Which credit card earns points for Airbnb? – WP reset

Travel has become more flexible than ever, with platforms like Airbnb allowing globetrotters to enjoy unique accommodations around the world. Whether you stay in a city loft in New York City or a quiet country cottage in France, Airbnb offers experiences that hotels often can’t match. But did you know that you can actually earn valuable points and rewards when booking your Airbnb stays just by using the right credit card?

In this article, we explore which credit cards offer the most value when booking Airbnb stays. From cards that offer generous point multipliers to cards with flexible redemption options, we round up the best options to make your travels even more rewarding.

Why use a credit card for Airbnb?

Before diving into specific credit cards, it’s worth considering Why Using a credit card for Airbnb makes sense in the first place:

• Purchase protection: Many credit cards offer protection on purchases, which can be useful if something goes wrong with your reservation.
• Rewards: Earn points, miles or cash back for every dollar spent, which you can redeem for future travel, statement credits or other benefits.
• Travel insurance: Some credit cards offer trip interruption or cancellation insurance, even for Airbnb stays.

With these benefits in mind, let’s take a look at the top candidates for earning points with Airbnb.

1. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

One of the most versatile credit cards for Airbnb bookings is the Capital One Venture Rewards. Why? Because unlike many other travel rewards cards that partner with specific hotel chains or airlines, you can delete travel purchases, including Airbnb bookings, using Venture Miles.

• Rewards: Earn 2x miles per dollar on every purchase every day.
• Repayment: Use Miles to ‘clear’ Airbnb bookings from your statement at a rate of 1 cent per mile.
• Welcome bonus: Earn a significant number of miles after spending a certain amount in the first 3 months (check current promotions).

This means if you spend $500 on an Airbnb, you’ll earn 1,000 miles – enough to knock $10 off your statement. It may not seem huge, but it adds up quickly and the flexibility is second to none.

2. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire is preferred card is another excellent option. While it doesn’t offer more points specifically for Airbnb, its rewards structure and flexibility of redemption make it a strong competitor.

• Rewards:
  • 2X points on travel and dining.
  • 1X point on all other purchases.
• Bonus: Generous welcome bonus after reaching the minimum spend requirement.
• Repayment: Points are worth 25% more when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards; you can also transfer points to airline and hotel partners.

Even if Airbnb doesn’t officially count expenses in the bonus category, they are often categorized as travel expenses, allowing you to earn 2x the points on bookings. Additionally, the 25% point increase when redeeming through the Chase platform adds tremendous value.

3. Green Card from American Express

The American Express green card is less often discussed, but it is a powerhouse for frequent travelers and Airbnb users.

• Rewards: Earn 3x points on travel and transit, and 3x on dining.
• Credits: Annual Clear and LoungeBuddy credits.

Airbnb typically codes as traveling with Amex, which means your Airbnb purchases will earn you 3x Membership Rewards points. These points can be transferred to multiple Amex airline partners or used for statement credits.

4. Apple card

If you’re an iPhone user and plan to book Airbnb via Apple Pay, the Apple card maybe a useful option.

• Rewards: 3% daily cash on Apple Pay purchases at select merchants, and 2% at others with Apple Pay.
• Tracking and budgeting: Powerful tools to help manage expenses.

Although Airbnb is not a 3% category, when you pay via Apple Pay you will receive 2% back in Daily Cash. While that’s less than what travel-specific cards offer in points, the instant cashback is attractive to some users.

5. Use Airbnb gift cards strategically

A lesser known trick among savvy travelers is the use of Airbnb gift cards. If a certain credit card offers bonus points for purchases at certain retailers (such as grocery stores or office supply stores), you may be able to Buy Airbnb gift cards in those locations and still earn higher level rewards.

For example:

• Amex Gold Card: Earns 4x at supermarkets. If you purchase a $100 Airbnb gift card here, you can earn 400 Membership Rewards points.
• Chase Ink Money: Earns 5x at office supply stores. If you find Airbnb gift cards at Staples or Office Depot, you’re in luck.

Once you load these gift cards into your Airbnb account, you can use them without worrying about incompatibility.

What about co-branded Airbnb credit cards?

Oddly enough, Airbnb does not offer its own co-branded credit cardunlike large hotel chains or airlines. This means your best option for earning points for Airbnb is through general travel or flexible rewards credit cards.

Unless Airbnb launches its own loyalty or credit program, the cards above are your best bet for earning rewards while booking rentals on the platform.

Best practices to maximize Airbnb bookings

To get the most bang for your buck when booking Airbnb stays, consider the following strategies:

1. Book during promotions: Some maps and portals offer seasonal promotions that can increase your earnings on Airbnb or through travel portals.
2. Stack Rewards: Use a rewards portal like Rakuten (with Amex Membership Rewards) to earn even more points for clicking through before you book.
3. Check for Amex offers or Chase offers: Sometimes you come across deals like “Spend $150 at Airbnb and get $30 back.”
4. Load gift cards: Use the gift card strategy if you want to use cards with higher multipliers in non-travel categories.

Conclusion

Airbnb remains a favorite accommodation option for millions of travelers around the world. While you won’t find an Airbnb-branded credit card just yet, savvy consumers can still maximize their Airbnb spending with the smartest credit cards around.

Top picks? The Capital One Venture Rewards card is great for flexibility, while the Chase Sapphire is preferred offers excellent redemption value and the Green card from Amex gives extra points income on travel expenses, including Airbnb.

If you’re already planning a trip, why not make your money work for you? With the right credit card in your wallet, every stay can bring you closer to your next big adventure.