Travel Like a Hockey Fan: Top 17 Destinations for 2026 — Gameday Editions

Travel Like a Hockey Fan: Make 2026 the Year You Chase Pucks and Points

You're a fan who wants one place for scores, travel hacks, and the best gameday energy—not a dozen tabs and guesswork. If you hoard points but don’t know how to turn them into a front-row (or nosebleed) experience, or if you struggle to find reliable pub routes and local fan festivals for every arena, this guide is built for you.

“Make 2026 the year you stop hoarding points for ‘someday’ and book that trip.” — The Points Guy (inspiration for these itineraries)

Fast Play: What this guide gives you (read first)

• 17 hockey-ready destinations inspired by The Points Guy’s 2026 picks and tailored into game-day itineraries.
• Actionable points & miles strategies for award flights, hotels, and tickets in 2026’s dynamic pricing era.
• Local must-dos: best arena sections, pub routes, fan festivals, transit, and lodging tips for each city.
• Quick planning checklist so you can turn points into puck trips without stress.

2026 travel and hockey trends you need to know

Heading into 2026, a few realities shape how fans should plan gameday travel:

• Dynamic award pricing is the new normal. Flexibility wins: be ready to mix cash, points, and transfer partners.
• Fan experiences matter more than ever. Teams and arenas are packaging VIP meet-and-greets, behind-the-scenes tours, and curated pub crawls—plan these early; many borrow tactics from micro-luxe pop-up executions to create memorable VIP moments.
• Midweek travel is easier for remote workers. Expect better award availability Tuesday–Thursday; use this to avoid weekend markups.
• Secondary markets and charter options. More fans are using regional carriers and low-cost long-haul awards. Consider nearby airports and trains — or unique local stays like agro-stays when extending a trip.

How to use points and miles for hockey game trips — playbook

1. Start with flexible currencies: Chase Ultimate Rewards, Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One. Transfer options matter in 2026.
2. Search award inventory early and often: set alerts (ExpertFlyer, AwardNexus, or airline alerts), and check 330 days out for peak games.
3. Be flexible on dates and airports: fly in the day before, leave the morning after. Use alternate airports and partner airlines to shave points — and pack light with a versatile travel duffle for multi-city hops.
4. Combine cash + points: when dynamic pricing spikes, use cash for economy fares and points for hotels or seat upgrades.
5. Use card perks: credits, lounge access, companion tickets, and priority boarding. Some cards include event and experiences credits in 2026—use them for pregame events.
6. Book multi-stop trips: attend two games on one trip (e.g., Montreal → Toronto) to maximize value per mile and keep all your kit organised in a single bag.
7. Tickets: official vs. resale: official team packages often include hotel and transportation credits (use points). For resale, favor platforms with ticket protection.

Top 17 hockey destinations for 2026 — gameday editions

Below are 17 cities where fan energy, arena experience, and travel value meet. Each entry includes a quick itinerary, the best arenas or spots, pub routes, fan-festival notes, and a targeted points tip.

1. Montreal — Bell Centre + Old Montreal pubs

Why go in 2026: Historic hockey culture, affordable nearby airports, and year-round festival energy make Montreal a top pick.

• Arena: Bell Centre — sit lower bowl for the sting of the crowd or upper corners for value.
• Pub route: Start at Saint-Joseph’s Avenue for lively pregame scenes, swing through Crescent Street, finish with a late-night poutine stop.
• Fan festival: Check team-sponsored fan days and Old Port street events in winter and spring.
• Points tip: Use flexible points to book Air Canada via Aeroplan partners or look for transborder awards from U.S. hubs. Use hotel points for Old Montreal boutique stays.

2. Toronto — Scotiabank Arena + Craft-beer crawl

• Arena: Scotiabank Arena — centre ice mid-level for the best balance.
• Pub route: Start at the Entertainment District, hit King Street West breweries, then Liberty Village.
• Fan festival: Team fan fests and community days pop up around the arena—book hotels nearby to walk home.
• Points tip: Toronto is a major transfer hub—use Chase/Amex transfers and look for off-peak Aeroplan award windows.

3. New York City — MSG + borough bar tour

• Arena: Madison Square Garden — the atmosphere is iconic; consider a restaurant-level suite for a treat.
• Pub route: Start on the West Village, swing by Hell's Kitchen, end at a Brooklyn sports bar for late-night wings.
• Fan festival: City parades and street activations for big rivalry nights.
• Points tip: Use transferable points for premium cabin flights and hotel chains (Marriott, Hyatt) near Midtown. Check for ticket packages that include hotel credits to use points.

4. Boston — TD Garden + Irish pubs and history

• Arena: TD Garden — lower bowl behind the net for goalie reactions.
• Pub route: Faneuil Hall to North End to multiple Irish pubs near the Garden.
• Fan festival: Look for Bruins community days and team events in the Seaport.
• Points tip: New England is a short haul from many U.S. gateways—use regionally-priced award rates or off-peak domestic awards to save points.

5. Chicago — United Center + neighborhood bars

• Arena: United Center — south end for rowdy fans, club seats for comfort.
• Pub route: West Loop and Fulton Market spots before heading to the arena.
• Fan festival: City-sponsored block parties for marquee games.
• Points tip: Use transferable points for business-class routes when available; watch for partner award sales from major programs.

6. Vancouver — Rogers Arena + waterfront gameday

• Arena: Rogers Arena — best sightlines in the lower-bowl corners.
• Pub route: Granville Street for pregame energy, Coal Harbour for postgame views.
• Fan festival: Port-side festivals and community meetups in summer and winter.
• Points tip: Vancouver flights can be expensive cash; use points during shoulder season or transfer to airline partners with good Pacific routes.

7. Edmonton — Rogers Place + northern hospitality

• Arena: Rogers Place — known for atmosphere and sightlines.
• Pub route: Ice District bars and local breweries make for a compact, portable pub crawl.
• Fan festival: Check team-run festivals and community days in the Ice District.
• Points tip: Combine an award flight into Calgary + a short connection or use cross-country award flights and rent a car for flexibility.

8. Calgary — Saddledome + western hospitality

• Arena: Scotiabank Saddledome — for die-hard fan energy (check sightlines).
• Pub route: Stephen Avenue and East Village for lively pregame spots.
• Fan festival: Combine with outdoor experiences (ice rinks, winter festivals) to extend the trip.
• Points tip: Use hotel points in Calgary’s downtown to walk to the Saddledome and reduce transport costs.

9. Detroit — Little Caesars Arena + Motown nights

• Arena: Little Caesars Arena — lower-level seats give you pulse of the crowd.
• Pub route: Greektown and Midtown for pregame and postgame eats.
• Fan festival: Team events during rivalry weeks; use local music lineups for a true Detroit night out.
• Points tip: Detroit’s city center hotels often run points promos—watch for transfer bonuses to book near the arena.

10. Pittsburgh — PPG Paints Arena + steel-town spirit

• Arena: PPG Paints Arena — bowl seats behind the bench deliver raw atmosphere.
• Pub route: Market Square and the Cultural District for pregame cocktails and wings.
• Fan festival: Check fan-club events and watch parties on rivalry weekends.
• Points tip: Pittsburgh is a great add-on on a Northeast or Midwest route—look for affordable short-haul awards from major hubs.

11. Nashville — Bridgestone Arena + Music City vibes

• Arena: Bridgestone Arena — consider club seats for a premium experience.
• Pub route: Broadway’s honky-tonks then head to Printer’s Alley for quieter sports bars.
• Fan festival: Combine music events with games; team often ties promotions to city festivals.
• Points tip: Nashville fares have seasonal dips—use off-peak award travel or regional cash fares with points for hotels.

12. Las Vegas — T-Mobile Arena + entertainment-first trips

• Arena: T-Mobile Arena — Vegas turns gameday into a full entertainment night.
• Pub route: Strip lounges and sportsbook bars make Vegas easy for a flexible gameday.
• Fan festival: Expect team watch parties combined with major nightlife events; consider a portable power plan for long nights (and content creation) — portable power stations are useful for long tailgates and content setups.
• Points tip: Vegas is a transfer-happy city—use airline and hotel transfer bonuses to score rooms on the Strip and use resort credits for gameday meals.

13. Tampa — Amalie Arena + waterfront watch

• Arena: Amalie Arena — lower bowl center or behind the net if you want the rush.
• Pub route: Channelside and downtown bars with bayside views.
• Fan festival: Team-hosted outdoor fan experiences are common during warm months.
• Points tip: Florida routes often have good award inventory—book early and consider connecting flights into nearby airports (St. Pete–Clearwater) if it saves points.

14. Stockholm — historic arenas and European hockey culture

• Arena: Avicii Arena (or Hovet for club games) — European sightlines and fan chants are a contrast to NHL energy.
• Pub route: Gamla Stan pubs and craft beer bars near the arena.
• Fan festival: Stockholm hosts winter sports festivals—pair a game with local hockey tournaments.
• Points tip: Use Avios or transferable currencies for intra-Europe flights; consider multi-city awards that include Stockholm as part of a Scandinavian sweep.

15. Prague — Czech hockey heartland

• Arena: O2 Arena Prague — a huge venue for international fixtures and club games.
• Pub route: Old Town beer halls and craft pubs make pregame a culinary event.
• Fan festival: Prague holds large fan events for international tournaments and local showdowns.
• Points tip: Use European low-cost carriers with short-haul awards from major hubs; book hotels with loyalty chains that have presence in Prague.

16. Helsinki — Finnish hockey passion

• Arena: Hartwall Arena or local rinks — expect professional, passionate crowds.
• Pub route: Kallio district for late-night hangouts and craft breweries.
• Fan festival: Pair with winter sports events and national team fixtures for a cultural dive.
• Points tip: Northern Europe is best reached with Star Alliance or Oneworld partners; convert transferable points to Avios or airline partners to bridge the last leg.

17. Quebec City — historic charm + hockey soul

• Arena: Videotron Centre — intimate, loud, and stewarded by serious fans.
• Pub route: Old Quebec bars and bistros make for a picturesque pregame.
• Fan festival: City-wide winter events bring a festival feel to rivalry games.
• Points tip: Quebec City can be a points bargain if you book flights into Montreal and take a train or regional flight—use hotel points for Old Quebec boutique stays.

Gameday logistics checklist — before you go

• Tickets: Buy via team packages if you want bundled credits; for resale, prioritize platforms with buyer protection.
• Flights: Put award searches on repeat and watch for transfer bonuses—set a 6–12 month alert cadence with the best flight tracker tools.
• Hotels: Use points for nights nearest the arena; consider apartments for groups to split costs.
• Ground transport: Favor transit passes near arenas to bypass parking surcharges.
• Pre-game: Map a 2–3 stop pub route and make reservations when possible—2026 fan experiences sell out early. Consider streaming or recording pregame content using compact kits reviewed for on-location events (portable streaming kits).
• Carry-ons: Pack team merch, a light raincoat, and a portable phone charger for gameday content-sharing — a single 3-in-1 Qi2 station can cut cord clutter.

Advanced strategies for serious point-chasers

1. Split redemptions: Book one-way award flights on different programs to lock availability without waiting for round-trip inventory.
2. Hold hotels with points + pay later: Many chains allow reserving rooms with points and paying later—reduces risk while you watch award prices.
3. Use status for upgrades: Airline and hotel status can yield last-minute upgrades that make a game trip feel premium without the spend.
4. Leverage experience credits: Cards in 2026 increasingly include experience credits—apply them to VIP pregame events or team experiences drawn from pop-up and micro-luxe activations.
5. Bundle multiple events: Book two games on one trip across nearby cities (Toronto–Montreal, Calgary–Edmonton) to multiply value per point.

Safety, accessibility, and inclusion notes

In 2026, many teams and arenas have expanded accessible seating, sensory-friendly hours, and clearer transport guidance. Before you buy tickets, check the team’s accessibility page for companion policies and sensory supports. For safety, use official team apps for entry times and real-time updates. If you’re travelling internationally, keep travel documents current — see guidance on how to renew your passport while abroad if needed.

Quick sample 3-day itinerary (Toronto game weekend)

1. Day 0 — Arrival: Fly into YYZ using transferable points; check into a downtown hotel booked with points.
2. Day 1 — Pub crawl + game: Afternoon brewery tour; pregame at a fan zone; Scotiabank Arena game; late-night street food.
3. Day 2 — Recovery & culture: Brunch in Kensington Market; walk waterfront; use hotel points for late checkout.

Actionable takeaways — plan like a pro

• Book award windows early and stay flexible—dynamic pricing favors agility in 2026.
• Use transferable points for the toughest legs (international or transcontinental) and combine with hotel points for arena-adjacent stays.
• Schedule pregame events as soon as you buy tickets; VIP experiences sell out fast — many borrow tactics from micro-luxe activations.
• Think multi-city: Double your value by catching multiple games on one itinerary.

Final buzzer: Make 2026 your best season of hockey travel

Inspired by The Points Guy’s 2026 travel picks, these 17 gameday itineraries turn points into front-row memories. Whether you want a historic hockey pilgrimage in Montreal, a party weekend in Las Vegas, or a European deep-dive in Stockholm, the path from points to puck is clearer than ever if you plan smart, stay flexible, and use the strategies above.

Ready to plan? Start by setting award alerts for your top two cities, lock one game package this month, and use transferable points for the long-haul leg. For step-by-step booking help, arena seat suggestions, and pub-route maps tailored to your team, sign up for our gameday travel newsletter and get a free printable checklist for your next hockey trip.

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