The Netherlands and Germany are especially beautiful in the spring, with blooming fields, mild weather, and cities that feel full of life after winter. We were fortunate to be able to take a short trip through both countries and got to experience a bit of everything—charming towns, colorful landscapes, and more castles than we could count. It was the perfect time to visit, and we were lucky to catch the Netherlands and Germany at it’s best.
How We Got There
We used miles and points, of course! To start, I used PointsYeah to find the flights we wanted. We were looking for spring flights and scored a great deal on KLM for just 20,000 Flying Blue Points each way. For three people, that added up to 60,000 points, but since kids are cheaper, our total round-trip cost came to 110,000 points. To get these points, we transferred Capital One Miles and Amex Membership Rewards to Flying Blue, which is the currency for Air France and KLM.
While this was a solid redemption, transparency is important. Taxes and fees were a bit higher than I’d like, $1,279 for the three of us. Still, when the flights would’ve cost around $3,640, it felt like a steal. A great perk of Flying Blue is their free stopover offer, so we spent two nights in Amsterdam before heading to Germany. Plus, we flew nonstop from Salt Lake, which is always a huge bonus.
The Netherlands
Turns out Amsterdam is a very popular place in the spring, and for good reason. People travel from all over to see the tulips in full bloom. We unintentionally timed our trip during peak tulip season, which ended up being a happy accident. We spent a morning at Keukenhof, which was stunning and definitely worth the hype. Even just getting there was scenic—the train rides and bus through the countryside offered endless views of colorful flower fields that seemed to stretch forever.
Because Amsterdam is such a hot spot this time of year, we chose to stay in Leiden, a smaller and charming city about 25 minutes south by train. It was a quieter (and slightly less expensive) base, though we still paid $200 a night for our hotel. Thankfully, our Amex Delta Gold cards came in handy, and we were able to credit back $100 a night for both nights we were there. We did spend an afternoon in Amsterdam and loved walking along the canals and soaking in the vibe of the city. We look forward to visiting some day again in the future.
Frankfurt, Germany
One of the many perks of using miles and points is the ability to book one-way flights for half the cost of a round trip, which made it easy for us to fly into Frankfurt and out of Munich. After landing in Frankfurt, we picked up a rental car and drove about 30 minutes south to our Airbnb in Bensheim. We chose to stay outside the city to be closer to the areas we wanted to explore and to save money. Our first full day was spent driving north through the Rhine River Valley, which was absolutely stunning. We made a loose plan to follow the river and stop at castles along the way, and there are plenty. If you’ve got the time, you can easily spend a whole day hopping from one to the next, each one perched on a hillside or tucked along the water.
On our second day, we explored two highlights: Heidelberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber. Heidelberg is a lively university town with a beautiful old town, a scenic riverfront, and a massive castle overlooking it all. We spent a few hours walking around, grabbing food, and taking in the views from the castle. From there, we headed east to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. It was a bit of a detour, but completely worth it. Rothenburg feels like something out of a fairytale, with its medieval walls, cobblestone streets, and half-timbered houses that look like they haven’t changed in centuries. We wandered the old town, walked along the preserved city wall, and grabbed food in the main square while enjoying the atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that feels both touristy and totally authentic at the same time. The drive there and back was great too. Germany’s countryside in the spring is full of rolling hills and green fields, and the autobahn makes getting around surprisingly easy and fun.
Bavaria, Germany
As we journeyed south toward Munich, we made our way through the Black Forest region, a scenic area known for its dense woods, winding roads, and small villages. One of our main stops was the town of Triberg, famous for its cuckoo clocks and traditional buildings. We wandered through a grocery store, because that’s how we roll, saw some impressive clocks in action, and enjoyed a break from all the driving.
From there, we continued east along Germany’s southern border, enjoying all that Bavaria has to offer. This part of the country is absolutely stunning, with snow-capped Alps in the distance, rolling green hills, and charming villages scattered throughout. We eventually arrived at our second Airbnb in Rohrdorf, a small town that gave us a true taste of local life. It was quiet, peaceful, and felt like a perfect contrast to the bigger cities we’d visited earlier in the trip.
From Rohrdorf, we spent the next few days exploring different parts of the region, using the town as our home base. On Sunday, we headed south into Austria to attend church, which gave us a great excuse to enjoy the beautiful mountain scenery along the way. Afterward, we continued further south into Liechtenstein to visit Vaduz Castle, which overlooks the capital city and much of the tiny country. The castle sits above the valley, and its surroundings offer some incredible views of the Alps. It’s a small country, but a really unique and worthwhile stop.
We also made a day trip east to visit Neuschwanstein Castle, one of the most iconic sights in Germany. Tucked into the foothills of the Alps near the Austrian border, the area feels like a real-life fairytale. Even if you’ve seen photos before, nothing quite compares to seeing the castle in person, with the mountains rising behind it and the forests stretching out below. This region of the country is remarkable and really worth a trip. If we weren’t so tired of driving, we would’ve spent a good amount of time exploring this region of the country.
Munich, Germany
We spent our final day and night in Munich, using our Venture X hotel credits, where we visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site. It was a sobering but deeply meaningful experience that added an important perspective to our trip. We also explored Munich’s old town, taking in the beautiful architecture, lively squares, and one last (unexpected) taste of German culture—Five Guys. It was the perfect end to a journey filled with scenic countryside, fairytale castles, historic towns, and alpine views. We left feeling incredibly grateful and amazed by how much beauty and history we were able to experience in such a short time.
Conclusion
Overall, our trip to the Netherlands and Germany was an unforgettable adventure. From the history and stunning landscapes to the charming towns and unique experiences, we’re grateful for everything we got to see and do. As always, hopefully our experience can encourage you to dive into the world of miles and points and to get out and travel!
What We Learned
In the Netherlands, use the NS app for trains outside of Amsterdam and the GVB app for public transit within the city. Both make navigating the system incredibly easy.
We chose Leiden not only because it was more affordable, but also because it offers a direct bus to Keukenhof, the famous tulip gardens. When booking your tickets online, you can reserve a spot on the bus, making it super convenient to get there. You can also buy tickets at the bus stop next to the train station.
Watch out for bikes. Seriously. Bikes have the right of way and the attitude to go with it. The bike lanes are like highways, and stepping into one without looking both ways will get you yelled at (or mowed down.)
Renting a car in Germany is easy, and kind of essential if you want to explore beyond the cities. Most cars are manual, so knowing how to drive stick helps, but automatics are available if you book early. We also learned the Autobahn isn’t just about going fast—there are speed limits in a lot of places, and German drivers are super disciplined. Stay right unless you’re passing, and don’t expect people to slow down for you in the fast lane!
Unlike some European countries, Germany doesn’t charge tolls for cars on its highways, which was a nice surprise.
Gas stations aren’t self-serve like in the US. In some places, you pump first and then pay inside. It felt a bit old school, but it worked fine once we figured it out.
Parking garages are tight. Like, really tight. European cars are smaller for a reason, and we understood why real quick.
Google Translate is your best friend. It’s surprisingly good at menus, signs, and even quick conversations. We didn’t know much Dutch or German, but pointing at our phones worked like magic.
You really don’t need to overplan. Some of our favorite moments happened when we just wandered—whether it was an old square in Leiden or stumbling across a castle that wasn’t even on our map.
The “shoulder seasons” are ideal. We went when the weather was mild and the crowds were lighter. Everything felt a little more relaxed and local.