Best Rewards For Frequent Fliers: Travel Sites Compared

When it comes to travel sites with the best rewards, there are a few that stand out. Hotels.com, for example, offers a simple yet valuable rewards program where you earn a reward night for every ten nights you stay. Similarly, Orbitz Rewards provides perks for frequent users, and Booking.com Genius offers easy-to-earn status with benefits like confirmed upgrades and breakfast. Expedia Rewards, Trip.com Rewards, and Hotels.com Rewards also offer a variety of perks.

For those who prefer to stick to one hotel or airline brand, loyalty programs like IHG One Rewards and Hyatt's World of Hyatt can be enticing. Meanwhile, travel credit cards like the Citi Strata Premier card and the Amex Platinum, Gold, and Green cards can also offer significant rewards for travellers.

Ultimately, the best travel site for rewards will depend on your personal preferences and travel habits.

Hotels.com Rewards

However, you will still need to pay taxes, fees, and other incidental costs on your reward night. There is also a $5 redemption fee if you redeem your reward night using the desktop or mobile website, but this can be avoided by redeeming through the mobile app. It is important to note that if you use your reward night for a stay that costs more than the value of the reward night, you must pay the difference. On the other hand, if you use the reward night for a stay that costs less, you will forfeit the difference. Therefore, it is advisable to use your reward night on a stay with a nightly rate slightly higher than the reward night to maximize your savings.

The Hotels.com Rewards program has recently undergone a change, transitioning to a new program called One Key. This new program offers 2% back in the form of "OneKeyCash" redeemable on Hotels.com, Expedia, and Vrbo. This change has been met with disappointment by some users, who feel that the value of the rewards has decreased significantly.

Booking.com Genius

Genius Levels

Genius has three levels, each with its own set of rewards and bigger discounts. To progress to Level 2 in Genius, you need to complete five bookings within two years. To reach Genius Level 3, you need to make 15 bookings within two years.

Genius Level 1

At the first level, you get 10% discounts on select stays and rental cars worldwide.

Genius Level 2

Genius Level 2 provides the following perks:

• 10% and 15% discounts on select hotels
• Free breakfast at select hotels
• Complimentary room upgrade at select hotels

Genius Level 3

At the highest level, you can enjoy:

• 10-20% discounts on stays
• 10% discounts on rental cars
• Free breakfasts on select stays
• Free room upgrades on select stays
• Priority support on all stays

Other Benefits

• Discounts are always automatically applied. No need for codes!
• You can use your discount at all participating properties and on select rental car options worldwide.
• Genius options are marked with a blue Genius label and are called out for assistive technology like screen readers.
• You can tailor Genius to your business goals, using traveller insights and other resources to optimise your Genius product offering.

Expedia Rewards

Earning Expedia Rewards Points

As a base Blue member, you can earn 1 Expedia Rewards point for every dollar spent on hotels, cars, packages, and activities, as well as 1 point per $5 spent on flights. You will receive double points when booking through the Expedia app. Additionally, you can collect "Trip Elements" for each booking, which include:

• 1 per flight ticket
• 1 per hotel room per night
• 1 per vacation rental night
• 1 per car reservation
• 1 per cruise cabin night
• 1 per activity ticket

Each Trip Element requires a minimum spend of $25. Once you earn 10 Trip Elements in a year, you gain Silver status, and Gold status with 25 Trip Elements. These higher tiers offer increased earning rates and additional travel benefits.

Redeeming Expedia Rewards Points

Points can be redeemed for hotels, rental cars, activities, and flights. When redeeming for flights, you must have enough points to cover the entire cost of the ticket. There are no blackout dates or limits on available seats for reward flights.

Other Benefits of Expedia Rewards

• Member Prices: Save 10% or more on thousands of hotels worldwide.
• Price Drop Protection: Get access to free price tracking for flights on the Expedia app.
• VIP Access Properties: Enjoy benefits such as free room upgrades, late checkout, and priority customer support at select VIP Access properties.
• Expedia Rewards Credit Card: Previously, Expedia offered a co-branded credit card with Citi, which allowed members to earn additional points. However, this card is no longer available for new applicants.

Trip.com Rewards

The number of Trip Coins earned per $100 spent varies depending on the type of booking:

• 25 Trip Coins for flight bookings
• 80 Trip Coins for hotel bookings
• Up to 140 Trip Coins for hotel reviews

Higher-tier members earn more Trip Coins. Gold members earn 10% more, Platinum members earn 30% more, Diamond members earn 40% more, and Diamond+ members earn 50% more. Trip Coins can be redeemed for various rewards, including:

• Free airport VIP lounge access
• Free global eSIM data package
• Airport transfer model upgrade
• Free attraction tickets
• Priority support for calls and chats
• One-stop VIP service

In addition to earning Trip Coins, members can also enjoy benefits such as no admin fee for train refunds, free flight-hotel cancellation guarantee, and member-only prices at participating properties worldwide.

To upgrade membership tiers, members must meet certain requirements, such as a minimum number of eligible bookings and a minimum spending amount within a specified time frame. For example, to reach the Gold tier, members must complete at least three eligible bookings within a year. Maintaining a tier also requires meeting certain criteria. For instance, Platinum members must complete at least three bookings within the validity period to retain their status.

Air Canada Aeroplan

Air Canada's Aeroplan is a rewarding program for frequent flyers. The program offers several benefits, including the ability to earn points daily and redeem them for flights with Air Canada and partner airlines. Members can also save up to 30% on hotel bookings and get exclusive rates on car rentals. Additionally, Aeroplan offers family sharing, allowing members to share points with family members for free to reach rewards faster.

Aeroplan members can earn points through various means, such as shopping with retail partners or travelling. These points can then be redeemed for various rewards, including flight rewards, brand-name merchandise, gift cards, and travel experiences.

Aeroplan also provides credit cards with benefits such as more points on purchases, preferred pricing, and Air Canada travel benefits. Members can also access special privileges and travel benefits through Aeroplan Elite Status, including Maple Leaf Lounge Access and cabin upgrades.

The program's flexibility and range of benefits make it a valuable option for travellers looking to maximise their rewards. With Aeroplan, members can earn and redeem points easily while enjoying additional perks that enhance their travel experiences.

Frequently asked questions