Best Tips for Finding Your Airbnb Rental

Guide: How To Save On Airbnb With Points?

To the point With credit card points, you can save a lot of money on your Airbnb rentals!
Milesopedia recommends this card from American Express Canada

This post is also available in: FR

We took the example of Airbnb. But be aware that you can use this tip for any accommodation rental platform like:

You will be able to use your Reward Points for bookings made on these websites.

In many ways, hotels can’t win that fight, although, with some brands like Residence Inn / TownePlace Suites from Marriott Bonvoy, it is possible to find large accommodations with a kitchen.

And with the COVID-19 pandemic, more travellers turn to apartments or houses rather than hotels for their Canadian vacations.

For example, we are frequently asked in the Milesopedia community to find solutions to reduce the expenses of alternative accommodations like Airbnb. It’s possible with some specific rewards programs and credit cards! Milesopedia gives you its tips.

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Credit cards to save money on Airbnb

American Express - Membership Rewards

With the Membership Rewards program, you can redeem 1,000 points for a $10 credit on Airbnb, or 10,000 points = $100.

cobalt airbnb
The use of membership rewards for an airbnb rental

So 30,000 Membership Rewards Points can save you $300 on an Airbnb rental!

Here are the 7 cards part of the American Express Membership Rewards program whose points can save you money on an Airbnb rental:

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The American Express Cobalt® Card is the best credit card from American Express, whether you want points for travel or cash back.

The welcome bonus is distributed monthly for the first 12 months. You’ll earn 1,250 Membership Rewards points for every $750 in purchases charged to your card during the month (whether in the 1X, 2X, 3X or 5X category). That’s up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points.

You can easily use these points as statement credits for everyday or travel purchases. The value is the same for both: 1,000 points = $10.

Or you can transfer them into Aeroplan points, Avios (British Airways/Qatar Airways), Flying Blue, Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors.

With the American Express Cobalt® Card, you can earn between 1 and 5 points per dollar:

Category Points per dollar
Grocery stores (Metro, IGA, Sobeys, Super C, etc.) 5
Food delivery 5
Restaurants and bars 5
Convenience stores 5
Streaming subscriptions 3
Gas station 2
Transportation 2
Travel 2
Other 1

This is a 1 to 5% return on all these purchases.

For example, if you spend $1,000 per month on groceries and/or restaurants and/or food delivery, you’ll earn $50 cash back per month, or $600 cash back per year with this card for this category of purchases!

And if you decide to transfer your points to other programs like Aeroplan, you could get even more value!

In addition, this card provides excellent insurance coverage: rental car theft and damage, baggage delay, lost or stolen baggage, flight delay, $250,000 travel accident, hotel or motel burglary, Mobile Device Insurance, Purchase Security, Purchase Protection Insurance.

Like all American Express Canada Cards, there is no minimum income requirement.

HSBC - HSBC Rewards

With the HSBC Rewards program, you can easily apply your points to the Airbnb rental made on your credit card.

You’ll have to redeem points according to the HSBC Rewards chart.

Airbnb Hsbc
Using HSBC points for Airbnb

25,000 points equal to a $125 credit on Airbnb, or 10,000 points = $50.

For example, 60,000 HSBC Rewards points can save you $300 on an Airbnb rental!

Here are the three cards part of the HSBC Rewards program whose points can save you money on an Airbnb bookings:

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Scotiabank - Scene+

With the Scene+ program, you can apply your points directly to the Airbnb purchase made on one of the cards included in the program.

You can use 5,000 points for a $50 credit on Airbnb, or 10,000 points = $100.

Scotia Points Apply Fr

For example, with 30,000 Scene+ points, you can save $300 on an Airbnb rental!

The Scotiabank PassportMD Visa Infinite* Card is one of the only cards in Canada to charge no foreign currency conversion fees AND to offer six complimentary visits to airport lounges.

The Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card does not charge foreign currency conversion fees. This card is exciting because of its accelerated earning rates for daily purchases and its excellent insurance.

National Bank - NBC À la Carte Rewards

With the NBC Rewards program, you can apply your points directly to the Airbnb purchase charged to one of the cards in the program.

You can use 12,000 points for a $100 credit on Airbnb. If you redeem more than 55,000 points, each $100 in travel credit on Airbnb costs you only 11,000 points.

That’s 11,000 points = $100.

Here are the 3 cards that are part of the NBC Rewards program and whose points can save you money on an Airbnb rental:

The National Bank World Elite Mastercard® is NBC’s best Mastercard credit card.

With this card, you earn up to 5 points per dollar on your purchases:

  • 5 points per dollar on grocery and restaurant purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on gas and electric recharge purchases
  • 2 points per dollar on recurring bills
  • 2 points per dollar on À la carte Travel
  • 1 point per dollar on all other purchases

And since it’s a National Bank Mastercard credit card, you can use it at Costco.

With this card, you have access to a $150 annual travel credit that you can use in any of these categories:

  • Airport parking
  • Baggage fees
  • Seat selection
  • Access to airport lounges
  • Flight upgrades

In addition, you can enjoy access to DragonPass airport lounges and free Wi-Fi with Boingo. And unlimited access to the National Bank Lounge at Montreal-Trudeau.

Finally, Milesopedia voted the National Bank World Elite Mastercard® the Best Travel Credit Card and the Best Credit Card for Insurance in 2023 and 2024.

NBC World Elite Jm

Bottom Line

As you can see, you can save money on Airbnb with several programs and credit cards.

The one that offers the most flexibility is the Membership Rewards program. For example, you could combine the points earned on an American Express Cobalt® Card with those on an American Express® Gold Rewards Card.

You can save hundreds of dollars or even pay for your entire stay on Airbnb with reward points.

This post is also available in: FR

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Audrey
Mother of two young children, pharmacist, travel hacker's wife and frequent traveller, Audrey shares her advices and destinations recommendations on milesopedia.

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