Can You Get Cash Back on an Existing Hotel Reservation?

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    In response to the News You Can Use post about earning 10% back on IHG hotel bookings from TopCashBack, Million Mile Secrets reader Fran writes:

    If I already booked a Holiday Inn hotel, can I get a rebate?
    TopCashBack and other online shopping portals sometimes offer cash back or bonus points for hotel bookings.  After clicking through the portal, you can make a reservation through the hotel chain website, or on 3rd party sites like Orbitz or Hotwire.
    You Can Sometimes Get Cash Back on Hotel Bookings Through Online Portals

    If Fran’s already booked a hotel without going through the TopCashBack portal, she can NOT get cash back on that booking.  But there are options!  I’ll explain.

    What’s the Deal?

    Link:   TopCashBack

    Earlier this month, TopCashBack was offering 10% cash back on IHG hotel bookings.  The deal isn’t as good today (it’s currently 8%) but it’s still a nice rebate on a hotel stay!

    IHG hotels include Candlewood Suites, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Hotel Indigo, Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, and Staybridge Suites brand hotels.
    By Going Through the TopCashBack Portal 1st, You’ll Get 8% Cash Back on IHG Stays

    But you can’t get cash back if you’ve already booked an IHG stay without going through the portal!

    Cancel and Re-Book

    If Fran booked a refundable rate for her Holiday Inn stay, she can cancel (as long as it’s before the cancellation deadline) and re-book her stay by 1st going through the TopCashBack portal.

    But Fran should check the current rate to make sure it’s the same (or cheaper) than the original room she booked.  Otherwise it’s not worth it!

    Fran Could Cancel Her Existing Reservation and Re-Book Through TopCashBack

    Stays that are NOT pre-paid (usually booked directly through the hotel site) are generally refundable, although Fran should carefully check her booking details and refund policy BEFORE cancelling.  

    Some bookings made through sites like Orbitz and TravelPony are refundable, too, but policies vary.  Hotwire reservations are non-refundable.
    Check Your Booking Details Before You Cancel!

    Even if you’re booking through a cash back site, don’t forget to use a credit card that earns extra points for travel, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

    Note:   TopCashBack will credit your cash back after you’ve completed your stay.

    Bottom Line

    You can earn cash back by booking hotel stays through online portals like TopCashBack.  Right now they’re offering 8% back on IHG hotel stays.

    If you already have a reservation, you can’t get a rebate if you didn’t book it through a cash back site.  But if it’s a refundable rate, you can cancel and re-book through TopCashBack.

    Thanks for the question, Fran!

    Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)
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