How to earn cash back or points when booking Airbnbs, Vrbo rentals, hostels and more
Hostels, Vrbo rentals, campgrounds and Airbnbs can provide guests with a lodging experience that suits a person's travel needs. However, in recent years, these properties have seemingly become more expensive and rarely belong to points programs. Luckily, there are a few options to earn points or get cash back when staying at these independent properties. While some earning strategies are straightforward and universal, others may take a few steps for double or triple dipping.
Keep reading to find out how to book and maximize your earnings on these less conventional lodging options. As you'll see, each site has its benefits and strengths.
But first, we need to cover some basics.
Pick the right portal
We've talked plenty about online shopping portals and how they can help you earn extra rewards on online lodging reservations. There are several shopping portals, so getting started can be overwhelming. But one website greatly simplifies the process: Cashback Monitor.
Cashback Monitor tells you how much cash back or how many points you'll earn using different rewards portals for a given website. It's user-friendly and will link you directly to your chosen portal.
You also have the option to earn similar cash back from several platforms, including:
Most rates tend to fall in the 1%-5% range, though you could find limited-time specials at select merchants or during certain time windows.
Hybrid option
However, one of the best sites — and the one that TPG staffers use most frequently — is Rakuten. This portal allows members to opt for American Express Membership Rewards points at a ratio of 1 cent to 1 Membership Rewards point, so a merchant offering 1% cash back would instead result in 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent.
If you agree with TPG's most recent valuations — which peg Amex points at 2 cents apiece — opting for Membership Rewards points over cash back effectively doubles your return with Rakuten. Since the site works with over 3,500 retailers, it's among the most expansive online shopping portals. It also has a browser extension that will notify you when a merchant offers a bonus, and it also has in-store offers.
If you're not a member, you can sign up for Rakuten and earn $30 when you make at least $30 worth of eligible purchases through the portal in your first 90 days (limited-time offer subject to change).
Related: Maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases
Use the right credit card
The following travel cards are the best to use for Airbnbs, hostels and campgrounds as they each offer 3 points per dollar on all travel expenses:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: This card has a $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year and access to Chase Ultimate Rewards hotel and airline travel partners. You can also obtain 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel directly with Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- American Express® Green Card: This is a compelling option in the mid-tier category. With 3 points per dollar spent on travel, restaurants and transit as well as annual statement credits for a Clear Plus membership and LoungeBuddy, this is a card that modern travelers should consider (terms apply). The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: This card has one of the highest sign-up bonuses we've seen — 90,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening — access to the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal for points redemption and a reasonable $95 annual fee. Perks include cellphone and purchase protection, extended warranty protection, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and trip delay reimbursement.
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (see rates and fees): This card offers 3 points per dollar on restaurants, travel, gas station, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans with no annual fee. It also comes with a 20,000-point welcome bonus after you spend $1,000 within the first three months of the card opening, and an 0% introductory annual percentage rate offer on purchases for the first 12 months of the card opening (after which an variable APR of 19.24%, 24.24% or 29.24% will apply). Plus, you'll enjoy up to $600 in cellphone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly bill with the card (subject to a $25 deductible).
Related: Best travel credit cards for travel purchases
Earn airline miles for Airbnb and Vrbo rentals
Rumblings of an Airbnb loyalty program have been around for a while, but so far, nothing has materialized. However, there are several stackable options to earn a decent return on your stay.
You can earn miles on Airbnb and Vrbo bookings via several airline loyalty programs:
- All Nippon Airways Mileage Club miles: Earn 1 mile for every 200 Japanese yen (about $1.34) spent on an Airbnb accommodation. First-time Airbnb users will get a 3,000-yen (about $20) coupon for an Airbnb accommodation and earn 2 miles for every 200 yen spent on housing. Click here to earn ANA miles.
- British Airways Avios: Earn 3 Avios per $1 spent on Airbnb accommodations and 3 Avios per $1 spent on Airbnb Experiences. First-time Airbnb users will earn 6 Avios per $1 spent on accommodations. Click here to earn Avios.
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles: Earn 1 mile for every $1 spent with Airbnb on qualifying stays. Click here to earn SkyMiles.
- Qantas points: Earn 1 mile for every Australian dollar ($0.64) spent with Airbnb on qualifying stays. First-time Airbnb users will earn 500 bonus Qantas points on their first booking. Click here to earn Qantas points.
- United Airlines MileagePlus miles: Earn 3 miles for every $1 spent with Vrbo on vacation rentals. Click here to earn United miles.
So, before booking your next vacation rental, consider clicking through one of these programs, especially since the first-time booking offers for some programs are quite appealing. But, even if you have previously used Airbnb or Vrbo, you'd get a 1.2% return if you earn Delta miles, a 4.5% return if you earn British Airways Avios and a 4.35% return if you earn United miles based on TPG valuations.
Buying Airbnb gift cards
If you're planning to rent an apartment or home for your trip, be sure to check your local pharmacies, office supply stores or grocery stores for Airbnb gift cards. If you have cards that earn bonuses at any of these merchants, it can help boost your earnings significantly.
Otherwise, purchasing Airbnb gift cards through United's MileagePlus X app will currently earn you 2 MileagePlus miles per dollar spent, plus a 25% bonus, if you have a cobranded card like the United Explorer Card, which you don't actually have to use.
If you're seeking simplicity, Chase and Amex acknowledge Airbnb as a travel provider, so you can still get 3 points per $1 using the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Amex Green cards described above.
The information for the American Express Green Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Save money with Booking.com
Booking.com is probably the most popular site for alternative lodging since it has a huge selection of independently run guesthouses and has even increased its hostel offerings, too. Plus, you can also reserve campsites and even igloos, among other lodging options.
Booking.com has a Genius loyalty program that isn't as great as the name makes it sound. After completing five stays in two years, you'll unlock savings of 10%-15% on stays at select properties, free breakfast and room upgrades on select stays. However, there are no points earned on bookings.
While it doesn't compare to the loyalty programs of traditional hotel chains, it may still help you score a discount on properties that can't be booked online elsewhere.
The real value of this site is found through shopping portals like Rakuten and TopCashback, which typically offer more than 4% cash back.
Related: The complete guide to the Booking.com Genius loyalty program
Booking stays on Hostelworld
While there are advantages to booking directly with hostels, Hostelworld remains the go-to site for online hostel bookings.
Hostelworld does offer refundable stays, though you must cancel within the time frame (typically two days before your stay) given. If you'd like to save some money on your stay, the website also offers nonrefundable rates. While Hostelworld allows you to pay on arrival at the property, the website does charge a deposit that is a "part payment toward the total value of your booking, to secure your booking," per the website.
If you would like to book through Hostelworld, you can use TopCashback to earn 30% cash-back value on the deposit.
When booking through Hostelworld, you'll usually owe a balance upon arrival, and occasionally, a surcharge for credit card payments is added. Therefore, we recommend comparing the surcharge to the value of your return to decide if it's better to pay with cash or a credit card.
Marriott Homes & Villas
Marriott has entered the vacation rental market with the launch of Homes & Villas by Marriott International. These homes are available for both paid and award reservations.
Marriott Bonvoy members will earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on the base price (excluding cleaning fees and add-ons). Plus, each night will count toward your Marriott elite status qualification.
These rentals almost always impose stricter cancellation policies than Marriott's usual brands but are often more flexible than Airbnb properties. Many homes allow you to cancel within 30 days without a penalty, though policies may vary from property to property.
On the redemptions side, Marriott offers a fairly consistent redemption value of 0.84 cents per point. However, the process for redeeming points is a bit convoluted and may require you to "contact the property manager" and submit a short form with your preferred check-in and checkout dates.
Related: The best Marriott Homes & Villas properties you can book
Bottom line
You don't need to stay at a major chain hotel to earn or redeem points on your lodging.
Using these tips and tricks, you can earn rewards on everything from campsites and hostels to independent boutique hotels, Airbnbs and more. Even if you don't travel often, you'll see that these points add up pretty quickly.