Even if you don’t have a travel credit card, you can still find ways to save on your next trip. Airline and hotel loyalty programs offer a variety of different pathways to earn points or miles toward your next vacation.
It’s how Shakeemah Smith, a travel influencer and founder of the Travel Like a Bawse website, saves on flights.
"I’ve been to Japan three times for $5.60 each. I went to Greece last summer with my girlfriend for $5.60, and I went to Paris for $5.60," she says. “All of this is just by accruing the [miles] that I have directly with the airlines themselves."
She shared that the miles were earned by shopping through airlines’ online shopping portals, signing up for dining programs, collecting rewards on bills and more. Every little bit helps, especially since average U.S. travel costs are 9% higher compared to this time in 2025, according to NerdWallet's Travel Price Index.
Of course, it's possible to squeeze more value if you stack these with a travel credit card that earns the same rewards currency, but you can still find savings without one. And you’ll make a larger impact on your travel goals if you strategize to earn rewards with a brand or two instead of several.
Here are some options to find savings for your next getaway.
1. Loyalty programs
It’s no secret that you can earn points with minimal effort by signing up for free airline or hotel loyalty programs. Earning points through these programs can save you on the cost of flights, accommodations, seat upgrades or elite status, for example. As you’re choosing a specific loyalty program, familiarize yourself with its terms and reward expiration dates to make the most of them. It's through these programs that you'll be able to build up rewards further with the options below.
2. Travel debit cards
Some airlines and hotels like Wyndham, Southwest and United offer debit cards that earn rewards toward travel. They may require having a minimum deposit or balance to avoid monthly fees, so it’s important to consider what the deposit might earn elsewhere if it were in a high yield savings account. Also research review boards and forums to understand how other consumers feel about a card and the customer service experience before committing to one.
Katie Holden, a content creator at the website Katie’s Travel Tricks, says she previously used the Southwest debit card as a companion to her Southwest credit card to test whether she could use points offered by the debit card to earn Southwest’s Companion Pass.
"I was testing if that stacks with the points you get from having a credit card,” she says.
Turns out, she could.
Keep in mind that if you can manage a travel credit card responsibly and are eligible for one, it's the better option. The rewards and protections you can earn on a travel debit card don't compare to those provided by travel credit cards. The latter come with better built-in fraud protections, healthier welcome offers, higher rewards rates, and potentially other perks or benefits like trip cancellation insurance.
3. Online shopping portals
MileagePlus, AAdvantage, SkyMiles, TrueBlue and Rapid Rewards are some examples of airline programs with online shopping portals that earn rewards toward travel when you spend with select merchants. Some even allow you to earn offers in store when you link a preferred card. The online shopping platform Rakuten also partners with certain rewards programs like Bilt or American Express Membership Rewards to allow you to earn points in those programs when you shop with eligible merchants. These rewards can then be applied toward travel.
It's an easy way to earn rewards on expenses you're already planning: makeup, home improvement, technology, clothing, accessories, shoes, pet supplies, sporting goods, furniture, subscriptions and more, depending on the portal. Be cautious to not overspend just to chase rewards, though.
For Smith, the online shopping portals are a quick way to accumulate rewards.
“If I need Q-tips, shampoo, toothpaste, I'm gonna get those things from CVS,” she says. These are some purchases that allow Smith to earn rewards through American Airlines, Delta and United.
To avoid having to compare rewards rates across different portals, Holden shared that she uses the Rakuten and SaveWise browser extensions to determine where to shop for the best offer.
4. Dining programs
A dining program for a hotel or airline can offer a way to earn even more rewards at a variety of qualifying restaurants, whether at home or in popular tourism destinations. You can sign up for free, link a debit or credit card and earn rewards when you spend at an eligible restaurant, including nationally recognized chains, locally owned restaurants and fast food in some cases.
These dining programs are often broken up into tiers that you reach based on how many transactions you make or other qualifications. They usually only require a one-time setup, unless you have to update your card's information. Depending on the program, you might be able to add more than one card, too (though you may not be able to use the same card across different programs).
5. Hotel and airline partners for rideshare services
If you often hail a rideshare service, you might be able to earn more rewards when you link or connect your loyalty membership account. United MileagePlus, Hilton Honors and Alaska Airlines' Atmos Rewards offer this option with Lyft. Marriott Bonvoy and Delta SkyMiles offer it with Uber and UberEats.
Read the terms carefully to understand the amount of rewards you'll earn and whether it varies by ride.
6. Hotel and airline partners for everyday expenses
It may also be possible to earn airline rewards on everyday expenses like bills and gas with some brands. For instance, if your electricity is powered by NRG Energy, you can earn American Airlines AAdvantage Miles, Rapid Rewards or United MileagePlus Miles. Some of these options may depend on where you live. Reliant, an energy company in Texas, offers a chance to earn United miles.
American Airlines even offers a chance to earn rewards on gas at shell stations when you link your AAdvantage account to your Shell Fuel rewards account in the Shell app.
If you’re a Starbucks loyalist, you can link your rewards account with Delta SkyMiles or Marriott Bonvoy to earn travel rewards when you fuel up with your daily cup of caffeine.
7. Other options
Depending on the brand, you might be able to collect a few more points elsewhere. For instance:
- Bilt offers rewards when you shop with its partners and link a non-Bilt card to your Bilt account.
- Delta offers SkyMiles on Airbnb stays when you book through delta.com/airbnb and enter your SkyMiles number.
- American Airlines offers AAdvantage miles when you stay at hotels like Hyatt, Marriott and IHG.
- You can also earn miles on your feedback by filling out surveys for programs like American, United and Southwest airlines.
If you have a go-to airline or hotel, get to know that company's partners and pathways to unlocking more rewards. Some of these options may require a time investment, so you’ll have to decide whether to stick with the easy ones or maximize all opportunities. For Holden, it’s the credit cards that still earn the bulk of rewards, but she uses some of the previously mentioned options for added savings.
“I think it's worth at least setting up the things that you can then automate because why would you not do that?” Holden says. “Even if you're only saving $50 a year, but it took you 30 minutes to set up, isn't that worth [it]?”
More From NerdWallet
The article 7 Ways to Unlock Travel Rewards Without a Credit Card originally appeared on NerdWallet.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.