Apple Card unlocks Booking.com Genius Level 2 perks
Apple Card users have a new way to get more value out of Booking.com without spending months climbing its loyalty ranks, though the perks are notably limited.
Apple is offering cardholders immediate access to Booking.com’s Genius Level 2 after one qualifying stay or rental car booking. The offer is available through eligible reservations made with Apple Card.
Genius Level 2 gives users 10-15% discounts on select stays and rental cars, free breakfasts on select stays, and free room upgrades on select stays. Normally, users would need to make five bookings over 24 months to reach this level.
It is important to note that Genius levels are unique to Booking.com, and not to Apple Card. This has nothing to do with Apple’s similarly-named service, the Genius Bar.
In addition to discounts and perks, users who book via Booking.com with Apple Card will earn 3% Daily Cash. You can also get 2% in Booking.com travel credits when using the Apple Card booking link, though you’ll need to use Safari while checking out.
Before you buy
As far as perks programs go, Booking.com’s Genius rewards system isn’t that impressive. Not only are the perks somewhat lackluster, but they also apply only to certain rooms in certain hotels or to certain cars in certain locations.
A spot-check of common travel destinations like San Francisco, Houston, Orlando, Miami, Washington DC, and Boston found only about one in 10 hotels qualified for Genius Level 2 discounts.
It’s not hard to find a hotel that offers free breakfast without the Genius Level 2 perk level, either. That’s long been a carrot dangled in front of prospective hotel guests.
Truthfully, the biggest reason to use your Apple Card over, say, any other rewards card would be the 3% Daily Cash and the 2% Booking.com travel credits. Of course, that assumes that your other cards aren’t already offering something similar.
And this isn’t even Booking.com’s best promotion either. Right now, Booking.com is running a promotion with Affirm that gives users $200 off any purchase of $500 or more made before August 10.
Ultimately, the choice is yours. AppleInsider always recommends that you do your own research before any large purchase. This is doubly true if it’s a limited-time promotion.
