When we started dreaming about taking our boys on a World War II-focused trip through Europe, I knew it would be an incredible experience, but I also knew it could get expensive fast.
Between flights, trains, hotels, rental cars, and museum visits, a trip like this for a family of four could easily cost a fortune. Instead, by using points for flights and several hotel stays, we were able to save thousands of dollars and make this meaningful trip actually doable.
Our trip took us from Denver to Paris, then through Normandy, Luxembourg, Berlin, Poznań, and Kraków, with a mix of trains, rental cars, points bookings, and out-of-pocket expenses along the way.
We left October 9 and flew home October 19.
Why We Planned This Trip
This trip was centered around World War II history, because our boys are currently very into that time in history. We built in stops that gave our kids the chance to see and learn in a much more real and personal way than any textbook could offer.
From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to the D-Day beaches of Normandy, Bastogne, Berlin, and Auschwitz, this trip was packed with meaningful sites and unforgettable moments. It was also a lot of moving parts, which is exactly why points made such a big difference. I used the Wanderlust app to help organize all of our confirmations, flights, hotels, etc.
Flights: How We Got to Europe for Less
Denver to Paris for 4
We booked our flights to Paris using 140,000 Flying Blue points plus $406 in taxes and fees. We used our Sapphire Reserve travel credit to cover $300 of those taxes, which helped cut down our out-of-pocket cost even more.
These points came from transferable points we had earned from our Amex cards and Sapphire card.
We flew out on a Thursday and landed in Paris on Friday around 11 a.m.
Kraków to Denver for 4
For the flight home, we booked Air Canada from Kraków back to Denver, with a layover in Munich, for 160,000 points plus $432 in taxes. These points came from Capital One.
The cash price for these roundtrip flights alone was around $4,000, which really shows how much value points gave us on this trip.
Our Europe WWII Family Itinerary
Stop 1: Paris, France
We started with one night in Paris.
After arriving, we took an Uber into the city, dropped our bags at the hotel, and headed straight out to enjoy Paris. We did an Eiffel Tower tour and spent the rest of the day walking around the city.
Paris hotel
We booked 2 rooms for 1 night for a total of $485.38.
Hotel: Eiffel Seine
This hotel was super convenient to both the train station and the Eiffel Tower.
What we did
- Eiffel Tower guided tour
- Walked around Paris
This was a quick stop, but it was a fun way to kick off the trip before shifting into the more history-focused portion of the itinerary.
Stop 2: Normandy, France
The next morning, we took a train from Paris to Caen, picked up a rental car, and headed out to explore Normandy.
Transportation
- Train from Paris to Caen
- Rental car in Caen: $193 plus 12,000 Chase points
Normandy stay
We stayed in a cute VRBO outside of town for 2 nights
VRBO cost: $357 for 2 nights
WWII sites we visited
- Omaha Beach
- Utah Beach
- Pointe du Hoc
- D-Day Omaha Museum
- Airborne Museum
- Utah Beach D-Day Museum
This part of the trip was one of the most meaningful for our family. Seeing these places in person gave our kids a much deeper understanding of what happened there.
Stop 3: Luxembourg
From Caen, we took a train to Luxembourg and checked into an apartment booked through Hotels.com.
Luxembourg stay
2 nights in an apartment for $593
Day trip to Bastogne, Belgium
We rented a car for one day to drive to Bastogne and visit Battle of the Bulge sites.
Rental car: $96 plus 6,000 points
We were really happy with SIXT and used them each time we rented a car on this trip.
What we did
- Bastogne War Museum –fantastic museum and incredibly educational
- Easy Company foxholes
- Stopped at Bourscheid Castle on our way back to our apartment
This was such a worthwhile stop and added another major piece of World War II history to the trip.
Stop 4: Berlin, Germany
From Luxembourg, we took a train to Berlin and stopped in Frankfurt for lunch along the way.
Berlin hotel
We stayed at the Moxy Berlin for 2 nights and booked 2 rooms using 56,500 Marriott points.
Great proximity to the train station – about a 4 minute walk.
What we did
- Brandenburg Gate
- Berlin Zoo
Berlin was a nice mix of history and family-friendly sightseeing.
Stop 5: Poznań, Poland
We originally took the train from Berlin to Poznań, but we ran into train issues and ended up unexpectedly stuck there for a bit.
Thankfully, it turned into one of those travel moments that worked out better than planned.
Surprise family favorite
While in Poznań, we did a class at the Croissant Museum, which ended up being such a fun experience for the kids.
From there, we rented a car and drove to Kraków. In the end, having the car was actually a great thing because it made visiting Auschwitz and getting around the area much easier. We were a little nervous about driving in Poland but it was actually a very pleasant experience.
Rental car
Poznań to Kraków: $247.22
Stop 6: Kraków, Poland
Kraków was our final major stop before flying home.
We booked 2 nights at Hyatt Kraków for 16,000 Hyatt points total for 2 rooms.
Auschwitz visit
We did a free self-guided entry ticket experience at Auschwitz.
Because we were traveling with our 9 and 10 year old boys, we were not totally sure how long they would be able to handle being there. Going self-guided ended up being a good fit for our family because it allowed us to move at our own pace and decide what the kids saw.
We still spent more than 2 hours there, and it was a very meaningful visit.
If it had just been me and my husband, I think I would have preferred a guided tour. I do think the guided tours offered by the museum are worth looking into, but they sell out quickly. I also read quite a few reviews ahead of time about third-party tours changing times or having long waits, so that is something to keep in mind when planning.
What We Paid Out of Pocket
Here’s what we spent in cash for the trip:
- Airport parking: $110
- Trains: $1,269
- Rental cars: $536
- Hotels out of pocket: $1,435
- Airline taxes and fees: $538
Total bare-bones out-of-pocket cost: $3,888
That number is pretty incredible when you consider that the roundtrip flights alone would have cost about $4,000 without points.
And that does not even include the value of the hotel points we used for multiple stays, which saved us thousands more.
Points We Used
Here’s a quick breakdown of the points used on this trip:
- 140,000 Flying Blue points for 4 flights from Denver to Paris
- 160,000 Air Canada points for 4 flights from Kraków to Denver
- 56,500 Marriott points for 2 nights in Berlin for 2 rooms
- 16,000 Hyatt points for 2 nights in Kraków for 2 rooms
- 12,000 points toward rental car in Caen
- 6,000 points toward rental car in Luxembourg
Why This Trip Was Worth It
This was not a relaxing sit-by-the-pool vacation. It was busy, educational, emotional, and at times exhausting. We covered a lot of ground, visited a lot of museums, and packed a lot into 10 days.
But it was also one of the most meaningful trips we have taken as a family.
The boys got to see places they had only heard about before. We had conversations that never would have happened at home. And using points made it possible for us to do a trip that would have otherwise felt out of reach.
What Helped Make This Trip Work With Kids
Because we knew this trip would include a lot of travel days and museum visits, I tried to make it more engaging for the boys.
A few things that helped:
- I bought little journals for them
- I glued in scavenger hunts for a few of the museums
- I added a reflection page for after Auschwitz
- I made bingo cards for the train rides
- We also bought little wooden games in Berlin to play on the trains
Those small things made a huge difference and helped keep the trip fun and manageable for everyone.
Final Thoughts
If you have ever dreamed of taking your kids on a meaningful trip through Europe but assumed it would be way too expensive, I hope this shows what is possible with points.
We were able to take our family of four on an unforgettable World War II history trip, keep our out-of-pocket costs under $4,000, and save thousands by using points for flights, hotels, and even some rental car expenses.
It was a lot of logistics, but it was absolutely worth it.
-Lisa
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