In my three years of living as a digital nomad, I’ve discovered that every price listed on online travel sites is just a suggestion and not really a price that I have to pay. Last month, I had my eye on a boutique accommodation in Munnar's scenic tea estate area, Yatra. The purchase price range listed on Yatra for the same property was reasonable for my budget; however, I had a very limited budget. Overall, I had to book the flight to get there, plus the cost of transportation around the city would add up to several thousand rupees, which meant I was going to have to get creative in saving my hard-earned money for my accommodation.

I've tried everything from "private browsing mode" to changing my booking dates to save money when I make travel arrangements via online travel booking, but even these "tricks" seem to have mixed results. Typically, they only work about 30% of the time. Recently, however, I accidentally found a technique that works consistently no matter the airline, website, or property that I am booking. This method does not involve searching to find a live coupon code for a discount that probably expired in 2022; rather, it involves changing how I make my payment when I make my travel reservation.

Why I’ve Started Using Yatra Gift Cards

I thought that gift cards, especially for birthdays, would be great for people who did not know what to buy. I had no idea! The travel-savvy gift cards are simply “discounted currency”!

I had already made my hotel reservations, but I needed to buy my plane tickets. I went to GyFTR, where I found the same voucher for 10,000 rupees on the Yatra website as for 9,200 rupees on GyFTR. Buying a Yatra Gift Card through GyFTR guaranteed me 6-8% savings before I even booked my hotel room.

When I booked my hotel in Munnar, I saved enough money to pay for my airport transfer as well. When booking a flight, those savings can really add up. If you are booking a family holiday, and you have to pay 50,000 rupees, you can save 4,000 rupees easily by just taking 3 minutes to purchase a gift card.

The "Points" Game: How My Credit Card Paid Me to Travel

This is where things get fun for the finance nerds out there. If you’re just swiping your card and using travel apps, then there is a good chance that you are not maximizing your reward points through your online purchases the way that you could be. By routing my purchase through the GyFTR ecosystem, I realized that I could potentially "double-dip" on the rewards; this means that if I used my HDFC card to buy the Yatra gift vouchers, I wouldn’t only be receiving the upfront discount but also earning accelerated reward points because I completed the transaction through the GyFTR. Depending on your credit card brand, you can earn anywhere from 2X to 5X reward points for these types of purchases.

For example, if you have an Axis Bank credit card, you can earn EDGE rewards which effectively gives you an additional 10% back on your purchase; therefore, when you combine both the upfront voucher discount and EDGE points received, the total effective discount is approximately 15-20% off the retail price of your Yatra purchase (i.e. Flight or Hotel). This is a big win for anyone looking to maximize their Yatra travel experiences.

Making it Work: Step-by-Step

A lot of people ask me if using these vouchers is a headache. Honestly, it’s probably the easiest part of the process. Here is how I did it for my recent yatra booking:

The Purchase: I logged into the platform, selected the Yatra Brand, and chose the denomination I needed. I always suggest buying slightly less than your total booking amount (e.g., buy a ₹4,000 voucher for a ₹4,200 booking) so you don't leave any balance on the card.

The Delivery: Within seconds, I got an SMS and an email with the Voucher Code and a 6-digit PIN.

The Redemption: I went to the Yatra app, searched for my hotel, and on the payment page, I clicked on ‘Gift Voucher.’ I entered the code, and the price dropped instantly.

The beauty of this is that it works across the board. Whether you are doing a flight ticket booking for a quick weekend getaway or a long-haul yatra flights reservation for an international trip, the process remains the same.

Is It Worth the Extra Step?

Really? Yes. With continuing inflation and hotels raising prices, we are looking for ways to stretch our dollars further. One way is by using a gift card, which has both monetary benefit and the advantage of having funds set aside for future travel. Furthermore, if you have reached a "milestone spend" on your credit card, obtain the benefits of that as well (when trying to meet the criteria for the waiver of annual fees).

My visit to Munnar was amazing, and the fact that I was able to spend the same amount as what I would have spent at a standard city hotel, but I was able to stay in a first-class tea retreat made it so much sweeter. If you are making any type of itinerary for your future travel, do yourself a favour and take a look at gift certificate possibilities, or a travel voucher, before you make your arrangements. Your bank accounts will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use my Yatra Gift Card for both hotels and flights?

Yes! Most Yatra Gift Cards purchased via the platform are versatile. You can use them for yatra hotel booking, domestic or international flight ticket booking, and even holiday packages.

How many vouchers can I use for a single transaction on yatra com flight?

Currently, Yatra allows you to club up to three different gift vouchers in one booking. This is perfect if you have smaller denominations sitting in your email.

Do these vouchers cover the taxes on my flight ticket booking?

Yes, the voucher acts like cash. It is applied to the total invoice value, which includes the base fare, convenience fees, and taxes.

Can I use these for a yatra train ticket?

No, the Gift Cards aren’t applicable for train bookings as of now. 

What happens if the hotel I want is cheaper than my voucher?

Gift vouchers are generally for one-time use. If your voucher is for ₹2,000 and your booking is ₹1,800, the remaining ₹200 will be forfeited. I always recommend using a voucher for an amount lower than or equal to your bill.

Is there an expiry date I should be worried about?

Yes, Yatra Gift Cards typically have a validity of 6 to 12 months from the date of issue. Make sure to check the specific expiry date in the email you receive from the platform.

Can I use these vouchers during a Yatra "Big Sale" event?

Usually, gift cards can be used alongside existing discounts on the website. However, they typically cannot be clubbed with "Bank Credit Card Promo Codes" on the final payment page.

What if I lose my voucher code?

Don't worry! You can go to the ‘Resend my Voucher’ section on the GyFTR website or check your purchase history to retrieve your codes.

Can I use these for international hotels?

Most Yatra Hotel vouchers are specifically for domestic properties. If you are planning an international stay, it's best to use a "Generic" Yatra voucher, which covers a broader range of services.

Is it safe to buy these from a third party?

By using the official brand property, you are buying directly from an authorized partner. The codes are generated instantly and are 100% secure for use on Yatra.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, traveling should involve experiences rather than worrying about your bill. Use a more strategic approach to manage your online travel reservations so you can pay for an additional activity or get a nicer room location. By obtaining upfront discounts and credit card points, you’ve created a pool of discounts that is certainly worth taking advantage of! Have fun traveling and enjoy lots of great deals on your yatra flights and fine hotels!