Advertiser disclosure
Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorial or review that may be published on it. For complete and up-to-date information about any product featured, please visit their website. We maintain business relationships with certain partners mentioned in our communication tools. While we may receive compensation if you sign up for a product or service through our affiliate links, our reviews and content are based on an objective assessment. Value estimates are established by Milesopedia and are not provided, endorsed, or verified by the issuing financial institutions. †*Terms and conditions apply.
In many ways, hotels will have a hard time winning this fight, even though with some brands like Residence Inn / TownePlace Suites from Marriott Bonvoy, it’s possible to find larger accommodations that include a kitchen.
Within the Milesopedia community, we are frequently asked to find ways to reduce the cost of alternative accommodations such as Airbnb. It’s possible with certain rewards programs and credit cards! Milesopedia sheds some insight.
To save on Airbnb stays, you will need to use travel points. All credit card issuers have travel point programs.
Among the best travel points programs in Canada, several stand out:
With the Membership Rewards program, you can redeem 1,000 points for a $10 credit on Airbnb, or 10,000 points = $100.
Here are 7 cards, that are part of the American Express Membership Rewards program, whose points can save you money on an Airbnb rental:
With the Scene+ program, you can apply your points directly to the Airbnb purchase made on one of the cards included in the program.
This means you can use 10,000 points for a $100 credit on hotels, a flight … or an Airbnb rental.
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card is one of the only cards in Canada that charges no foreign currency conversion fees AND offers 6 complimentary airport lounge passes.
The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card charges no foreign currency conversion fees. This card is exciting because of its accelerated earning rates for daily purchases and its excellent insurance.
With the NBC Rewards program, you can apply your points directly to an Airbnb purchase made with one of the cards participating in the program.
You can thus 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:
With the CIBC Aventura program, you can apply your points directly to the Airbnb purchase charged to one of the program’s cards.
This purchase is considered a travel purchase, and you can use 8,000 CIBC Aventura points for a value of $100.
With the BMO Rewards program, you can apply your points directly to your Airbnb purchase charged to any of the cards that are part of the program.
This purchase is considered a travel expense, allowing you to redeem 15,000 BMO Rewards points for a $100 value.
AIR MILES Cash Miles allow you to purchase electronic Airbnb gift cards! The options cater to all tastes and allow you to use 95 AIR MILES Cash Miles for every $10 gift card increment.
So, you can get up to $1,000 in Airbnb or other gift card value, thanks to the welcome offer of the BMO AIR MILES World Elite Mastercard, which includes up to 8,000 AIR MILES as a welcome bonus.
Follow our step-by-step guide to learn how to purchase Airbnb gift cards using your AIR MILES miles.
In addition to traditional accommodation rentals, Airbnb now allows you to book experiences (guided tours, workshops, leisure activities) and services (private chef, in-home massage, personal coach, professional photography, etc.).
Here’s what you need to know:
Some useful tips:
Why it’s interesting from a “saving” perspective:
As an official partner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Airbnb offers accommodations in all host cities. Unlike traditional hotels, you can take advantage of a flexible points program to reimburse your Airbnb bookings and other travel expenses.
How it works:
A very popular and easy-to-use program is Scene+. You earn Scene+ points with certain Scotiabank credit cards, at grocery stores (IGA, Safeway, Les marchés Tradition, Foodland, etc.), Scene+ Travel, restaurants, and through special offers.
Thanks to Scene+, 10,000 points are equivalent to $100 in travel credit. For example, for an Airbnb costing $425, you would use 42,500 points to reimburse the entire amount, costing you nothing! These points can also be used to reimburse a train ticket, a flight, or other accommodation.
A particularly interesting card for earning Scene+ points is the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card:
Earning points:
Point redemption:
Other Benefits:
The Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card was voted Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card in 2024 and 2025, making it an excellent choice to maximize your Scene+ points during the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Ultimately, the programs offering the greatest flexibility for reimbursing an Airbnb are American Express Membership Rewards and Scene+. For example, you could combine points earned on an American Express Cobalt® Card with those from an American Express® Gold Rewards Card, or take advantage of the welcome offer from the Scotiabank Passport™ Visa Infinite +* Card.
No matter which loyalty program you choose, you’re a winner! Enough to save hundreds of dollars, or even fully pay for your Airbnb accommodation with reward points.
Savings this way:
You can change your preferences or opt out at any time by clicking on one of the hyperlinks available at the bottom of each newsletter.
If you are already a subscriber and would like to unsubscribe, you can click on the link at the bottom of any of our e-mails.
