For travelers looking to make the most of every dollar, combining credit card rewards with discounted or cashback-enabled gift cards is a powerful strategy. Instead of choosing between loyalty programs or gift card deals, savvy explorers know how to layer both to reduce costs, unlock perks, and stretch their travel budgets even further.

Here’s how to combine rewards points and gift cards to your advantage—and why it works across every stage of your trip.

Step 1: Use rewards points for what they’re best at

Most credit card and loyalty program points are best redeemed for high-value travel categories like flights and hotel stays. To get the most value, transfer your points to travel partners rather than redeeming them for gift cards or cash. For example, 60,000 Chase points can often convert to a round-trip international flight in economy when transferred to United or Singapore Airlines—far better than using them for a $600 gift card.

Step 2: Supplement gaps with cashback-enabled gift cards

If your rewards points don’t fully cover the cost of your trip, fill in the gaps with discounted or cashback gift cards. Using an app like Fluz, you can buy digital gift cards for merchants like Hotels.com or Uber, often earning instant cashback in the process.

For instance, if you use points to cover your flight but still need a hotel, you can earn cashback with a Hotels.com gift card and pay less out of pocket while continuing to stack loyalty benefits.

Step 3: Combine for added benefits

The real power of this strategy comes from layering. Here’s a breakdown:

• Use credit card points to cover airline tickets, often the largest single expense.

• Buy digital gift cards via Fluz to pay for hotels, rideshares, and travel essentials—earning cashback instantly.

• Book through platforms that accept gift cards (like Hotels.com or Uber) and still allow you to earn loyalty points or perks.

Some brands, like Hilton and Marriott, allow you to earn elite night credits and benefits even when paying with gift cards—so you don’t sacrifice status progression.

Step 4: Redeem rewards efficiently

After your trip, review any residual points, cashback earnings, or unused gift card balances. Fluz allows you to use cashback toward future purchases or withdraw it when you hit the threshold. Some cards even award points for buying Fluz gift cards if categorized as a general purchase.

You can also use cashback apps like Rakuten and Ibotta in parallel with Fluz to earn more on booking platforms, dining, and shopping during your trip.

Final thoughts

When done right, combining rewards points with gift cards is like building a layered safety net for your travel budget. You minimize what you pay upfront, maximize what you earn back, and retain access to loyalty benefits along the way. It takes a bit of planning—but the savings and rewards are worth it.