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In most cases, Airbnb stays are more affordable than hotels. Still, it certainly helps to have accompanying discounts to reduce your stayâs overall cost.
Booking plane rides and hotel accommodations through your cardâs travel portal can earn you some points (including miles). Later, you can utilize these air miles and hotel points to gain special perks, like gift cards or discounted stays.
Because Airbnb isnât an actual hotel, your travel portalâs point-gain system doesnât directly apply to it. This means you canât book an Airbnb through your cardâs travel portal. Hence, you wonât get any points when you pay for an Airbnb stay.
However, you can still find ways to pay for your Airbnb stay using previous points earned through travel portal spending.
Again, since Airbnb doesnât count as hotel accommodation, you canât use your points to secure a discounted stay. This distinction doesnât mean you canât use your points towards an Airbnb stayâit just complicates the process.
One way to get around this barrier is to look into alternative platforms that also offer the exact property thatâs listed on Airbnb. As long as this alternate platform is listed in your cardâs travel portal, you can easily use points to pay for your stay.
Another great way to pay for an Airbnb with points is by âerasingâ your Airbnb-related purchase through a statement credit offer. This will allow you to erase the purchase and pass it off as a statement credit, which can be paid off in points. Just be sure to follow things up through online banking after the purchase, or else your point payments might not apply.
To use this option, you will have to make sure your credit card supports statement credits. The Chase Sapphire Reserve card, for example, has a handy âPay Yourself Backâ option thatâs easy to use. Through the cardâs program, you can purchase Airbnb gift cards using points.
Letâs take a deeper look into the Chase Sapphire Reserve travel credit card option. The Chase Sapphire Reserve is one of the best cards to use for purchasing Airbnb gift cards.
Each point will grant you 1.5 cents off of an Airbnb gift card purchase with this credit card. For example, youâll need 13,332 points for a $200 Airbnb gift card. Thatâs because $200 amounts to 20,000 cents. So, if each point grants you 1.5 cents, youâll only need 13,332 points for 20,000 cents.
Another popular option is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This card will allow you to redeem 1.25 cents for every point spent. The discount is less than what the Reserve card would get you, but it is still an excellent option for Airbnb discounts.
Chase Ultimate Rewards is another popular option. This card will grant you 1 cent per point.
Remember that points only work at a select range of gift card stores. Target is one of the more common retailers that accepts points, but you can always conduct a quick Google search for convenient alternatives.
Grocery stores are a great option because they are listed as official âPay Yourself Backâ partners. Most grocery shops sell Airbnb gift cards. So, if you find a suitable grocery store nearby, it will be easy to buy an Airbnb gift card with your credit card points.
While your cardâs travel portal doesnât offer discounts on Airbnb stays, some cards come with pre-loaded travel credits that can be spent on Airbnb accommodation.
Again, the Chase Sapphire Reserve grants the best privileges here. On your annual account opening anniversary, youâll be granted a travel credit worth $300. You can spend this amount on various travel costs. Luckily, this includes Airbnb stays across the world.
So, you definitely can redeem points for Airbnb stays. However, this doesnât mean you necessarily should. In most cases, using points for an Airbnb stay is not the most practical use of your points.
Many travelers prefer to spend their points to get discounts on air travel. Airbnb rates can be negotiated, but the cost of plane tickets cannot.
Try to get a discount on your Airbnb without having to spend points. Then, you can use the travel credit not applied to Airbnb on airfare and related services.
But, if youâd like to trade in points for an Airbnb stay, go for the gift card option. Or, if youâd rather pay in cash for your stay, consider investing in a card that provides benefits on Airbnb purchases. The American Express Green Card is a popular option. Of course, the Chase Sapphire Reserve is, too.
Having the right card can earn you points and allow you to use points for your Airbnb stays. However, most cards donât include Airbnb in their travel portal. So, youâll need to purchase Airbnb gift cards with points instead. Depending on your credit card and travel habits, this extra effort may be worth it and make your travels more affordable.
