Taking four kids to Europe might sound financially impossible—but with the right mix of airline miles, hotel points, and a little planning, we made it happen. Our family of six (2 adults and 4 kids) traveled to London using points and miles, and spent a fraction of what the trip would have cost out of pocket.
Here’s exactly how we booked affordable flights with KLM, stayed at a Hyatt hotel using points, and saved money throughout the trip—without compromising the experience.
Flying to London with KLM: Points and Kids' Discounts
Booking six plane tickets could have easily cost us $4,000 or more. Instead, we transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Flying Blue (the loyalty program of KLM and Air France) and took advantage of KLM’s child fare discounts for kids ages 2–11.
- 2 adult fares + 4 child fares
- Miles used: 180,000 Flying Blue miles
- Out-of-pocket cost: ~$350 in taxes and fees
We booked during one of Flying Blue’s Promo Rewards sales, which offer steep mileage discounts to select cities each month.
Tip: Always compare one-way and round-trip award pricing, and look at departure cities with lower surcharges (like New York or Boston).
Hyatt Hotel Stay: One Room, No Problem
London hotels can be challenging for larger families, but many Hyatt Place and Hyatt House hotels have rooms that comfortably sleep six. Ours had two beds plus a pull-out sofa, and the space worked great for our family.
We stayed at Hyatt Place London City East, using World of Hyatt® points:
- Point rate: 12,000–15,000 points per night
- Cash rate: $300+ per night
- Total points used: 60,000–75,000 Hyatt points for five nights (one room)
We earned our Hyatt points through the Chase Sapphire Preferred® and the World of Hyatt® Credit Card.
The best part? Free breakfast for all six of us—a big money-saver when feeding kids in a city like London.
Affordable (and Free) Family-Friendly Activities in London
London is packed with world-class museums, parks, and iconic sights that don’t cost a thing:
- Natural History Museum – dinosaurs, interactive exhibits, and free entry
- Science Museum – hands-on for all ages
- British Museum – mummies, treasures, and free admission
- Hyde Park and St. James’s Park – perfect for relaxing and playing
- Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace – iconic and free
- Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross – fun photo op for Harry Potter fans
We booked one paid tour of the Tower of London, but everything else was low-cost or free.
Feeding Six in London Without Overspending
Food in London doesn’t have to be expensive—especially with kids:
- Free hotel breakfast every morning
- Affordable take-away options like Pret a Manger, Greggs, and Wasabi
- Grocery store lunches from Tesco Express and Sainsbury’s Local
- Kids Eat Free deals at places like Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza and Bella Italia
We averaged about $60 per day on food for six people, thanks to a mix of planning and flexibility.
Getting Around with Kids: London Transit Hacks
Public transportation in London is excellent—and affordable, even with a big family:
- Used Oyster cards for adults and Young Visitor Discounts for the kids
- Daily fare caps kept costs low
- Kids under 11 ride free on buses and the Underground with a paying adult
- Rode the iconic double-decker buses just for the fun of it
Total transit cost for the entire trip was under $150 for six people.
Full Trip Cost Breakdown
Final Thoughts: Yes, You Can Travel to Europe With Kids Using Points
Our trip to London proved that it’s absolutely possible to travel internationally as a family without going deep into debt. Using a mix of credit card rewards, airline programs, and hotel points, we created an experience that our kids will remember forever—and we did it for less than the cost of a domestic vacation.
Want to get started?
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of the best ways to begin your points and miles journey. You can transfer points to both Flying Blue (for KLM flights) and World of Hyatt, just like we did.
