For more than ten years, my go-to method for covering travel expenses has been using points and miles, allowing me to travel extensively and luxuriously while minimizing out-of-pocket costs. However, my recent experience with the Capital One Shopping portal has made me rethink this approach.
Capital One Shopping is an online tool that helps users find deals and earn rewards for online purchases. Unlike other shopping portals, it does not offer cash back but instead rewards users with Shopping Rewards that can be used to purchase gift cards from various retailers. While I typically prefer cash rewards, the quality and variety of redemption options offered by Capital One Shopping make the rewards valuable to me.
My eye-opening experience with Capital One Shopping came when I was planning a trip to a folk music festival in Richland, Washington. Due to high cash rates and inflated award prices at hotels in the area, I decided to explore portal rewards for hotel stays. Using the Capital One Shopping browser extension, I found lucrative rewards offers for the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn, ultimately saving money on my hotel reservation.
This experience highlighted the value of shopping portal rewards and has changed my perspective on paying cash versus using points for travel expenses. By factoring in the rewards earned through portals like Capital One Shopping, the decision between cash and points becomes clearer, with high portal rates often making paying cash the more financially beneficial option.
While there are many shopping portals available, I have found myself choosing Capital One Shopping over others due to its user-friendly interface, targeted offers, and valuable rewards. Despite the lack of cash back rewards, the convenience and reliability of Capital One Shopping have made it my preferred choice for earning rewards on online purchases. After testing out various cash back portals, I found that Capital One Shopping stood out to me due to its higher targeted offers. While the rates may be lower when searching directly through the app or online portal, the targeted email offers I receive from Capital One Shopping are significantly more appealing. For instance, I recently received an email offer for 30% rewards on Hotels.com, along with other enticing offers such as 17% back at Priceline, 24% back at IHG, and 16% back at Choice Hotels.
Although I typically prioritize Membership Rewards points over Shopping Rewards, I must admit that these targeted email offers from Capital One Shopping hold more value for me compared to the payouts from Rakuten. The increased rewards rates have made me more inclined to pay for travel in cash, despite having to navigate through some features of the portal.
However, there are some considerations to keep in mind when using the portal. The fine print on the email offers often includes restrictions, such as earning caps and specific purchase categories that qualify for the advertised rates. Additionally, these targeted rates are short-lived, usually lasting only a few days, which requires me to make quick booking decisions even if my plans are uncertain. Furthermore, the rewards redemption process involves receiving gift cards instead of cash back, with limited options available and popular choices frequently going out of stock.
To make the most out of Capital One Shopping, here are a few tips to consider:
1. Check the available gift card options to determine the value of Shopping Rewards for you.
2. Use a dedicated web browser without ad blockers to ensure that your purchases are tracked by the portal.
3. Compare award and cash rates for travel to make informed booking decisions.
4. Maximize your rewards by utilizing the portal when redeeming any gift cards you earn.
By following these tips and being mindful of the portal’s features, you can make the most of your rewards while using Capital One Shopping.