Planning a trip can feel like a second job. You have 12 tabs open and every site swears it has the best price. Let’s cut through the noise. Here is a guide to which travel sites suit which kind of trip and how to earn Cash Back on the ones you pick.

Why it matters where you book

Two people can book the same hotel room on the same night and walk away with different totals. One found a member price and got Cash Back. The other clicked a random ad and got a receipt. Travel is one of the few categories where the price, the perks and what you earn afterward depends heavily on which site you use.

Rakuten works with over 3,500 stores, including dozens of travel sites. Signup is free. All you have to do is click through to the site from Rakuten (the app, the browser extension or the website), and eligible Cash Back is tracked for you automatically. Here are the sites worth knowing, grouped by what they do best.

Quick comparison

The all-in-one sites: Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity and CheapTickets

These four sites belong to the same general family of online travel agencies, and they behave similarly. You search flights, hotels and cars in one place and can bundle them into a package.

• Expedia is the one most people start with. Our own readers keep coming back to it, so if you want a deeper walkthrough, read our Expedia deals and saving strategies guide. 
• Orbitz has an Orbitz Rewards program that allows you to earn Orbucks on top of Cash Back. 
• Travelocity is a solid pick when you want a vacation package without stitching all the disparate pieces together yourself. 
• CheapTickets has its own CheapCash program and tends to appeal to budget travelers.

The catch with this group is the promo code rule. With Orbitz, Travelocity and CheapTickets, a coupon code can void your Cash Back, so choose one or the other on each booking. If a code from Rakuten is shown on the store page, that one is safe to use.

The stay specialists: Priceline, Booking.com, Hotels.com and Agoda

If the hotel is the main event, these four sites deserve a look.

• Priceline has Express Deals (you see the area and star level, and learn the hotel after you book) and a VIP program with Member, Blue, Gold and Platinum levels. 
• Booking.com has a huge range of properties, from big chains to small apartments. You can find out a lot more about, well, booking at Booking in our guide to saving money at Booking.com.
• Hotels.com shares the One Key rewards program with Expedia and Vrbo. You can learn some tips and tricks for booking through the site in our in-depth Hotels.com guide. 
• Agoda shines for trips in Asia and beyond, and its Cash Back covers accommodations specifically.

Vrbo for groups and long stays

When you’re traveling with six people and a dog, a hotel means two or three rooms and zero shared space. The solution? Vrbo. Vrbo rents whole homes, and it’s part of the One Key rewards program, along with Expedia and Hotels.com. Vrbo Cash Back posts within about a month, which is faster than most booking sites on this list.

Tripadvisor and Viator for tours

Flights and hotels get the headlines, but activities add up quickly. With Tripadvisor, you can earn Cash Back on things to do, but not on hotels, flights, cars or cruises. Viator lists hundreds of thousands of experiences and is a good place to find skip-the-line tickets. Both exclude theme park purchases, and Viator also excludes discount codes, so book in one clean session after clicking through from Rakuten.

Loyalty and rewards programs at a glance

Rewards programs can quietly outdo the savings of a coupon on repeat trips. These details were checked on each brand’s own site in October 2026 and can change.

*These details were checked on each brand’s website in October 2026 and are subject to change.

Layering savings without breaking Cash Back

The fun part of travel savings is that several things can work at once. The not-fun part is that one wrong click can undo it. Here is a simple order of operations.

1. Start at Rakuten, then click through to the site.
2. Look for a member price or a sale on the site itself.
3. Use only codes shown on the Rakuten store page when the terms mention code restrictions.
4. Join the loyalty program before you pay so the booking counts.
5. Pay with a card that fits your travel habits, and read its terms yourself.

Mistakes that cost travelers Cash Back

• Opening the booking site in another tab after clicking through from Rakuten.
• Using a code from a random coupon page on a site that voids Cash Back for outside codes.
• Booking through the travel site’s app when the store’s terms exclude app bookings.
• Assuming you can earn Cash Back on add-ons such as insurance or fees.
• Forgetting that Cash Back often posts after you travel, not after you book.

FAQs about travel websites

Do I earn Cash Back when I book, or when I travel?

For most travel sites, Cash Back is confirmed after your trip is completed. Posting windows range from a few days to about three months after travel, depending on the site.

Can I use a promo code and still earn Cash Back?

It depends. Orbitz, Travelocity, CheapTickets, Priceline and Hotels.com state that a coupon code can void Cash Back. Stick to codes listed on the Rakuten store page.

Which site is best for hotels?

It varies by trip. Compare Priceline, Booking.com, Hotels.com, Agoda and Expedia for the same dates. Check the total price, cancellation rules and what Cash Back terms apply.

Are flights eligible for Cash Back everywhere?

No. Hotels.com excludes airfare, for example, while CheapOair and several all-in-one sites offer Cash Back on flights. Read the terms and exclusions on each Rakuten store page before you book.

Does Rakuten work for vacation rentals?

Yes, Vrbo is a Rakuten partner and Agoda offers homes and apartments as part of its accommodations.

What if my Cash Back does not post?

Wait for the posting window listed on the store page, then contact Rakuten support with your trip details.