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Best Travel Card for Airbnb

Airbnb can code as travel or lodging depending on the card. Pick one that maximizes your vacation rental spending. Travel-focused cards with transfer partners, lounge access, or trip protection perks.

Reviewed by CardCompare Editorial Board
|CFP-reviewed|Updated April 2026
Travel filterTypical Airbnb spend: $2,500/year8 cards match

Top travel picks for Airbnb

1
IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card

26x on IHG Hotels

Chase · $99 annual fee

One of the best hotel cards for value. The annual free night (worth up to 40,000 points, often $150+) alone justifies the $99 fee. IHG Platinum Elite status, 4th-night-free on reward stays, and a massive 26x earning rate at IHG properties make this a must for IHG loyalists.

2
Capital One Venture X Rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards

10x on Hotels & Cars (Capital One)

Capital One · $395 annual fee

The rare premium card that nearly pays for itself: a 300-dollar annual travel credit, 10,000 anniversary bonus miles (100-dollar value), and Priority Pass lounge access for unlimited guests. Earn 10x miles on hotels and car rentals via Capital One Travel. Combined perks regularly exceed the 395-dollar annual fee for anyone who travels a few times per year.

3
Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Reserve

10x on Hotels (Chase)

Chase · $550 annual fee

Chase flagship premium card: the $300 annual travel credit offsets most of the fee, Priority Pass lounge access for you and guests, 3x on dining and travel globally, and a 50% point-value boost through Chase Travel (1.5 cents each). Best-in-class travel insurance — trip delay, cancellation, and primary car rental — makes this a favorite for frequent travelers.

4
Citi Strata Premier Card

Citi Strata Premier Card

10x on Hotels via Citi Travel

Citi · $95 annual fee

Citi's refreshed premier travel card competes head-to-head with the Chase Sapphire Preferred. The 10x on hotels/car rentals booked through Citi Travel is eye-catching, and 3x on airlines, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas covers most spending. ThankYou Points transfer to 17+ partners.

5
Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

6x on Marriott Bonvoy Hotels

Chase · $95 annual fee

The best credit card for Marriott loyalists — earn 6x points at 8,500+ Marriott Bonvoy properties worldwide and receive an annual free night certificate worth up to 35,000 points. The welcome bonus of 3 free nights can easily be worth $300–$600 at mid-range Marriott properties.

6
Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

Wyndham Rewards Earner Plus Card

6x on Wyndham Hotels

Barclays · $75 annual fee

A budget-friendly hotel card with a unique perk: Wyndham points transfer 1:1 to Caesars Rewards, unlocking Las Vegas hotel value. Gold status includes late checkout and room upgrades. Strong earning on gas and dining beyond just hotel spend.

7
Chase Sapphire Preferred

Chase Sapphire Preferred

5x on Travel (Chase)

Chase · $95 annual fee

The gold standard for beginner and intermediate travel rewards. Earn 3x on dining and 2x on travel, with best-in-class trip delay reimbursement, primary car rental coverage, and no foreign transaction fees. Points transfer to 14 airline and hotel partners or redeem at 1.25 cents each through Chase Travel.

8
American Express Platinum

American Express Platinum

5x on Flights (Amex Travel)

American Express · $695 annual fee

The most comprehensive lounge access card available: Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select, Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, and more. Over 1,500 dollars in annual credits including airline fee, hotel, digital entertainment, and CLEAR Plus credits. Built for high-frequency flyers who maximize every perk.

Annual value math — IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card at Airbnb

Typical spend

$2,500

per year at Airbnb

Earn rate

26x

on IHG Hotels

Annual value

$975

rewards earned per year

Pro tips for maximizing rewards at Airbnb

  • Airbnb codes as 'Travel' for Chase cards
  • Some cards code Airbnb as 'Other Travel' at 2x-3x
  • Book through Chase Travel portal for extra value

More card picks for Airbnb

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best travel rewards credit card for Airbnb?

Our top pick is the IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card — it's a travel rewards card that earns 26x on IHG Hotels, which applies to Airbnb purchases. With typical spending of $2,500/year at Airbnb, that's about $975/year in rewards.

Do Airbnb purchases count as Travel?

Airbnb purchases typically code as Travel or Other Travel or Hotels depending on the issuer. Card networks determine merchant category codes (MCC), so coding can vary between Visa and Mastercard for the same retailer.

Is a travel rewards card worth it just for Airbnb?

A travel rewards card is only worth it if its broader utility matches your spending. The Airbnb fit is a bonus — not the primary reason to open one.

Any pro tips for using a card at Airbnb?

Airbnb codes as 'Travel' for Chase cards Some cards code Airbnb as 'Other Travel' at 2x-3x Book through Chase Travel portal for extra value

How much can I earn per year on Airbnb with a travel rewards card?

At the typical Airbnb spend of $2,500/year and the 26x earn rate on our top pick, you'd earn about $975/year — more than enough to justify the card.