Travala is a crypto-native travel booking site where Canadians can pay for hotels, flights, activities and car rentals with Bitcoin, stablecoins, 90-plus other cryptocurrencies or a regular card. Its homepage advertises more than 2,200,000 hotels and says you can pay with 100-plus options. Its own AVA token powers a loyalty programme with up to 5% discounts, up to 10% givebacks and an extra discount of up to 3% when you pay in AVA.
It is legit as a booking site, and I have used it myself. The catch is that the best perks depend on holding AVA, which is a volatile token. Paying with crypto is also a taxable disposal in Canada, so you should plan for that.
- Best for: travellers who already hold crypto and want to spend it
- Payment: card, Bitcoin including Lightning, stablecoins and many more
- Watch out for: AVA price risk and tax records on every booking
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| What It Is | Crypto-friendly booking platform for stays, flights, activities and car rentals, launched in 2017 |
| Inventory | "2,200,000+ hotels worldwide" on the homepage. Its AVA page cites 3,000,000-plus travel products in more than 230 countries |
| Payment | "100+ payment options": credit and debit cards plus leading cryptocurrencies. The AVA page says 90-plus other cryptocurrencies besides AVA |
| Loyalty Token | AVA. Base reward of a 2% giveback in AVA on accommodation bookings |
| Smart Program | Up to 5% discounts, up to 10% givebacks, an extra discount of up to 3% when paying in AVA, and extras at the top tier |
| Fiat Display | Prices can be shown in fiat or crypto |
| Company | Presents itself as UK-based |
What Is Travala And Is It Legit?
Travala is one of the most popular platforms for spending cryptocurrency, offering flights, hotels and travel packages worldwide. As someone who has been involved in the crypto space since 2016, I have seen first-hand how convenient it is to use crypto for real-world purchases. When you book through Travala with crypto, you can get discounts and earn rewards, a good way to use your crypto while getting something back. Here is my detailed Travala review.
Since launching in 2017, Travala has grown into a top choice for travel bookings, with a large inventory of hotels, villas, apartments and resorts across the globe. Today its homepage advertises more than 2.2 million hotels.
Travala stands out as a crypto-friendly platform, with its own cryptocurrency, AVA, at the core. The AVA token is used for payments, for earning and redeeming rewards and, for some people, as a store of value.
Travala accepts many cryptocurrencies for bookings, including Bitcoin (also through the Lightning Network), Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin, stablecoins and many more. Paying with AVA earns extra perks, with a discount at checkout plus rewards back in AVA. The rewards can go toward future Travala bookings.
AVA is the token you would hold to unlock the best perks, so if you plan to use Travala often, you would need to buy it on an exchange and keep it in a wallet you control. I will not point you to any particular exchange for AVA here: many of the exchanges Travala lists for it are not available to Canadians. Check the best crypto exchanges for Canadians for registered options, and confirm AVA is listed before you assume it is. For storage, a hardware wallet, SafePal, Trust Wallet or MetaMask all work.
Is Travala Compliant With Canadian Rules?
Since Travala runs on cryptocurrency, it is fair to ask how it fits with Canada's financial rules. Travala presents itself as a UK-based company and follows UK standards. It is a travel seller, not a trading platform, so it is not on the CSA's list of crypto trading platforms and does not need to be.
What gives me confidence in Travala is the experience of its founders, who have backgrounds in fintech, blockchain and business, and the fact that it sells ordinary hotel inventory you can verify by booking a refundable room first. I would not describe the connections I used to cite, to exchanges or booking giants, as a security feature, and I no longer lean on them.
Two Canadian points matter more. First, paying for a hotel with crypto is generally treated by the CRA as disposing of that crypto, so keep a record of the date, the amount and what the coin cost you. Second, the bookings are in travel suppliers' hands, so read the cancellation terms before you pay, because crypto payments are hard to reverse.
What Payment Methods Does Travala Accept?
When it comes to paying for your trip, you can choose a regular credit or debit card, or one of the crypto options.
In my experience, Travala makes paying with crypto straightforward. Some options let you log in to a wallet or exchange account and confirm the payment there. If you hold AVA in your Travala wallet, the "My Wallet" option is a quick way to pay. For other cryptocurrencies, or if you use a wallet like MetaMask, selecting "Crypto" lets you pay with whatever you have.
When paying, choose your cryptocurrency and you receive a wallet address to send the funds to. I usually find it easier to scan the QR code with my phone.
Remember to include the memo and select the correct network. Skipping this step is how funds get lost. It is a simple process, but attention to those details makes all the difference.
After you send the payment, wait for the booking confirmation. Depending on the cryptocurrency, that can be instant or take a few minutes. If you pay with Bitcoin, I recommend the Lightning Network, a layer 2 solution that speeds up payments so they go through in seconds. You need a compatible wallet, but the speed is worth it.
Is Travala Easy To Use?
Travala is very user-friendly, and if you have ever used a mainstream booking site you will feel at home. The homepage showcases travel destinations, or you can use the search bar to find a place quickly. It makes planning a trip straightforward.
Booking starts with creating an account, which is as easy as on any other site: name, email address and password. Once logged in, you can connect a MetaMask wallet, but you do not have to.
From there, search for a destination and browse the hotels and stays. I also like that you can view prices in fiat or in cryptocurrency, which suits any user.
What Features Does Travala Have?
Travala packs more into the platform than a booking engine. Along with worldwide stays, flights, activities and car rentals, you can earn rewards and discounts.
The standout feature is the AVA Smart Program, which offers tiered benefits for holding and locking AVA. Travala's own page now lists up to 5% discounts on listed travel prices, up to 10% back in AVA, Bitcoin or travel credits after you complete a trip, and an extra discount of up to 3% when you pay in full with AVA. The AVA page also lists higher-tier perks: an annual AVA bonus, airdrops, travel giveaways and airport lounge passes for Diamond members.
My older review gave exact lock amounts for each tier, such as 50 AVA for the entry tier and 2,500 AVA for platinum. Travala has since reworked the programme and its current pages do not show those figures, so I am not repeating them. Check the Smart Program page for the amount you would need to lock and for how long.
Travala also sells travel credits, which you can buy with fiat or crypto and use on later bookings. Travala's AVA page also says AVA is bought back on the market each month to match the rewards it hands out through the Smart Program.
Pros
- Very large hotel inventory and flights, activities and car rentals in one place
- Pay with Bitcoin, stablecoins, 90-plus other coins or a card
- Rewards and discounts through AVA
- Prices viewable in fiat or crypto
- Bitcoin payments over Lightning settle quickly
Cons
- The best perks depend on holding AVA, a volatile token
- Crypto payments are hard to reverse, so read cancellation terms
- Every booking paid in crypto is a taxable event for Canadians
- The memo and network must be exact, or funds can be lost
What Changed For Travala In October 2026?
- : Travala's homepage advertises 2,200,000-plus hotels and 100-plus payment options
- : its AVA Smart Program page lists up to 5% discounts, up to 10% givebacks and an extra 3% discount for paying in AVA
- : Travala's blog and site list zero-fee Bitcoin and Ethereum bookings, a permanent AVA strategic reserve with larger monthly buybacks, and car rentals joining the AVA givebacks
Is Travala Worth Using To Spend Crypto?
Travala is a fantastic choice for booking trips with cryptocurrency. I have found the payment process straightforward, and the rewards and discounts make it good value. I wish the discounts applied to payments in other cryptocurrencies as well, but it is understandable that Travala builds its perks around its own token, AVA.
If you are open to buying and holding AVA, the discounts and rewards can add up, especially if you travel often. Just remember that you carry the price risk on AVA while you hold it, and that you can sell it on an exchange that lists it.
With crypto becoming more common for online purchases, I would recommend Travala as a top platform for booking your next trip with it. Check out the available options today and see for yourself. If you do not yet hold crypto, start with my best crypto exchanges for Canadians.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Travala Legit?
Travala is a real, established travel booking platform that has operated since 2017, and I have booked through it. It is a travel seller, not a crypto trading platform. Read cancellation terms before you pay, because crypto payments are hard to reverse.
What Can I Pay With On Travala?
Travala advertises 100-plus payment options, including credit and debit cards, Bitcoin (also over Lightning), stablecoins and 90-plus other cryptocurrencies besides AVA.
What Is AVA On Travala?
AVA is Travala's loyalty token. Paying with AVA earns an extra discount of up to 3%, and the AVA Smart Program lists up to 5% discounts and up to 10% givebacks.
How Many Hotels Does Travala Have?
Its homepage advertises more than 2,200,000 hotels worldwide, and its AVA page cites more than 3,000,000 travel products in over 230 countries.
Do I Owe Tax When I Pay For Travel With Crypto In Canada?
Generally yes. The CRA treats crypto as a commodity, and spending it is usually a disposal that can create a gain or loss. Keep the date, amount and cost of each coin you spend.
Do I Have To Buy AVA To Use Travala?
No. You can pay with a card or other cryptocurrencies. You only need AVA for the AVA payment discount and the Smart Program perks.