available, as Pam, Alex, and Jess did during their stay.   

 

Bottom Line

Whatever your points budget, Madrid has something for you and your family. Which options are you taking for your next trip to Spain?

 

Related Posts

Review of Iberia Airlines Business Class

Thompson Madrid Review

Points Talk Squad Takes Spain!