How to save on cottage rentals with points

Cottage rentals are useful for a group celebrating together or simply for a Worker from home looking for inspiration. When the location is found and the reservation is made,reward points come to the rescue to save money.

Before booking, it is important to know if Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards are accepted as payment. Next, you need to know if the business you are dealing with is properly classified as “Travel” or “Tourist Accommodation“.

American Express Membership Rewards points are flexible. Each 1,000 Membership Rewards points deducts $10 from the credit card balance.

All expenses are accepted. This is convenient if you don’t know if the owner and the cottage rental platform are considered a travel expense.

This is excellent for expenses with :

• Airbnb, VRBO and others
• WeChalet, ChaletsauQuebec.com, MonsieurChalets.com, etc.

The procedure is simple:

• We book the chalet rental on the platform of our choice
• The expense appears on the credit card
• Use credit card points to reduce expenses

For example, a cottage rental costs $700.

You have 50,000 Membership Rewards points on the American Express Cobalt Card, which equals $500.

If you take these points to deduct the balance, you will have a net expense of $200.

However, make sure in advance if the platform or the owner accepts American Express cards.

With the TD First Class Travel Visa Infinite Card, TD Rewards points can be used to rent cottages through Expedia for TD.

So 200 TD points are used to deduct the $1 of the statement.

In addition, you can also make a reservation at the website of your choice and then deduct 250 TD Rewards points for $1.

Another way to save is to use the $100 annual TD Travel Credit when booking a cottage costing $500 or more withExpedia for TD.

With HSBC Rewards points, you pay:

• a cottage rented from SEPAQ,
• on Airbnb, VRBO, Expedia,
• or booked on other recognized travel or accommodation platforms.

The use will be done by different levels of points. Then, the deadline for deducting points is within 60 days after the reservation:

• 25,000 points = $125
• 35,000 points = $175
• 45 000 points = 225$ and so on.

Note that the $100 annual HSBC Travel Credit can be used in addition to this cottage rental expense.

NBC Rewards points are great to swap points towards a lower cottage rental!

Among others, eligible purchases are:

• via Hotels.com, Airbnb, Expedia and other similar sites …
• Zumper, Belvilla…
• and the reservation of a condominium or a cottage for tourism purposes

Also, Aventura points have the same principle as the others for a cheap cottage rental.

Normally, 16,000 points are required for a $100 travel expense deduction. But thanks to a promotion, CIBC is allowing you to use 50% less Aventura Points for more savings!

So, until December 31, 2022, 8,000 Aventura Points gives you $100 off the balance on a CIBC Aventura Credit Card.

Scotiabank’s Scene+ program will become increasingly popular, thanks to its arrival in IGA grocery stores, among others.

With the”Redeem Points for a Trip” option, 10,000 points deducts $100 on a cottage rental.

The BONUSDOLLARS program has the merit of being very simple but not very rewarding. 1 BONUSDOLLARS is exchanged for a $1 deduction for a cottage rental charged to the account.

Unfortunately, the credit cards in this program do not offer a welcome bonus, unlike most credit cards in Canada.

Marriott Bonvoy is not just for hotels. A little-known option is its private home rental platform Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy.

You can pay in dollars as usual, or with Marriott Bonvoy points!

The Aeroplan program allows you to use Aeroplan points to rent cottages. It may be worth it… or not.

We don’t really recommend it. But the option of paying for a cottage with Aeroplan points does exist and can be convenient for some.

Similar to point redemption, cash back cards also save money.

The best is the CIBC Dividend Visa Infinite Card.

Its welcome offer gives 10% cash back on all purchases made on the account, during the first four statements. The cap for the promotion is $250 of cash back.

Then, during the rest of the year, it gives one of the best cash backs with 4% back at the grocery store and for gas.