From Big Macs to Big Savings: How McDonald’s and Booking.com ‘Serve Up Travel’

Article by Robert Ornelas, Staff Journalist – IPA Magazine Travel

Since 2024, my partner Mr. Sidenberg—a former USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) professional and seasoned world traveler—has been encouraging me to check out a travel tip he swears by. With a passport in hand and a world tour just around the corner, his advice couldn’t have come at a better time.

Thanks to his persistence, I finally explored how the McDonald’s app partnered with Booking.com. And it turns out—you can actually redeem your McDonald’s loyalty points for hotel discounts. It’s a great little bonus, especially if you’re planning a trip or simply trying to save a bit during your next getaway.

Many travelers have already given this deal a thumbs-up. The feedback has been positive, and people love the idea of turning their everyday McDonald’s runs into something bigger—like a hotel stay that’s a little easier on the wallet.

Getting started is easy. Download the McDonald’s app, start collecting points, and when you’re ready, redeem them for a Booking.com discount. It’s a simple way to stretch your budget while exploring new places.

Looking back, I only wish we had known about this sooner—especially during those road trips when feeding a van full of hungry kids meant frequent McDonald’s stops. This travel perk is a small hack that can really go a long way.

As our bags are packed and the world awaits, I’m glad to pass along this tip to our community. Whether you’re traveling near or far, may it bring a little extra ease and enjoyment to your journey.

How to Redeem McDonald’s Travel Perks via Booking.com (Logistics)

  1. Download the McDonald’s App Available on the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android).
  2. Sign Up or Log In Create an account or log into your existing McDonald’s
    Rewards account.
  3. Earn Points Every purchase you make through the app earns points. For
    example, you might earn 100 points for a $1 spend.
  4. Go to “Deals” or “Rewards” Tap the menu, go to “Rewards & Deals”, and
    scroll to special offers.
  5. Look for the Booking.com Offer It may say something like “Redeem 15,000
    Points for $50 off a $150+ Booking.”
  6. Tap to Redeem Once redeemed, you’ll be redirected to Booking.com
    through the app or provided a promo link/code.
  7. Book Your Stay Choose your hotel and apply the discount (it will either
    automatically apply or show as a coupon code).

What About Expedia?

While McDonald’s does not currently partner with Expedia, here’s what you can do if
you prefer Expedia:

  1. Visit Expedia.com or use the Expedia app. 2. Log into your account and earn Expedia Rewards points when you book hotels, flights, and bundles. While it doesn’t link to McDonald’s, you can use Expedia coupons or bundle deals to save—especially on flights + hotels. Some credit card programs (e.g., Chase, Amex) let you redeem points for Expedia bookings.

If you’re looking for a McDonald’s-specific hotel discount, you’ll want to go through Booking.com, but it’s smart to compare prices across both platforms to get the

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