The Ultimate Guide to Genius

Booking.com is one of the world’s leading third-party hotel booking platforms. Its loyalty program, Genius, offers generous discounts and member-exclusive benefits at participating properties across the globe.

We delve into the details of Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program and why it’s worth considering.

How does the Booking.com Genius program work?

Members of Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program can book accommodation at discounted prices at select properties around the world. The amount of discount you receive depends on your member level.

There are three levels of the Genius rewards program:

Genius Level 1

At the program’s entry-level tier, you can access a 10% discount at eligible hotels and properties.

Genius Level 2

To unlock Level 2, you must complete five stays across a two-year period. You’ll earn a discount of up to 15%, plus complimentary breakfast and free room upgrades on select stays.

Genius Level 3

To reach the highest level of the Genius program, you must complete 15 stays within two years. This level awards you a discount of up to 20% and priority customer support. On select stays, you’ll receive a free room upgrade and free breakfast.

Another great benefit of the Genius rewards program is that all members, regardless of level, receive a 10% discount on rental cars booked via Booking.com.

To progress to the next level, you’ll need to complete a set number of stays rather than nights. This means that if a single booking consists of four nights, this counts as one stay. But given that you need a mere five stays to reach Level 2, those short overnight getaways can add up quickly. And there’s no reason that you can’t explore a few different hotels over the duration of your holiday.

Unlike typical hotel loyalty programs, there’s no need to maintain your status with the Booking.com Genius program. Once you’ve unlocked a level, you’ll enjoy the benefits for life.

Note that the discounts and benefits only apply to participating properties listed on Booking.com, and the discounts are applied before taxes and charges. Participating properties are indicated by a blue Genius logo next to the name of the property.

And don’t forget that your stays accumulate over a period of two years. The ability to mix and match brands and price points over a longer timeframe is certainly a highlight of Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program.

How do I join the Booking.com Genius loyalty program?

Signing up for the Genius program is free. You’ll need to create an account on Booking.com to earn rewards instantly. Plus, you can track and manage your bookings from your account’s dashboard.

How do I redeem Booking.com Genius discounts?

The discount applicable to your level is automatically applied when you book a stay at a participating property. There’s no need to enter a code or do anything special to obtain your discount. When searching, keep an eye out for the blue Genius logo next to the property’s name – this lets you know that you’ll receive benefits as a Genius member. You’ll also see the discount percentage highlighted, and you can hover over the total price to see your savings.

How do I maximise my Booking.com Genius rewards?

Here are a few tips and tricks to get the most out of your Booking.com reservation.

1. Look for the blue Genius logo

This denotes that the property is part of the Genius program, and you’ll receive the benefits applicable to your level. You can also filter your searches by properties participating in the program by selecting ‘Genius Discount’.

Booking.com states that properties must be well-reviewed to participate in its loyalty program, so you can make your booking with confidence.

2. Book accommodation using Booking.com for other people’s travel

If you’re normally the designated ‘travel planner’ at work or among your personal network, you can amass plenty of stays just by booking travel for others. Simply log into your Booking.com account to make a reservation, ensuring you enter the details of the primary traveller. The stays will be credited to your account.

3. Use Booking.com to book apartments and hostels

Airbnb is the go-to platform for sourcing apartments and unique accommodation, and you can even earn Qantas points on Airbnb bookings.

But if you’re chasing the perks of Genius membership, Booking.com has plenty of spacious apartments, quirky homes, and even budget-friendly hostels that can inch you closer to the next level.

4. Pay with a points-earning credit card

Pay with a credit card that earns frequent flyer points to get more out of your booking. Big-ticket purchases, like hotel stays, can help you amass points towards your next getaway.

5. Skip the foreign transaction fees

Many properties on Booking.com require payment in the local currency. The extra bank fees could potentially offset your membership-level savings, especially on more affordable properties. You can bypass this and save yourself several dollars by booking with a card with no foreign transaction fees.

Can I use promo codes on Booking.com and still earn rewards?

It’s entirely possible to combine certain discounts on Booking.com. This means your Genius discount can stack on top of property-specific discounts and offers, so you’ll save even more while collecting stays.

For example, this property offers a whopping 32% discount – 10% from Genius membership and the remainder from an ‘Early Booker Deal’.

The Booking.com mobile app also offers a ‘mobile discount’ on certain properties, so you can stay for even less simply by booking on a mobile device.

What are the downsides of Booking.com Genius rewards?

We’ve highlighted the two-year timeframe to amass stays to progress to the next level. However, for infrequent travellers, collecting stays rather than nights can make it challenging to move up. Stays older than two years do expire and won’t be credited towards your progress. But given that the benefits are lifelong, it may be worth squeezing in a one-night stay at a wallet-friendly property (make sure it’s got the blue logo!) to secure the perks for future stays.

You can’t double-dip on rewards if you’re already a member of a hotel loyalty program, such as Accor Live Limitless or Marriott Bonvoy. Unless you book directly with the hotel, you won’t be entitled to the status benefits of its loyalty program by booking through a third-party site like Booking.com.

High-tier members of hotel loyalty programs often already receive complimentary breakfast and room upgrades – the key benefits of the Genius rewards program – among other perks. In such a scenario, retaining status with your preferred hotel chain may be more beneficial by booking directly.

Summing up

Booking.com’s Genius loyalty program is a great alternative to chasing status with a particular hotel loyalty program, especially if you’re an infrequent traveller and enjoy the variety of different brands.

And given that the perks are lifelong, it’s worth working towards the next level to lock in discounts for future travel.

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