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Hotel stays are often one of the biggest travel expenses—but they don’t have to be. One of the most effective ways to cut costs without sacrificing comfort is by using digital gift cards purchased through a cashback platform. When timed right, this strategy can unlock instant rewards at major hotel chains like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott—all without the hassle of juggling promo codes or waiting for sales.

Here’s how to use gift cards to your advantage and why they’re one of the easiest tools for hotel savings.

Why Digital Gift Cards Make a Difference

Instead of booking with your debit or credit card directly, consider purchasing a hotel-specific gift card beforehand. When bought through a rewards platform, these gift cards not only cover your stay but also give you money back on the purchase itself. It’s a simple swap: pay the same hotel price, get a percentage of it back in cashback.

This method works best for travelers who book directly with the hotel brand, where gift cards are accepted as a payment option and loyalty points can still be earned.

Where to Get the Best Hotel Gift Card Cashback

Not all gift cards are created equal—some hotel chains offer higher cashback rewards than others. With Fluz, travelers can instantly earn cashback with a Hilton gift card, get rewards with a Hyatt gift card, and earn cashback with a Marriott gift card.

All three of these brands allow direct gift card redemption for room bookings, and you’ll still earn loyalty points just as you would with a regular card:

  • Hilton gift cards can be applied at checkout for participating hotels when booking through Hilton.com
  • Hyatt accepts gift cards for prepaid reservations, often even for upgrades or resort fees via Hyatt.com
  • Marriott lets you use gift cards both online and at the front desk when you pay through Marriott.com

How to Use This Strategy Step-by-Step

  1. Choose the hotel brand you want to stay with and confirm they accept gift cards for your booking.
  2. Head to Fluz and purchase a digital gift card for that brand—exactly or slightly above your expected total.
  3. Use the gift card at checkout on the hotel’s website or at the hotel upon arrival.
  4. Instantly receive cashback through Fluz while still earning your usual loyalty points.

You can also pre-purchase gift cards ahead of time during high cashback periods to lock in additional savings for future stays.

Stacking Gift Card Rewards With Loyalty Programs

This strategy gets even better when you layer it with hotel loyalty perks. Make sure you’re signed in when booking to stack all available benefits:

Whether you’re traveling for business, leisure, or a last-minute weekend getaway, using a discounted gift card ensures your money goes further—and Fluz gives you a seamless way to do it.