Stop Wasting Your Points

By booking through credit card travel portals

Author

Wuhoo Group
June 04, 2025

We need to talk about credit card travel portals.

You’ve probably seen the option: book your next trip directly through your bank’s portal, redeem points instantly, maybe even get a little rebate.

It looks convenient. Feels like a win.

But most of the time? It’s a trap.

Low redemption value, fewer perks, and messy third-party policies; the portals are built for the banks to recoup their points easily, not for you to win.

Yes, there are exceptions.
And yes, I’ve used them myself when the circumstances called for it (more on that in the full post). But if your goal is to stretch your points and get the most value, this is not the best route.

Travel Portals are just a trojan horse for low value

I break down:

  • Why banks push travel portals so hard

  • The hidden risks of booking through them

  • When it might actually make sense

  • And a real example of when I used one anyway

Read the full post here.

Weekly Credit Card Tip #19

Travel portal redemptions are always based off the cash price on the portal so you’re never getting a better/worse deal than what the portal offers. Most of the time, that’s your floor in terms of value you want to get from points.

What’s In our Wallets (Newsletter Exclusive)

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Matthew: World of Hyatt Business

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About WuhooPoints

WuhooPoints focuses on the credit card consultation side of Wuhoo Group. We help you unlock the power of your credits cards for free luxury travel.