Vacation rental spend on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo has become a major travel expense category for families and groups. A weeklong rental can easily cost 2,000 to 5,000 dollars or more, and the credit card used for that purchase can determine whether the traveler earns a meaningful stack of points or misses an opportunity. For 2026 frequent flyers, choosing the right card for vacation rental payments requires understanding which cards code Airbnb and Vrbo as travel and how those earning rates compare to general-purpose cards.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve earns 3x Ultimate Rewards points on travel and codes Airbnb and Vrbo as travel merchants, making it a top pick for vacation rental spending. The Chase Sapphire Preferred earns 2x on travel and also includes vacation rentals in the travel category. The American Express Green Card earns 3x Membership Rewards points on travel including Airbnb and Vrbo bookings. The Citi Strata Premier earns 3x on travel including vacation rentals. These cards all multiply the base earning rate and provide travel protections such as trip cancellation and delay insurance on the booking.
For travelers who do not hold a dedicated travel card or whose travel card has a lower earning rate on vacation rentals, flat-rate cards offer a strong alternative. The Capital One Venture X earns 2x on all purchases including Airbnb and Vrbo, with no caps. The Citi Double Cash earns 2 percent cashback on everything, which can convert to ThankYou Points if paired with a Citi Strata Premier. The Bank of America Premium Rewards card earns 2x on travel and dining, with a 25 to 75 percent bonus for Preferred Rewards members. For a 3,000-dollar vacation rental, a 2x card yields 6,000 points, while a 3x card yields 9,000 points, a difference of 3,000 points that can matter when transfers to airline partners are in play.
The American Express Platinum earns 5x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with airlines but only 1x on vacation rentals booked through Airbnb or Vrbo. However, the annual 200-dollar hotel credit and the Fine Hotels and Resorts program may offer alternative booking paths for lodging spend. The Capital One Venture X includes a 300-dollar annual travel credit that can offset vacation rental costs booked through the Capital One Travel portal. The Chase Sapphire Reserve’s 300-dollar annual travel credit auto-applies to all travel purchases including Airbnb and Vrbo without requiring portal booking.
For vacation rental spend in 2026, the optimal card depends on your existing wallet and your points currency preference. If you prioritize Chase Ultimate Rewards, the Sapphire Reserve at 3x is the best choice. If you prioritize Capital One Miles, the Venture X at 2x on everything is simple and effective. If you hold the American Express Green Card, 3x on travel including vacation rentals is competitive. Always verify that the specific merchant codes as travel for your card before making a large booking.
This article draws on credit card earning rate categories, merchant category codes for vacation rental platforms, and cardholder benefit terms as of July 2026.
Q: Do all Chase cards code Airbnb as travel? A: The Chase Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred code Airbnb as travel. Chase Freedom cards may not, and merchant coding can vary by listing.
Q: Is it better to book through a portal or direct? A: Booking direct with Airbnb or Vrbo is usually best for earning on travel-category cards. Portal bookings may code differently and may not earn bonus points.
Q: Does the Amex Platinum earn bonus points on Airbnb? A: No. The Platinum earns 5x on flights booked directly with airlines and prepaid hotels through Amex Travel. Airbnb and Vrbo earn 1x.