Key Points

• You can't transfer points directly to Airbnb, but you can convert them to cash equivalents or book through travel portals.
• Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One miles offer the most flexible options for Airbnb bookings.
• Statement credits from cash back cards provide the simplest method to offset Airbnb costs.

Introduction

You've built up a solid stash of credit card points, and now you're eyeing that perfect Airbnb for your next trip. Here's the frustrating part: unlike hotels, Airbnb doesn't partner with any credit card rewards programs. You can't transfer Chase points to Airbnb. You can't book through their site with Marriott points. So how do you actually use your hard-earned rewards for that beachfront rental or mountain cabin?

The good news? There are three proven methods to pay for Airbnb with credit card points. Each approach works differently depending on which cards you hold and how you've been earning rewards. Let me walk you through exactly how to turn your points into Airbnb stays.

Why Airbnb Doesn't Accept Points Directly

Before we dive into the solutions, it helps to understand why this is complicated in the first place. Airbnb operates as a marketplace connecting property owners with travelers. Unlike hotel chains that run their own loyalty programs, Airbnb has no incentive to integrate with credit card reward systems. They're not trying to build long-term guest loyalty through points—they're focused on matching you with the perfect property.

This means you need to get creative. The three methods below convert your points into something Airbnb will accept: cold hard cash (or its equivalent).

Method 1: Book Through Travel Portals

This is the most straightforward option if you hold the right cards. Several credit card travel portals now include Airbnb as a bookable option, letting you redeem points directly for stays.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Portal

The Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve give you access to the Chase travel portal, where Airbnb listings appear alongside flights and hotels. Here's how it works:

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred, your points are worth 1.25 cents each when booking through the portal. That $400 Airbnb? It'll cost you 32,000 points. The Chase Sapphire Reserve bumps that value to 1.5 cents per point, dropping the same booking to about 26,667 points.

The process is simple. Log into your Chase account, navigate to the travel portal, search for your destination and dates, and filter for Airbnb properties. You'll see the point cost right alongside the cash price. Book directly through the portal, and Chase handles the payment to Airbnb.

Capital One Travel Portal

Capital One offers similar functionality through their travel portal. If you hold the Capital One Venture X, you'll get some of the best redemption rates available for Airbnb bookings.

The Venture X provides 1 cent per mile baseline value, but the card offers premium redemption options that can boost this. You can also combine your miles with the card's annual travel credit to offset costs even further. A $500 Airbnb stay could cost you just 50,000 miles, or potentially less if you're strategic about using your credits.

Citi Travel Portal

The Citi Strata Premier gives you access to Citi's travel portal, where ThankYou Points can be redeemed at 1 cent per point for Airbnb bookings. While this isn't the highest redemption value you can get from ThankYou Points, it's a solid option when you specifically want an Airbnb property.

Portal Method Pros and Cons

What works well: This method is incredibly simple. You search, you book, you're done. The redemption value is transparent—you know exactly what you're paying. You also earn the base points or cash back from whatever card you use to complete the transaction (though you won't earn bonus category rewards on a points booking).

The limitations: You're locked into the portal's redemption rate, which may not be the absolute best use of your points. Transfer partners often offer better value per point. Also, some travel portals have limited Airbnb inventory compared to booking directly through Airbnb's site.

Method 2: Convert Points to Statement Credits

If your credit card lets you convert rewards to statement credits, you can essentially pay for Airbnb with points—just with an extra step involved.

How Statement Credits Work

Here's the process: Book your Airbnb directly through their website or app using your credit card as usual. The charge appears on your statement. Then, log into your credit card account and redeem points or cash back as a statement credit to offset that specific charge (or reduce your overall balance).

Cards like the Citi Double Cash and Chase Freedom Unlimited make this dead simple. The Citi Double Cash earns 2% cash back on everything, which you can redeem as a statement credit at any time. If you spent $600 on an Airbnb, you could redeem $600 worth of cash back (from 60,000 points at 1 cent each) to wipe out that charge.

Capital One Purchase Eraser

Capital One cards offer a "purchase eraser" feature that works similarly but with more flexibility. With cards like the Capital One Venture, you can redeem miles to erase any travel purchase from your statement, including Airbnb stays.

The redemption rate is typically 1 cent per mile for travel purchases. That same $600 Airbnb requires 60,000 miles to erase. You book through Airbnb normally, then use your miles to remove the charge from your statement within a certain timeframe.

Chase Ultimate Rewards Points as Cash

Even if you hold premium Chase cards like the Sapphire Preferred, you can redeem Ultimate Rewards points for cash at 1 cent per point. While this isn't the best value for your points—you're better off using the portal at 1.25 or 1.5 cents—it gives you complete flexibility to book any Airbnb property at any price point.

The advantage here is selection. If the Airbnb you want isn't available through the Chase portal, you can book it directly and use points as cash to cover it. You're sacrificing some value for complete freedom of choice.

Statement Credit Pros and Cons

What works well: You have access to Airbnb's full inventory. There's no fighting with limited portal availability. You can also wait to redeem points until after you see the final charge (including any fees or adjustments), ensuring you redeem exactly the right amount.

The trade-off: Redemption rates are often lower than what you'd get through transfer partners for flights or hotels. You're essentially treating your points like cash, which means you're not getting the premium value that makes points so powerful. For Chase Ultimate Rewards at 1 cent per point or Capital One at 1 cent per mile, you're leaving value on the table compared to other redemption options.

Method 3: Pay with a High-Earning Card and Maximize Points

Sometimes the smartest move isn't using old points—it's earning a massive haul of new ones. Strategic credit card selection can turn your Airbnb booking into a points windfall.

Leverage Category Bonuses

Here's where it gets interesting. Many credit cards treat Airbnb as a travel purchase, triggering bonus category earnings. The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x points on travel, including Airbnb. A $1,000 Airbnb stay nets you 3,000 Ultimate Rewards points—worth $45 to $60 depending on how you redeem them.

The best travel credit cards amplify this strategy. The American Express Gold Card doesn't have a specific travel bonus, but if you're booking a long-term Airbnb that includes some grocery shopping or dining out during your stay, you can strategically split costs across multiple bookings to maximize 4x categories.

Welcome Bonuses on Large Bookings

This is where the math gets really compelling. Let's say you're planning a $3,000 month-long Airbnb rental in Portugal. Instead of using existing points, what if you signed up for a new card with a big welcome bonus?

The Chase Sapphire Preferred regularly offers 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Your $3,000 Airbnb booking gets you most of the way to that spending requirement. You'll also earn 3x points (since Airbnb codes as travel), adding another 9,000 points. That's 69,000 total points from one booking—worth $862.50 when booking future travel through the Chase portal at 1.25 cents per point.

The same strategy works with the Capital One Venture X, which offers 100,000 miles after $10,000 in spending. If you're booking a pricey Airbnb or have multiple trips planned, you're essentially getting paid in points to use a new card for purchases you were making anyway.

Split Payments for Maximum Category Earnings

Airbnb allows you to pay with multiple payment methods, which opens up creative possibilities. You could put the first half of your booking on a card with a welcome bonus you're working toward, then put the second half on a card earning 3x points on travel.

This gets even more interesting with Airbnb Experiences or longer stays where you're paying for different services. Put the accommodation on your travel card, dining costs on your restaurant card, and any experience bookings on whichever card has the best category bonus for entertainment.

New Points Method Pros and Cons

What works well: You're not depleting your existing points stash. Welcome bonuses can provide incredible value—sometimes better than redeeming points at any rate. You maintain flexibility with your existing points for future opportunities. You might also trigger additional benefits like travel insurance or purchase protection by paying with a premium card.

The considerations: This only makes sense if you can meet the welcome bonus spending requirement organically. Never manufacture spending just to hit a bonus—that's a quick path to overspending. You'll also want to factor in any annual fees. A card with a $95 fee needs to deliver at least that much value back to you through the welcome bonus and ongoing earning.

Choosing Your Best Strategy

The right method depends on what you're optimizing for. Let me break down when each approach makes the most sense.

Use the Travel Portal When

You want simplicity and immediate gratification. Portal bookings take five minutes start to finish. Choose this method if you value convenience over squeezing out maximum value, or if the Airbnb you want is available through the portal at a good rate. This works especially well if you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve and are getting 1.5 cents per point value—that's respectable redemption without the hassle of transfers or multiple steps.

Use Statement Credits When

The Airbnb you want isn't available through travel portals, or you've found a unique property that's perfect for your trip. This method also makes sense if you've accumulated a large cash back balance that you want to put to use. Cards like the Citi Double Cash or Chase Freedom Unlimited build up cash back naturally over time, and applying it to a big Airbnb booking is satisfying—you're seeing tangible results from all those everyday purchases.

Earn New Points When

You're planning a significant Airbnb booking and you're under 5/24 (or eligible for welcome bonuses on the cards you want). The math here is compelling: instead of spending 50,000 existing points worth $500 to $750, you could earn 60,000 to 100,000 new points worth significantly more. This strategy is especially smart if you're booking travel 6-12 months out, giving you time to earn the bonus and plan your redemption strategy.

Real-World Example: A $2,500 Week in Barcelona

Let's walk through a specific scenario to see these methods in action. You've found the perfect Airbnb apartment in Barcelona for a week-long trip. The total cost is $2,500 including all fees.

Travel Portal Approach: With the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you'd pay 166,667 points (at 1.5 cents per point value). You keep all your Airbnb flexibility, book in minutes, and done. If you hold the Chase Sapphire Preferred instead, you're looking at 200,000 points at 1.25 cents each.

Statement Credit Approach: Book directly through Airbnb using your Capital One Venture card. You'd earn 5,000 miles on the purchase (2x miles on travel). Then redeem 250,000 miles to erase the charge at 1 cent per mile. Net cost: 245,000 miles. You maintained complete booking flexibility but sacrificed some redemption value.

Earn New Points Approach: Sign up for the Capital One Venture X (if you don't have it). Put the $2,500 booking on the card, earning 5,000 miles (2x on travel). You're now $2,500 of the way toward the $10,000 spending requirement for the 100,000-mile welcome bonus. Complete the rest of the spending over three months with regular expenses. Net result: 100,000 miles from the bonus + 5,000 from the Airbnb booking + another 15,000 miles from the remaining $7,500 in spending = 120,000 miles total. That's enough for two more large Airbnb bookings.

The third option wins on pure value, but only if you were planning to get that card anyway and can organically meet the spending requirement.

Advanced Tips for Maximizing Value

Stack Airbnb Promotions with Points

Airbnb frequently runs promotions for new users or specific destinations. A 20% off coupon combined with paying with points can deliver exceptional value. Book through the portal or use statement credits on an already-discounted rate, and you're multiplying your savings.

Consider Airbnb Gift Cards

Some credit card portals and cashback websites sell Airbnb gift cards at a discount. If you can buy a $500 gift card for $475, then use points to offset that purchase, you're stacking savings. This adds complexity but can squeeze out extra value if you're booking a very expensive stay.

Split Long Stays into Multiple Bookings

Booking a month-long stay as four separate week-long bookings gives you more flexibility with payment methods. You can spread the charges across multiple cards to maximize category bonuses or hit different welcome bonus spending requirements. This works better in properties with flexible cancellation policies.

Watch for Portal Inventory Updates

Chase and Capital One regularly update which Airbnb properties appear in their travel portals. If your dream rental isn't showing up today, check back in a few days. Portal inventory can change, especially during peak booking seasons.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don't redeem points at 1 cent each if you have better options available. Chase Ultimate Rewards transferred to Hyatt for a luxury hotel might deliver 2+ cents per point value. Using those same points for Airbnb at 1 cent each means you're leaving significant value on the table. Make this trade-off consciously, not accidentally.

Avoid overpaying through portals when Airbnb's direct pricing is better. Sometimes travel portal pricing includes markup. Always compare the portal's cash price to Airbnb's direct price. If the portal is charging $600 when Airbnb shows $550, you're essentially redeeming points at worse value than advertised.

Don't sign up for new cards solely to book Airbnb unless the math is overwhelmingly in your favor. The hard pull on your credit and the annual fee need to be justified by the points earned and the welcome bonus value. Run the numbers before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer Chase points directly to Airbnb?

No, Airbnb is not a transfer partner for any credit card rewards program. You can't transfer points directly to Airbnb, but you can book Airbnb through the Chase travel portal using your Ultimate Rewards points.

Which credit card gives the best value for Airbnb bookings?

The Chase Sapphire Reserve typically offers the best portal redemption value at 1.5 cents per point when booking Airbnb through Chase Ultimate Rewards. However, earning a large welcome bonus on a new card (like the Capital One Venture X's 100,000 miles) often delivers better total value than any redemption rate.

Does Airbnb count as travel for credit card category bonuses?

Yes, Airbnb typically codes as travel for credit card purposes. The Chase Sapphire Reserve, Chase Sapphire Preferred, and most other travel cards will award bonus points for Airbnb purchases. Always verify by checking your statement after your first booking to confirm the category coding.

Can I use Marriott or Hilton points for Airbnb?

Not directly. Hotel loyalty points can't be used to book Airbnb stays. However, you could redeem hotel points for cash (usually at poor value) and then use that cash for Airbnb—but this is almost never worth it. You're better off using hotel points for hotel stays and credit card points for Airbnb.

What if the Airbnb I want isn't available in the travel portal?

Book directly through Airbnb and use the statement credit method. Put the charge on a card that allows point redemption for statement credits, then redeem your points to offset the purchase. You'll sacrifice some redemption value compared to portal booking, but you gain access to all of Airbnb's inventory.

Making Your Decision

Here's the reality: there's no single "best" way to pay for Airbnb with points. The right strategy depends on which cards you hold, how many points you have, what redemption value you're getting, and whether you're prioritizing simplicity or maximum value.

If you're sitting on a healthy points balance and want convenience, book through the Chase or Capital One portal. You'll get decent value and zero hassle. If you're planning a major trip and are strategic about credit card bonuses, earning a massive welcome bonus by putting that booking on a new card often delivers the best overall value. And if you need access to a specific property that's not in any portal, statement credits give you the flexibility you need.

The key is running the math for your specific situation. Calculate the point cost for each method, compare it to the cash price, and factor in any welcome bonuses or category earnings you'll get. Sometimes the difference is significant—50,000 points through one method versus 30,000 through another. Sometimes it's marginal, and you should just pick the easiest path.

Your points are a tool, not a solution. Use them strategically to unlock the Airbnb experiences you want, and don't stress about squeezing out every last cent of value. The best redemption is the one that gets you the trip you're excited about.

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