Get Up to 10% Cash-Back at Best Western, IHG, and More With Rakuten Spring Travel

Updated: March 5, 2024, 1:26am CST

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Get Up to 10% Cash-Back at Best Western, IHG, and More With Rakuten Spring Travel

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For a limited time, Rakuten is offering up to 10% cash-back on purchases with many travel retailers, including Best Western, Expedia, IHG, Orbitz, and Tripadvisor.

Earning 10% cash-back is a great deal. However, Rakuten also offers the option to earn your rewards through American Express Membership Rewards points, which often represent a better value.

Let’s dig into the details!

Rakuten Spring Travel Deals

Rakuten is currently promoting up to 10% cash back (or 10x Amex points) at many retailers. This promotion won’t last long, so you’ll want to move quickly!

There are a lot of increased earnings, but the travel-specific ones that caught our eye include:

Best Western Hotels & Resorts: 10% (was 2%)
Expedia: 10% (was 3%)
Orbitz: 10% (was 3%)
Tripadvisor: 10% (was 4%)
Viator: 10.5% (was 2%)
Booking.com 6% (was 4%)
IHG Hotels & Resorts: 6% (was 3%)
Hertz 5% (was 2.5%)
Celebrity Cruises 4% (was 2%)
MSC Cruises 4% (was 1.5%)
Vrbo: $20 (was $10)

Plus, Dell is offering a whopping 12% cash-back!

The increased 12% cash-back earnings at Dell represent a great opportunity for cardholders of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express to maximize their Dell credit (upon enrollment) of up to $200 for the first half of the year. Make sure to check your Amex Offers to see if you have an opportunity to stack additional savings.

Cardholders of The Platinum Card^® from American Express can also use their semi-annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit of up to $50 (upon enrollment) and earn 2% cash-back on their purchase when clicking through Rakuten!

You can see all participating stores by visiting the Rakuten promotion page.

Cash-Back vs. Amex Membership Rewards Points

Amex Business Gold Upgraded Points LLC 1 large — Image Credit: Upgraded Points

As mentioned above, Rakuten users can choose between earning cash-back or Amex Membership Rewards points on purchases.

Which is the right choice for you? That’s a personal decision, of course, but many of us in the points-and-miles community love the opportunity to earn extra Amex points at a relatively low “cost.”

For example, with Dell’s promotion of 12% cash-back, a $1,000 laptop would earn $120 in cash-back — a pretty good return.

Alternatively, that same $1,000 laptop could earn 12,000 American Express Membership Rewards points, which we value at $264.

Hot Tip:

Refer a friend to Rakuten, and you’ll both earn $30 or 3,000 points!

Final Thoughts

If you were already planning on making a travel purchase with one of the retailers above, this is a great opportunity to earn some extra cash-back or American Express Membership Rewards points.

Just be sure to take advantage of this great bonus before the promotion expires!

For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card^® from American Express, click here.

Featured Image Credit: Davide Angelini via Adobe Stock

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About Chris Hassan

Chris holds a B.S. in Hospitality and Tourism Management and managed social media for all Marriott properties in South America, making him a perfect fit for UP and its social media channels. He has a passion for making content catered toward family travelers.

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