How WalmartPlusTravel.com Works

There’s a new option for booking travel that could help you save some money on everyday expenses, and it’s from a spot you might not have expected: Walmart.

The retail giant has launched a travel portal in partnership with Expedia.

Those who subscribe to Walmart+ can book activities, flights, hotels, rental cars, vacation rentals and travel packages. In return, they’ll earn Walmart Cash that can be used when shopping with the store.

Though it may not be the first choice for avid travelers who want to take advantage of travel loyalty programs, the portal is a way for your travels to help you offset expenses in your daily life; usually, this is done by using strategic everyday credit card spending to help you earn travel rewards.

This new travel portal is also a way travelers carrying The Platinum Card® from American Express can get more value out of their card and its $695 annual fee: Cardmembers can receive a statement credit to cover the Walmart+ membership fee. Terms apply.

» Learn more: The best travel credit cards right now

How do you use the Walmart travel portal?

Walmart+ members can access the company’s new travel portal at WalmartPlusTravel.com. It’s also available through the member benefits section of the Walmart+ app.

You can use the site to book numerous aspects of your trip. Because the site is powered by Expedia, you’ll be able to access the online travel agency’s vast network of hotels and vacation rentals. The site has access to more than 900,000 properties (including hotels, homes, apartments, etc.), as well as more than 500 airlines globally and more than 100 rental car companies.

You can also book activities using the Walmart travel portal.

» Learn more: The best credit cards to use at Walmart

Earning Walmart Cash for travel

A key benefit for Walmart+ members booking a trip through WalmartPlusTravel.com is the ability to earn Walmart Cash.

Members will earn:

• 5% Walmart Cash on hotels, vacation rentals, car rentals and activities.

• 2% Walmart Cash on flights.

If you’re booking a vacation package, you’ll receive a blended Walmart Cash rate: 2% for the flight portion of your trip, 5% for the accommodations element.

Once you confirm a booking, any Walmart Cash you earn will appear in your wallet. It will become available 30 days after you complete travel. You can apply it to future purchases or cash out in the store.

Using WalmartPlusTravel.com

To start using WalmartPlusTravel.com, head to the homepage and sign in using your Walmart+ credentials.

Let’s say you're hoping to take a family of four from Washington, D.C., to Rome in September 2023. Start by plugging in desired flights, like you would on any booking site.

Because it’s an online travel agency, the results turn up options on numerous airlines. You can see itinerary options aboard Delta Air Lines and Air France, among others.

Each itinerary option also shows how much you'd earn in Walmart Cash (again, 2% for flights). The cheapest option, $946, comes to $3,784 for a family of four and would earn $75.64 in Walmart Cash.

The site also points out times in which you might be able to save money by booking a vacation package, instead of choosing your trip elements a la carte.

Now that your flights to Rome are set, you need a place to stay when you get there.

Through the Walmart travel portal, you can put in “Rome” or even a landmark in your search terms. For example, let’s say you want to stay as close to the Pantheon as possible. Simply plug that landmark in and search.

In the search results, there's a rental property option with a loft that sleeps six people and is just steps away from the Pantheon. This property would set you back $447 per night, which means a total of $2,690 for your five-night stay (including taxes and fees). In this case, you would earn 5% Walmart Cash on the property rental — a total of $134.51 for the stay.

That means for just the stay and flights, you’d have $210.15 to spend (or cash out) at Walmart after arriving home.

Is Walmart travel good?

The best part about WalmartTravelPlus.com is the ability to earn money you can apply to your purchases at the store. That means earning cash back is simple and directly applicable to your everyday shopping. Plus, you could maximize your cash back by charging your booking to a travel credit card that earns points or a cash-back credit card that will accelerate your cash-back amount.

As always with online travel agencies, note that flight changes can be difficult, as is earning hotel points or using elite status benefits. However, it could provide a particularly handy return on investment when booking a rental property that’s not part of a major hotel loyalty program.