A Beginner’s Guide to Earning Cashback and Rewards on Travel
What if every flight, hotel, and tour you booked gave you money back?
For most people, travel is an expense — but savvy travelers know how to turn it into a reward system. Cashback and loyalty programs aren’t just marketing gimmicks; they’re one of the most powerful tools for stretching your travel budget further.
Having used cashback systems and loyalty programs across my own travels through Europe and the Middle East, I’ve seen firsthand how small percentages turn into big savings. Here’s how to earn cashback and rewards on travel like a pro — even if you’re just getting started.
1. Understand How Travel Cashback Actually Works
Cashback is simple: when you book travel through a partnered platform, you earn a small percentage of your purchase back as real money or credit.
Platforms like Travelpayouts act as the middleman between you and major booking sites (like Booking.com, Skyscanner, or Viator). They share a portion of the affiliate commission with you as cashback.
💡 Example: You book a £400 hotel through a cashback-enabled link that offers 5%. That’s £20 back — just for booking the same stay you were already planning.
Over a few trips, these numbers add up fast.
2. Join the Right Cashback Platforms
Different sites offer different percentages depending on the partner and destination. Some of the best for 2025 include:
Travelpayouts: Offers cashback across flights, hotels, tours, and car rentals.
TopCashback: General cashback site with strong travel partner rates.
Rakuten: Known for seasonal travel deals and double cashback weeks.
💡 Pro Tip: Create a separate folder in your bookmarks for cashback platforms. Always go through one before making any booking.
3. Combine Cashback with Loyalty Programs
Cashback isn’t the only system that rewards travelers. Loyalty programs add another layer of benefits — free upgrades, priority boarding, or even entire free nights.
Start with:
Airline Programs: Emirates Skywards, Qatar Privilege Club, British Airways Executive Club
Hotel Programs: Booking.com Genius, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy
Tour Platforms: Viator and GetYourGuide offer periodic user credits
These programs are free to join, and when you combine them with cashback sites, you essentially earn twice on the same purchase.
4. Use a Rewards Credit Card to Stack Your Earnings
If you travel often, consider a travel rewards credit card. It gives you points or miles for every pound spent — even before cashback is applied.
💳 Combine all three:
Search for deals on Travelpayouts
Book through Booking.com or Skyscanner
Pay with your travel rewards card
That’s cashback + loyalty points + credit card rewards in one go.
5. Watch Out for Cashback Terms and Traps
Cashback isn’t guaranteed unless you follow certain rules. Avoid these common mistakes:
Using coupon codes from another site — they can cancel your cashback eligibility.
Opening multiple tabs — cookies might not track properly.
Cancelling or modifying a booking before completion.
💡 Pro Tip: Always complete your booking in the same browser session you started in.
6. Take Advantage of Seasonal Promotions
Most cashback platforms run limited-time campaigns during holidays or travel seasons.
Look for:
Double Cashback Weeks (common in May and November)
Partner Brand Bonuses (like extra 2% on Booking.com bookings)
App-Only Cashback if you use mobile
Subscribe to Travelpayouts’ newsletter to be the first to know about seasonal promos.
7. Withdraw and Reinvest Your Cashback
Most platforms let you withdraw your cashback via PayPal or directly to your card once you hit a minimum threshold.
💡 Here’s what I do:
Withdraw quarterly, then reinvest that cashback into my next flight or hotel.
Keep a running total — it’s motivating to see how much you’ve saved over time.
8. Turn Cashback Into a Passive Travel Fund
Once you get consistent with this system, your cashback becomes a micro travel fund.
Imagine this:
£20 from each hotel
£10 from each flight
£15 from tours and insurance
That’s £45 per trip. After 10 bookings, you’ve got nearly £500 — enough for your next getaway.
9. Common Myths About Travel Cashback
Myth 1: It’s too complicated.
➡️ Reality: It’s as easy as clicking through the right link before booking.
Myth 2: You only earn on big trips.
➡️ Reality: Even small domestic stays add up quickly.
Myth 3: Cashback sites aren’t legit.
➡️ Reality: Trusted networks like Travelpayouts partner with official travel giants (Booking.com, Expedia, Skyscanner).
10. Your Cashback Checklist Before Every Trip
✅ Log into your cashback platform first
✅ Compare rates across partners
✅ Pay with a rewards credit card
✅ Track your pending cashback
✅ Repeat for every booking
It becomes second nature after a few trips.
Final Thoughts: Every Traveler Can Earn Back
In 2025, the smartest travelers aren’t just finding cheap flights — they’re earning money back on every trip.
If you’ve never tried cashback before, start small. Book your next hotel through Travelpayouts or Booking.com and track how much you save.
The first time you get paid for traveling, you’ll never go back.