Best Credit Cards for Vrbo [2024]: Max Out Your Rewards

CREDIT CARDS - CREDIT CARD REWARDS
If you frequently book Vrbo stays, consider using rewards credit cards to earn valuable cash back, points, or miles on your bookings.
Updated April 9, 2024
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Best Credit Cards for VRBO

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For frequent Vrbo travelers, we recommend using the Citi Double Cash® Card for Vrbo stays. It has a $0 annual fee and provides a simple rewards rate that works with Vrbo and your everyday expenses.

If you prefer more travel benefits, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®. Both of these cards earn valuable travel rewards and provide excellent travel insurance perks.

Let’s explore the best credit cards for Vrbo so you can find the right option for your wallet.

In this article

Key takeaways

  • We recommend the Citi Double Cash® Card for Vrbo stays because it has a $0 annual fee and helps you earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
  • The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card also has a $0 annual fee and offers a simple rewards rate and the potential to earn up to 75% bonus points by qualifying for different tiers of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program.
  • The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one of our favorite travel credit cards for its elevated earning potential on travel purchases, travel insurance benefits, and lack of foreign transaction fees, despite having a $95 annual fee.
  • When choosing the best credit card for your Vrbo stay, consider eligibility requirements, earning potential, perks such as travel credits and insurance, foreign transaction fees, and annual fees.

Some of the best credit cards for Vrbo

  1. Citi Double Cash® Card
  2. Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
  3. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  4. Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  5. Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
  6. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  7. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Compare the best credit cards for Vrbo

Credit card Benefits for Vrbo stays Annual fee

Citi Double Cash® Card

iCiti Double Cash® Card

4.8

  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24
$0

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

4.1

  • Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases
$0

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

4.9

  • Earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases
$95

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

4.7

  • Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25
  • Use miles to cover past travel purchases
$95

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

4.8

  • Earn 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases
$95

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

4.9

  • Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25
  • Use miles to cover past travel purchases
$395

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

5.0

  • Earn 5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases
  • Receive up to $300 in statement credits each anniversary year for eligible travel purchases
$550

Citi Double Cash® Card

Pros
  • Has a $0 annual fee
  • Has a simple rewards rate
Cons
  • Charges foreign transaction fees

The Citi Double Cash card makes it easy to earn elevated cash back on all eligible purchases, including Vrbo stays.

Why we like the Citi Double Cash Card

It has a $0 annual fee. It also has a simple rewards rate, which means you don’t have to stress about complicated spending categories.

You can earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.

With this rewards rate, that’s up to 2% cash back on all purchases, including Vrbo stays.

On top of that, you can also earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

What we don’t like about the Citi Double Cash Card

It charges 3% foreign transaction fees. If you’re planning to travel abroad or use Vrbo in another country, be aware of these charges.

Apply now or find out more in our Citi Double Cash® Card review.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Pros
  • Has a $0 annual fee
  • Has a simple rewards rate with up to 75% bonus points
  • Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Requires being a Preferred Rewards member for the earning bonus

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card makes sense if you want a no-stress travel card.

Why we like the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

It has a $0 annual fee and enables you to earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, including Vrbo stays.

If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn up to 75% more points on your eligible purchases. That turns a 1.5X rate into an incredible 2.62X rate.

Adding that you can earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases, this card has a lot to offer.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards charges 0% foreign transaction fees, making it a great card for international travelers.

What we don’t like about the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card

You have to be a Preferred Rewards member to earn up to 75% more on your eligible spending. To qualify for the 75% bonus rate, you need a three-month combined average daily balance of at least $100,000 in eligible Bank of America deposit and Merrill investing balances.

Apply now or find out more in our Bank of America Travel Rewards review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Pros
  • Has an elevated earning potential on travel purchases
  • Offers travel insurance benefits
  • Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Has a $95 annual fee

The Chase Sapphire Preferred makes sense for earning elevated rewards on eligible travel purchases, including Vrbo stays.

Why we like Chase Sapphire Preferred

You can earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases.

For Vrbo stays and other travel purchases, that means you can earn 2X Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

You can also earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

In addition, the Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and you can take advantage of various benefits.

These include protection and insurance benefits such as:

  • Trip delay reimbursement.
  • Travel and emergency assistance services.

Other travel benefits you can enjoy include:

  • Receiving 25% more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 when redeemed through the Chase travel portal.
  • Earning up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Travel℠.
  • Transferring points to different Chase airline and hotel partners. Partnerships include loyalty programs like United MileagePlus, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, and World of Hyatt.

What we don’t like about Chase Sapphire Preferred

You have to pay a $95 annual fee as a cardmember.

Apply now or find out more in our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Pros
  • Has a simple rewards rate
  • Enables you to redeem miles to cover past travel purchases
  • Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Has a $95 annual fee

The Capital One Venture Rewards is an exceptional jack-of-all-trades card for earning travel rewards on all eligible purchases.

Why we like Capital One Venture Rewards

You don’t have to pay foreign transaction fees. This card also enables you to earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25.

Having such a simple rewards rate makes it easy to earn miles on Vrbo stays and everyday spending.

On top of that, you can earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Other Capital One Venture Rewards travel benefits you can take advantage of include:

  • Receiving up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years.
  • Enjoying up to two complimentary visits per year to Capital One Lounges or Plaza Premium Lounges.
  • Redeeming miles for past travel purchases. That means you could book a Vrbo stay with your Venture Rewards card and then redeem miles to cover that purchase.
  • Transferring miles to over 15 airline and hotel chain loyalty programs.

What we don’t like about Capital One Venture Rewards

There’s a $95 annual fee for cardholders.

Find out more in our Capital One Venture Card review.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Pros
  • Has an excellent earning rate on eligible travel purchases
  • Offers travel insurance benefits
  • Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Has a $95 annual fee

The Ink Business Preferred is an excellent small business credit card for earning elevated rewards in common business categories, including travel.

Why we like Ink Business Preferred

You don’t have to pay foreign transaction fees. You can also earn 3X points on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases on travel, shipping purchases, Internet, cable and phone services, advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines each account anniversary year; and 1X points per $1 on all other purchases.

This means that you can earn up to 3X points on Vrbo stays and other qualified travel purchases.

Additionally, you can earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Ink Business Preferred also provides multiple travel insurance and protection benefits, including:

  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
  • Roadside dispatch.
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver.
  • Cell phone protection.

Points you earn with the Ink Business Preferred are worth 25% more if you redeem them for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 100,000 points are worth $1,250 towards Chase travel portal redemptions.

What we don’t like about Ink Business Preferred

Cardholders have to pay a $95 annual fee.

Apply now or find out more in our Ink Business Preferred review.

Keep in mind
The Ink Business Preferred is a business credit card, which means you need an eligible business to qualify. Fortunately, it’s possible to qualify with many different types of businesses, including sole proprietorships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and corporations.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Pros
  • Has a simple rewards rate
  • Enables you to redeem miles to cover past travel purchases
  • Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Has a $395 annual fee

The Capital One Venture X makes sense if you want a card with a simple rewards rate and premium travel benefits.

Why we like Capital One Venture X

It doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. You can also earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25.

That means you can earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day, including Vrbo stays and everyday expenses.

Additionally, you can earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Other Capital One Venture X travel benefits include:

  • Earning a $300 annual travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel.
  • Earning 10,000 bonus miles every card anniversary, starting on your first one.
  • Receiving complimentary airport lounge access to Capital One Lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and Priority Pass Lounges.
  • Receiving up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years.
  • Redeeming miles for past travel purchases. That means you could book a Vrbo stay with your Venture X card and then redeem miles to cover that purchase. Other redemption options include Capital One Travel, gift cards, Amazon purchases, and transfers to loyalty programs of over 15 airlines and hotel groups.

What we don’t like about Capital One Venture X

You have to pay a $395 annual fee as a cardmember.

Find out more in our Capital One Venture X review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Pros
  • Has an elevated rewards rate on travel purchases
  • Enables you to earn up to $300 annual travel credit
  • Doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees
Cons
  • Has a $550 annual fee

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is packed with travel benefits and provides excellent earning potential on travel and dining purchases.

Why we like Chase Sapphire Reserve

It doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. You can also earn 5X points on flights and 10X points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually; 3X points on other travel and dining & 1X points per dollar on all other purchases.

That means you can earn 3X on Vrbo stays as well as other travel and dining purchases.

You can also take advantage of its generous welcome offer. You can earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve provides these useful travel coverage benefits.

  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Lost luggage reimbursement
  • Baggage delay insurance
  • Emergency evacuation and transportation
  • Emergency medical and dental benefit
  • Roadside assistance
  • Travel and emergency assistance services

Other Chase Sapphire Reserve travel benefits include:

  • Earning up to $300 annual travel credit received in the form of statement credit reimbursements each anniversary year for eligible travel purchases. Vrbo stays count as eligible travel purchases.
  • Earning one statement credit of up to $100 every four years as an application fee reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® or NEXUS.
  • Receiving Complimentary airport lounge access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge by The Club locations and Priority Pass Lounges after an easy one-time enrollment.
  • Receiving 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward Chase travel portal redemptions.

What we don’t like about Chase Sapphire Reserve

Cardmembers have to pay a $550 annual fee.

Apply now or find out more in our Chase Sapphire Reserve review.

How to choose the best credit card for Vrbo

1. Eligibility requirements

You typically need a good credit score to qualify for one of the best Vrbo credit cards. That would be at least a 670 FICO score.

Depending on the card, you might need an excellent credit score to be eligible. That’s around 800 or higher on the FICO scoring model.

2. Earning potential

One of the main benefits of using a credit card to book Vrbo stays is the opportunity to earn rewards on your purchase.

In general, there are two types of rewards rates to look for when comparing rewards cards.

  1. Simple rate: A simple rewards rate allows you to earn consistent rewards, such as 2X, on all eligible purchases, making it straightforward to accumulate the same amount of rewards on Vrbo stays and everyday expenses.
  2. Spending categories: Spending or bonus categories offer extra rewards on certain purchases, such as 3X rewards on travel and dining, while all other eligible purchases earn 1X rewards. This rewards rate is beneficial for maximizing earnings on Vrbo stays as Vrbo and Airbnb stays are typically categorized as travel.

Keep in mind
Earning a welcome bonus or sign-up bonus is also an excellent way to earn rewards with a credit card. If two cards from different credit card issuers provide similar benefits, you might discover it’s worth applying for the card with the better welcome bonus because you could earn more rewards.

3. Perks and benefits

Some of the primary benefits we value include travel credits and travel insurance. Flexible travel credits can help reduce the cost of Vrbo stays.

Having a card with travel protections could help if something that is covered by your card’s insurance goes amiss. For example, you might be able to use credit card insurance if you have to cancel a stay at the last second because of a covered reason and you’re already past the refund deadline.

Certain other benefits, such as airport lounge access, could also come in handy if you’re traveling to a destination for your Vrbo stay.

Check out the best travel credit cards if you want top travel perks and benefits.

4. Foreign transaction fees

Vrbo has listings in both the U.S. and international destinations. If you plan on making international purchases with a card, it’s best to use a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. That’s an easy way to avoid a charge that’s typically about 3% of your purchase price.

You can check whether a card has foreign transaction fees by looking over the card details or terms and conditions.

5. Annual fees

Cards with no annual fees tend to be easier to use because you don’t have to stress about an annual cost each year. But it’s still worth comparing cards that charge annual fees to those that don’t because the value of their perks and benefits could warrant the card membership cost.

FAQ

Does Vrbo take American Express?

Vrbo accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards as payment methods. You can also use the Affirm payment option if you want to pay in monthly installments. (Note that Affirm is only available for certain properties in the U.S.)

When does Vrbo charge your card?

You typically have to make a first payment for at least a portion of the total booking price immediately. And then you can pay the rest a few weeks before the actual date of your stay. However, the timing of payments could depend on each Vrbo listing.

Can I use Chase Sapphire points for Vrbo?

You can’t use Chase points directly on the Vrbo site, but you might sometimes find vacation home listings on both Vrbo and the Chase Travel℠ portal. In addition, you might have the option to use the Pay Yourself Back option to cover past travel purchases with points on your Chase Sapphire card.

Best credit cards for Vrbo: bottom line

If you want a no-stress card for earning rewards on Vrbo bookings, we recommend the Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees). It has a $0 annual fee and provides 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.

For more earning potential on Vrbo stays, as well as premium travel benefits, we recommend the Chase Sapphire Reserve. This card provides you with up to $300 in annual statement credit reimbursements for eligible travel expenses, which works for Vrbo bookings.

For more of our top recommendations, compare credit cards and find the right credit card offer for you.

Methodology

To identify the credit cards that offer the best perks for Vrbo, we began by creating a list of credit cards that offer rewards and benefits for vacation rentals. We then reviewed each credit card for Vrbo-specific benefits or bonus rewards. We also collected additional details such as welcome offers, annual fees, and other features.

Keep in mind that our recommendations don’t include all credit cards suitable for Vrbo stays. Furthermore, we didn’t rank the cards in any particular order. Instead, our recommendations aim to provide readers with information on a curated selection of credit cards that cater to Vrbo users.

Great for Flexible Travel Rewards

4.9

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Current Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening

Annual Fee

$95

Rewards Rate

5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details

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