Quick Weekend Trip to Madison, WI on points and miles

Thanks to credit card points and miles, short weekend trips that feel out of reach due to budget constraints are now possible. My family’s favorite show growing up was Seinfeld. When my sister gifted my parents tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld in Madison, WI at the Overture Center – we didn’t want to miss out!

Booking flights

I used United points to book my sister a direct flight from Denver to Madison. Since we have a United credit card, the saver award ticket was discounted from 15,000 to 11,700 points. The return flight from Milwaukee to Denver was also discounted from 15,000 to 9,500 points. The grand total for her flights came to 21,200 points and ~$10 in fees. The cash price was $425.

I booked myself Albany to Madison with American Airlines points for 7,500 points and my return from Milwaukee to Albany for 13,000 points – totaling 20,500 points and $10 in fees. The cash price for these tickets was ~$400.

Booking hotels

We stayed at the Hyatt Place Madison Downtown which is just off of the Capital square. I transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards to Hyatt and booked 2 rooms for 12,000 points/night. The cash price for these rooms totaled $500.

We loved the free breakfast and have stayed at this hotel before with our kids. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool and is walkable to all the bars and restaurants on State Street and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

Creating memories

It was so amazing to make this trip and attend the Seinfeld standup show with my parents and siblings, without significant others and grandkids. We are multi-generations of UW Madison Alums, so spending time in Madison together always leads to telling and remembering stories. My grandparents grew up in Madison in the 1930s, and my dad was a student during the 1960s and witnessed the Vietnam protests firsthand.

Jerry Seinfeld’s standup comedy show was great! It has given my family new material to laugh over for the next couple years.

Plant-based dining in Madison

Madison has some amazing vegan food! The biggest challenge was to narrow down where to eat.

Himal Chuli – State Street

Himal Chuli is a Nepalese restaurant that has been in business since 1986. I enjoyed the Vegetarian Combination platter which included lentil soup, dumplings, a samosa and bread. I also ordered the Healthy Himalayan Golden tea with almond milk. Seating inside is limited, but there are tables outside to more fully experience the liveliness of State Street.

The Great Dane – Capital Square

The Great Dane Pub and Brewery is a local favorite with an expansive menu. The space is large with additional seating at an outdoor patio. Their plant-based options have grown over the years and I enjoyed the High Point Harvest Bowl.

Madison Farmers Market – Capital Square

Make sure to plan your trip to include a Saturday morning so you can attend the Dane County Farmers Market – Saturday on the Square. This farmers market literally has ruined me and I hold all other farmers markets to this standard – nothing compares to the freshness and value of the produce – (bags of spinach for $3!). It opens at 6:15am and is packed by 8:30am on a nice day. In addition to all the fruits and vegetables, there are some great vegan pastry options.