Shopping Portal Rakuten is out with its Big Give Week offers. Already today, we are seeing elevated offers from many popular travel brands, with numerous brands elevated at 15% to 20% cash back. Alternatively, those Bilt elite members who choose to earn Bilt points will earn 15 to 20 Bilt points per dollar spent, or those who choose to earn American Express Membership Rewards points will earn 15 to 20 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent. Note that it isn’t only travel brands that are boosted today, with many popular stores available at elevated rates as well (Saks at 15X may be of particular interest to some readers).
The Deal
- Shopping portal Rakuten is running its Big Give Week, with elevated rates available each day between May 4th and May 11th. Many popular travel brands are included in today’s boosts, available at 15% to 20% cash back or 15 to 20 Bilt points per dollar for those earning Bilt points or 15 to 20 American Express Membership Rewards points for those earning Membership Rewards points.
- Direct link to this deal
Key Terms
- Elevated rates will be available each day from May 4th to May 11th, though rates can change daily. Some of the elevated rates are likely available today only.
If you’re new to Rakuten
Feel free to use one of our referral links, with our thanks.- Tim’s Referral Link
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Quick Thoughts
This could obviously represent an excellent deal for some of the included travel brands. Earning 15 or 20 points per dollar spent could be a great return, particularly if stacked with card-linked offers or discounts that may be available to you when booking directly through the included travel providers. After clicking through from Rakuten, you’re making a direct booking, which should qualify for whatever loyalty program rewards you may earn from the particular travel provider.
Do watch out for some of the Expedia group offerings, which often have misleading headline rates. For instance, Hotels.com says you can earn up to 15% back, but that’s only available in a couple of cities. Similarly, Vrbo says up to 15% back, but that rate is only available in three markets. As always, the devil is in the details, so watch out for any rates that say “up to” and make sure you familiarize yourself with the offering details.
Keep in mind that rates can change daily, so if you’re interested in making a booking under one of these offers, I would recommend doing so sooner rather than later. By the same token, keep your eye out for other brands that will be boosted throughout the week. We’re also seeing a number of popular stores boosted at 15X to 20X. If you’re still sitting on an Amex Platinum card Saks Fifth Avenue rebate, today would be a great day to use it since Saks is available at 15x. I haven’t even tried to use my Saks credits (note that the Saks benefit ends 6/30/26), but maybe today will be the day.
Note that while the transfer ratio to Bilt will be one-to-one through the May 15th payout, only those with Bilt Elite status will maintain the one-to-one transfer ratio for future payouts.
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I always use Tim’s links
Is lululemon missing from Rakuten for anyone else? I just mean at all, not even boosted. Maybe it’s me
Sometimes stores come and go from shopping portals. I don’t see Lululemon in there right now.
For which travel brands can I buy gift cards and earn the Rakuten points?
None of them, to my knowledge. It’s pretty rare that clicking through from Rakuten will track on a gift card purchase in general (apart from Giftcards.com) and I’m not aware of many of the included travel brands that even sell gift cards. If there is one paying out Rakuten points on gift card purchases, I’m not aware of what it is.