Over the last several years Bitcoin online currency has become substantial more popular and now traveling on Bitcoin and paying for flights, hotels, and more is a reality as some online retailers are starting to accept payment via Bitcoin.
Currently there are only a few major online retailers who I know of that accept Bitcoin, but the number is likely to grow as more people start investing in Bitcoin and the currency becomes more commonly used. Furthermore, with the launch of bitpay, more major companies including Microsoft are selecting Bitpay to process Bitcoin payments. Thus as the technology catches on, more retailers are likely to use Bitpay and accept Bitcoin in the future.
Flights & Hotels
Currently there is only one major online travel agency that accept Bitcoin as payment, however if you purchase gift cards via Gyft, the number increases.
CheapAir: CheapAir allows customers to use Bitcoin to book flights and hotels. For flights, the website also accepts other online currencies including dogecoin and litecoin. CheapAir also guarantees the cost of the flight will not drop after purchasing it, and if it does decrease in price at any time after purchase CheapAir will send you $100 travel credit via their Price Drop Payback program.
ABitSky.com: online booking website that accepts Bitcoin for flights. I have never used this site and cannot personally recommend it
BTCTrip.com: Another online booking website that accepts Bitcoin for flights and hotels. Like ABitSky, I have never used this website so again I cannot confirm its legitimacy
Travel With Gift Card Purchased on Gyft
Gyft is an online retailer that sells gift cards and then rewards consumers for frequently using their website. 100 Gyft points equals $1 towards a future Gyft card. The website has hundreds of partners and rewards consumers based on their payment type. New Gyft users get $5 off their first purchase of $15 or more.
Currently Gyft points are awards by the currency used to make the purchase:
Not only can you use Bitcoin on Gyft, but themore you use Gyft, the more you can save!
The current travel partners sell gift cards on Gyft and can be purchased with Bitcoins:
American Airlines: AA does not accept Bitcoin directly, however AA gift cards can be purchased using Bitcoin via Gyft in denominations of $100, $250, or $500.
Hyatt: Like AA, Hyatt does not accept Bitcoins, but Gyft sells Hyatt gift cards which can be used to pay for hotel stays at Hyatts worldwide. Hyatt gift cards are sold in Denominations of $25, $50, $100, $200, $300, $400, & $500.
BedandBreakfast.com: The largest bed and breakfast directory online currently sells gift cards on Gyft for $25, $50, $100 or $250
Global Hotel Card: The Global Hotel Card has it’s own website that is powered by Orbitz. These gift cards can be purchased on Gyft with Bitcoins and can be used to book hotels, resorts, boutique hotels, bed and breakfast inns. You can choose from over 70,000 options including some major brands in all 50 states in the United States and worldwide. These gift cards are for sell via Gyft in denominations of $25, $50, $100, $250, & $500
Bitcoin is definatly more popular today and is likely to becoming increasingly more popular since the recent introduction of Bitpay. If you know of a travel website that accepts Bitcoin, please share it with my readers. After all, maybe one day I’ll buy Bitcoin currency and will need to find a way to travel on it!
