AI Trip Planner

Plan a trip with
credit card points

Pick origin + destination + month → see best award flights, top hotels bookable on points, attractions, signature events, and the cards whose welcome bonus would cover the trip. 41 US origin airports, no bank link required.

Chicago, IL

US

Chicago, IL

Architecture cruises, deep-dish pizza, Cubs at Wrigley, lakefront jogging

Pay in cash

$3,250

$250 flight + $3,000 hotel

Pay with points

191,000 pts

+ $30 taxes & fees

16KSouthwest175KHyatt

Best card for this trip

Chase World of Hyatt

60K bonus = 1.7 nights at Park Hyatt Chicago + free night cert

Apply

Weather in June

☀️ Peak season — ideal time to visit

Air temp

63°–79°F

17°–26°C

Rainfall

moderate

Crowds

Peak

Warm, festival season

Switch month

Best months Shoulder Off-season

FlightsJFKORD

Economy
  • Chase Ultimate Rewards

    via Southwest Rapid Rewards

    JFK → ORD — check direct flights from JFK. Chase UR → Southwest LGA-MDW direct

    11K/16K/24K

    roundtrip · Wanna Get Away (dynamic)

    + $30 taxes

  • American AAdvantage

    JFK → ORD — check direct flights from JFK. AA economy JFK-ORD

    25,000

    roundtrip

    + $20 taxes

    Open to cover:Sapphire Preferred

Top hotels for your points

⭐ Top picks

Picked for best points value — Hyatt has the only fixed award chart left in major US hotels, so your points stretch the furthest here. Tap each option below for why it stands out.

  • Park Hyatt Chicago

    Hyatt·Luxury flagship

    Cat 6 — Magnificent Mile luxury, top-floor restaurant.

    25K/30K/35K

    off / std / peak · Hyatt Cat 7

    $600/night cash

    5 nights = 175,000 pts (~$3,000 value)

  • Thompson Chicago

    Hyatt·Boutique, dining

    Cat 6 — Gold Coast/River North boutique.

    25K/30K/35K

    off / std / peak · Hyatt Cat 7

    $500/night cash

    5 nights = 150,000 pts (~$2,500 value)

  • Hyatt Regency Chicago

    Hyatt·Conventions, families

    Cat 4 — large convention hotel, Riverwalk.

    17K/20K/23K

    off / std / peak · Hyatt Cat 5

    $320/night cash

    5 nights = 100,000 pts (~$1,600 value)

  • Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago

    Hyatt·Boutique, central

    Cat 5 — boutique Loop, walking to Millennium Park.

    21K/25K/29K

    off / std / peak · Hyatt Cat 6

    $380/night cash

    5 nights = 125,000 pts (~$1,900 value)

Trip Strategy — open these cards and the trip is mostly free

Open Sapphire Preferred + World of Hyatt. Park Hyatt Chicago (Cat 6, 35K/night) on Magnificent Mile — bonuses cover 4 nights + RT flight.

75K UR → 18K SW for RT flight + Hyatt transfers for 2 nights

$795/yr annual fee

60K bonus = 1.7 nights at Park Hyatt Chicago + free night cert

$95/yr annual fee

Your out-of-pocket budget for this trip

Local transport$100
Food (5 days)$325
Activities (5 days)$275
Total cash needed$700

🚗 L train + walking — great urban transit · vs. $3,250 full cash trip

What to see & do in Chicago, IL

  • Art Institute of Chicago

    Sight

    World-class collection — American Gothic, Nighthawks, Monet's Water Lilies.

  • Architecture River Cruise

    Only here

    90-min boat tour past Chicago's most famous skyscrapers. Best of the city.

  • Millennium Park + The Bean

    Sight

    Cloud Gate sculpture is iconic. Free summer concerts at Pritzker Pavilion.

  • Wrigley Field

    Sight

    Watch Cubs in 1914 ballpark — ivy walls, Old Style beer, Wrigleyville bars after.

  • Lou Malnati's / Giordano's

    Food

    Deep-dish pizza pilgrimage. Different style at each — try both, settle the debate.

  • Lakefront Bike Trail

    Outdoor

    18 miles of paved trail along Lake Michigan. Rent bikes anywhere downtown.

Events to know about

  • Lollapalooza

    Late July - early August — 4-day music festival in Grant Park.

    Jul · Aug
  • Taste of Chicago

    Mid-July — food festival in Grant Park, dozens of local restaurants.

    Jul
  • Chicago Marathon

    Second Sunday of October — World Marathon Major, 50K runners.

    Oct
  • St. Patrick's Day River Dyeing

    Mid-March — Chicago River dyed green; 100-year tradition.

    Mar