Adventure for Every Budget

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, Save, and Earn Kicks with Hotwire

What destinations are on your travel bucket list? If you were to ask us that question, we could easily (and quickly!) name multiple destinations in the United States, Caribbean, and beyond.

There are so many cultures, sights, and cuisines we would love to experience, and we have found traveling is one of the best ways to do all three. Plus, we always feel relaxed and reinvigorated after an adventure to a new place whether it’s an hours long plane ride or a quick drive away.

The decision to travel is never a difficult one to make, but how to find the best rates, when to go, where to stay, and what to see always gives us pause. It’s easy to spend hours upon hours researching your destination, and sometimes that research takes away from the fun. But, we think we’ve uncovered one of the best kept travel secrets: Hotwire!

We once thought Hotwire was simply a site to price compare hotels and flights, but we’ve uncovered there is so much more to the site and brand that makes traveling seem that much more attainable. From saving you time to saving you money, we’re sharing our three favorite Hotwire features below. Get ready to earn kicks with Shopkick while planning your next trip!

Tripstarter:

Having an open mind while traveling always serves us well, and the same philosophy will serve you well while planning your vacation with Hotwire through Shopkick. One of the mysteries of traveling are the questions you’re always anxious to answer: When are flights the most reasonable? When are the best rates available at hotels? What is there to see, do, and eat? What about the weather; when is it the best? By opting to use Hotwire’s TripStarter feature, all of your questions will be answered quickly, easily, clearly, and on one website.

When you visit the TripStarter page, enter in your starting airport followed by your destination. Once you enter both pieces of information and search, TripStarter will begin loading information for you. You will be provided with a chart that details the cost trends for hotels, and when you click the tab at the top you will also be able to see cost trends for flights. Temperature details are always available, as well as the average weather patterns (i.e.: average rainfall). When to save, where to stay, and preferred activities to experience are also listed in a sidebar. You can even see the best deals for the next 30 days! Once you decide on your destination with help from Hotwire’s TripStarter feature, you can continue booking from the same screen.

The best way to keep traveling fun is by limiting how much you need to research, and Hotwire’s TripStarter feature makes sure you’re on your way to enjoying your trip without any hassle!

Hot Rates:

Wherever your travels take you, choosing where to stay can feel like one of the most arduous decisions to make. There are seemingly endless reviews available online, plenty of areas to explore, and multiple places to check for rates. However, Hotwire answers all of these questions (and more!) with their Hot Rates feature!

To use the feature, simply enter your travel dates, destination, and number of guests staying in the room. Once you submit your query, Hotwire immediately loads a number of results at the top of your search that are marked as Hot Rates. The Hot Rates indication means the hotel is discounted by up to 60%. You are still able to see how many reviews the hotel has received from other customers (Hotwire shows reviews from trusted source, TripAdvisor), and you can also see where the hotel is located to make sure it’s in line with the areas in which you hope to explore.

Part of the reason Hotwire can offer the rates at such a discount is because they don’t reveal the name of the hotel until after you book. However, if you click on the listing, there is a feature where Hotwire will reveal that your potential hotel is one of four options. At this point, the names of the hotels are featured for you to click on and explore, and they are always four star hotels!

If you’re willing to be slightly adventurous, Hotwire’s Hot Rates feature is a fantastic way to save without losing an ounce of luxury while traveling! Don’t forget to book through Shopkick’s app in order to earn kicks and gift cards for your trip.

Same Day Arrival:

When was the last time you booked a spontaneous getaway? They’re fun because they feel like an unexpected adventure! In order to keep your spirits high as you embark on your surprise, we highly recommend Hotwire.

The myth about booking a getaway, particularly a hotel, at the last minute is you won’t be able to save any money. However, Hotwire teams up with some of the most desirable hotels in any given city to offer you the best rates. Whether they’re one of the most popular hotels or it’s simply an off time to travel, many hotels and resorts frequently don’t sell all of their rooms for a given night. In order to continue to sell, these same resorts sell their rooms through Hotwire at a discount!

We recommend exploring Same Day Arrival rates on Hotwire through Shopkick. Enter your travel dates, destination, and guest count on Hotwire’s homepage. Then see what rates result in your search. You can also pair your Same Day Arrival rate search with Hotwire’s Hot Rates feature to save even more. Plus, you will earn kicks when you book!

Hotwire, Shopkick, travel, and savings has to be one of the best combinations! We cannot wait to hear about the kicks you earn and which gift card you choose to redeem to use on your next adventure. Where will your travels take you?