How to Get to the Caribbean on Points and Miles

If you're dreaming of white sandy beaches, piña coladas, and coconuts, you may be able to put your points and miles to get to the Caribbean. 

Why the Caribbean is a great points and miles redemption 

Award flights to Caribbean islands are low-cost and plentiful. Whether you’re looking for a last-minute getaway, just looking to make your first points redemption, or trying to travel with a family, using your points to fly to a Caribbean island is very attainable. 

The relatively short flight distance means it won’t cost you nearly as many points and miles for a roundtrip ticket to the island as award tickets to Europe, Asia, or Oceania cost. 

In fact, when used strategically, the points earned from just one signup bonus could get you a roundtrip economy ticket! 

And, it’s possible you’d have enough points leftover to redeem for more than one ticket, making this redemption accessible for families, couples, or friends traveling together. 

You can visit some islands without a US passport. For example, as a US territory, Puerto Rico does not require US citizens to hold a passport to visit. 

Not only that, the abundant routes and minimal time zone changes make it an accessible option for quick escapes. 

How many points does it cost to get to the Caribbean?

Redemption rates will vary by route, airline, and the timing of your trip. We’ve sent Points Deals to Caribbean islands for around 20,000-25,000 points roundtrip. We’ve sent Points Deals to Puerto Rico for 10,000 roundtrip.

When looking for flights, use those figures as a ballpark, but not a dealbreaker. We've sent points deals to San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) for 10,000 roundtrip.  

Other islands will be in a similar range. Look for under 20,000 roundtrip. 

How to get to the Caribbean on points and miles

Now that you know what's a good deal, here’s what you need to know about getting to the Caribbean on points and miles.

Know what airlines to check

Most US carriers have abundant flight options to Caribbean islands. 

Your departing airport may help narrow down options.

Transfer to partners

Based on the airline you want to fly, you can strategically use points to transfer. More on this below. 

What cards can help get you to the Caribbean? 

Just one card’s signup bonus could get you all the points you’ll need to redeem for a seat. 

When looking for a travel credit card, there are two main types to help you get to the Caribbean: general-purpose travel credit cards and airline credit cards.

General-purpose travel credit cards

General-purpose travel credit cards earn points that you can transfer to a wide range of airline and hotel partners.

If you have a general-purpose travel credit card, you could transfer the required points to the airline to book the flight.

Cards to that earn Chase Ultimate Rewards® points (to transfer 1:1 to United, JetBlue, and Southwest): 

Cards that earn American Express Membership Rewards® points (to transfer 1:1 to Delta):

Airline co-branded credit cards

Airline credit cards earn miles specific to that airline’s loyalty program. 

You can use your airline miles to book with the airline or its partners.

Some options include: 

JetBlue also offers several personal and business credit cards.* Learn more.

^{*All information about JetBlue cards have been collected independently by Going. JetBlue cards are not available through Going.}

Redeem for your hotel stay

Let’s be real: Even if you snag a cheap flight to a Caribbean island, your hotel or lodging may be the most expensive part of your trip. 

General-purpose travel cards also have hotel loyalty programs as transfer partners, so you can transfer points and book your hotel stay, just like with your flight. Before you do, just check the costs first. 

Another option is to use a co-branded hotel card for your stay. The points from that card could book some or all of your stay.

Travel smoother with card perks

Beyond redeeming points for your hotel or flight, your cards may offer extra perks to make your Caribbean trip more enjoyable.

Airline cards commonly offer:

• One free checked bag per person on your itinerary (up to preset limits)
• Priority boarding
• And several more premium cards offer companion passes (basically a BOGO ticket with a cash copay).

Hotel cards may offer:

• Elite status with the hotel chain
• A free night certificate