Luis Alvarez / DigitalVision / Getty Images
There are plenty of reasons why people love booking vacation homes on sites like Airbnb and Vrbo, including both charm and affordability. Fortunately, a number of travel credit cards offer rewards on vacation rentals beyond just hotel chains.
Considering that 1 in 4 Americans (27 percent) said they would go into debt to travel this year in Bankrate’s 2024 Discretionary Spending Survey, earning and saving extra cash on lodging for your next trip wouldn’t hurt. While a co-branded Airbnb or Vrbo rewards credit card is still only a pipe dream, there are general rewards credit cards that can help you earn or use points, miles or cash back when booking a vacation rental.
Check out our picks for Airbnb and Vrbo rewards cards.
Top cards for earning rewards on Airbnb and Vrbo stays
Best for credits and bonuses
Cardholder rating
4.5
Bankrate score
5.0
Bankrate review
Bankrate review
Apply now
on Capital One‘s secure site
See Rates & Fees
19.99% – 29.24% (Variable)
Best for flat-rate rewards
Cardholder rating
4.1
Bankrate score
4.9
Bankrate review
Bankrate review
Apply now
on Capital One‘s secure site
See Rates & Fees
Earn 75,000 miles + $250 Capital One Travel credit
19.99% – 29.24% (Variable)
Best for flexibility
Cardholder rating
4.2
Bankrate score
4.9
Bankrate review
Bankrate review
Apply now
on Chase‘s secure site
20.49% – 27.49% Variable
Best for luxury travel perks
Cardholder rating
4.4
Bankrate score
5.0
Bankrate review
Bankrate review
Apply now
on Chase‘s secure site
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
18.24% – 28.24% (Variable)
Remove a card to add another to compare
Remove a card to add another to compare
Comparing the best credit cards for earning Airbnb and Vrbo rewards
Credit cards for Airbnb and Vrbo rewards typically require a good-to-excellent credit score. If you have bad or fair credit, consider our top picks for travel cards for bad credit.
How to choose the best cards for Airbnb and Vrbo rewards
-
Compare annual fees. Luxury travel cards with high annual fees tend to offer high earning rates when booking through the card issuer portal, among other perks. But you usually can’t book Airbnb or Vrbo stays through issuer portals, which means you’ll earn a lower rate on those purchases. Unless you can maximize what a high annual fee gets you, a lower annual fee card might make more sense for these vacation rental purchases.
-
Consider extra perks. If you like stopping by airport lounges or flying through security with TSA PreCheck or Global Entry, then an upper- or mid-tier travel card makes sense for you. But if you prefer a no-frills, no-annual-fee card, consider a flat-rate cash back rewards card to earn on your vacation rentals.
-
Look at rewards redemption flexibility. The travel rewards cards above offer more flexibility for redeeming rewards than a co-branded credit card might. And Airbnb and Vrbo don’t have co-branded cards — yet. On the other hand, the Citi Double Cash Card has the most straightforward redemption options, although cash back is usually worth less than points or miles.
-
Maximize welcome offers. If a card lets you earn a sizable welcome bonus, you could turn around and use it as a statement credit to cover a recent Airbnb or Vrbo purchase. After all, these bonuses might be worth between $200 and $750, which could cover multiple nights at a vacation rental for your next trip. Again, just keep in mind that cash value isn’t worth as much as points or miles.
How to earn points, miles and cash on Airbnb and Vrbo stays without a rewards card
You might be able to earn rewards on Airbnb and Vrbo purchases through another loyalty program without having to use a rewards card to book your stay.
Book an Airbnb with your airline membership
Despite rumors of an Airbnb loyalty program, there isn’t one yet. But you can earn airline miles through booking with Airbnb. For example, Delta offers SkyMiles members 1 mile per $1 spent with Airbnb when booking through the Delta Airbnb portal. And the British Airways Airbnb portal lets you earn 2 Avios per $1 spent with Airbnb.
Book a Vrbo with its loyalty program
One Key is a loyalty program among Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. The program is free to join, and members can earn 2 percent in OneKeyCash on eligible Vrbo purchases. That cash can be redeemed at a 1:1 value for your next vacation rental.
What’s next?
The bottom line
Vacation rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo can be more convenient for large groups or travelers who want it to feel like home. Even though these brands don’t earn exclusive rewards with a credit card yet, you can still get 2X to 3X points, miles or percent cash back on your bookings with the right travel or cash back card.
Your next vacation or staycation awaits.
Frequently asked questions
Read the full article here
