If you've registered a credit card through UA's idine connection, a nice dinner can earn miles (and some hotels also credit 500 miles per stay to your airline partner). I've found that both usually register within a week or two so you could check out a weekend special at a Hilton (or another hotel that will give you UA miles); go to idine and find a nearby restaurant that gives points for that night - and splurge with a special night out this weekend (beats just writing a check for the miles).