Best Credit Cards For Vacation Rentals Of May 2024

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) is popular with travelers for its assortment of travel perks along with competitive rewards that can be used to cover travel purchases or transferred for airline miles to get you to your next vacation rental.

Rewards: Earn 2 miles per dollar on all eligible purchases, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25 and 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booking via Capital One Travel.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee: $395

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Venture X earns flexible Capital One Rewards at an easy-to-remember flat rate. Later, redeem those miles for 1 cent each toward travel or transfer them to more than 15 loyalty program partners. You’ll also receive an anniversary bonus of 10,000 miles and a $300 annual credit to cover trips booked through Capital One Travel, in addition to select travel insurance and airport lounge access.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® includes an annual $300 statement credit toward purchases coded as travel expenses—including most vacation rentals through Vrbo, Airbnb and other platforms.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on flights and 10 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals when purchasing travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points per dollar on other travel and dining and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $550

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Sapphire Reserve’s annual travel credit doesn’t require you to book through their travel portal, so eligible vacation rental costs will be automatically covered. On top of that, the card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® at an elevated rate for travel.

Plus, redeem your rewards at 1.5 cents per point toward travel booked through Chase, transfer them at a 1:1 ratio to several partner airlines and hotels or request cash back. Cardholders also receive select travel insurance, trusted traveler application credits and airport lounge access—including access to Chase’s own lounges, like the Sapphire Lounge by The Club at New York-LaGuardia (LGA).

If you book vacation rentals for a gourmet kitchen or to hold family meals in a dining room, you’ll love the benefits and rewards of the American Express® Gold Card (terms apply, see rates & fees).

Rewards: Earn 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., 4 Membership Rewards® points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1 point per dollar), 3 Membership Rewards® points per dollar on flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express travel and 1 point per dollar on other eligible purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of card membership.

Annual fee: $250

Other benefits and drawbacks: It doesn’t matter if you prefer to cook, go to a restaurant or serve delivery or takeout meals. Either way, the Amex Gold card earns at extraordinary rates. Airfare also earns at high rates if you’re flying to reach your vacation rental.

The card rounds out with bonus statement credits toward select dining purchases, as well as Uber Cash that can be used for Uber Eats deliveries. However, this card is best for vacation rentals within the U.S., especially if you plan on grocery shopping and cooking, as additional points on grocery store purchases are only available at supermarkets within the U.S.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card comes with a fantastic set of rewards, credits and other travel benefits at a reasonable annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 5 points per dollar on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3 points per dollar on dining, select streaming services, and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), 2 points per dollar on all other travel purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee: $95

Other benefits and drawbacks: The Sapphire Preferred makes sense for travelers staying at vacation rentals thanks to the Ultimate Rewards it earns on travel and dining. Cardmembers also are eligible for an annual statement credit toward hotels booked through Chase Travel when you can’t find the right vacation home, a 10% annual points bonus for purchases made during the cardmember year and various travel protections. If you’re looking for a well-rounded card under $100 in annual fees, this is it.

The American Express® Green Card* is all about the rewards. It offers generous earning rates on transit to reach your vacation rental, the rental itself and other travel and dining expenses once you arrive.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar on travel and transit including flights, hotels, taxis, rideshare services, trains, parking and more, 3 points per dollar on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 40,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months.

Annual fee: $150

Other benefits and drawbacks: In addition to offering Membership Rewards through a welcome bonus and ongoing spending, this card also comes with extra travel perks. Every year, you’re eligible to earn statement credit for a CLEAR® Plus membership and entry fees to participating LoungeBuddy airport lounge locations. Eligible trips are covered by the card’s included trip delay and baggage insurance plus rental car collision and damage waiver.

Perfect for those who want to earn flat-rate, guaranteed cash back on vacation rentals, as well as a generous welcome bonus. The Citi Double Cash® Card is also easier to get approved for than some of the other premium cards on this list, ideal for spenders with fair credit. Cash back comes in the form of Citi ThankYou® Points, meaning you can choose cash back or redeem points for travel.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on all purchases—1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off.

Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening, fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: Perfect for extra cash back, the Citi Double Cash is especially beneficial for those who want to book a more expensive vacation rental within the first six months. This way, you can snag that welcome bonus and get some additional cash back, too.

The card also has a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that, the standard variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on creditworthiness. An intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies to transfers completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

With a host of travel rewards and the ability to earn points on monthly rent (as well as bonus points on travel and dining), the Bilt World Elite Mastercard® is a terrific option for renters. Plus, Bilt reward points are a valuable and flexible points currency to have, as they transfer 1:1 to more than 15 different transfer partners.

Rewards: Earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments without the transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each calendar year), 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points per dollar on travel (when booked through the Bilt Travel Portal or directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company), and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: Although vacation rentals don’t code as travel under Bilt’s double points specifications, you can book on Bilt Rent Day (the first of every month), and you’ll earn double points on all purchases other than rent (capped at 10,000 points). The credit card also offers elite status tiers, travel insurance benefits and Lyft credits. Just know, in order to get points, you’ll have to use your card at least five times in each statement period (rewards & benefits).

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card has an impressive number of benefits for a credit card with no annual fee. Although the card’s reward points aren’t as versatile as other points currencies, you can redeem them for travel purchases and cash back.

Rewards: Earn 3 points per dollar at restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus, earn 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Annual fee: $0

Other benefits and drawbacks: This card makes it easy to earn bonus points on everything from your actual vacation rental to gas or transit to get there and dining out while on vacation. The card also has a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening. A variable APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% applies for purchases after the intro period ends and for balance transfers. The card has a balance transfer fee of up to 5%, minimum $5.