The Best Credit Card for Airbnb to Save Money and Earn Rewards

The best credit card for Airbnb is one that earns the cardholder plenty of points and rewards. When booking Airbnb and Vrbo stays, using Airbnb gift cards is an option, but credit cards that offer travel credits and cashback are much more rewarding. This article will go over what to look for in Airbnb credit cards, plus 11 recommendations for the best Airbnb credit card options.

Choosing the Best Credit Card for Airbnb

Below, find the most important factors to consider when choosing a credit card for Airbnb.

Earning Rate

The earning rate refers to the number of points or miles credit card users accrue as they spend. A higher earning rate means more rewards.

Sign-Up Bonus

Many of the cards on the list below offer extra travel rewards as a sign-on bonus. In many cases, it’s necessary to spend a specific amount within a certain time frame after opening the card in order to unlock the sign-up bonus.

Low Annual Fee

Most of the cards on this list have no annual fee or a fee lower than $100. However, it may be worth it to select a card with a higher annual fee because they tend to have higher earning rates for points and miles as well.

Travel Credits

While most cards offer travel credits and credit card points that can only be used on airline-related costs, there are some that allow the use of credits for any travel purchase.

Redemption Options

Some cards feature redemption options that allow users to reduce their out-of-pocket travel costs.

No Foreign Transaction Fees

A credit card without foreign transaction fees is best for people who enjoy international travel.

Cancellation Insurance

Some cards offer insurance for trip cancellation and interruption, which can provide additional peace of mind for travelers.

Tips for Using Credit Cards on Airbnb

• Airbnb allows users to enter their credit card information manually or use a digital wallet like PayPal, Google Pay, or Apple Pay.
• To avoid having to enter their credit card information each time they book a trip, it’s possible for Airbnb users to store credit cards in their profiles.
• Users can also set one of multiple saved credit cards to serve as their default payment method on Airbnb. This makes it simple to use the best credit card for Airbnb every time.

11 Best Credit Cards for Airbnb Stays

1.   Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

With the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, users can earn two miles per dollar on every purchase. They can also earn five miles per dollar when spending on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel. The purchase rate ranges from 15.99% to 23.99% variable APR (annual percentage rate), and there are no foreign transaction fees. Users can redeem miles to reimburse themselves for past travel purchases, and they can receive a credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.

2.   Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Card features a $300 annual travel credit, plus 5x points on flights purchased through Chase, and 10x points on car rentals and hotels purchased through Chase. It also includes a complimentary Priority Pass Select Membership at over 1000 VIP airport lounges around the world. Plus, there are numerous other perks, such as 10x points on Lyft rides, a complimentary DashPass subscription, and 3x points on dining. It’s easy to understand why the Chase Sapphire Reserve Card is a contender for the title of the best credit card for Airbnb.

3.   Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

With the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, users get a $50 annual hotel credit and 5x points on travel purchases made through Chase. Other perks include 3x points on online grocery purchases, 3x points on dining, and 3x points on select streaming services. There are also 5x points on Lyft rides and Peloton equipment and a complimentary DashPass subscription.

4.   American Express Green Card

The American Express Green Card is great for travel, transit, and restaurants. It offers 3x membership reward points on dining (including restaurants, takeout, and delivery) and travel (including flights, hotels, transit, taxis, tours, and ridesharing service). American Express Green cardholders also get to enjoy 1x membership rewards points on all other purchases.

5.   Citi Double Cash Card

The Citi Double Cash Card focuses on double cashback and “double what you love.” There are no limits on cashback earned and no confusing categories, so cardholders get to take advantage of double cashback wherever they use their cards. There’s also no annual fee, and all cardholders need to do to earn cashback is pay their minimum monthly payments on time. Clearly, the Citi Double Cash Card is considered one of the best credit card for Airbnb options.

6.   Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card

Flexible redemption options allow for unlimited points that never expire with the Bank of America Premium Rewards Credit Card. The welcome offer includes 50,000 bonus points (which have a $500 value) after cardholders make $3000 in purchases throughout the first 90 days after opening the account. Another great perk is that users can get up to $200 in travel statement credits.

7.   Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

With the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card comes an offer of 25,000 online bonus points (which equals $250) with no annual fee or foreign transaction fee. Cardholders get to enjoy 1.5x points on all purchases and a 0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, the APR increases to between 13.99% to 23.99%. 

8.   Deserve Pro Mastercard

The Deserve Pro Mastercard comes with a complimentary one-year Priority Pass membership and cell phone protection up to $600. There’s also 3% cashback on travel, 2% cashback on restaurants, and 1% cashback on all other purchases. Other perks include Mastercard World Benefits, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees, making the Deserve Pro Mastercard a great option for the best credit card for Airbnb. The APR ranges from 15.99% to 22.99%.

9.   Discover It Miles

Discover It Miles users enjoy no annual fee, unlimited 1.5x miles on all purchases, an unlimited miles-for-miles match at the end of the first year, and redemption of miles for travel or cash. Miles never expire, and there aren’t any blackout dates; cardholders can fly with any airline at any time. Even if cardholders close their accounts, they won’t lose their miles. They can also use their rewards instantly when paying with PayPal or checking out on Amazon.

10.   Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

One of the awesome benefits of the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card is that cardholders automatically receive a $75 Amazon gift card upon approval. They also get 3% cashback on Amazon purchases, 2% cashback at drugstores, gas stations, and restaurants, and 1% cashback on all other purchases. There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fee.

11.    Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card

With the Wells Fargo Propel American Express Card, some of the key features include cell phone protection up to $600, retail protection, and My Wells Fargo Deals. There’s also early access to purchase tickets for concerts and other forms of entertainment, as well as various travel benefits, protections, and insurances.

Best Credit Card for Airbnb Comparison Table

Card	Welcome Offer	Credit Score Needed	Annual Fee
Capital One Venture Rewards	60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening	800+	$95
Chase Sapphire Reserve	50,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	720+	$550
Chase Sapphire Preferred	60,000 Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening	690+	$95
American Express Green	Earn 45,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of Card Membership	700+	$150
Citi Double Cash	2% cashback on purchases: 1% when buying and 1% when paying	700+	No annual fee
Bank of America Premium Rewards	50,000 online bonus points ($500 value) after making at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening	750+	$95
Bank of America Travel Rewards	25,000 online bonus points offer (a $250 value) after making $1000 in purchases in the first 90 days	750+	No annual fee
Deserve Pro Mastercard	Cashback: 3% on travel, 2% on restaurants, 1% on everything else	700+	No annual fee
Discover It Miles	Unlimited 1.5x Miles for each dollar spent on all purchases	700+	No annual fee
Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature	Get a $75 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval	740+	No annual fee
Wells Fargo Propel American Express	Get 3X points for popular streaming services, ordering in and eating out, gas stations, transit, rideshares, car rentals, hotels, homestays, and flights	670+	No annual fee

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Is Airbnb considered travel for credit cards?

In most cases, Airbnb purchases are coded as “travel” on credit card statements, so they trigger credits and bonus points in the travel category. Travelers can earn rewards for spending on Airbnb with all of the cards listed in this article as options for the best credit card for Airbnb.

Do you need a credit card for Airbnb?

The payment options that Airbnb accepts include most major credit cards and debit cards that can be run as credit cards. Airbnb also accepts PayPal, Google Pay, and Apple Pay.

Does Airbnb charge foreign transaction fees?

Yes, Airbnb charges a 3% conversion fee for international bookings.

When does Airbnb charge your credit card?

In most cases, Airbnb charges credit cards as soon as the reservation is confirmed.

Book Your Next Trip Through RentalTrader

One way to save money on travel is to choose the best credit card for Airbnb. Another way is to book your vacation through RentalTrader, which is one of the few vacation rental listing sites that doesn’t charge a guest fee. Other popular sites charge guests as much as 14% on top of the nightly rate, but RentalTrader is passionate about making travel more cost-effective. Check out RentalTrader today!