I've stayed in over 60 Airbnbs — here's why the Chase Sapphire Preferred just became my go-to travel card
As someone who has spent the last decade chasing national parks, mountain towns and off-the-beaten-path destinations, I've learned that hotels aren't always the best fit for the way I travel. As a result, I've booked more than 60 Airbnbs over the past 11 years.
Typically, I've put all of my Airbnb spending on a catch-all card (more on that below). But with Chase recently updating the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) to earn 3 points per dollar spent on eligible vacation home rentals, including Airbnb bookings, I'm changing my strategy.
Here's why the Sapphire Preferred is now my go-to card for Airbnb stays — and why it might deserve a spot in your wallet, too.
Limited-time offer on the Chase Sapphire Preferred: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Why I love staying in Airbnbs
There are many reasons why I frequently pick Airbnb over a hotel stay, but the main one is that Airbnb opens up parts of the world that hotels often can't.
Over the last 11 years, I've booked Airbnbs all over the world — from apartments in Zurich, Paris, Rome and Ljubljana, Slovenia, to jungle retreats in Costa Rica and cabins throughout the Northeast and Pacific Northwest. Whether I'm spending a weekend in a mountain town or using a rental as a home base for a longer international trip, Airbnb has consistently helped me stay closer to the places I want to experience.
I also love the level of flexibility that an Airbnb can provide. Last summer, for example, I landed in Paris early in the morning after an overnight flight. Rather than waiting until the standard 3 p.m. hotel check-in time, I was able to chat directly with my Airbnb host and arrange a 9 a.m. check-in for a small fee.
And yes, I know this may be a hot take, but I genuinely enjoy having access to a kitchen to cook some of my own meals. Whether it's making coffee before an early hiking day or cooking dinner after a long day of exploring, having that extra space often makes a trip feel more comfortable.
I still love hotels — especially in large cities or for quick overnight stays. But for many of the destinations I visit, Airbnb remains my lodging option of choice.
Related: Renting an Airbnb this summer? Here are the best credit cards to use
The Sapphire Preferred's new Airbnb earning rate is a game changer
For years, the Sapphire Preferred has been one of my favorite travel cards because of its strong bonus categories and valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
Before the card's recent refresh, Airbnb purchases earned 2 points per dollar under the card's general travel category. Because of that, I often split my Airbnb spending between the Sapphire Preferred and my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
Since both cards earned 2 transferable points or miles per dollar spent on Airbnb purchases, neither card had a clear advantage.
But as of June 15, that has changed. The Sapphire Preferred now earns 3 points per dollar spent on eligible vacation home rentals booked through Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa, alongside bonus categories like dining, gas stations and online grocery purchases, while travel booked through Chase Travel℠ earns 5 points per dollar spent.
For someone like me who regularly books Airbnbs throughout the year, that additional point per dollar is more meaningful than it may initially sound.
Moving from 2 points per dollar to 3 points per dollar represents a 50% increase in earning power on purchases I was already making.
Related: 1 Chase Sapphire Preferred perk now offsets its $95 annual fee
Putting the new earning rate to the test
To see the real-world impact of this new earning rate, let's look at two Airbnb stays I already have booked.
Later this summer, I'll be visiting my brother in Durango, Colorado. This trip is a perfect example of why I often choose Airbnb. While there are some hotels in the area, vacation rentals give me significantly more options and often put me closer to where I actually want to spend my time.
My three-night stay will cost approximately $850. At the new earning rate, that booking will net me 2,550 Chase Ultimate Rewards points — 850 more than I would have earned before.
I also have a Jersey Shore trip planned toward the end of the summer with my mom and sister. I'll be putting the entire Airbnb reservation on my Sapphire Preferred before splitting the cost with them afterward.
The total cost of that stay is approximately $2,500, which works out to 7,500 Ultimate Rewards points — an extra 2,500 points compared to the card's previous earning rate.
Between those two bookings alone, I'll earn just over 10,000 Ultimate Rewards points, which is 3,350 points more than I would have earned before the Sapphire Preferred's refresh and a sizable return on purchases I was already planning to make.
Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best cards for everyday spending
Why the Sapphire Preferred is now my go-to Airbnb card
Here at TPG, we often talk about the flexibility and value of Chase Ultimate Rewards points. I'm a big fan of them because they transfer to many of the travel brands I use most frequently, including United MileagePlus, World of Hyatt and IHG One Rewards.
For me, that makes the card's new earning rate even more meaningful. Not only am I earning more points on Airbnb stays, but I'm earning a rewards currency that I regularly redeem for flights and hotel stays. Just remember that while most Chase points transfer to its partners at a 1:1 ratio, Sapphire Preferred Card holders' points transfer to World of Hyatt at a lower 4:3 ratio (as of June 15 for new cardholders and effective Oct. 1 for those who applied for the card before June 15).
Now that the Sapphire Preferred earns 3 points per dollar spent on Airbnb stays — more than any other card currently in my wallet — I plan to move all my Airbnb spending to the card going forward.
The more than 10,000 Ultimate Rewards points I'll earn from my Colorado and New Jersey stays could go a long way toward a future redemption. Depending on how I use them, those points could cover the cost of a domestic flight or a hotel award stay when transferred to Chase's airline and hotel partners.
For someone who books multiple Airbnbs every year, it's hard to ignore a card that now rewards those stays better than anything else in my wallet.
Related: How long do Chase Ultimate Rewards points take to transfer to partner programs?
Bottom line
I've stayed in more than 60 Airbnbs over the last decade, and they remain one of my favorite ways to experience destinations beyond the typical tourist trail.
While the Sapphire Preferred has long been a staple in my wallet, its new earning rate on eligible vacation rental stays makes it an even better fit for the way I actually travel.
Combine that with the program's valuable airline and hotel transfer partners, and it's easy to understand why the Sapphire Preferred is now my go-to card for Airbnb bookings moving forward.
Related: Chase Sapphire Preferred's new benefits and 100,000-point bonus are live: 5 things to do now