airbnb through chase travel

God Save The Points

Elevating your travel

Chase Extends Airbnb “Pay Yourself Back” Points Offer

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Sometimes transferring to partners and finding award availability can be a huge pain. I also probably don’t even have to mention the fact that hotel prices these days are high, and hotel award availability can be very challenging.

You have heard us discuss the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and the extreme value one can get from collecting the Chase Currency Ultimate Rewards Points. But, one benefit that is not discussed as often is the “Pay Yourself Back” feature that sometimes has promotions for specific categories.

Considering that most of the universe has the low-fee Chase Sapphire Preferred Card , this is a great benefit to remember when you have exhausted other potential miles&points hotel booking options.

“Pay Yourself Back” on Airbnb Until December 31, 2022

That’s right, through 12/31/22, you can choose to use your Ultimate Rewards Points to “Pay Yourself Back” with 25% more point value. This would be a value that is equivalent to booking travel via the Chase Travel Portal.

Chase has extended the bonus and the ability to use your Ultimate Rewards Points for Airbnb from the original expiry date of September 30, 2022.

For the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you would get 1.25 cents per point, while the Chase Sapphire Reserve would allow you to pay yourself back at a rate of 1.50 cents per point.

The easy math is that a $1000 Airbnb purchase would cost a Chase Sapphire Preferred Cardholder 80,000 Points and a Reserve Cardholder 66,666 points.

Why Is This A Better Option Than A Hotel Points Redemption?

Setting aside the fact that you would need to find the availability for the exact room category on the exact dates, multiple rooms can be a drag when you are redeeming for a group or family.

Redeeming a room at a hotel or resort is no big deal when you only have one or two people staying in the accommodation, but the moment you have more people, that often means having to redeem multiple rooms.

Airbnb now offers a huge variety of accommodations, including luxe, castles, historical homes, beachfront, and ski-in/out multi-bedroom options. These options solve the multi-room family or group trip.

Boat Rentals and Experiences

How about staying on a boat? While the boat will remain docked, you can often rent one that is moments from the action. One example might be renting a boat close to the action in Miami South Beach . Sure, the yacht stays docked, but it’s a pretty great idea when multiple rooms in South Beach are super expensive. You can also pay an additional fee for a ride with a licensed captain.

Another thing to not overlook are Airbnb Experiences . Even if you do not need to rent an Airbnb, you might be interested in purchasing experiences during your holiday. This is a great way to get a discount on some neat vacay experiences.

How Do I Pay Myself Back?

The beauty and simplicity of Chase “Pay Yourself Back” is that you only have to make the Airbnb purchase using your Chase Sapphire Preferred or Reserve Card . Once the charge settles (posts) to your account, you can choose the “Pay Yourself Back” option on the Chase Ultimate Rewards Page.

The only warning is that you need the charge to post by December 31, 2022. Of course, you could be booking something on Airbnb well into 2023. It might be a good idea to try to complete any transactions a few days prior to the end of 2022 since you would not want a charge to post after December 31st.

Even if your hotel rewards loyalty program “hunt’ has been unsuccessful, there are still a number of great opportunities on Airbnb using your Ultimate Rewards Points.

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3 Ways to Pay for Airbnb With Credit Card Rewards

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These days, budget travelers don’t need to choose between scraping together enough points and miles for a brand-name hotel room or paying cash for a lower-cost option. Many banks now offer an appealing alternative that’s somewhere in the middle: You can redeem credit card rewards for Airbnb stays, often because of how payment networks code these purchases.

The home-sharing platform offers plenty of affordable lodging options — for example, you can choose to rent a private room in a house, or an apartment — which makes it easy to stretch rewards further. And landing a rental with a kitchen could also save plenty on dining out.

Here’s how you can cover that next Airbnb stay with credit card points.

How to pay for Airbnb with points

1. cash in flexible travel rewards points.

Co-branded hotel credit cards generally limit you to redeeming points within that particular hotel chain, while general travel credit cards offer more flexibility.

Take the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card , or any of the cards in Capital One’s lineup of Venture cards (including the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Miles Boost and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card ), for example. These cards allow you to redeem points or miles for credit that can be applied to a broad range of travel purchases made on your card, including Airbnb purchases. That’s because payment networks classify spending at Airbnb in the same way as hotel purchases, confirms Airbnb.

Certain other home-share company purchases are classified as spending on real estate agents, which, unlike hotel spending, typically aren’t considered travel purchases. (Airbnb notes that previously, Airbnb spending was sometimes classified under travel agency purchases, but that’s no longer the case.)

Ian Thomas of Birmingham, Alabama, says he used the miles accrued on his Barclaycard Arrival Plus® World Elite Mastercard® to pay for a one-night Airbnb stay while traveling near Wanaka, New Zealand. He and his wife, Sarah, stayed in a house overlooking Lake Hawea.

With Airbnb, “you get to pick and choose what you want your experience to be like,” says Thomas, co-founder of the travel and lifestyle blog Simply Well Spent. One obstacle: On his card, miles cover travel purchases that cost more than $100, and his inexpensive Airbnb stays don’t always clear that bar. But because one night at the lakefront house cost $119, he was able to use his rewards to cover that stay.

on Bank of America's website

• 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

• 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases.

• 10 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel.

• 5 miles per $1 on flights through Capital One Travel.

• 2 miles per $1 on everything else.

• 5 miles per $1 on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.

• 1.25 miles per $1 on all purchases.

2. Redeem rewards for Airbnb gift cards or cash back

Points and miles aren’t the only way to pay for Airbnb. You can also use cash-back rewards — say, the ones you earned on cards like the Citi Double Cash® Card or the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express — to cover these expenses (or any other expenses, for that matter).

Another option: See if your issuer offers Airbnb gift cards as a redemption option. At the time of this writing, for example, Chase featured Airbnb gift cards in its travel booking portal. In the past, other issuers have also made these cards available. Keep in mind that Airbnb gift cards come with some restrictions. While they can be used to cover new reservations, they can’t be used for stays lasting longer than 28 days, changes to existing reservations or second payments (if you’re paying for a stay in two installments), according to Airbnb’s website.

Just be aware that redeeming rewards for cash back or gift cards (as opposed to booking travel) is sometimes a ho-hum redemption on some cards, especially certain travel cards. If you’re getting less than 1 cent per point or mile, try a different tactic.

But if you have expiring points and don’t have travel plans anytime soon, it can make sense to spend them on gift cards for future Airbnb stays — especially since Airbnb gift card balances do not expire.

3. Take advantage of travel statement credits

Carry a fancy credit card? Your annual travel credit might make your next Airbnb stay more affordable.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Such is the case for cardholders of the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , a travel card that carries an annual fee of $550 .

The card comes with a travel statement credit of $300 that renews each account anniversary year. The benefit is applied automatically, and a broad range of travel expenses are eligible, including Airbnb, the issuer confirms.

U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card

Similarly, the U.S. Bank Altitude™ Reserve Visa Infinite® Card — which carries a $400 annual fee — comes with a $325 annual travel credit that can be used for Airbnb stays, as long as the purchases are classified as hotel purchases, U.S. Bank confirms.

This credit is automatically applied to eligible purchases.

It also comes with a sign-up bonus: Earn an enrollment bonus of 50,000 points worth $750 on travel. Just spend $4,500 in the first 90 days of account opening.

If you happen to have unused credit when you book using one of these cards, this perk might just cover your whole stay.

» Learn more: The best Airbnb credit cards

Make your own 'Airbnb credit card'

Though no official co-branded Airbnb credit card is on the market, booking your stays with certain travel rewards cards can help lessen the financial sting (let's be honest, those cleaning fees are a bummer ).

In short: Spending on the cards recommended above can be a smart money move for Airbnb loyalists.

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

on Citibank's application

1%-5% Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

$200 Earn $200 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.

on Wells Fargo's website

2% Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

$200 Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

1x-3x Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.

20,000 Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.

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The Complete Guide To Using the Chase Travel Portal — Maximize Your Options

Katie Seemann

Senior Content Contributor and News Editor

377 Published Articles 62 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 28 U.S. States Visited: 29

Senior Editor & Content Contributor

170 Published Articles 797 Edited Articles

Countries Visited: 41 U.S. States Visited: 28

Table of Contents

Why book travel through the chase travel portal, cards that earn chase ultimate rewards points, what are chase ultimate rewards points worth, earning chase points by booking travel, how to access the chase travel portal, how to book a flight through chase travel, how to book a hotel through chase travel, how to book a rental car through the chase travel portal, how to book activities through chase travel, how to book a cruise through the portal, how do the prices compare to other sites, other ways to use the chase travel portal, final thoughts.

We may be compensated when you click on product links, such as credit cards, from one or more of our advertising partners. Terms apply to the offers below. See our  Advertising Policy for more about our partners, how we make money, and our rating methodology. Opinions and recommendations are ours alone.

Key Takeaways

• The Chase Ultimate Rewards Travel Portal allows cardholders to book travel using points at a fixed value, typically 1 to 1.5 cents per point, depending on the card.
• The portal offers flights, hotels, cruises, car rentals, and experiences. Users can pay with points, a Chase credit card, or a combination of both.
• You can also use the portal to pay with points at Amazon, Apple, and PayPal, purchase gift cards, and transfer points to Chase airline and hotel partners.

Chase Ultimate Rewards is one of the major transferrable points programs and a favorite among many travelers. Points are easy to earn and can be transferred to many different hotel and airline partners. But you can also book travel directly through Chase’s travel portal using Ultimate Rewards points.

Booking travel through the Chase Travel portal is simple and can be a great way to use your points.

We’ll show you everything you need to know about how to redeem your points, including the benefits, how to know what your points are worth, and how to book airlines, hotels, and more through the Chase Travel portal.

Generally, you can get maximum value from your Chase Ultimate Rewards points by transferring them to the Chase airline and hotel partners , so why are we talking about using points through a travel portal? While it’s true that the only way to get the highest value redemptions is by transferring, there is still a lot of value to be had by booking directly through the Chase Travel portal.

Flexibility

Flexibility is not often available with points bookings. Unlike an award booking, booking through Chase Travel is like using any other online travel agency (OTA) . There are no blackout dates or limited inventory award seats. If a flight or hotel is available, you can book it with points through the Chase travel portal.

You Can Earn Frequent Flyer Miles

One of the major bummers of booking flights with frequent flyer miles is that you don’t earn miles on award bookings. You can end up doing a lot of travel without earning miles. However, any booking you make with your Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the Chase Travel portal will earn frequent flyer miles and accrue status points. Unfortunately, hotel and car rental bookings still won’t earn points.

We have talked to so many people over the years that love the idea of collecting points and miles but don’t want to deal with the hassle. While many don’t mind putting a little work into getting an awesome redemption, others are just looking for a simple way to book travel and hopefully save some money in the process.

That’s where the Chase Travel portal comes in. With this method of redeeming points, there is no transferring, comparing points values, blackout dates, limited award availability, or multiple travel accounts. You only have to deal with 1 type of point and 1 travel portal but can still retain many of the benefits of collecting points and miles in the first place.

Bottom Line: You can book flights, hotels, rental cars, activities, and cruises through the Chase Travel portal.

If you like the idea of using the Chase Travel portal, you’ll need a credit card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points:

A fantastic travel card with a great welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees:  None

Chase Ultimate Rewards

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases through March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 22.49%–29.49% Variable

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

The Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases , especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance , rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
• Earn 90k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 cash back or $1,125 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable

There are also some great cash-back cards from Chase that can be used to book travel through Chase Travel. The points earned on these cards can be converted into cash-back or alternatively, they can be used in the Chase travel portal.

• Chase Freedom Flex℠
• Chase Freedom Unlimited ®
• Chase Freedom ® card (no longer open to new applicants)
• Ink Business Cash ® Credit Card
• Ink Business Plus ® Credit Card (no longer open to new applicants)
• Ink Business Unlimited ® Credit Card
• Ink Business Premier ® Credit Card

It’s easy to earn lots of Chase Ultimate Rewards points , but do you know how much they are worth ? If you’re transferring your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to a travel partner, their value will go up or down depending on the type of redemption.

However, when you are booking your travel directly through Chase’s travel portal, each Chase Ultimate Rewards point has a set value that won’t change . The credit card you have will determine the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Transfer Your Points Between Credit Cards for Maximum Value

If you have multiple Chase credit cards, it makes sense to transfer your points to the card with the most valuable redemption rate. The only exception to this is the Ink Business Premier card because points earned on this card can’t be transferred to any other card.

1. To transfer your points between 2 cards, log on to the Chase dashboard and select Combine Points .

2. Then you will be able to select the card you want to transfer points from and the card you want to receive the points. After you choose, click Next.

3. You can transfer all of your points or just what you need. Click Review to continue.

4. Double-check the details and click on the Submit button to complete the transfer.

Bottom Line: Your credit card will determine the value of your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Your points are worth between 1 to 1.5 cents each depending on which credit card you’re redeeming points through. 

What if you’d prefer to pay for your travel with a Chase credit card to earn Ultimate Rewards points? The number of points you’ll earn through the Chase travel portal is dependent on which credit card you have and what type of travel you’re purchasing.

You can log into your account in 2 ways.

First, you can go directly to the Ultimate Rewards website to log in or you can log in through your Chase account .

If you’re in your Chase account, click on one of your Ultimate Rewards credit cards and then click on Redeem next to the card’s Ultimate Rewards balance.

Then choose the card you want to use.

From here you can access Chase Travel by clicking on Travel  in the top search box or you can switch to another card’s account by clicking on the 3-line icon in the upper left-hand corner.

1. In the Travel section of your Ultimate Rewards account, click on Flights to start your search for a flight. As with any other OTA, you begin your search by inputting basic information such as departure and arrival city, travel dates, and the number of passengers.

2. Next, you will be able to narrow your search results . At the left-hand side of the page, you can filter your results by things like airline or flight times. Then you can sort your results by price, trip duration, or times using the drop-down box at the top of the search results.

3. For each flight option, you’ll be able to see the price in dollars and in points on the right-hand side of the results box.

4. Once you’ve found the flight you want, click the blue Select button. Next, you can choose your return flight using the same process as you did for selecting the outbound flight. Click the blue Select button once you have made your choice.

5. From here you can confirm your flight details and select a fare upgrade if you wish. Then, you’ll be able to choose how to pay for your flight . You can pay for the entire purchase with points or a Chase credit card, or you can split your payment between points and a Chase credit card.

6. Finally, input your passenger information next. Don’t forget to add a frequent flyer number, a Known Traveler Number, or a Redress number if you have them.

Hot Tip: When purchasing travel through the Chase travel portal, you can split your payment between Chase Ultimate Rewards points and a Chase credit card.

1. To book a hotel through the Chase Travel portal , you’ll need to start by clicking on the Hotels tab in the main search box. Then, input your destination, check-in and check-out dates, and the number of travelers. Next, click on the blue Search button.

2. Your search results will look like other sites that you may be familiar with. You’ll see filtering options to the left and sorting options above your search results.

3. Each search result will show the price in both dollars and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. These prices include taxes and fees with the exception of resort fees.

4. Once you select your hotel, click on Add to Itinerary . You can choose to pay for all or part of your hotel cost using Ultimate Rewards points. Click Begin Checkout to input your reservation details and finalize your booking.

Hot Tip: When booking a hotel through the Chase Travel portal, you won’t be eligible to earn points in the hotel’s loyalty program or take advantage of any elite status you may have.

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection (LHRC) is exclusively for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholders. From the Ultimate Rewards travel home page, just click on The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection tab.

Once you are on the LHRC homepage, type in your destination and click Search to view available properties. Each listing will display the property’s unique cardmember benefits. Click on the listing for more information and to continue the booking process.

When booked through the Chase Travel portal, these properties offer the following benefits:

• Daily breakfast for 2
• Special amenity (varies by property)
• Room upgrades (based on availability)
• Early check-in and late checkout (based on availability)

The Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection properties are reservation-only bookings. You’ll make your reservations online and payment doesn’t happen until you check out from the hotel. These bookings will not take Chase Ultimate Rewards points as payment.

Bottom Line: Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection properties are only available to Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. These properties can’t be booked with points.

1. To rent a car through the Chase Travel portal, start by clicking on the Cars tab in the main search box. Then, input your pick-up location, drop-off location, dates, times, and age of the driver. Click on the blue Search box to continue.

2. You can then narrow your search with the filtering options on the left-hand side of the page.

3. For each car option, you will be able to see the car details, rental company, and price in both dollars and Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Once you have selected the car you want to rent, click on Add to Itinerary .

4. You can pay for the entire purchase with points or a Chase credit card or split your payment in any amount. Double-check all of the details before completing your purchase.

Did you know you can also book activities through Chase Travel?

1. Click the Activities tab on the Ultimate Rewards travel homepage to get started. Then, input your destination and travel dates and click the Search button to continue.

2. You can narrow your search by selecting 1 or more categories at the left-hand side of the page. Categories can include things like:

• Classes & workshops
• Cruises & sailing
• Food & drink
• Outdoor activities
• Seasonal & special occasions
• Tickets & passes
• Tours & sightseeing
• Transfers & ground transport
• Unique experiences

3. Each activity will show the price in both dollars and points to the right side of the screen. Click on Show Details and Pricing for more information and to book the activity.

6. Double-check all of the details on the final page before completing your purchase. Click the box confirming you understand the travel disclosures, then click Complete Checkout to finish your purchase.

Bottom Line: You can book lots of activities through the Chase Travel portal, including airport transfers!

If you’re a fan of cruises, you’ll be pleased to know you can book them through your Chase Travel portal. To get started, click on the Cruises tab on the Ultimate Rewards travel homepage.

This will bring up a list of available cruises, but there’s also a search box at the top of the screen, so you can input a specific destination or cruise line.

Each listing will display the cruise line, ship, ports of call, sailing dates, and baseline pricing for an interior or oceanview cabin. Unfortunately, if you want any more specific information or if you want to book, you will need to call 855-234-2542 .

You’ll notice that only cash prices are listed for cruises, however, they can be booked using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, too.

Hot Tip: You can book a cruise through Chase Travel but you’ll have to call to make your reservation as they can’t be booked online.

Are you getting a good deal by booking through Chase? Let’s look at how the prices available through the Chase Travel portal stack up to other OTAs and search engines including Hotwire , Kayak , and Expedia .

We did some flight searches and found there’s no clear-cut pattern on prices between the Chase portal to other websites.

Example #1: Round-trip flight between Philadelphia (PHL) and San Francisco (SFO) for 1 person in economy.

We searched this route in the Chase travel portal and the cheapest option was a flight that was split between Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines for $526.20. This worked out to be the cheapest price we found, and Priceline had the same low price. Expedia and Hotwire both charge booking fees, making the price a little higher. Each airline’s own website couldn’t split the itinerary between different airlines, so those ended up being much more expensive.

If you are in doubt or would like to check prices yourself, Kayak is a great place to start. Kayak will show you prices for a flight on all of the OTAs as well as the airline’s website. It’s a great one-stop shop to compare flight prices.

Example #2: Round-trip flight between New York City (JFK) and Paris, France (CDG) for 1 person in economy.

We searched this route in the Chase travel portal and the cheapest option was a flight that was split between American Airlines and British Airways for $689.78. This wasn’t the overall best price we found, though. That award goes to Expedia and Priceline.

Hot Tip: You will earn frequent flyer miles when you book your flight through the Chase Travel portal.

Example #1: Here’s how prices looked for a week-long stay at the JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa in Mexico for 2 people including all taxes and fees. The $291.55 resort fee can’t be paid with points.

In this example, the best cash rate by far was through Marriott. However, if you wanted to pay with points, booking with Chase Ultimate Rewards points through the travel portal would be your best bet.

Keep in mind that Marriott doesn’t have an award chart, so different time periods can have different point costs. A 7-night stay at this hotel can dip down to 240,000 points for a 7-night stay. If you’re going to pay for your hotel stay in points, it’s always smart to calculate how many points it would cost to book through Chase versus transferring points . This information can help you make the best and least expensive choice.

Hot Tip: You won’t earn hotel loyalty points when booking a hotel through Chase and any elite status you have may not be recognized.

Example #2: Let’s look at an example of a hotel that doesn’t have a loyalty program. We priced out a 2-night stay at Almond Tree Inn Hotel in Key West, FL for 2 people. The highest prices were direct via the hotel with all other websites surveyed being cheaper.

Here’s how the prices stacked up:

Chase’s low price matched the other online travel websites and was actually lower than the hotel’s own website, so it would be a great option in this case. It also affords the opportunity to use points for a hotel that doesn’t have its own loyalty program.

Car Rentals

In many cases, car rental prices found through the Chase Travel portal were similar to prices found on the rental agency’s own website.

The main difference in booking through Chase vs. directly through a car rental agency is that the car rental agency often has the ability to book the car without paying up front. With the Chase portal, you will be paying at the time of booking and there may be change or cancellation fees if you need to modify your reservation.

In both of these examples, Chase Travel didn’t offer the lowest price, however, that won’t always necessarily be the case. Of course, the advantage of booking through Chase is the ability to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. It’s always a good idea to price out your car rental on a few different websites before booking to ensure you’re getting the best price.

Chase actually offered the lowest prices on activities for both examples:

Earn Bonus Ultimate Rewards Points

The Chase Travel portal also helps you earn bonus points.  With the Shop through Chase feature, you can earn extra Ultimate Rewards points through your online shopping.

Just click Earn Bonus Points in the top search bar to access the shopping portal. Click on a featured store or search for a specific one. Then simply click through the portal to your website of choice to make your purchase. Your bonus points will be added to your Chase Ultimate Rewards points total within 3 to 5 days in most cases.

Pay With Points

Did you know you can use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to make purchases at Amazon and PayPal? Click on Pay with Points in the top search bar, then select either Amazon or PayPal to enroll and shop.

Unfortunately, the redemption value you get when shopping through Amazon or PayPal is pretty bad — only 0.8 cents per point. While it’s great to have this as an option, we don’t recommend using points to shop at Amazon or PayPal as your main use of Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

Bottom Line: The value of using your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to shop through Amazon or PayPal isn’t great: you will only get 0.8 cents per point!

Apple Purchases

By clicking on Apple in the main search box in your Ultimate Rewards account, you can use your Chase points to make purchases. Normally, you’ll get 1 cent per point in value when using your points for Apple purchases, but there are occasional bonuses offered to get a better redemption rate.

You can also redeem your Ultimate Rewards points for cash-back. To do this, simply select Cash-back from the main search bar at the top of the screen. You will then be able to see choose how many points you’d like to redeem for cash-back at a value of 1 cent per point .

You can choose to have your cash direct deposited into a checking or savings account or as a statement credit. The deposit or statement credit will be posted within 3 days.

Bottom Line: Your Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each when redeemed as cash-back. We do not recommend this as a primary redemption option because you can get more value via the Chase Travel portal, and a lot more when transferring to airline and hotel partners.

Experiences

This is a really cool section of the Chase Travel portal. When you click on Experiences in the main search bar, you’ll see a list of exclusive events, preferred seating, and other offers for select Chase cardmembers.

Experiences can be purchased with a credit card or with points. You will get 1 cent per point in value when redeeming points for experiences. Some experiences are only available to cardholders of specific cards so be sure to check all of your cards if you have more than 1 to make sure you don’t miss anything.

If you prefer gift cards, you can purchase them through the Chase Travel portal using points. Just click Gift Cards in the main search bar to get started. From here, you will be able to scroll through all of the available gift cards. You’ll get 1 cent per point in value, with occasional sales offering better redemption rates.

Hot Tip: Points redeemed for gift cards have a 1-cent per point value. However, you might notice some cards offer discounts, so there is the opportunity to get a bit more value!

Pay Yourself Back

Another way to use your Ultimate Rewards points is through the Pay Yourself Back feature. This allows you to redeem your points for a statement credit for purchases in select categories. The current categories include groceries, dining, select charities, credit card annual fee, internet, cable, phone, and shipping and the redemption value varies by card.

Transfer To Travel Partners

Transferring points to travel partners is the best way to get the most value out of your points . By transferring, you can potentially get 2, 3, or more cents per point value.

Chase Airline Transfer Partners

Chase Hotel Transfer Partners

To transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to any of the above airline and hotel partners, log on to your account and click on Transfer To Travel Partners in the top search box. Choose your airline or hotel and then select Transfer Points . You’ll need to fill out your frequent flyer information or hotel loyalty membership number to complete the transfer.

Bottom Line: You can currently transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to 14 different hotel and airline partners.

There are many ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points. While transferring points to one of Chase’s airline and hotel travel partners can get you maximum value, there are a lot of benefits for booking travel directly through the Chase Travel portal .

In addition to hotels and flights, you can book car rentals, activities, and cruises. Or, you can use your points for cash back, shopping, gift cards, or Chase exclusive experiences. With so many ways to use your Chase Ultimate Rewards points, your next trip is only a few clicks away!

The information regarding the Chase Freedom Flex℠ was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Chase Freedom ® Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. The information regarding the Ink Business Plus ® Credit Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer. 

Related Posts

UP's Bonus Valuation

This bonus value is an estimated valuation  calculated by UP after analyzing redemption options, transfer partners, award availability and how much UP would pay to buy these points.

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Best credit card for booking Airbnb and vacation rentals

Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money .

Update:   One or more card offers in this post are no longer available.  Check our  Hot Deals  for the latest offers.

Websites like Airbnb let individuals rent out their personal home to travelers, either a single room (where you can stay with a host family) or the whole house.

Staying in someone else’s home might feel a little strange, and even scary! Several of my travel buddies over the years have been hesitant to try these services — their imaginations paint scenes of duct tape, zip ties, and hidden cameras. But the truth is, Airbnb is very safe. It’s a great choice for folks who prefer a local feel when they travel, or want to explore off the beaten path.

It’s also ideal for longer stays, like a couple of weeks or more. You can trigger a discount of 50% (sometimes even more) when renting for at least a month. If you spend a lot on purchases like this, you’d better be using the right travel credit card to get the biggest bang for your spend.

Best credit cards for booking Airbnb and vacation rentals 2020

• Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best card for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points with Airbnb
• Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Best business card for Airbnb spend
• American Express® Green Card: Best card for earning Amex Membership Rewards points with Airbnb
• Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card: Best card for earning cash back card  Airbnb

An important note before we get started — sites like VRBO and Homeaway sometimes code as real estate (or a variant thereof) instead of travel. If this happens to you, you’ll likely have success calling your bank and telling them you didn’t receive your bonus points.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

When you sign up for Chase Sapphire Reserve, you’ll e arn 50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The  Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits  include the ability to earn 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points on  travel  (excluding $300 travel credit), 10x points on Lyft rides (through March 2022) and dining worldwide and one Chase point on all other purchases.

The best perk for this card is the annual $300 in travel credits, which are automatically earned whenever you make a qualify purchase — including Airbnb! You also get an application fee credit (worth up to $100) for  Global Entry or TSA PreCheck  every four years. The card even includes a Priority Pass Select membership, which gets you and up to two guests access to 1,200+  airport lounges .

Additionally, the card offers:

• One complimentary year of a  Lyft Pink membership  when you activate the benefit by March 31, 2022
• At least one year of complimentary DashPass (normally $9.99/month), which you must activate by March 31, 2022

All these benefits, from rideshare discounts to free delivery, come in handy when you’re staying at an Airbnb.

The  Chase Sapphire Reserve annual fee  is $550.

Insider tip

You’ll only have to pay a $450 annual fee for this card in 2020, thanks to coronavirus-related benefits Chase has added to this card. Read this post for more details.

Why it’s worth it

We often tout the Chase Sapphire Reserve as the best premium travel rewards credit card. The Sapphire Reserve sign-up bonus is worth at least $1,000 in travel when redeemed through Chase Ultimate Rewards. With the $300 annual credit for travel purchases every cardmember anniversary, that’s $1,320 in value in the first year for the bonus and the credit ( we value Chase points at 1.7 cents + the $300 credit), not counting other money-saving perks you enjoy as a cardholder.

Total value

Be sure to run the numbers when deciding between the Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve. For example, you’re effectively paying a $250 annual fee with the Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550 annual fee – $300 travel credit). You’ll pay a $95 annual fee for the Chase Sapphire Preferred. So you’ll effectively pay $155 more each year ($250 – $95) to get many extra perks, like lounge access, more bonus points on travel and dining purchases, rental car discounts and much more.

The card also allows you to  transfer Chase points  to travel partners, which can be more valuable than you can imagine. Read our post on the best ways to use Chase points .

Note that Chase enforces  restrictions for their Sapphire-branded credit cards . You cannot have more than one Sapphire-branded credit card open at the same time.

Apply for the  Chase Sapphire Reserve card.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best small-business card

Earn 100,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $15,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. This is the highest public offer we’ve ever see for this card and is a big reason why the  Chase Ink Business Preferred  is our #1 pick.

The Ink Business Preferred card earns 3x Chase Ultimate Rewards points for every dollar you spend on travel (including Airbnb), shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (up to a maximum of $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year). You’ll earn 5x points on Lyft rides through March 2022 and one Chase Ultimate Rewards point per dollar on all other purchases.

The card has an array of travel coverages including, rental car insurance (primary when renting for business purposes), baggage delay insurance, trip delay protection and lost luggage coverage. Also, eligible purchases will get extended warranty coverage of an additional year when the original warranty is three years or less.

And just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the Chase Ink Business Preferred allows you to  transfer Chase points  to travel partners.

The Ink Business Preferred card has a $95 annual fee.

When you pay for you cell phone bill with the card you’ll get cell phone protection for up to $1,000 per claim (up to three claims per year) against covered theft or damage with a $100 deductible.

The Ink Business Preferred is our overall  best business credit card  because, in addition to the huge introductory bonus, it also has generous bonus spending categories and great built-in insurance. Million Mile Secrets staff and readers alike have saved by using perks like the card’s trip delay coverage,  rental car insurance  and cell phone insurance.

If you like basic cash back, the 100,000-point bonus offer is worth $1,000 (when redeemed for cash), but can be worth more when it’s used for travel. For example, with this card your  Chase points are worth  1.25 cents each toward travel booked through the  Chase travel portal . That’s $1,250 in flights, hotels, rental cars or activities from one bonus.

American Express® Green Card

You can earn 45,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $2,000 on purchases on your  Amex Green card  in your first six months of card membership.

The Amex Green card earns 3x Membership Rewards points on travel, restaurant purchases worldwide and one point per dollar everywhere else. You’ll earn 3 Amex points per dollar with Airbnb.

Along with the good earnings rate on travel purchases, cardholders will get perks like up to $100 in yearly statement credits when you use your Amex Green card to pay for a CLEAR membership. Plus, up to $100 in LoungeBuddy statement credits per year. For frequent travelers, benefits like these can certainly make your flying experience a better one.

The  Amex Green Card is worth it  if you can use the card’s unique benefits that can save you time and money on your travels. The card does carry an annual fee of $150, but it’s not hard to come out ahead.

We estimate  Amex points value to be around 2 cents each. That means a 45,000-point welcome offer is worth $900 in travel on average. Throw in the monthly $10 statement credits due to COVID-19, the $100 annual LoungeBuddy credits, and the value you’ll receive from the annual up to $100 statement credit towards CLEAR membership, and you’re getting nearly $800 in value AFTER paying the annual fee during your first year of cardmembership.

Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card

The Wells Fargo Propel American Express card comes with 20,000 bonus points (worth $200 in cash back, travel, gift cards or other rewards) after you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first three months of card opening.

The Wells Fargo Propel card is no longer available for new applicants.

Benefits and perks

This card earns 3 points per dollar on travel purchases (including Airbnb), eating out and ordering in, gas stations, rideshares, transit and on eligible streaming services. You’ll earn one point per dollar for all other purchases.

In addition to having no foreign transaction fees, you’ll also get cell phone insurance when you pay you cellular service provider with your Propel card (up to $600 per claim with a super-reasonable $25 deductible).

This card doesn’t have an annual fee.

If you pair the Propel card with the Wells Fargo Visa Signature® Card you can increase the value of your points if you pool your points between the two cards. With the Visa Signature card you can redeem points toward airfare booked through the Wells Fargo Go Far Rewards portal for 1.5 cents each. And if you spend $50,000+ on your Visa Signature card in a calendar year that rate bumps up to 1.75 cents each.

The information for the Wells Fargo Propel and Wells Fargo Visa Signature card has been collected independently by Million Mile Secrets. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Why it’s worth it

Your points are worth one cent each for rewards like cash back, travel, or gift cards. If you spend a lot in these categories, earning 3% back in rewards is a good deal, especially for a card with no annual fee.

Because the card has no annual fee, anything you earn from this card is pure profit. For example, I reserved a vacation home near Yellowstone in August for my in-laws. The property cost a total of $2,400. By using this card, I could have earned $72 for making a purchase I would have made anyway.

The card is worth at least $200 the first year, not to mention the hundreds you’ll save in cell phone coverage for you and your family.

What is an Airbnb or vacation home rental?

As stated in the intro, Airbnb and vacation home rentals are great alternatives to hotels. You won’t get the cookie-cutter experience, and you’ll find exponentially more locations for rent through these sites than with hotels.

Especially the adventurous travelers will love Airbnb, as you can find properties from deep wilderness of Alaska to the Australian Outback — hundreds of miles from the nearest hotel. These sites often prove a large discount over hotels for extended stays, too — not to mention more comfortable and spacious living quarters.

There are certainly downsides, however. For example, you won’t receive housekeeping services and other luxuries that you’ll find at hotels.

Maximizing Airbnb purchases

You can go above and beyond credit card earnings with Airbnb. Before you make any  purchase online, be sure you aren’t leaving miles and points on the table by going through an  online shopping portal .

Usually, the easiest way to find the biggest return is with site aggregator  Cashback Monitor . However, Airbnb has unique partnerships with Delta and British Airways that will provide you with bonus miles simply by starting your search on their website. The price is the same as if you navigated straight to Airbnb. Here are the portals:

• Delta Airbnb portal  – 1 Delta mile per dollar
• British Airways Airbnb portal – 3 British Airways Avios points per dollar

Again, these rewards are in addition to the points you’ll earn with your credit card. In other words, if you used the Chase Sapphire Reserve for your Airbnb, and you shopped through the British Airways portal, you’d receive:

• 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar
• 3 British Airways Avios points per dollar

Additionally, be watchful for bonuses on Airbnb gift cards through sites like Amazon, Target, Kroger, etc. Some cards offer big spending bonuses at these stores. For example, the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card earns 5% back at Amazon (if you have an Amazon Prime account).

Also, a couple credit cards earn 5% back on rotating bonus categories that sometimes include grocery stores, department stores, and online shopping. These cards earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined spending in rotating bonus categories during the promotional dates — and you must activate the bonus.

How we chose the best credit cards for Airbnb and vacation home rentals

Welcome bonus.

Big bonuses are the most attractive elements of a credit card — at first. The above cards all offer bonuses worth hundreds — and in some cases potentially thousands — of dollars in free travel. Remember, you don’t have to choose just one of the above cards. You could technically apply for them all, if you wanted.

Earnings for Airbnb and vacation home spending

If you reserve Airbnb often, you’ll potentially earn thousands and thousands (and thousands) more points simply by spending three minutes concocting a credit card strategy. The above cards are fail-safe options for your travel style.

Travel perks

You’re probably not going to open a card SOLELY for how much it earns on Airbnb. Besides, if you stay with Airbnb often, you’re a traveler. You’re going to want a card that earns lots of points and gives you strong benefits on travel-related purchases.

For rates and fees of the Amex Green card, click here.

Let us know your favorite card to use when reserving Airbnb and vacation rental homes! And  subscribe to our newsletter   for more info like this delivered to your inbox.

Joseph Hostetler

Joseph Hostetler is a full-time writer for Million Mile Secrets, covering miles and points tips and tricks, as well as helpful travel-related news and deals. He has also authored and edited for The Points Guy.

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Montage healdsburg: the heart and soul of sonoma.

Wondering what it's like to stay at Montage Healdsburg? Chase Travel’s writers and editors visit the world's top hotels to give you a firsthand look inside.

Much more casual and agrarian than Napa Valley, its neighbor to the south, Sonoma County is filled with family-owned, multigenerational businesses.  Montage Healdsburg  may not be one of them, but the hotel does a great job of fitting in, and giving you the impression it's been here forever (and not, in reality, since 2020). Driving the long road to the sprawling property, past 258 acres of vineyards and heritage oak trees, it's hard to believe the hotel didn't exist before then. Even the guestrooms, which are luxe treehouses that stand atop stilts in the forest, feel like they've always been part of the landscape.

Stay here if: You want to experience more than California wine country's vineyards (but you want prime access to those, too).

Everything about this place feels deeply rooted, including the staff. They all seem to be friends with one another—and the rest of Sonoma. The server at Hazel Hill, the hotel's signature restaurant, might offer to introduce you to the resident beekeeper, who harvests the small-batch raw honey sold at the on-site Healdsburg Country Store, and your hiking guide is buddies with the guy who poured your rosé at Marine Layer in town last night. It's always better to see a destination for the first time with a local and, at the Montage, you'll feel like you're staying with someone who's eager to share their home with you.

Hidden among heritage oaks, guestrooms at Montage Healdsburg feel like private treehouses.

Take time between wine tastings for a dip in one of the Montage’s two pools.

The chic lobby is the perfect place for a fireside latté in the morning and a sunset cocktail come evening.

Don’t miss the five-course chef’s tasting at the hotel’s signature restaurant, Hazel Hill.

Montage Healdsburg has a very tucked-away quality, ideal for travelers wanting easy access to Sonoma but also privacy. The main building sits at the end of a winding, uphill road and the guest rooms (which are more like private treehouses) are hidden within a forest. You can't see any of the property from the street; in fact, there are only two places off-property where it's visible: the tasting room at nearby Jordan Vineyard and the community of Parkland Farms, population 1,638. It all creates the effect of a warm and inviting family home, rather than one of Sonoma's most exciting hotel openings in years.

Guests—multi-generational families in coordinated tennis whites, groups of girlfriends having a weekend away, couples with their babies and designer strollers—gather around the double-sided fireplace in the warm, modern lobby each morning, sipping their lattés over quiet conversation. They come together again in the evenings, at happy hour drinks on the vineyard-view terrace or for multi-course dinners at Hazel Hill, but otherwise keep to themselves. The hotel could be at full capacity and you'd never know it, both because of the property's sprawling layout and its quiet atmosphere.

Rooms, especially those with forest views, feel like your fantasy treehouse brought to life. Housed in stilted, free-standing buildings, they hover among the treetops, putting you eye level with the lace lichen-covered oaks that surround the property. Floor-to-ceiling windows—in the closet area, beside the front door and even the forest-facing bathrooms—bring the outdoors in, while the balcony, complete with a firepit, makes you feel like you’re in the canopy.

Most guests are here to visit Sonoma's famous vineyards, but you don't even have to leave the property for that. The Montage has 15.5 acres of its own vines, managed by acclaimed winemaker Jesse Katz of nearby Aperture Cellars. In early 2024, the hotel launched a private wine label, Surveyor, with a sauvignon blanc to start, followed by a cabernet sauvignon and rosé. Sample one next to the firepit on your balcony as a prelude to dinner at Hazel Hill or, better yet, on Scout Field Bar's outdoor terrace, overlooking the grapes that went into your glass.

Still, the Montage makes a notable effort to educate guests about what else Sonoma has to offer—and there's a lot. Through the hotel's adventure hub, Compass Sports, you can go hiking in the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve or e-bike through Dry Creek Valley. Also available are experiences like seaweed foraging on the Sonoma Coast, driving along the Bohemian Highway to see the redwood trees, kayaking on the Russian River and horseback riding around Lake Sonoma.

Equally important to the hotel is caring for the land and supporting local purveyors. Before building even started, the developers cataloged as many trees as possible (22,000 oaks, to be exact) and then, for every tree they had to take down, they planted a new seed. A resident beekeeper maintains four hives and a natural log nest across the property, harvesting the honey for the hotel's restaurant and spa. And local products like Journeyman artisan meats show up everywhere from your welcome amenity to your dinner plate. The love for Sonoma is palpable—and infectious.

The avocado toast with lemon-herb ricotta is a must-order at breakfast.

Residences come with dining tables for eight people—perfect for families.

The “Authentic Antioxidants” welcome amenity includes local snacks like artisan trail mix.

Head to Scout Field Bar for a glass of the Montage's private label wine.

Cardmember Benefits

Montage Healdsburg is a member of The Edit by Chase Travel℠, a collection of hand-picked hotels with premium benefits for Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers. Customers who book a stay at the Montage Healdsburg through The Edit will earn 3 points per dollar and receive special benefits, outlined below.

Daily breakfast for two

Guests will receive a $60 breakfast credit, valid at the French-inspired Hazel Hill and the cafe-style Healdsburg Country Store or for in-room dining. Don't miss the avocado toast with lemon-herb ricotta.

Room upgrade if available

Guests are eligible for an upgrade to the next room category (think: moving from a vineyard king to a deluxe vineyard king), if available at check-in.

Welcome amenity

Every guest receives a welcome amenity, which could include a half-bottle of Aperture wine and seasonal, locally inspired snacks.

A $100 property credit

The credit can be put toward food and beverage purchases outside of breakfast as well as spa services. We recommend the spa's Harvest Honey Ginger Infusion Ritual, which features a body wrap with honey harvested on property.

Floor-to-ceiling windows in the guestrooms let in soft light each morning.

Get cozy on your private balcony and enjoy a bottle of wine al fresco.

Studio and one-bedroom suites come with separate sitting areas for a more residential feel.

Bathrooms are a highlight thanks to deep soaking tubs and outdoor showers.

You'll feel like you're sleeping in a treehouse at the Montage, where the guestrooms are housed in a series of stilted buildings in the forest. In nearly all of them, a third of the floor space is outside, whether that's on the spacious balcony, each equipped with a firepit, or in the indoor-outdoor shower. Every room also comes with floor-to-ceiling windows and a deep soaking tub for baths with stunning views of the property's oak trees.

About 70% of the king rooms connect, providing a perfect option for families or friends traveling together. For even more space, book one of the studio or one-bedroom suites, which feel more residential thanks to the separate sitting areas. If you're visiting with a group and are willing to splurge, the Guest House is the hotel's most impressive set up, complete with three bedrooms (each with its own entrance) and a central courtyard with a hot tub overlooking neighboring Jordan Vineyard.

The Features

Don't miss: The wide variety of activities on offer. Of course, the Montage can arrange for private tastings and tours at some of Sonoma's most elite vineyards (they'll even pack you a gourmet picnic basket to take with you), but we suggest taking a day off from sipping and sampling to enjoy yoga among the vines, a pickleball match or even an archery lesson.

Favorite features: With an outdoor shower, soaking tub and a floor-to-ceiling window with forest views, the bathrooms here really steal the show. The glass shower door even has a round hole in it for you to easily test the water temperature before jumping in. Genius.

Can't stop thinking about: The hotel's new private label wine, Surveyor—especially the 2021 sauvignon blanc. If you're drinking wine that's made with grapes grown on site, you're usually at a vineyard, but here, you're sitting by the firepit on your private balcony instead.

The Lowdown

What are people drinking:  Wine, of course, or one of the specialty cocktails at Scout Field Bar, like the Menzies Inferno with serrano-infused tequila, amaro, strawberry and habanero salt.

The dish you're recreating at home: The side of Journeyman bacon on Hazel Hill's breakfast menu (tip: the artisan meat company has a butcher shop in downtown Healdsburg).

The perfect spot for your Instagram post: Strike your best warrior pose on the yoga lawn surrounded by cabernet sauvignon vines.

The souvenir from the gift shop you're bringing home: A hand-blown wine decanter, specially designed for Montage Healdsburg by Northern California-based glassmaking studio SkLO.

The local spot everyone's talking about: The staff will share your enthusiasm for dinner at The Matheson in downtown Healdsburg, where you can sample pours from an 88-tap “wine wall” (tip: if you didn't drive to the hotel, hitch a complimentary ride to Healdsburg Plaza in the house Cadillac).

Spacious balconies with firepits make it hard to leave your room.

The Montage offers a robust schedule of activities, including yoga among the vines.

A poolside lunch at Hudson Springs Bar & Grill is always a good idea.

The outdoor terrace at Scout Field Bar is a scenic spot for happy hour.

The Perfect Stay

Rise and shine.

Make it down to the cabernet sauvignon vineyard for a “Yoga Among the Vines” class, held at either 8 or 9 a.m. depending on the day of the week. Then, refuel with a red juice (a healthful combination of carrot, beet, celery, ginger, yuzu, orange and turmeric) and a perfectly flaky pain au chocolat from the Healdsburg Country Store.

Head off property for a wine tasting, or a few. If choosing vineyards feels overwhelming, have the hotel concierge plan your morning—they can arrange for everything from private drivers to exclusive tastings, like one offered at Aperture Cellars just for Montage guests.

Back at the hotel, grab a salmon burger for lunch at the poolside Hudson Springs Bar & Grill, then take a dip in the zero-edge adult pool overlooking the vineyard.

Enjoy a cocktail by the firepits on Scout Field Bar's outdoor terrace (there's live music Thursday through Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m.). Once the sun's gone down, head inside for a five-course chef's tasting at Hazel Hill. Full and satisfied, walk back to your room for a soak in your tub or a nightcap on your balcony.

Know Before You Go

Getting there.

The closest airport is STS in Santa Rosa, though it only makes sense for West Coast visitors (flights from the East Coast have long layovers). Most guests fly into SFO, then rent a car and make the under-two-hour-drive north.

The Wi-Fi is strong throughout the hotel and the cozy lobby is a great place to get work done. In the guestrooms, central panels next to the front door feature light switches for every section of the space. Just remember, white outlets cut out with the motion-sensor lights, so use the gray outlets for charging your phone or laptop.

Spring time is ideal—it's not too crowded yet and everything from the vines to the lavender is just starting to bloom. While cooler, winter is also a beautiful time to visit as mustards and other wildflowers blanket the valley floor. High season occurs in late summer and early fall during the grape harvest.

What’s included

Bottled water, Wi-Fi and a Nespresso machine in the rooms; electric bikes; daily activities like pickleball, archery and guided hikes through the Compass Sports outdoor center.

What’s around

Vineyards, vineyards and more vineyards; some of the most popular include Aperture, Flowers, Jordan and Silver Oak. There's also great hiking nearby in the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve, Riverfront Regional Park and Lake Sonoma. Downtown Healdsburg is just 10 minutes away by car; the Bohemian Highway, lined with towering redwood trees, is about 45 minutes; and beach towns like Bodega Bay on the Sonoma Coast are under an hour's drive.

• Number of rooms: 130 guestrooms and suites, 12 residences
• Number of pools: Two (adult and family)
• Fitness center? Yes
• Number of bars/restaurants: 1 restaurant, 1 café, 1 bar, 1 country store
• 24-hour room service? Yes
• Childcare and kids club? Yes

Booking With Chase Travel

Chase Travel is the first stop for your next adventure. Eligible Chase cardmembers can visit chasetravel.com for even more trip inspiration, including hotel recommendations, travel guides and editor-curated itineraries, and to earn and redeem points when booking hotels, flights, car rentals and must-do local experiences.

Eligible Chase cardmembers, get started at chasetravel.com .

10 ways to use points to book vacation home rentals

When traveling with your family or a large group of friends, vacationing "together" and not in separate hotel rooms using your points and miles can get a bit complicated. Luckily, there are vacation rental platforms aside from Airbnb and Vrbo that will let you use your hard-earned points and miles to book entire homes instead of paying cash.

Vacation home rentals have always been a great tool to have in your travel toolbox. At TPG, we've been curious about the best ways to use your points to book a vacation home rental because plunking down cash gets old in a hurry.

And just like choosing the best home rental for you takes some skill, figuring out the best way to redeem your points for a home rental isn't as simple as reading an award chart and hitting "book now" — but it absolutely can be done. Keep reading to find out the best ways to use your points to book vacation home rentals.

Redeem fixed-value points for vacation rentals

If you have a credit card that earns fixed-value points in your wallet, such as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card , those are some of the best types of points to use to pay for vacation home rentals.

For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns 2 miles per dollar on all purchases and allows you to redeem those points at 1 cent each toward travel. However, it may not be the best use of Capital One miles, as TPG values them at 1.85 cents apiece ; nevertheless, you can redeem those miles for travel . But be aware that while vrbo.com sometimes codes as travel, it doesn't always code as travel, depending on who owns and manages the property, so proceed with caution in that regard.

Related: 12 tips for choosing the perfect beach house rental

Another card that is great for stacking points for home rentals? The Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card . For TPG Director of Content Summer Hull , this card turned out to be a points powerhouse for home rentals and any other charge that didn't fall under any one particular umbrella.

It earns 1.5 points per dollar on non-bonus charges and 2 points per dollar on travel and dining. But it gets better if you bank with Bank of America, as your deposits with the bank can earn you up to a 75% bonus on points earned with this card via the bank's Preferred Rewards program .

Since I'm in that top tier for banking with Bank of America, it bumps up my earnings on everyday charges to about 2.63 points per dollar and on travel or dining to 3.5 points per dollar. This is now one of my go-to cards for everyday spending, and I'll be able to just cash the points out at 1 cent each to offset what I spend on a home or cabin rental — or anything else.

Use Marriott points with Homes & Villas

If you have Marriott Bonvoy points or a credit card that allows you to transfer your points to Marriott (as with American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards ), another avenue for redeeming points to book a vacation home rental lies with the Homes & Villas by Marriott program .

Related: Best Marriott credit cards

Your per-point redemption value may not be as great as some other uses, so do the math before redeeming. However, if you have Marriott points you aren't sure what to do with, it can be an easy way to lock in a fabulous home rental using your hotel points.

Just know that while you are booking via Marriott's program, your individual bookings will be turned over to property management companies that handle it from that point on.

Related: Best credit cards for home rentals

Use Wyndham points with Vacasa

At the beginning of 2021, Wyndham announced a partnership with Vacasa , a vacation rental management company. This partnership allows you to use your Wyndham Rewards points to book over 15,000 vacation rentals around North and Central America.

With Wyndham's fixed award chart — even on home rentals — it'll cost 15,000 Wyndham points per bedroom per night. That means a studio or one-bedroom costs 15,000 points per night, a two-bedroom costs 30,000 points per night, a three-bedroom costs 45,000 points per night and so on. This can actually be a much better value than using your points on a traditional hotel room, as some properties cost as much as 30,000 points per night — for just a studio hotel room.

Redeem: The ultimate guide to earning and redeeming Wyndham Rewards

The process, however, to book a vacation rental with your points is quite cumbersome. While you can search for homes and availability directly on the Vacasa website , you cannot confirm a reservation immediately, like you normally can with a regular hotel room. Instead, you need to call Wyndham at 800-441-1034, and the representative will ask you a bunch of questions, including your Wyndham Rewards number and your desired location.

If you already know the home rental you want to book, you can also give them the listing number straight from the Vacasa site. Having a home rental already in mind will definitely speed up the process.

Related: Redeeming Wyndham points with Vacasa is a great deal — with a catch

Unfortunately, due to blackout dates, there's no way to know whether or not a property is available to book with points in the reservation calendar, and you'll need to wait for the Wyndham representative to look up your specific dates.

TPG contributor Jennifer Yellin has booked different vacation homes at ski resorts in New England and is about 50-50 with properties being able to be booked with points (even though they are all available for a paid reservation).

Once you confirm a vacation rental and date that works, the representative will lock in your reservation with points and explain the cancellation policy. When using Wyndham Rewards points for a vacation rental, you'll typically have to cancel at least 30 days in advance. As long as you cancel within the window, all points will go straight back to the account they came from and there are no additional fees. However, if you cancel within the 30-day window, you'll forfeit all points redeemed.

Truthfully, if you are looking to redeem your hotel points for a vacation rental, this has the potential to be one of the best programs out there. Especially since you can easily earn Wyndham points from Wyndham Rewards credit cards or transfer your Capital One miles to your Wyndham account at a 1:1 ratio.

Redeem Ultimate Rewards points for vacation rentals

Just as you can redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for as much as 1.5 cents each when booking flights and hotels via the Chase travel portal, you can do the same for home rentals. Though Chase no longer has a designated "vacation rental" tab on its travel portal dashboard, if you search under "Hotels," type in the area, dates and number of guests, you will see a list of hotels as well as a few vacation home rentals.

Unfortunately, there is no filter to search for vacation homes so you will have to scroll, but the option is available on the Chase travel portal.

For example, I searched for a "hotel" in Park City, Utah, for Jan. 8 to Jan. 10, 2025, for six guests and found a vacation rental available for $454 per night (not including taxes and fees).

If you hold the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you can redeem your points at a fixed value of 1.5 cents each, which means one night at this vacation property (before taxes and fees) will cost you about 30,266 Ultimate Rewards points.

Use Hyatt points with Hyatt Homes & Hideaways

Hyatt launched its own collection of rental homes in late 2023, branded Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt. At the moment, Hyatt appears to only offer popular locations within the U.S. (think Hawaii, Florida, Colorado, etc.). Hyatt will eventually expand the program to international destinations.

Booking a stay at one of these properties confers many of the same perks as staying at a Hyatt hotel, such as 5 base points per dollar (plus any elite status bonuses), elite night credits and the ability to earn American Airlines miles when linking your account. You can redeem Hyatt points for award nights at any of these properties — though, after experimenting with some dummy bookings, the value proposition doesn't seem to be as high as with traditional Hyatt hotels.

Because you can transfer both Bilt Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Hyatt at a 1:1 ratio, it's not difficult to accrue the points you need for a free night.

Homes & Hideaways gives customers a fixed purchase rate of 1.2 points per dollar. For example, if you book a three-night stay at a villa for $5,000, expect to pay about 416,667 points. TPG values Hyatt points at 1.7 cents apiece; therefore, if you redeem your Hyatt points for a Homes & Hideaways vacation rental, you are not maximizing their value.

Related: How to earn points with the World of Hyatt program

Use Choice points with Bluegreen Vacations

Choice Privileges partners with a vacation rental company called Bluegreen Vacations through its Ascend Hotel Collection . It operates primarily within the U.S., though there's one property in Aruba (you can see the map of all locations on Bluegreen's website ).

Bluegreen Vacations offers cheap award prices for surprisingly large accommodations. Take a look at the above example of a three-bedroom suite for just 25,000 points at the Bluegreen Vacations Christmas Mountain Village in June 2025.

You can earn Choice points with Choice credit cards , or you can transfer American Express Membership Rewards points to Choice at a 1:1 ratio (though we don't usually recommend this; Amex points can be worth considerably more than Choice points, depending on how you use them).

Use Amex points via Amex Travel

American Express Select Homes + Retreats is a fancy collection of homes that are available exclusively to those who hold The Platinum Card® from American Express and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express . You can either purchase your stay with your eligible Platinum card to earn 5 points per dollar (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar), or you can use Amex points to book your stay.

Click on "Vacation Rentals" on your Amex travel dashboard to see the select locations and properties available.

At present, American Express Select Homes + Retreats are only found in 12 areas around the U.S. You'll find them in the Panhandle area of Alabama and Florida; Maui, Hawaii; Charleston, South Carolina; and other popular vacation spots. As is the case with many programs on this list, Amex's offering isn't even in the same galaxy as Airbnb in terms of volume — but it provides properties you may not be able to find elsewhere.

Here's the issue: You'll only get a value of 0.7 cents per point for your booking. TPG considers American Express Membership Rewards points to be worth an average of 2 cents each — meaning this is a horrendous use of points in most cases.

Related: Redeeming American Express Membership Rewards for maximum value

Capital One vacation rentals

Capital One recently unveiled two collections of vacation rentals: Premier and Lifestyle . The collection(s) you can access depends on which Capital One credit card you hold.

If you've got either the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Spark Miles for Business , you can access the Lifestyle collection. If you've got either the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Business , you can access both the Lifestyle and the (more fancy) Premier collections.

When you book a stay through Capital One, you'll receive bonus perks such as experience credits ($100 for Premier Collection stays, $50 for Lifestyle Collection stays), early check-in and late checkout when available, and destination experts to help you round out your trip. You'll also earn 5 miles per dollar when paying for your stay — or you can redeem Capital One miles to offset your bill at a rate of 1 cent per mile.

Again, using rewards to pay for your reservation isn't ideal, as TPG estimates Capital One miles to be worth 1.85 cents each toward travel when transferring to airline and hotel partners.

Related: Redeeming Capital One miles for maximum value

Redeem points for Airbnb gift cards

Another way to redeem points for a home rental is to cash in your points for a home rental gift card. Airbnb gift cards, for example, are available via several points programs.

Be careful when redeeming points for gift cards, as it isn't always the best return per point, but it is an option. With Chase Ultimate Rewards , you can redeem points for Airbnb gift cards at 1 cent each. While that is not a great use of points if you're looking to maximize your points, which TPG values at 2.05 cents apiece, it is an option if you want to save on your next vacation rental.

This story talks a bit more about redeeming points for gift cards and similar cash-out options.

Related: Maximizing points and miles to beat inflation and save money

Don't forget multibedroom hotel residence options

While not a home rental in the true sense, don't forget that multiple hotel loyalty programs have redemption options for multibedroom residences. You probably won't have a backyard and a pool with these, but the odds are good for a kitchen.

Many hotel chains, such as Hyatt and Marriott, offer multibedroom residence-style redemptions, though availability is more limited than when booking a standard hotel room. Keep in mind that Hyatt allows you to book suites online with points , too.

Bottom line

Your points can get you more than just flights and traditional hotel rooms — you can use them to book vacation home rentals.

If you know for sure you want to go that route, now may be the time to take stock of your wallet and see if you have the best card for this goal. The perfect program for you may vary as there are many different credit cards and loyalty programs that will allow you to use rewards toward that next vacation home rental.