booking.com Archives

Adventure for Every Budget

Posted on April 10, 2019 by shopkick

My friends and I frequently talk about traveling together. We love to see where our bucket list destinations align just as much as we enjoy learning about newly discovered gems close to home that will make a staycation feel special with a hint of luxury. After any of our conversations, I feel equally as inspired to book a flight as I do to purchase a hammock or candles to make my nights and weekends in feel more like a hotel stay. My takeaway is always this: Traveling is possible on any budget; sometimes you just need a few ideas!

$99 or Less:

I live in the Northeast, so a walk outside during the first signs of spring always feels like a vacation – it’s such a treat! After spending so many months inside, now is when I start to spend as much time outside as possible. My favorite thing to do outside? Read! In my opinion, the best way to completely enhance any book is to read it in a hammock because I always feel like I’m at the beach rather than in my backyard.

$100-$349:

With its history and location, San Antonio, Texas is 100% on my radar! I think this would be such a fun spot to go with family or a group of friends. Plan to visit the Alamo and stroll along the River Walk to explore great eats and views. Orlando and Los Angeles are both great options at this price point too! And, when you book with Booking.com or Hotels.com, you can earn 10 kicks per $1 spent from today through Tuesday, April 16.

$350-$999:

I visited New Orleans, LA for the first time last year for my birthday, and this southern city blew me away! The food, particularly the beignets, is delicious, listening to jazz live is not to be missed (Preservation Hall was my favorite spot!), and there is plenty to see by wandering around the French Quarter. New York, Austin, and San Diego are forever on my radar too!

$1000+:

If you’re dreaming of heading abroad, now is the time to book your trip with Booking.com and Hotels.com! Consider traveling to Macchu Picchu, Peru to see the Lost City of the Incas; see the Sydney Opera House and say, “G’day, Mate!”, in person; expect to find sun, sand, and sea in Lagos, Portugal; book what looks like it would be the most beautiful trip of them all – Fiji!

Whatever your budget, traveling doesn’t have to stay on your bucket list, especially when you can book through Booking.com or Hotels.com through your Shopkick app and earn 10 kicks per $1 spent through April 16! Make a trip a reality this spring; you deserve it!

How to Travel for Spring Break on a Budget

Posted on March 6, 2019 by shopkick

Spring break has always offered the first hint of the warmer weather to come, which is why I have a longstanding love for spring break travel. From elementary school through college, my family typically opted to go on a getaway even if we only actually spent a few nights away from home. Our goal was always simple: travel to a destination that did not have snow in the forecast. Even now with many years separating me from the time I spent as a student, March is spring break season in the same way that September signals back to school.

As much as I have always enjoyed the trips I have taken in March, I have always completely understood two of the most common problems that prevent others from taking a trip themselves: where to travel and how to keep the trip budget-friendly. Both aspects can easily become quite daunting; however, I have discovered two wonderful workarounds: Shopkick’s travel wheel and Booking.com and Hotels.com!

Spin the Travel Wheel:

Whenever I used to feel indecisive, I would sometimes find my Magic 8 Ball. I knew it didn’t have any true powers, but I knew how to best solve a problem if I found myself hoping it would say a particular answer as I shook it. Spinning Shopkick’s travel wheel offers the same type of feeling, but I think we can all agree solving where to travel on your next vacation is a fun “problem” to have!

The wheel has plenty of great destinations throughout the United States for trips of all kinds. From areas you can easily drive to throughout the South, like Charleston, Walt Disney World, and New Orleans, to places that are only a flight away, like San Diego, Yosemite, and even Mexico, there are plenty of locations (and ideas about what you can experience) right here. Where will the wheel tell you to travel to?

Book Your Trip with Booking.com or Hotels.com:

Once you decide on your spring break destination, make sure to hop over to Booking.com and Hotels.com from your Shopkick app! You will want to make sure to book through the app because you can earn 10 kicks/$1 spent between now and Sunday, March 10, for all of the spring break travel you book. It’s like earning 4% back in kicks! Both websites have incredible budget friendly options for all of the destinations we’ve mentioned. And, the great news is you can redeem your kicks for a gift card to use during your vacation. What could be better?

Now that we’ve solved two of the most common spring break problems together – where to travel and how to save money – tell us: Where will you travel during your spring break? Where is your favorite spring break destination from past trips? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter! Make sure to join our social media fun too because you will discover a whole community of passionate Shopkickers just like you.

Love is in the Air

Posted on February 14, 2019 by shopkick

In January, the holidays officially came to a close and winter’s coldest temperatures arrived over the course of a few weeks. One month seemed to last for a very long time, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I was battling some serious cabin fever. I realized it was time for me to look to my forever cure: travel!

Earn kicks when you book with Booking.com and Hotels.com.

Whether I’m planning a trip that’s days, weeks, or months away, I always love getting lost in the pure enjoyment of planning flights, hotels, experiences, and food. And, my two favorite tools for planning are Booking.com and Hotels.com. What’s even better is you can join me in earning 10 kicks per $1 spent when you plan and book your trip through either site while using your Shopkick app between now and February 18! This month, love truly is in the air.

Where will you go?

Just in case you love talking all things travel too, I thought I would offer more inspiration. My first question: Snow, sand, or city? Let’s dive into all three!

Snow

February and March are two of my favorite months to travel. Spring’s arrival is palpable, but the seasons haven’t changed just yet. As a result, a getaway to the mountains to ski, snowboard, snow tube, and ice skate is a definite possibility. As an East Coast resident, Vermont is one of my favorite spots to ski. There is plenty of snow, and I love exploring the quaint towns in New England when I need a break from the slopes. Of course, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, and Northern California also have incredible mountains too if you would prefer to head west! They’re all on my list to experience, and you can book your ski trip with Booking.com and Hotels.com through the app.

Sand

By this point in the winter, a warm getaway to enjoy the beach might be more up your alley. Florida and Southern California both have plenty of beaches to enjoy during this time of year. Miami, Boca Grande, and Naples are all excellent beach cities in Florida with plenty more to see off of the sand. And, any of the beaches from San Diego to Los Angeles always promise beautiful views! You could also plan the ultimate trip and skip outside of the U.S. to explore Mexico or the Caribbean.

City

In my opinion, there is never a season in which a trip to the city is not a wonderful idea. The winter offers a great opportunity to explore all of the indoor spots a city has to offer, which means plenty of time spent in museums. You can also add coffee shops, restaurants, shopping, and all things cultural to your experiences list. Check to see if the city you plan to visit has an indoor botanical garden, too! No matter the season, there are always flowers blooming inside. If you are looking for a new city to explore, I always hear incredible things about Boston, Charleston, SC, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle. Which city will you visit when you book using Booking.com and Hotels.com through Shopkick?

Whether you choose to visit the mountains, beach, or city, I am certain you will be happy you said yes to traveling solo or with family or friends! So, where will your getaway take you?

How to Take a Budget Friendly Beach Vacation

Posted on January 24, 2019 by shopkick

Whether it’s due to the below freezing temperatures or our ever-present wanderlust, we always find we’re ready to start planning a getaway (or two!) in January. And, today we’re dreaming of the place that allows all of us to enjoy sun, sand, and relaxation mixed with a hint (or more!) of adventure – the beach!

The beach is meant to act as a true escape, and we know one of the keys to relaxation is making sure to remain within your budget. We’re thrilled to announce for a limited time, you can book your next beach vacation with Booking.com and Hotels.com with Shopkick to earn 10 kicks per $1 spent! The best news? You can book trips now to take throughout the year – there aren’t any blackout dates! Plus, you can cash in your kicks for gift cards to use while you travel.

Now that you’re excited to plan, let’s start talking about beaches to visit. Up first? The United States!

There are miles upon miles of coastlines to explore throughout the world, and the United States has quite a number of incredible spots on its own. If you’re interested in seeing rocky coastlines mixed with classic coastal architecture in New England, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are three beautiful spots to consider. Perhaps Southern charm is in order, in which case places like Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Hilton Head, and Savannah are all perfect spots to mix sand and history. Florida’s Panhandle has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the country, and Alabama and Texas offer plenty of relaxation. If surf culture is your thing, head west to cities spanning from Baja California to just outside of Los Angeles, jet to Hawaii, and don’t forget to consider traveling north to Oregon and Washington.

There are plenty of amazing beaches to experience outside of the United States too, which is why we would be remiss not to mention Mexico. Located just outside of Cancun, Riviera Maya stuns with its pristine stretches of sand, all-inclusive resorts, and plethora of adventure. Swim with whale sharks, snorkel, explore cenotes, or simply lounge on the beach with a great book – you will love your experience. Plus, Cancun’s international airport offers a direct destination for many airlines. Across the country, both Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas offer unparalleled experiences on Mexico’s Pacific coastline. Be prepared for rockier coastlines, incredible sunrises and sunsets, culture, and plenty of time to relax.

Lastly, the Caribbean is brimming with beaches to explore! The Bahamas are some of the closest Caribbean islands to the United States, and each island offers a different colorful flavor and feel. We have only ever heard rave reviews of Turks and Caicos, the Virgin Islands, Curacao, Grand Cayman, and Aruba. All offer dining, history, diving, snorkeling, and some of the most beautiful water to swim in.

Wherever your adventure takes you, isn’t it time to stop dreaming and start booking your complete budget friendly beach vacation? We think so too! Booking.com and Hotels.com to the rescue! But, remember to book prior to 1/27 with Shopkick in order to take advantage of the big kicks.

Let us know where your travels will take you in the comments!

Make sure to download Shopkick for free, and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more shopping inspiration!

Pack your bags! Booking.com comes to Shopkick

Posted on October 30, 2017 by shopkick

Some very informative articles popping up in my Facebook feed say that the anticipation of a vacation sometimes brings even more happiness than the vacation itself. Well, now that Booking.com has come to Shopkick, we can not only enjoy the anticipation of a great trip, but also have a nice, big, free gift card waiting for us on the other side of it!

Shopkick is combining two of my favorite things: shopping and traveling. When I book my next flight, hotel, or excursion on Booking.com, I will also get to look forward to the kicks I’ll receive when the trip is over. No more post-holiday blues for me as I’ll have a bunch of new kicks to look forward to – and have fun thinking about how I’ll use them!

How Booking.com Works

I love the researching and planning stage of a trip. Booking.com makes it both easy and fun to explore different hotels and provides handy tools for figuring out where to stay. I’ll admit I like a good deal on a hotel – I want it to be central, safe, quiet, and clean while not breaking the bank. Booking.com will give me even deeper discounts on great, highly rated hotels.

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With lots of people using Booking.com and leaving in-depth reviews, I’m never surprised by what I’m gonna get. If I choose to ignore some warnings in a few of the reviews….well, I only really have myself to blame when I get that noisy room!

How to Get the Best Deal with Booking.com and Shopkick

Now I can open the Shopkick app, check out what’s new, grab a few kicks right then and there by watching a video or searching for an instant surprise. Then I can click on Booking.com from Online Stores to plan my next adventure and score additional kicks. I can’t wait to use a Target gift card from the kicks I earned from my last vacation (and my many grocery store runs!) to buy something cute for my next trip booked on Booking.com… and then enjoy even more kicks afterward! The travel options on Shopkick are like gifts that keep on giving — all my shopping and travel planning are fun and help fund each other. Why would I ever shop or travel without Shopkick by my side?

Booking.com is easy to use with Shopkick! From the Shopkick app, look under “online stores” and click on Booking.com to book your trip and get your kicks from your Booking.com reservations.

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[/left][right][/right] I’m loving earning kicks with online shopping on Shopkick. Have you tried it yet? Watch this video to see how it’s done. Don’t have the Shopkick app yet? Download it today and get started earning reward points toward free gift cards!