How to Book Vacation Rentals with Points: A Guide for Families
Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
One of the easiest and most flexible ways to book a vacation rental with points is by using the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.
How to Book Vacation Rentals Using Points (Even Airbnb & VRBO)
Vacation rentals can be a game-changer for families—more space, kitchens for cooking in, and room for everyone to relax. But one of the biggest questions I get is: Can you book these kinds of stays with points?
The answer is yes—and there are actually a few different ways to do it. If you’re just getting into using points for family travel, check out my beginner’s guide to points and miles for a full overview. But if you’re ready to book a cozy rental and skip the hotel this time, here’s how to make it happen.
Use Capital One Miles to Cover Vacation Rentals
One of the easiest and most flexible methods? Use miles from the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. You simply book the vacation rental (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) on your card, and once the charge posts, you use miles to "erase" it.
How it works:
Book your stay like normal
Log into your Capital One account
Use the "Cover Travel Purchases" feature within 90 days of the charge
Redeem at a rate of 1 cent per mile
A $600 Airbnb? That’s 60,000 Capital One miles. Super straightforward.
Why I love this option:
You aren’t limited to a specific portal or brand
You can book whatever fits your family’s needs
You have up to 90 days to redeem the miles
Want to earn more Capital One miles? Here are a few of my favorite cards that make that easy.
Book Vacasa Rentals with Wyndham Points
Vacasa vacation homes can be booked with Wyndham Rewards points, and it’s a hidden gem for family travelers. The number of points needed depends on bedrooms—not total guest count. One-bedroom rentals are just 15,000 points per night, and many of those sleep 4–6 people.
You’ll need to book by calling Wyndham directly (point redemptions aren’t available online). But if you’re flexible and can find availability, it’s an incredible deal.
How to earn Wyndham points:
Transfer from Capital One or Citi ThankYou points
Use a Wyndham Rewards credit card
You’ll find my favorite cards for Wyndham points here.
Book Timeshare-Style Properties with Hotel Points
Major hotel brands offer vacation club-style properties that can be booked with points. These are usually larger spaces—think full kitchens and multiple bedrooms.
Options include:
Marriott Vacation Club
Hyatt Residence Club
IHG Holiday Inn Club Vacations
Just keep in mind:
Availability can be limited
Some require more points than traditional hotel stays
Still, for larger families or multi-gen trips, they’re worth exploring. Some of my favorite cards for these programs are in this list.
Book Through Travel Portals
Some travel portals include vacation rentals in their listings. This varies, but it’s always worth checking:
Capital One Travel
Travel portals that support flexible reward points
One quick note—because of compliance rules, I don’t name specific bank cards in posts that contain certain affiliate links. But this list includes the travel cards I recommend.
Use Points as a Statement Credit
As a last resort (or for maximum flexibility), you can redeem points as a statement credit. This works best with Capital One, but other programs allow it too:
Capital One: 1 cent per mile for travel purchases
Citi: 1 cent per point (with select cards)
Other programs: Lower redemption rates (often not worth it)
It’s not the highest value, but it’s better than letting points go unused.
Final Thoughts
If you're set on booking a vacation rental instead of a hotel, you’ve got options. Capital One’s miles make it easy. Wyndham’s partnership with Vacasa can unlock serious value. And hotel vacation clubs are perfect if you need extra space.
Still figuring out which card fits your family’s travel style? Here’s a list of cards people usually start with.
And if you want help staying on top of new point redemptions and family-friendly travel deals, make sure you’re on my weekly newsletter. I also share trip planning ideas and point tips daily over on Instagram—and if you want to connect with other travel-loving families, join us in the private Facebook group.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
Advertiser Disclosure: The Rewards Mom has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Rewards Mom and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
