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Summer is upon us, and if you’re looking to take a weekend with friends and head out to California’s wine tasting region, we couldn’t think of a better way to go than by using your points from a recent credit card welcome bonus. Let’s dive in and see how those points, or other ones you’ve accumulated, can cover your travel expenses for a carefree weekend.
How many points can you earn with a welcome bonus?
Depending on the credit card you sign up for, you can expect multiple tens of thousands of points. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is currently offering 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, and if you’re a business owner, the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is offering 120k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,200 cash back or $1,500 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.
Capital One also has strong offers, with their Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card offering an enticing 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. Even Citi is getting into the game with a 60,000 point bonus on their Citi Premier® Card after $4,000 in spending for the first three months.
How do you transfer points to airlines and hotels?
In order to move your credit card points over to their airline and hotel partners, simply go to your credit card’s website, find the “transfer to travel partners” section under points redemption, and link your account. Keep in mind that once you transfer the points out of your bank or credit card and into a travel program, you can’t transfer them back. For more detail, check out our program guides:
What airlines fly to Sonoma and Napa with points?
While Napa, Sonoma, and the Russian River Valley are all easily drivable from San Francisco and Oakland airports, the best airport to the vineyards is Santa Rosa, airport code STS. It’s smack dab in the middle of the wine tasting region, and with numerous flights each day, getting there from your hometown should be a breeze.
American Airlines offers connections to STS via Dallas and Phoenix and Alaska Airlines has nonstop service to STS every day to Portland, Seattle, Burbank, Anaheim, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Since Alaska is a partner with Bilt, you can move your accumulated Bilt points over to Alaska for free flights. It takes as little as 5,000 Alaska miles to get a flight in economy of 15,000 to get a flight in first class.
Bilt Mastercard®
Special feature
The Bilt Mastercard offers the unique ability to earn points on rent.| Annual fee | $0 |
| Regular APR | See Terms |
at Bilt
Rewards Rates
- Make at least 5 transactions in a statement period, in order to earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases (purchases minus returns /credits) for that statement period.
- 3X3X Bilt Points on dining
- 2X2X Bilt Points on flights, hotels, rental cars, and cruises when booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies
- 1X1X Bilt Points on rent paid through the Bilt App with your card account up to a maximum of 100,000 points each calendar year
- 1X1X Bilt Points on purchases
- Rewards and benefits terms.
- Travel perks: Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection, Trip Delay Reimbursement, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver. See this page for details.
- Foreign Transaction Fee: None
at Bilt
What hotels can you use your points in Sonoma and Napa?
While there are hundreds of hotels to stay at for your wine tasting adventures, we’ve chosen a few of them that make for unique experiences and that are redemption values as well.
Hyatt Regency Sonoma
Located right in the center of Santa Rosa, California, you’ll be minutes away from some of the Russian River Valley’s best wineries. As part of your daily fees at the hotel, you’ll be given access to many 2-for-1 tastings around town, and the hotel can help arrange transport if you’re not feeling up to driving.
As a category 4 hotel, you’ll be able to use any free night certificates you’ve accumulated with your World of Hyatt Credit Card, or you can redeem points, transferred in from Chase Ultimate Rewards®, starting at only 12,000 points per night.
Andaz Napa
On the other end of the California wine country in downtown Napa lies the Andaz, right in the downtown corridor. Head back to the luxurious rooms with hardwood floors and soaking tubs after a day touring Napa Valley’s wine country. Have the hotel help you arrange transport on the Napa Valley wine train and head out for a full day of wine tasting and culinary adventures.
Rooms start out at 21,000 points for this Category 6 Hyatt hotel, and if you’re short on Hyatt points, take some of the points from your Chase Sapphire or Chase Ink welcome bonus and transfer them directly over to Hyatt.
World of Hyatt Credit Card
Intro bonus
30,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months. Plus, up to 30,000 more bonus points by earning 2 bonus points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 bonus point, on up to $15,000 spent.| Annual fee | $95 |
| Regular APR | 21.49%–28.49% variable |
Rewards Rates
- 4x4X on Hyatt brand and FIND Experiences purchases
- 2x2X points on airlines, commuting and transit, gym memberships, and restaurants
- 1x1x points on all other purchases
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- Additional perks: Trip cancelation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, purchase protection, ability to spend to higher status
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- Foreign transaction fee: None
Farmhouse Inn
Heading back to the Russian River valley you’ll find a unique boutique hotel in the Farmhouse Inn. Every day you’ll have wine and s’mores by the fire pits, get the chance to experience a luxurious tasting menu in the Farmhouse restaurant, and retreat to your room where you’ll have homemade chocolate chip cookies waiting for you. If you’re feeling stressed, head over to the spa for a massage or bath with local herb-infused oils.
Choice Privileges points are your way to access this property without forking over any cash. At 75,000 Choice points per night, your winners here are Citi ThankYou points and Autograph points that both transfer at a 2:1 ratio over to Choice. Take the points earned from your Citi Premier or Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card welcome bonus and go and enjoy a luxury weekend retreat.
Marriott Hotels
If you recently took advantage of a Marriott credit card sign-up bonus and you’re sitting on a chunk of 50,000 point free-night certificates, Marriott comes to the rescue with a plethora of hotels that you can use your certificates. From the AC Hotel Sonoma County, the Springhill Suites Napa Valley, all the way to the Sheraton Sonoma County Petaluma, hotel stays that go for under 50,000 points a night are abundant.
Hilton
If you just signed up for a Hilton American Express card and you’re wondering where to use your points, there are over a dozen hotels between Sonoma, Napa, and the Russian River Valley to choose from.
There’s a hotel for every luxury level, from the economical no-frills Hampton Inn Santa Rosa to the Knoll Napa Valley, a Tapestry by Hilton. As rates vary depending on the price of the room, prices can range tremendously, from 41,000 points per night all the way up to 80,000 points or more.
Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card
Intro Bonus
Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors bonus points after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the card within your first 6 months of card membership (Offer ends 7/31/2024).| Annual fee | $550 |
| Regular APR | 20.99%–29.99% variable |
Reward Rates
- 14xEarn 14X points per dollar on Hilton stays
- 7xEarn 7X points per dollar on airfare, car rentals and restaurants
- 3xEarn 3X points per dollar on other purchases
- All information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card has been collected independently by Fortune Recommends™.
- Travel perks including CLEAR membership, accident insurance, rental car coverage, trip cancellation and delay insurance
- Consumer protections including cell phone insurance, extended warranty, purchase and return protection
The takeaway
Sonoma and Napa wine trips are notoriously expensive but credit card rewards can put them within reach. With the points, miles, or free night certificates earned from welcome bonuses, you can sneak a quick getaway to have a wine tasting weekend with your besties. There’s a hotel for every budget and finding a flight will be a breeze.
Please note that card details are accurate as of the publish date, but are subject to change at any time at the discretion of the issuer. Please contact the card issuer to verify rates, fees, and benefits before applying.
Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefits guide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
Fortune Recommends™ has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Fortune Recommends™ and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
About the contributors
Jon Nickel-D’Andrea is a freelance writer who covers travel and credit cards. For more than a decade, Jon has been a featured speaker at travel industry events worldwide. As a recurring speaker at the Frequent Traveler University, he has been educating and sharing his wealth of knowledge for those seeking to up their travel game all over the world.
EDITORIAL DISCLOSURE: The advice, opinions, or rankings contained in this article are solely those of the Fortune Recommends™ editorial team. This content has not been reviewed or endorsed by any of our affiliate partners or other third parties.