Planning a trip with multiple stops can feel overwhelming—but it doesn’t have to wreck your budget. Whether you’re hopping between European cities, touring national parks, or adding a bonus destination on a business trip, multi-city travel is entirely doable with the right strategy.

From smart flight tools to cashback tactics, here’s how to keep your itinerary flexible and your spending in check.

Start with a multi-city flight search engine

Traditional round-trip searches won’t cut it when you’re visiting more than two destinations. Use flight tools that specialize in complex itineraries, like Google Flights, Skyscanner, or Kayak’s multi-city search. These platforms allow you to enter multiple legs and compare various routes, including open-jaw (flying into one city and out of another) options.

Look for positioning flights (short hops between major cities) that can be booked as part of the same ticket or separately if it saves money.

Break up your bookings for better control

Sometimes booking flights and hotels separately can reduce costs and provide more control over timing. This approach also lets you take advantage of better prices in nearby cities that may not appear in a standard search.

To reduce booking friction and boost value, consider using gift cards purchased through Fluz. For instance, you can earn cashback with a Hotels.com gift card when booking stays across different countries or cities. You can also get rewards with a Delta Airlines gift card for longer-haul legs that you book directly through the airline.

Use low-cost carriers for short legs

In Europe, Asia, and parts of South America, budget airlines like Ryanair, EasyJet, and AirAsia offer extremely cheap one-way fares. These are ideal for short intra-region jumps, but pay close attention to baggage rules, seat assignments, and change policies.

Just be sure your travel insurance or backup plan covers missed connections when flying separate itineraries.

Consider regional trains or buses between cities

In areas like Europe or Southeast Asia, trains can be more cost-effective than flying—especially when booked in advance. Check platforms like Eurail or Rome2Rio to compare routes and travel times between destinations.

Buses from companies like FlixBus or Megabus also offer ultra-low fares and flexible booking for domestic or cross-border travel.

Book lodging that allows for flexibility

Multi-city trips come with greater potential for delays or rerouting. When booking hotels, choose options with free cancellation or flexible check-in policies. If you’re not loyal to one hotel brand, use sites like Hotels.com, where you can earn nights toward free stays—especially when paired with cashback through Fluz.

Stack rewards and cashback on every leg

Because multi-city trips involve several bookings, you have more opportunities to earn. Pair travel credit cards with cashback platforms to maximize value.

For example:

• Use a travel card to buy a gift card on Fluz
  
• Earn cashback with a Delta Airlines gift card
• Redeem that card while still earning SkyMiles
  
• Book hotels through Hotels.com and stack Fluz cashback with loyalty night credits
  

This strategy allows you to double- or even triple-dip rewards for each segment of your trip.

Final thoughts

Multi-city trips may be more complex to book, but they open the door to richer travel experiences—and with smart planning, they don’t have to cost more. Use flight search engines tailored for multi-stop itineraries, consider alternative ground transportation, and stack gift card rewards using Fluz to stretch your travel budget without cutting back on adventure.