How we Maximise Points and Savings with Accommodation

Accommodation is usually our most significant expense on any trip, particularly if we’ve used points to pay very little for the airfare.

Luckily, there are numerous ways to earn a discount or bonus points with hotel and Airbnb bookings. Here are the main strategies we use.

1. Cashback

I’d say in the majority of our travels, we’ll stay some nights at a property that isn’t part of any chain. With no loyalty considerations in mind, my go-to strategy is to book with a minimum of 10% cashback through:

• Booking.com, or
• Expedia, or
• Agoda

I’m not too fussed about which booking site I use. I’ve used all three often enough to achieve some benefits of being a frequent booker, such as Booking.com Genius Level 3 and Agoda VIP Gold. These occasionally offer me benefits such as a room upgrade or additional discount.

In terms of getting the cashback, I use the three major providers in Australia:

• Cashrewards
• Shopback
• Topcashback

I simply go with whichever offers the highest cashback at the time.

The best cashback rate I’ve ever seen is 17% + 10% additional cashback at Expedia via Shopback with a Westpac bonus (yes, that’s quite a mouthful).

2. Airbnb with Qantas Hotels + Gift Cards

There are usually two reasons why I might book Airbnb.

1. I can get an entire apartment for roughly the same price as a standard hotel room, and the location is good (i.e. near a train station).
2. It’s a unique property or location.

With the right timing, Airbnb bookings can be very lucrative. Unfortunately, there is no standard cashback with Airbnb. Instead:

• I always click through Qantas Hotels first, so I earn 1 Qantas Point per dollar on all bookings.
• Where possible, I’ll buy Airbnb gift cards in Australia with 20x bonus supermarket points per dollar. If that offer isn’t available, I buy Airbnb gift cards through Qantas Marketplace for 5x points per dollar.

Also read: Northern Lights Airbnb in Ivalo, Finland

3. Accor Plus + cashback

Within the Asia-Pacific region, Accor Plus is a handy paid membership for those who travel frequently.

In contrast to my personal trips, I usually prefer to stay at Accor properties when I travel for work. Accor Plus gives me discounted member rates, dining, and more.

Best of all, I can usually book directly and stack these offers:

• Discounted Accor Plus member rates and up to 50% off ‘Red Hot Rooms’
• Up to 6% cashback at Accor hotels
• Earn Accor Live Limitless points
• Earn bonus Qantas Points thanks to the partnership
• Use my Gold status perks, such as room upgrades

Accor Plus membership is A$395 a year, but it does occasionally go up to 50% off during a sale. One of the best perks of the membership is a free night stay that you can use at a fancy hotel!

I bought my membership while I was in Fiji where it costs FJ$375 (~A$250) for the first year and even less in subsequent years – much cheaper than the Australian rate 😉

Get in touch if you’d like a referral to my contact in the Accor Fiji office.

4. Other discounts I use

• Qantas Hotels vouchers: I usually get a $50 voucher each year as part of my Qantas Points Club membership and occasionally more vouchers from various promotions. Keep in mind the vouchers are non-refundable if you cancel the hotel booking.
• Amex Offers: Occasionally, Amex offers decent cashback on hotel bookings via Amex Travel, or when booking directly at various chains including Hilton, IHG and Marriott.
• Amex Fine Hotels & Resorts: For Amex Platinum (Charge) Card Members, FHR offers a suite of perks at luxury hotels, including US$100 room credit, upgrades, free breakfast, and more. I’ve used it at the W Doha and The Langham Melbourne, paying no more than the standard room rate while enjoying these premium benefits!
• Expedia Points: As I book with Expedia to earn cashback, I also earn Expedia Rewards points, which I can later use on bookings.

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