As much as I love Airbnb, one thing they don't have is a loyalty program or credit card. Hopefully one day that will change, but in the meantime here's my recommendation for the best credit card for Airbnb redemptions.
And the winner is... the Barclaycard Arrival World MasterCard!
The Arrival card earns 2 miles for every dollar you spend, and as a "fixed value card," the value of that point will always be 1 cent, effectively earning you 2% back on every purchase since you get 2 miles for every dollar you spend. Points you earn with this card can be used to pay for anything considered "travel" - airline tickets, hotel stays, Airbnb, car rentals, and even public transportation in a city.
Other reward point programs with other cards either:
- Can't be redeemed on Airbnb
- Don't earn points as fast as this card for the value of a point
- Are more valuable for other types of redemption such as on airfare or hotels
Read on for more on why this card beats out some of the other top cards in the industry.
Second Runner Up: The CapitalOne Venture card
This card comes in at a close second. The earnings on both cards are exactly the same (2 miles for ever dollar you spend) but what makes the Arrival card more valuable is the fact that you get a larger initial spend bonus (40,000 points vs. 20,000 on the Venture card) AND you get 10% of your points back when you redeem them. (If you redeem 40,000 points, you get 4,000 back to start earning towards your next travel adventure!)
If airlines and hotel points are more valuable, why don't I just get one of those?
Because you're locked into certain travel redemptions--and Airbnb isn't one of them! Delta SkyMiles must be redeemed for air travel on Delta or their partners, Hilton for hotel stays at Hilton or their partners, etc. Fixed rate cards like the Arrival card can be redeemed on anything considered travel.
So should I only have an Arrival card? If not, why are you recommending it?
For one, the reason you're reading this post in the first place: most reward points you earn from other cards can't be redeemed on Airbnb. However, having your points spread over multiple loyalty systems can be a good thing. Not all points are created equal and as a fixed value card, Arrival miles are only worth 1 cent when redeemed. Other point units such as airline or hotel miles/points may be worth more than 1 cent.... sometimes even 10 cents each!
But what about cards like Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Charge cards where I can turn Ultimate Rewards/Membership Rewards into account credit. Some of these cards also earn me 2 points per dollar on most of my purchases.
Well you could... but you'd be losing out. Those points are more valuable when turned into parter points like United Miles or Starwood Starpoints.
So many cards to choose from... how do I get the most value?
Set your goals! Earning points and miles just to earn will get you nowhere. Have an idea for the vacation you want to take and choose the programs and cards that will make the trip you want as close to free as you can get it.
So there you have it. For those of you who prefer the style of traveling by Airbnb but still crave the thrill of free stays (like I do), go for the Barclaycard Arrival. You could be on your way to that tree house they always seem to be pushing!
Barclaycard Arrival Details:
Annual Fee: $89 Dollars a year (not waived the first year)
Signup Bonus: Limited time bonus offer of 40,000 miles after you spend $1000 dollars in 90 days (equivalent to $400 dollars of travel spend)
Mastercard World Elite Benefits: Built in benefits such as trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection and more
No comments:
Post a Comment