If you’ve ever wondered whether you can combine multiple savings tools for hotel bookings, the answer is yes — and it’s easier than you think. Smart travelers know that stacking discounts is one of the most effective ways to reduce travel costs without sacrificing quality. By layering cashback apps and hotel loyalty perks, you can enjoy immediate savings while building up points for future trips.

Here’s how to do it right, whether you’re booking for business, family travel, or a spontaneous weekend away.

Step 1: Start with a Cashback App for Upfront Savings

Before you even begin searching for hotels, check your go-to cashback apps. Fluz is a powerful tool to kick things off. With Fluz, you purchase a digital gift card for your preferred hotel chain or booking platform and earn instant cashback. Popular options like Expedia, Hotels.com, and major hotel brands frequently offer gift cards through Fluz.

Rakuten also deserves a spot in your routine. Activate Rakuten before finalizing your booking on platforms like Booking.com or Expedia, and you’ll receive a percentage of your purchase back as cashback after your trip.

Ibotta, while best known for groceries and essentials, occasionally features hotel and travel deals — so it’s worth checking when you’re planning your next stay.

By starting with cashback, you secure real, immediate savings on your booking amount.

Step 2: Book Direct (or Smartly Through Partners)

Whenever possible, book directly with the hotel to earn loyalty points and enjoy member-exclusive rates. If you’re using a Fluz-purchased gift card, you can apply it directly through the hotel’s website while still qualifying for loyalty benefits.

Even when you book through third-party platforms like Expedia or Booking.com, you can still leverage cashback from Rakuten. While you may miss out on loyalty points from the hotel, the cashback can offset that gap.

Step 3: Leverage Hotel Loyalty Programs

Hotel loyalty programs reward frequent stays with points that can be redeemed for free nights, upgrades, or perks like late checkout and free breakfast. Programs like Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, and IHG One Rewards offer member discounts even for occasional travelers.

Pro tip: If you’ve purchased your stay using a Fluz gift card, you still earn loyalty points as long as you book directly with the hotel.

Step 4: Time Your Booking with Promotions

Keep an eye on seasonal promotions, both from hotels and cashback apps. Fluz often runs bonus cashback events, and Rakuten increases cashback rates during shopping holidays and travel-heavy seasons.

Hotels frequently boost points earnings during promotions too. For example, Marriott and Hilton regularly run double or triple points campaigns, which stack nicely with your cashback app savings.

Step 5: Pay with a Rewards Credit Card for Extra Benefits

Layer on additional perks by using a travel rewards credit card. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Capital One Venture Rewards offer points or miles for travel purchases. If you’ve purchased a hotel gift card via Fluz and paid for that gift card with your rewards card, you effectively stack cashback, loyalty perks, and credit card rewards all in one.