Saving on Accommodation for a Sporting Event
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Accommodation is the easiest part of a sporting trip to cover with points, as long as you book before the city fills up. A match, a race or a tournament pushes room rates up over just a few days, and that is exactly when your points are worth the most.
Two methods work, depending on what you collect. Hotel program points pay for the room directly. Flexible points reimburse any booking after the fact, short-term rentals included. Our guide on how to attend a sporting event with your points puts this step back into the rest of the trip.
The flight is booked even earlier than the room. See how to find affordable flights with points before you lock in your accommodation.
Accommodation for a sporting event: hotel or rental
Paying for the room with Marriott Bonvoy points
Marriott Bonvoy is the best represented chain in the Canadian cities that host major events. In Toronto, properties like the Delta Hotels Toronto or The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto sit close to BMO Field and the stadium district.
We recommend booking as soon as the date of the event is confirmed. For fixed-date events, hotels near the venue sell out months in advance, well before cash rates become prohibitive.
If Marriott Bonvoy hotels near the venue are fully booked, two fallbacks work well:
- Those on the outskirts, on a transit line that serves the venue (the subway in Toronto or Montreal, the SkyTrain in Vancouver)
- Nearby cities (Mississauga for Toronto, Burnaby or Surrey for Vancouver)
| Credit card | Annual fee | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $120 | |||
| $150 |
The gap shows up clearly on a real case. During the World Cup, the night of June 12, 2026 at the Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre was going for 66,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, against $663 in cash. On that night, the point is worth 1 cent. That is exactly what a major event does to rates, and why the award night makes sense on those dates.
Paying for a rental with flexible points
When hotels around the venue are sold out, short-term rentals often remain available, and Airbnb covers the neighbourhoods hotel chains do not reach.
The major advantage is that, unlike traditional hotels, you can use a program that offers flexible points to cover any travel expenses, including your Airbnb bookings.
With this type of points, the key is to:
- Book your Airbnb as usual
- Pay for the reservation with a credit card that earns flexible points
- When the transaction is charged to the account, use your points to reimburse the cost of the Airbnb
One of the most popular and easiest of these programs is Scene+. You earn Scene+ points with certain Scotiabank credit cards, at grocery stores (IGA, Safeway, Les marchés Tradition, Foodland, etc.), Scene+ Travel, restaurants, through special offers, and more.
The Scene+ program gives you the flexibility to turn 10,000 points into a $100 travel credit. For example, if your Airbnb costs $425, you’ll use 42,500 points to pay it all off. In the end, it won’t cost you a thing!
It’s the same principle as in the image below. You can also use your Scene+ points to reimburse your train ticket, accommodation or airfare.
A particularly interesting card that gives Scene+ points is the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card.
Additionally, it does not charge any foreign currency conversion fees. This way, you won’t have to pay an additional 2.5% on every transaction as soon as the event is held outside Canada.
Plus, you can use its 6 complimentary accesses to relax in airport lounges before departing and upon your return from your trip.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $350
- Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months
- Up to 35,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
Recommended Steps
Preparation Steps:
- Sign up for the Scene+ program for free
- Apply for the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card
- Book your Airbnb and pay with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card
Earning Steps:
- Focus your spending on the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card to get the welcome offer and the multitude of points associated with it.
- Participate in Scene+ promotions and offers
- Earn points faster and use your card at stores with a high multiplier (IGA, grocery stores, restaurants and entertainment centers).
Steps to Redeem:
- Make the final payment for your Airbnb (if necessary) with the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite +* Card
- Enjoy the event
- After you return home, use your accumulated Scene+ points to cover the cost of your Airbnb stay (you have up to 12 months from your transaction date to redeem your points).
One simple rule to decide: if the award night costs you less than 1 cent per point, book with points. Above that, pay cash and keep your points for the flight, where the gap is almost always better.
- Annual fee
- $150
- Our valuationMilesopedia first-year estimate First-year valueWelcome bonus$350Total$350Rewards on your spending are not included. The calculator that adds them from your own profile is on the card's page.
- $350
- Welcome offerAfter $2,000 in 3 months
- Up to 35,000 points
- Ends Nov 1, 2026
Apply Now
on Scotiabank's website
Where to stay on an NHL game night
A major tournament pushes hotel rates up for a few weeks. A hockey game does the same thing on a smaller scale and far more often. Rates climb around rivalry dates, especially when Toronto or Montreal is in town. The upside is that the calendar gives you the choice: each of the seven Canadian clubs plays 42 home dates between 29 September 2026 and 10 April 2027.
The instinct is identical to a soccer match. You stay one transit stop from the arena rather than across the street, and you spend the free-night certificate on the most expensive date. One exception is worth flagging, however: in Ottawa the arena sits in Kanata, roughly 25 km from downtown. Staying downtown still makes sense for the city itself, but the ride needs planning in both directions.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should you book accommodation for a sporting event?
As soon as the date of the event is confirmed. Hotels near the venue sell out months ahead for fixed-date events. Booking early also lets you watch the award rate afterwards and bring it down.
Should you stay near the venue or further out?
On a transit line that serves the venue, a few stops away. Rates immediately around a venue climb on event days, for a proximity you enjoy for one hour.
Is it better to pay for the room in points or in cash?
Compare the award rate to the cash rate, then divide. If you get more than 1 cent per point, the award night is a good trade. Below that, pay cash and keep your points for the flight.
What should you do if every hotel is sold out?
Widen the search to neighbouring cities served by transit. Mississauga, North York and Vaughan for Toronto. Burnaby, Surrey and Richmond for Vancouver. The commute adds about thirty minutes and often halves the nightly rate.
Can you pay for a short-term rental with points?
Yes, with flexible points. Hotel programs only cover their own properties, but a program like Scene+ reimburses any travel expense after the fact, rentals included, at a rate of 1,000 points for 10 dollars.
Which credit card should you use to book accommodation?
A card with no foreign transaction fees as soon as the event is held outside Canada. You save 2.5% on every transaction. If you are aiming for a free night instead, a card tied to the hotel program you collect in remains the better choice.