Travelling can be an exciting experience, but the costs can quickly add up. Between flights, meals, activities, and accommodations, you may find your travel budget stretched thin. However, savvy travellers have a secret weapon to help save on expenses—travel credit cards.

By utilizing the perks, rewards, and rebates offered by your credit card, you can make your trips more affordable, especially when it comes to hotel bookings. In this guide, we’ll explore how to effectively use your credit card’s travel rewards, points, and perks to reduce the cost of your next hotel stay.

Maximize Your Credit Card’s Travel Rewards

Many top-rated cash back credit cards offer travel-specific rewards that can be used to save money on hotel stays. By strategically earning and redeeming these rewards, you can significantly cut down your accommodation expenses. Here’s how:

1. Earning Points Through Everyday Spending: Most travel credit cards allow you to earn points for every dollar you spend. These points accumulate over time and can be redeemed for travel-related expenses, including hotel bookings. Some cards offer bonus points for specific categories such as dining, groceries, and travel purchases, which means you can rack up points faster by aligning your spending habits with your credit card’s reward structure.
2. Redeeming Points for Hotel Stays: Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them directly for hotel bookings. Many credit card programs partner with major hotel chains, allowing you to book your stay using points rather than cash. Additionally, platforms like Great Canadian Rebates offer a comprehensive selection of credit card rebates and travel-related cashback opportunities, which can enhance your savings.

Be sure to check the redemption rate of your points—sometimes, the value of your points may vary depending on how you use them. Booking through your credit card’s travel portal or directly with hotel partners often provides the best value for your points.

Utilize Credit Card Perks for Hotel Savings

In addition to rewards points, travel credit cards come with valuable perks that can help you save money when booking hotels. These perks are designed to enhance your travel experience while reducing costs. Here are some of the most common perks you can take advantage of:

1. Free Night Certificates: Many travel credit cards offer an annual free night certificate, typically after reaching a certain spending threshold. This perk can be used for a complimentary stay at select hotels, often redeemable through the card’s loyalty program. A free night stay can greatly reduce the overall cost of your trip.
2. Hotel Discounts and Special Rates: Certain cash back credit cards and travel credit cards provide access to exclusive hotel discounts and promotional rates. By booking through your card’s travel portal, you may be able to unlock special offers that aren’t available to the general public. Additionally, many credit cards partner with booking platforms to provide special discounts on select hotels, helping you secure better rates than you would by booking directly.
3. Complimentary Room Upgrades and VIP Treatment: Some premium travel credit cards come with perks like complimentary room upgrades, early check-in, and late check-out at participating hotels. These benefits can enhance your stay and provide more value without extra cost. You might even gain access to hotel loyalty programs, allowing you to enjoy added benefits like free breakfast or room upgrades.
4. Travel Protections and Insurance: Travel insurance is often an overlooked credit card perk, but it can save you money in unexpected ways. Many travel credit cards offer protections such as trip cancellation insurance, lost luggage coverage, and even medical emergency coverage. These perks can help you avoid additional expenses and provide peace of mind during your travels.

Leverage Credit Card Rebates and Cash Back Offers

If you’re not already taking advantage of credit card rebates, you’re missing out on a simple way to save on your hotel bookings. Platforms like Great Canadian Rebates offer cashback opportunities on hotel reservations made through partner websites, allowing you to earn a percentage of your booking costs back.

1. How Credit Card Rebates Work: When you book a hotel through a cash back credit card or a rebate platform like Great Canadian Rebates, you can receive a portion of your spending as cashback. This cashback can either be applied directly to your credit card statement or deposited into your bank account. Essentially, you’re getting rewarded for spending money you would have spent anyway.
2. Combining Rebates with Credit Card Perks: To maximize your savings, consider stacking cashback rebates with the perks offered by your credit card. For instance, if your credit card offers a 5% cashback rate on travel purchases and you book through a platform that offers an additional 3% rebate, you could effectively receive 8% back on your hotel booking. This strategy allows you to save money in multiple ways.
3. Booking Through Partner Platforms: Certain travel credit cards provide bonus points or higher cashback rates when booking through specific travel partners. For example, some cards may offer double or triple points when you book through a partner platform, like Great Canadian Rebates. Be sure to check your credit card’s terms to see which booking platforms are eligible for these rewards.

Choose the Right Credit Card for Hotel Savings

Not all credit cards are created equal, and choosing the right one can make a significant difference in how much you save on hotel bookings. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a travel credit card:

1. Sign-Up Bonuses: Many top-rated cash back credit cards offer generous sign-up bonuses that can be used for hotel bookings. These bonuses typically require you to spend a certain amount within the first few months of opening the account, but the rewards can be substantial. In some cases, sign-up bonuses alone can cover the cost of a few nights’ stay at a hotel.
2. Annual Fees vs. Benefits: Some travel credit cards come with annual fees, but these fees may be worth paying if the benefits outweigh the costs. For example, if your card offers an annual free night stay, room upgrades, and travel insurance, the value of these perks can easily exceed the annual fee. However, if you’re not a frequent traveler, you may prefer a no-fee cash back credit card that still offers competitive rewards.
3. Foreign Transaction Fees: If you’re booking hotels for international travel, be sure to choose a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. These fees can add up quickly, especially when booking in foreign currencies. Some travel credit cards in Canada are specifically designed to waive foreign transaction fees, saving you money when booking hotels abroad.
4. Hotel Loyalty Programs: Many travel credit cards are linked to hotel loyalty programs, offering additional rewards when you book stays with partnered hotel chains. If you tend to stay at the same hotel brand frequently, consider a card that maximizes your loyalty benefits. This way, you can earn points toward free nights and other perks every time you book a stay.

Where Can You Apply?

If you plan to apply for a cash back rewards credit card, head to Great Canadian Rebates. Our online platform will allow you to compare the best cashback credit cards and others, which will help you choose the one that fits the bill. You can earn a solidcredit card rebatewhen you sign up for the credit card through our platform.

Visit our website for more information.