When it comes to hotel bookings, most travelers leave money on the table. But with the right strategy, you can layer loyalty points with cashback tools to reduce your out-of-pocket cost—and sometimes even stay for free. If you’re already part of a hotel rewards program, adding cashback apps like Rakuten, Ibotta, and Fluz can take your savings to the next level.

Step One: Sign Up for a Hotel Loyalty Program

Major hotel chains offer loyalty programs that reward you for each stay. Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and World of Hyatt are among the top options. Members earn points that can be redeemed for future stays, upgrades, and other perks like free breakfast or late checkout.

Booking directly through a hotel’s website usually gives you the most points, along with access to members-only rates. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on cashback.

Step Two: Use Cashback Portals When You Book

Instead of going straight to a hotel website, you can start your search on a cashback portal like Rakuten or Ibotta. These platforms offer a percentage of your purchase back when you click through their links to make a hotel reservation. That cashback adds up—especially on more expensive stays.

In most cases, cashback portals still let you earn hotel points, especially if you’re logged in with your rewards number when booking. Just double-check the terms of both the portal and the hotel brand to confirm.

Step Three: Add Discounted Gift Cards to the Mix

Another powerful move? Pay for your reservation with a discounted gift card. Through platforms like Fluz, you can earn cashback with a Hilton gift card or buy a Hyatt gift card with cashback. This lets you lock in an additional layer of savings before you even check in.

You’ll often see cashback rates range from 2% to 10%, depending on the brand and current promotions. Many travelers also choose to pay for the gift card using a rewards credit card, stacking one more layer of value into the purchase.

Example Strategy in Action

Let’s say you’re booking a $500 Hilton stay:

• You start your booking through Rakuten and earn 3% cashback.

• You’re logged into your Hilton Honors account and earn hotel points on the reservation.

• You pay using a gift card bought through Fluz, where you earned cashback with a Hilton gift card.

• The gift card was purchased using a credit card offering 2x points on travel.

Altogether, that’s four overlapping reward systems working in your favor.

Pro Tips for Smooth Stacking

• Always read the fine print. Some portals don’t allow cashback if you use certain promo codes.

• Try to pay in full with a gift card to avoid balance issues at checkout.

• Keep screenshots of your transactions to track expected cashback across platforms.

Conclusion

If you’re not layering cashback tools with your hotel loyalty program, you’re missing out on free money. By combining programs like Hilton Honors or World of Hyatt with Rakuten, Ibotta, and Fluz, you can get rewards with a Hyatt gift card or cashback with a Marriott gift card—all while still collecting hotel points.

For even more value, you can start your next booking by downloading Fluz and stacking your rewards from the very beginning.