How to Travel to Glendale for Super Bowl LVII

This desert destination has a major airport and cool boutique hotels that you can book with points.
Meghan Coyle
Kendra Collins
By Kendra Collins and  Meghan Coyle 
Updated
Edited by Meg Lee

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If you're planning on splurging for Super Bowl tickets to watch your team, you'll need to figure out how to get Glendale, Arizona — and fast. Super Bowl LVII is going to be held at State Farm Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 12.

The stadium is just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, so if you'd like to extend your stay, you can also check out Phoenix's abundance of up-and-coming art galleries, famous midcentury architecture and inventive cuisine. Of course, Phoenix is also known for high-end spas, inviting golf courses and incredible hikes.

Here's how to travel to Super Bowl LVII on a budget.

Getting to Phoenix

Nearest airports

Located about 20 miles from the stadium, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) is Arizona’s largest and busiest airport.

Major airlines flying to Phoenix

PHX is a hub for American Airlines and a base for Southwest Airlines. It is served by 20 airlines in total, including:

With 1,200 daily flights, there are lots of great options to PHX from major cities all around the country.

🤓Nerdy Tip

If you choose to fly on a budget airline like Spirit, Frontier or Sun Country, beware of extra fees for bags and seat selection that could make your cheap flight much more expensive. It's best to compare the final prices (inclusive of fees) before you book your flight.

Flying to Phoenix on points and miles

If you have airline miles (or credit card points that you can transfer to an airline), you might be able to use them to cover the cost of your Super Bowl flight.

The chart below displays a snapshot of prices for a flight departing Thursday, Feb. 9, and returning Monday, Feb. 13, across three different airlines — Southwest, American and United — so you can get a general idea of how many points you might need for a trip.

Departing city

Southwest Rapid Rewards points

American AAdvantage miles

United MileagePlus miles

New York City

43,000 - 63,000 points.

20,000 - 40,000 miles.

59,000 - 100,000 miles.

San Francisco

28,000 - 39,000 points.

25,000 - 55,000 miles.

56,000 - 89,000 miles.

Los Angeles

11,000 - 20,000 points.

15,000 - 40,000 miles.

65,000 - 100,000 miles.

Chicago

19,000 - 49,000 points.

25,000 - 55,000 miles.

68,000 - 100,000 miles.

Dallas-Fort Worth

20,000 - 38,000 points.

25,000 - 50,000 miles.

67,000 - 113,000 miles.

Seattle

10,000 - 54,000 points.

18,000 - 47,000 miles.

57,000 - 97,000 miles.

Denver

9,000 - 23,000 points.

25,000 - 36,000 miles.

51,000 - 100,000 miles

Minneapolis-St. Paul

34,000 - 53,000 points.

17,000 - 66,000 miles.

68,000 - 100,000 miles.

As you look at your flight options, check out Southwest Airlines first. It consistently offers the least expensive rates for booking award flights to Phoenix.

Getting to and from the city

Once you’ve landed, there are many different ways to get from the airport to the city, including rideshares, taxis, shuttles and public transportation.

An inexpensive option for getting to downtown Phoenix from the airport is to take the free Sky Train connection from Terminal 3 or 4 to the light rail. Hop on the light rail for $2, then get off at 44th Street and Washington Avenue. It takes about 20 minutes to get from the airport to the heart of the city.

After planning your Phoenix trip, this is a great way to keep the savings going.

Hotels on points in Phoenix

There are several hotels close to State Farm Stadium, but almost none of them have any rooms available during Super Bowl weekend. The closest option we found was the Comfort Suites Glendale - State Farm Stadium Arena, where a two-night stay would run you a whopping $1,000.

Luckily, when it comes to hotels in Phoenix, visitors are spoiled for choice. So if you're willing to look a little further from the stadium, you'll likely find something that works for your budget. Here are a few hotels to book with points in Phoenix that we think are especially great.

Phoenix Marriott hotels

The Camby Hotel

Located in the upscale Biltmore neighborhood next to Camelback Mountain, this eclectic boutique hotel was No. 2 on Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for the Southwest and West for 2020.

Cost to book in points: The Camby is subject to Marriott Bonvoy's dynamic pricing model, so rates will vary based on demand. We found standard room nights starting at 33,000 points per night.

NerdWallet values Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.8 cent each, so do the math to make sure you’re getting the value you want out of your stay. In other words, if rooms are going for $200/night, you might want to pay cash instead of spending 35,000 points, which NerdWallet would value at $315.

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

🤓Nerdy Tip

If you want Gold status in the Marriott Bonvoy program, but don’t want to commit to a Marriott Bonvoy-branded credit card, The Platinum Card® from American Express is worth considering.

If you're on the fence about which Marriott Bonvoy credit card to choose, this deep-dive comparison can help.

Hilton hotels in Phoenix

The Boulders

Photo courtesy of Hilton

The Boulders could be described as a “haute hippie” location as it’s a truly decadent resort in the middle of some pretty spectacular nature.

Cost to book in points: Hilton doesn’t have a set award chart, but rooms at the Boulders start at 64,000 points per night and go up from there, depending on room type and time of year.

The Boulders has a daily resort fee of $35, which covers basic guest internet access, fitness center access, fitness classes, gratuities for bell service, concierge and shuttle drivers, club storage, local and toll-free calls, and on-property shuttle use. Note that Hilton will typically waive resort fees on award stays.

The Arizona Biltmore

The Arizona Biltmore is an iconic property that’s known for its luxury and grandeur. Built by Albert Chase McArthur and Frank Lloyd Wright, it’s one of America’s classic hotels. It’s also the birthplace of the Tequila Sunrise cocktail. For a bit of history, sample the original at the hotel’s Wright Bar.

🤓Nerdy Tip

Rent a pool cabana. In addition to a guaranteed shady spot at the pool, you’ll get personal service, a minifridge and a flat-screen TV.

Cost to book in points: Standard rooms at the Arizona Biltmore typically cost 64,000 points. There’s a daily resort fee, but if you book on points, this is usually waived. The fee includes complimentary bike rentals, bottled waters daily, Biltmore golf and lawn games, and access to the fitness center, Wi-Fi and the digital newspaper.

NerdWallet values Hilton points at 0.5 cent each. When you’re deciding whether to use points or pay cash, do the math to decide which is more valuable to you.

How to earn Hilton Honors points

  • American Express offers a suite of co-branded Hilton cards with various welcome bonuses. The Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card also features one weekend night reward when you first get the card and every year after renewal. Terms apply.

  • The Platinum Card® from American Express lets you transfer points to the Hilton Honors program at a 1:2 ratio, which means that 1 American Express point can be turned into 2 Hilton Honors points. Terms apply.

🤓Nerdy Tip

The Platinum Card® from American Express is good to have if you want Hilton Honors™ Gold Status, but don’t want to commit to a Hilton-branded credit card.

If you're stuck between these hotel credit card options, read our advice on figuring out which Hilton credit card to get.

Hyatt hotels in Phoenix

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows

Photo courtesy of Hyatt

The Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows is known for its connection to the nearby Cattle Track Arts Compound, which is a collection of working artist studios. Artists-in-residence work in mediums ranging from pottery and photography to fiber and visual arts.

Furthering the arts theme, the resort also offers “Create and Cultivate” experiences for guests in music, art, nature and community, such as a sunset photography course and a sound healing.

Cost to book in points: The Andaz Scottsdale Resort and Bungalows is a Category 6 resort, which means that rooms start at 25,000 points per night. There’s a daily resort fee of $39, but Hyatt typically waives resort fees on award bookings, which can make using points even more valuable.

The fee includes a variety of perks, including complimentary house car drop-off service within a 3-mile radius, fitness classes, access to Cattle Track Art Compound, a seasonal welcome beverage and more.

The Royal Palms Resort

The Royal Palms Resort is a Spanish colonial mansion located at the foot of Camelback Mountain. Built in 1929, the resort features luxurious special touches like Oriental rugs and art, which make it feel like a private estate.

Cost to book in points: The Royal Palms is a Category 6 property, so standard rooms start at 25,000 points a night.

The daily resort fee is $35, which includes a long list of goodies, including mixology classes for handcrafted seasonal cocktails in the Mix Up Bar and even a hiking kit. This kit includes bottled water, a granola bar, sunscreen, insect repellent, trail maps and a backpack. Remember that Hyatt typically waives resort fees on award bookings, so booking this property on points can add extra value.

NerdWallet values Hyatt points at 2.3 cents apiece, so do some quick calculations to determine if it's wiser to book using points or cash.

How to earn Hyatt points

  • The World of Hyatt Credit Card offers the following to new cardholders: Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Plus, up to 30,000 More Bonus Points by earning 2 Bonus Points total per $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases that normally earn 1 Bonus Point, on up to $15,000 spent.

  • You can also transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards® points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio.

🤓Nerdy Tip

If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, it always pays to check Chase's travel portal to see if you can book flights or hotels for less. Sometimes you can save a lot of points by booking directly through the portal.

If you travel to the Super Bowl this year

Using miles and points can be one way to offset the cost of the Super Bowl. The abundance of flight and hotel options, combined with the great variety of vacation experiences in Phoenix, can make for an inviting, inexpensive trip for the points-savvy traveler.

If you don't have points and miles, remember that travel prices are driven by demand. The best ways to save on your Super Bowl trip include extending your trip, so you don't fly on the busiest days or times, and staying further from the stadium.

To view rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, see this page.
To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, see this page.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are our picks for the best travel credit cards of 2024, including those best for:

Travel Cards from Our Partners
Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1x-5x

5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

Points

Intro offer

60,000

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Points
Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card

on Chase's website

Chase Freedom Unlimited®
5.0
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

1.5%-6.5%

Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Cashback

Intro offer

$300

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

on Capital One's website

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
4.7
NerdWallet Rating
Rewards rate

2x-5x

Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day. Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.

Miles

Intro offer

75,000

Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

Miles
See more travel cards
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